Contributions
4,303 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEngagementsI wish my hon. Friend a speedy recovery. He obviously speaks with great authority and experience on our NHS, and he is right to point out that waiting lists are at their lowest…15 Apr 2026HANSARDEngagementsI know that—as my hon. Friend has just said—he himself was at Hillsborough, and I thank him for his decades of campaigning for justice. I am personally committed to working with…15 Apr 2026HANSARDEngagementsI join the right hon. Gentleman in his comments about Sudan. We often overlook the fact that that is the greatest humanitarian crisis facing the world at the moment. My position…15 Apr 2026HANSARDMachinery of GovernmentI am making this statement to bring to the House’s attention the following machinery of Government changes. First, the management of the Integrated Security Fund, and associated…14 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastAs the hon. Gentleman knows, we have taken measures on both of those fronts in relation to the framework of law that we have in place.13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastThe bases are strictly for defensive purposes, and we monitor that in order to make sure that that is and remains the case.13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastCan I reiterate my thanks to Pakistan for the role that it is playing? I can tell the House that I spoke to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Friday, as we were going into the…13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastI agree that our armed forces and our capabilities have been hollowed out over many years, in particular under the last Government, I am afraid to say—Ben Wallace, the then…13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastWe work with the Americans on a daily basis on defence, security and intelligence—it is important that I reiterate that position to the House—and, of course, we are working with…13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastA close relationship with the EU and Europe was in our manifesto in 2024, which was a very successful manifesto, and we have been working to that end ever since, which is why we…13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastI thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this matter. I assure him that I have spoken to the President a number of times about the bases and about security in particular—which is,…13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastLet me assure the hon. Gentleman that we are looking across the board at what support can be put in place and at all the contingencies, but there is no escaping the fact that if…13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastI am conscious of the impact that this situation is having on fuel, and therefore on people in my hon. Friend’s constituency and across the country. We are working on a number of…13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastLet me be really clear about this: there must be a lawful basis for anything we do, and that includes what happens from our bases. That is why we have been very clear about the…13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastI agree with my hon. Friend. That is precisely why we are pursuing that patient diplomacy, which is an essential first step in getting the strait open, and we will continue to do…13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastMy hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the broad support that there is, and always has been, for NATO in the United States. While it is true that we should do more for a…13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastIn fairness, I have been very clear about the Iranian regime—it is odious and, as the hon. Gentleman rightly points out, it is really important that it does not have a nuclear…13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastI assure my hon. Friend that we will make the case for Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire, and we will continue with our work to de-escalate and not get drawn into this war.13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastWe are one of the countries that are pulling together a coalition to deal with the impact of this by de-escalating the situation and seeking to get the strait of Hormuz open. That…13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastThe hon. Lady is absolutely right about opening the strait and playing our part—there is the political and diplomatic element, but there is also the issue of military capability.…13 Apr 2026