Contributions
4,303 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMiddle EastI thank the right hon. Member for his question. I agree that the response of Iran has been outrageous, particularly the hitting of countries that played no part in the strikes. We…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastWe are working across all Departments on repatriation. At the moment, we are simply focused on working with our allies to get a plan together to get people out in the first place,…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastNobody is making the comparison with Iraq; there is a question of drawing lessons from Iraq. The lesson I draw is that there must be a lawful basis for the action we take, and…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastI assure the hon. Member that we are taking measures with our allies to safeguard the supply and to do all we can to ensure that we have the energy we need where we need it.02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastWe obviously co-ordinate with our Five Eyes partners. We were dealing with a specific request to take action, and it was important that we applied the principle, which actually…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastWe are having conversations with allies about de-escalating the situation and about how we get back to negotiation. In the end, at whatever stage it is, that will have to be part…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastI think we were all shocked by the actions of the deputy leader of the Green party—although perhaps not surprised, given that party’s recent turn of direction. It is important…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastMy point is simply that in the end, there will ultimately have to be a negotiated outcome when it comes to nuclear weapons. At what point that happens is obviously unclear,…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastWe are not equivocating. Pilots have been in the sky since Saturday morning, hours after the attack, risking their lives. I am grateful to them for doing so. They went straight up…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastMy right hon. Friend is right to urge caution—history teaches us that. This is why it is important that there is not only a lawful basis but a viable and thought-through plan.…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastI am not trying to pick divisions between our allies on this. I was presented with a different scenario: whether we should accede to two requests in relation to action to be…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastLet me be absolutely clear that the action that we have authorised from our bases is to take out Iran’s capability to launch these attacks, which of course means taking out the…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastThe decision was taken to allow the bases to be used to protect our nationals. It is worth considering the alternative, which is to recognise the risk to our nationals, have the…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastOf course this House must hold accountability and debate this issue. In relation to the vote, there is no convention for a vote in relation to defensive action; only offensive…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastWe have been very clear: the future of Iran must be for the Iranian people, and in the end the question of nuclear weapons will have to be negotiated. We will always ultimately…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastI have clearly set out the basis for the decisions I have taken, and my view that we should all do all we can to de-escalate the situation.02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastI thank the hon. Lady for raising that point. I will get to the bottom of it and make sure that the concern she has raised is properly, fully and swiftly addressed.02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastWith permission, I will update the House on the situation in Iran and the wider region, and our response. The United Kingdom was not involved in the initial strikes on Iran by the…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question. This Government do not believe in regime change from the skies. The lessons of history have taught us that when we make…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastI thank the right hon. Member and assure her that we have learned the lessons of Iraq. That is why I have been so clear that there must be a lawful basis and a viable,…02 Mar 2026