Lords
Debate
5 January 2026
14 contributions
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill
My Lords, I apologise to the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig of Radley, for not writing to him, but I hope that I can answer his concerns this afternoon.
Amendments 1 and 38, tabled by the noble and gallant Lord, relate to the termination of the treaty based on environmental degradation of Diego…
My Lords, as I have stated throughout the Bill’s progress through the House, I would like to acknowledge at the outset the importance of the islands to Chagossians as well as the different views within the Chagossian community on their future. This Government deeply regret the way the Chagossians we…
+12 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
17 December 2025
5 contributions
Jimmy Lai Conviction
I thank both noble Lords for what they have said, particularly about Jimmy Lai himself—he truly is a remarkable person. I have not had the privilege of meeting him, but I know that many in this House have done so and consider him a very dear friend. What he has done throughout his life is truly extr…
It does have a feeling of a Second Reading debate, but that is because the noble Lord is so knowledgeable about these issues and the case of his friend Jimmy Lai in particular.
I am very grateful to the noble Lord for putting his position in the way that he did. I agree with much of what he said, p…
+3 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
16 December 2025
8 contributions
US National Security Strategy
My Lords, the Government’s ambition is to spend 3% of GDP on defence and 5% on security by 2035. On China, our position is clear and has been consistent, unlike that of the previous Government, where we will compete, co-operate and challenge as appropriate. The US Administration, to my knowledge, ha…
My view on Churchill is very straightforward: we are immensely grateful, proud and in awe of the way he led this country through an incredibly difficult period in our history. Obviously, there are complexities and people have views, and there are many people far better placed to give an opinion on C…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Committee Stage
16 December 2025
7 contributions
Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill
My Lords, this set of amendments relates to the operation and enforcement of the BBNJ agreement. This Bill establishes the core domestic legal framework required for the UK to be able to ratify and implement the treaty, while recognising that more detailed compliance and enforcement arrangements wil…
We are cognisant of what the noble Lord is alerting the Committee to; we just do not think that this is the right Bill to consider those things. Additionally, it is difficult to think about how we would legislate here in the UK for activities that happen under another jurisdiction. The noble Lord kn…
+5 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
25 November 2025
20 contributions
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill
In relation to Amendment 20J, the House has dedicated at least 15 hours to debating the Government’s rationale for entering this treaty. It has been subject to two reports, by the International Agreements Committee and the International Relations and Defence Committee. Three separate committees—the …
My Lords, Amendment 20K, tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Morrow, seeks to oblige the Government to publish a report on the ability of Mauritius to govern the Chagos Archipelago and on the implications of the treaty for international peace and stability. The IRDC concluded that the treaty gave the UK …
+18 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
25 November 2025
7 contributions
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill
My Lords, I was not sure whether anybody else wanted to follow that last speech. I do not think I have ever seen the Prime Minister drink prosecco—he would prefer a pint, I think.
Anyway, I thank noble Lords for their speeches on this quite important set of amendments, and I would be very surprised…
I do not think that data is published anywhere, I am afraid. If it is, I shall provide it to the noble Lord.
