Contributions
1,614 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEU Security and Defence Co-operationWe have a thriving trading and investment relationship with the United States, with more than 1 million British citizens working for US firms, and vice versa. We look forward to…26 Nov 2024HANSARDEU Security and Defence Co-operationThe Foreign Secretary attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 14 October. In the margins, he agreed with Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for foreign affairs, to work…26 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsThe hon. Gentleman knows that I have a great deal of respect for him on these matters, and for his care for people and human rights around the world. I am very clear that the…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsI completely reject those comments. Given that the previous Government spent over two years engaging in multiple rounds of negotiations in preparing the basis on which we got a…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsThe hon. Gentleman will surely know that the convention is that we deal with one Administration at a time. We have very positive and warm engagement with President-elect Trump and…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsAs someone who has been in the House a long time, the hon. Gentleman will be aware of the procedures for dealing with treaties in this place. The treaty will be signed, it will…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question. I have been very clear that the way the UK removed the Chagossians from the archipelago in the 1960s and ’70s was wrong. I know…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsI do not recognise those comments in the slightest, not least because we have repeatedly made clear our commitment to our overseas territories: to the Falklands, to Gibraltar, and…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsLet me first thank my hon. Friend for his service for our country and its national security—and, indeed, thank all new Members who have served in our armed forces. I completely…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsMy hon. Friend has raised an important point, which has been raised in good faith by Conservative Members and, indeed, by others. I am absolutely confident that when the detail of…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsThere is a very clear difference. That is a training area, not a major base, and I will not go into the details of the operation on that base. I am surprised that the hon.…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsI thank my hon. Friend for his important question. I can absolutely confirm that, not least through my own actions and those of my ministerial colleagues. The Minister for the…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsI have made it very clear that we have the right to extend the treaty beyond the 99-year period, and the right hon. Gentleman will be able to scrutinise the detail of that in due…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsThe hon. Gentleman is right about the importance of international law and adherence to it. This Government are committed to the rule of law, including international law. One…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsThe Prime Minister engaged with the former Prime Minister of Mauritius and with the US Administration on these matters. We have engaged with a wide range of partners in these…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsI thank my hon. Friend for his observation. The former Foreign Secretary, the right hon. Member for Braintree (Mr Cleverly), appears to be on his way out, but he recognised, as…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsI thank my hon. Friend for his question. Obviously, I do not know the full details of his constituent’s individual case, but if he writes to me, I will of course come back to him…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsThe right hon. Gentleman knows that the national security interests of this country and, indeed, those of our allies transcend Administrations. We have just had an election as…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsAbsolutely. The importance of national security to this Government is at the heart of the missions set out by the Prime Minister, which have been put into practice by the Foreign…13 Nov 2024HANSARDChagos IslandsI thank the hon. Gentleman, who speaks for the Liberal Democrats, for his questions. I know that the future of the islands is hugely important to the Chagossian community. I have…13 Nov 2024