Contributions
1,851 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNationality and Borders BillThere are two dimensions to what the hon. Gentleman is questioning. The first is about the capacity and the capability here in the UK. There are of course examples of where…20 Apr 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillI can give a very simple answer: the Labour party does not support the Rwanda plan, for reasons that I am about to set out. Labour supports all the amendments before us today that…20 Apr 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillOur country deserves an asylum system that offers the public confidence that the Government are in control of it, that is fair and consistent, and that is based on showing…20 Apr 2022HANSARD Easter Recess: Government UpdateThe Prime Minister’s case for his defence seems to be based on it being impossible for him to resign because of the Ukraine war, but his entire parliamentary party, from where his…19 Apr 2022HANSARDAppointment of Lord LebedevThank you, Madam Speaker. What I am trying to do is set out clearly the worrying pattern of behaviour, but I take your feedback and I will move on. That brings us to the issue of…29 Mar 2022HANSARDAppointment of Lord LebedevThe United Kingdom has long been a defender of freedom, democracy and human rights, and our country has proudly stood firm against crime and corruption at every opportunity. It…29 Mar 2022HANSARDAppointment of Lord LebedevOn the Minister’s point about Labour being Russophobic, I lived and worked in Russia for three years as director of the British Council in St Petersburg, and we worked every day…29 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementIn his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts) on steel, the Chancellor talked a lot about the steel compensation that has been paid. While that is,…23 Mar 2022HANSARD Nationality and Borders BillWhat is required is a properly resourced and competent processing system, so that when people come here they can be processed quickly. That would resolve many of the issues to…22 Mar 2022HANSARD Nationality and Borders BillI think that the right hon. Gentleman is referring to offshoring, but as we have seen, offshoring does not work: it is costing millions and millions in Australia and every expert…22 Mar 2022HANSARD Nationality and Borders BillMay I associate myself with the Minister’s comments about PC Keith Palmer, who died in the line of duty and whose tragic passing this House will never forget? The Bill has been…22 Mar 2022HANSARD Nationality and Borders BillWe are supporting every one of these amendments, almost all of which contain practical suggestions. That is the policy of the Labour Front Bench. On the broader point, one thing…22 Mar 2022HANSARD Nationality and Borders BillI guess what matters is results and outcomes. The Government’s attempts to engage have clearly failed; the hon. Member will have his own view of why that may be, but I gently…22 Mar 2022HANSARD Nationality and Borders BillI congratulate and pay tribute to my hon. Friend and other colleagues who have led a passionate and powerful campaign on this issue. There are 324,963 signatures to a petition…22 Mar 2022HANSARD Nationality and Borders BillThe Minister is being very generous. He gave detailed numbers on how many visas had been granted in all the schemes that he read out. I note that he did not include the number of…22 Mar 2022HANSARD Nationality and Borders BillWill the Minister give way?22 Mar 2022HANSARD Nationality and Borders BillI do not think we are in control of which messages get out and which do not. This is about results and consequences, not about the process. If the process is not working, it needs…22 Mar 2022HANSARD Nationality and Borders BillI thank the Minister for that intervention. Offshoring in Australia costs roughly $1 billion a year, for about 300 people. Experts in Australia have also said that it is not…22 Mar 2022HANSARD Nationality and Borders BillThe safe and legal routes are not working properly, and they need to be made to work more effectively. We currently have thousands of Afghan refugees stuck in hotels. Let us put…22 Mar 2022HANSARD Nationality and Borders BillMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. There are many dreadful aspects to the whole story, but the impact on children who are utterly innocent and deserve nothing but our compassion…22 Mar 2022