I very much enjoyed the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Hannan, as I always do, but it is unjustifiable to define Chagossians as only those holding British Overseas Territories citizenship. I…
+5 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
25 November 2025
9 contributions
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Democratic Resilience
My Lords, as we recall the initialling of the Dayton peace agreement on 21 November 1995 and appreciate the progress that Bosnia and Herzegovina has made in NATO and EU accession efforts since, and while remaining concerned about the ongoing threats to the country’s peace, security and constitutiona…
My Lords, following on from the noble Lord’s Question, it is 30 years on from the Dayton accords and we have recently seen a snap election in the Republika Srpska, so what is His Majesty’s Government’s assessment of the stability within greater Bosnia and the integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina? Linked …
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
24 November 2025
9 contributions
Ukraine: Forcible Removal of Children
My Lords, as noble Lords will know, talks are continuing today, and it is not the Government’s intention to provide any kind of running commentary on this, and I know that that noble Lords would not want us to do that. In answer to the noble Lord’s question, he can be assured that the UK and our par…
Speaking personally and for the Government, I think that the removal of 20,000 Ukrainian children is one of the most horrific elements of this whole awful war. We are doing everything we can to work with our partners and allies, even as far as working with celebrities or anybody who can bring attent…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
19 November 2025
7 contributions
Gaza and Sudan
I thank both noble Lords for their thoughtful contributions, and I agree with much of what has been said. The noble Earl started by talking about the ceasefire in Gaza. We very much welcome this and will do everything we can to support the path to peace. As both noble Lords said, this is an early st…
It would be a very good thing to get to a point where the process is embedded and the confidence is there to enable us to do that. I very much look forward to the day when these measures can be lifted, that is when we will know that there is stability in the process and confidence being built on bot…
+5 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
19 November 2025
10 contributions
Ukraine: UK-USA Discussions
My Lords, for over three years I have argued in the House for delaying Ukraine NATO membership, non-nuclear weapon status for barrier states stretching from Estonia to Georgia, a major powers treaty on Ukraine neutrality and the Russian ask, a deal on Donetsk and Luhansk. Why not think out of the bo…
My Lords, I have been in the noble Baroness’s position several times over, answering that particular question from the noble Lord. Bearing in mind the tragedy that is Ukraine, one of the real tragedies we have seen in diplomacy is the declining influence of the United Nations to convene some kind of…
+8 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
18 November 2025
21 contributions
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill
I am not sure that diplomacy is quite the thing for the noble Lord to aspire to. We will move to discussing the amendments that deal with the financial issues and the payments to be made under the treaty. Inevitably in Committee, other issues will be raised as part of the discussions, including thos…
We do not expect to be confronted with this situation in the case of Diego Garcia. I am sure there will be adaptations to mitigate this, as there already have been. In the event that sea levels rise to the extent that they would need to in order to make the base unusable, the entire planet would be …
+19 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
18 November 2025
16 contributions
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill
I am very much going to regret getting involved in this, but I think it is helpful to understand what this House has and has not done. Both Houses of Parliament have voted that the Government should ratify this treaty. That is the situation as it is. This debate is about making sure we have the righ…
My Lords, this has been an interesting debate—slightly wide ranging, but that often happens with the first group in Committee. I am sure we will return to some of the issues raised in proper depth when we get to the relevant amendments, and I look forward to that. We have heard some interesting clai…
+14 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
11 November 2025
3 contributions
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill
My Lords, we had a vigorous debate on the Bill at Second Reading last week, and I thank each and every noble Lord who participated in that debate. I understand and respect the concerns that have been raised, both inside and outside this House. It is worth repeating what I said last week: this Govern…
My Lords, my noble friend Lord Callanan will respond to the Minister on behalf of these Benches, but I have been requested to make a brief intervention on defence and security. I am rather in the horns of a dilemma; I feel as though I am being asked to judge the weight of the baby when the baby has …
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Proceedings
11 November 2025
8 contributions
Conflict in Sudan
Of course, we are aware of those reports and we have investigated them thoroughly. I can confirm that no military equipment from the UK has found its way to Sudan and we will continue to monitor this incredibly closely.
The three items that were found were a seat belt, something for target practice…
Absolutely, and I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the work that the noble Lord, Lord Collins, did on Sudan for many years: certainly, during his role as Minister for Africa, it was outstanding. The leadership that he showed on an issue that, at many points, must have been quite…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
11 November 2025
9 contributions
British Council
My Lords, last week, Scott McDonald, the chief executive of the British Council, told MPs that the council was going to sell all its assets and close 40 country programmes unless the Government reschedule a £197 million loan costing £12 million to £15 million in interest. The council has already sol…
My Lords, the Question we have just heard did not get a very reassuring Answer. Is this not precisely the sort of resource that we, as an advanced country, should be developing to underpin both our security and our trade? Is this not the sort of glue that binds together the Commonwealth countries, w…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
4 November 2025
10 contributions
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill
My Lords, the Bill that we are to discuss today is vital for the security of our nation. It enables the ratification and entry into force of the treaty between the UK and Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, and thus protects the operation of an essential UK military …
My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing the Bill, and I will come to some of her points shortly. This is now the second opportunity that we have had to debate the UK-Mauritius agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, but it is of course the first time that your Lor…
+8 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
4 November 2025
7 contributions
Sudan: Protection of Civilians
We are not aware that any British nationals have been affected in these attacks.
I stand by what I said. These resolutions and statements are helpful in many ways, but, unless they change things on the ground, I believe that we are failing. I wonder sometimes where the liberal outrage is for Sudan that we see for other places. There are many reasons why that might be the case, b…
+5 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
4 November 2025
9 contributions
Official Development Assistance
My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for her Answer and her engagement on this difficult set of decisions over recent months. There are those who are already suggesting that the drastic cuts announced earlier this year should be supplemented by further cuts in the Chancellor’s Budget, whic…
My Lords, we all know that women and girls are disproportionately affected by conflict. There are, I think, about 116 conflicts raging around the world. The UK is a penholder for the women, peace and security agenda at the UN Security Council. We talk about leading the world on this agenda. Can the …
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
3 November 2025
9 contributions
Gaza and Hamas
The noble Lord, Lord Callanan, is right that this is an uneasy truce, but it is a truce all the same. My feeling is that we have to stick with it for as long as we possibly can, notwithstanding the deeply troubling events that he has seen. We all shared the joy and relief at the hostages’ release. W…
This is a real problem, and we are working to try to persuade the Israelis to allow the opening of as many crossings as possible. We want to see Allenby Bridge and the Rafah crossing reopened. As the noble Lord said, limited aid is getting in through Kerem Shalom, which is causing congestion. There …
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
31 October 2025
2 contributions
Ukraine
I thank the Minister for giving way. She has just produced some very impressive statistics on economic sanctions. What effect have they had?
They are having a very real effect on the economy of Russia. I would perhaps describe it by saying that this is a battle, yes, on the front line, but it is also becoming a battle of military-industrial complex. Our ability to supply is at stake, and we are in competition with Russia. The more we can…
Lords
Oral Questions
29 October 2025
8 contributions
Jamaica: Hurricane Melissa
I thank the Minister for her response. The people of Jamaica have been subjected to the fiercest storm to have taken place anywhere in the world this year. The statistics are shocking. I know that we are at the rescue and recovery stage and that it will be some time for all fatalities or injuries to…
My Lords, I thank the Minister for her update on the actions that His Majesty’s Government are taking in relation to Hurricane Melissa. I understand that the FCDO website went live yesterday for UK visitors to Jamaica to notify the department of their presence. It was known at the weekend that Melis…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
29 October 2025
9 contributions
Corruption: Low and Middle-income Countries
My Lords—
My Lords, first, I apologise that my interest overran courtesy. Following the speaker’s question, there is already a plan for measures to deal with corruption on an international scale, which, I am sure my noble friend will agree, totally undermines both democracy and our overseas aid. That is the i…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
27 October 2025
9 contributions
Western Sahara Conflict
I thank the Minister for her Answer. However, there is much open-source evidence of a mutual admiration society between the present Iranian regime, the IRGC and the Polisario on the other side. First, and not least bearing in mind that we do not have as big a footprint in that region as we ought to,…
My Lords, I welcome the Minister’s Answer and explanation about the position on Morocco, a position which the Government have recently moved on. Is it not important, with a conflict that has been going on this long, that we do not just take sides but try to resolve the conflict before it degenerates…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
18 September 2025
8 contributions
Gaza: UN Commission of Inquiry Report
My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for her Answer and the indication that the Government are carefully considering the report from the United Nations which was published earlier this week. In that light, can my noble friend the Minister outline what steps the Government have taken and wi…
My Lords, is it not incredible that, when the Government arrived at the conclusion the week before last that this was not a genocide, that was ignored by Parliament and buried by the BBC, but when the United Nations arrives at the opposite conclusion, we have debates in Parliament and wall-to-wall o…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
17 September 2025
9 contributions
Israel: Royal College of Defence Studies
I thank my noble friend for that Answer, but I must say that, even in the current context of destructive tokenism from the United Kingdom Government over Israel, this decision or gesture seems particularly depressing and particularly likely to strike at the relationship between our countries, which …
My Lords, could my noble friend tell the House whether this means that the Government operate a proscribed list—in other words, a list of proscribed countries—where the royal college is concerned? If there is a proscribed list, could that be provided to both Houses of Parliament?
+7 more contributions in this session