Lords
Proceedings
9 July 2026
European Entry and Exit System
My Lords, in the Government’s discussions with the French and other authorities, are we looking at the possibility that people could register in advance of travelling so that they would be good for two years rather than having to do it at the time of their first journey?
Lords
Proceedings
8 July 2026
Unpaid Carers
My Lords, does my noble friend agree that there is a particular difficulty for those who have given up full-time work—indeed given up work altogether—in order to be full-time carers? They are then left in a position where they have virtually no pension and no security. When their loved one dies, the…
Lords
Proceedings
11 June 2026
Antisemitism
My Lords, I welcome the positive steps the Government are taking, because many of us are utterly depressed by the antisemitism we have seen, particularly in recent months. However, could I ask the Minister to acknowledge something on the positive side of this? I have talked on behalf of refugees in …
Lords
Proceedings
14 April 2026
3 contributions
Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules
It is daunting to follow two such experts on the subject. I cannot match their eloquence, but, like them, I feel strongly that these rule changes are wrong. Some of them, we have to admit, we were warned of in the White Paper, which we discussed on 17 November. Even so, there are some surprises.
Re…
I thank all Members of the House who spoke, particularly those in support of the regret Motion, and my noble friend the Minister. He has handled this extremely well. He has one of the most difficult jobs in government, and I very much appreciate the sensitive way in which he responds to debates such…
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
25 March 2026
2 contributions
Small Boat Deaths: Cranston Inquiry Report
My Lords, this was a sobering report setting out the circumstances that led to the tragic loss of over 30 lives. Our sympathies remain with all those affected. Significant improvements have been made since 2021, including more people and assets, new technologies and strengthened departmental oversig…
My Lords, the first thing to say is that crossings of the English Channel in these circumstances are extraordinarily dangerous. Notwithstanding that, more than 152,000 people have been successfully rescued since November 2021. There are now five dedicated Border Security Command vessels in the chann…
Lords
Oral Questions
9 March 2026
Iran and the Middle East
The noble Lord is right, and I am particularly worried about Lebanon and what is happening there. Yes, we are mindful of the impact that this can have on the movement of people—and yes, of course, we are talking to our partners and friends in the European Union about this.
Lords
Proceedings
12 February 2026
Better Prisons: Less Crime (Justice and Home Affairs Committee Report)
My Lords, it is always a privilege to follow the noble Lord, Lord Dubs, and to be part of a debate where we have five maiden speeches, three of which have taken place and were very impressive. I add my welcome to the five new noble Lords. I look forward to the remaining two speeches.
I welcome this…
Lords
Oral Questions
3 February 2026
2 contributions
Shamima Begum
Shamima Begum had her British citizenship removed, as upheld by the UK courts. It is inappropriate for me to comment further while there are further ongoing legal proceedings. We are working closely with partners to understand the current situation in the detention facilities and camps, and to mitig…
On the first part of my noble friend’s question, the Government are obviously deeply concerned about developments in north-east Syria. However, we welcome the agreement between the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces to integrate military and civilian institutions, and we will continu…
Lords
Proceedings
15 January 2026
Iran
My Lords, given the strong possibility that many Iranians will seek to flee for safety from their murderous regime, I wonder whether the best approach by this Government would be to have a united European approach to asylum seekers, so that we could all take our share of responsibility for those Ira…
Lords
Oral Questions
7 January 2026
2 contributions
Shamima Begum
My Lords, Shamima Begum has had her British citizenship removed, and that has been upheld by the courts in the United Kingdom. It would be inappropriate to comment further, as there are ongoing legal proceedings. However, consular support is not available from within Syria, making direct assistance …
I am grateful to my noble friend for his comments on this case. He will know that the decision of the UK Government has been upheld by UK courts, which we support. I cannot comment further. I explained to my noble friend prior to this Question coming up that I could not do this because there is curr…
Lords
Proceedings
26 November 2025
G20 and Ukraine
My Lords, the Prime Minister is to be congratulated on the key part he has played in the coalition of the willing. I think his efforts have helped to kill the idea of appeasement, which was in the air a week or two ago. The stench of 1938 has been eradicated, and that is a good thing—but I wonder wh…
Lords
Proceedings
20 November 2025
Asylum Policy
My Lords, I urge the Minister to think again about the sequence of events regarding safe and legal routes. Many of us believe that introducing safe and legal routes would take away the business of the traffickers. Therefore, leaving it until the end of the line seems to allow the traffickers to go o…
Lords
Debate
5 November 2025
2 contributions
Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
My Lords, the purpose of Amendment 55 is to ensure that asylum-seeking children from abroad who have family here can join them. It is a very simple bit of family reunion on behalf of some of the most vulnerable refugees that there could be. There is a history to this. When we were in the EU, under t…
My Lords, I appreciate that my noble friend the Minister has gone out of his way. He will always be my friend, even if we are in different Division Lobbies tonight. I appreciate that he has done his best to meet me, and I have had discussions with him up until now.
I have listened to the debate, an…
Lords
Oral Questions
4 November 2025
3 contributions
Elon Musk
Freedom of speech is a vital democratic right, but it is not without its limits. Elon Musk’s remarks, particularly those which appeared to suggest that the public resort to violence, were wholly inappropriate. We will always defend free expression but never tolerate language that incites disorder.
Oh!
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
14 October 2025
Refugee Family Reunion Scheme
I say to my noble friend, who I very much respect on these issues, that, as he knows, between January 2015 and June 2025, 83,179 family reunion visas were granted. In 2024, nearly 20,000 individuals arrived under this route. There has been and will continue to be a massive increase in the numbers ar…
Lords
Debate
13 October 2025
2 contributions
Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
My Lords—
My Lords, I support the Lib Dem amendments but I want to speak in particular to Amendment 177. I thank the noble Lord for giving way.
The proposition here is a very simple one. It is that asylum-seeking children should be enabled to join refugee family members who are in the UK. This amendment is v…
Lords
Debate
12 September 2025
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
My Lords, I was explaining to a group of people last night what the virtues were of speaking in your Lordships’ House and of being in the debate. Somewhat controversially, perhaps, for a former Member of the other House, I found myself saying that the advantage of having no constituents is that you …
Lords
Debate
8 September 2025
Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
I very much agree with what my noble friend Lord Rees and the noble Lord, Lord Kerr, have said. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord German, for reminding us that our good friend, the noble Lord, Lord Alton, has been injured. We wish him a speedy recovery. He plays such an important part in our deb…
Lords
Oral Questions
8 September 2025
2 contributions
Gaza City
My Lords, we continue to reiterate our position to the Israeli Government. Palestinian territory must not be reduced in the conduct of this war, and the forced displacement of people risks breaching international humanitarian law. The planned displacement of so many Gazans is morally unjustifiable, …
It is not for me to assess the majority view of the people of Israel but, having been there very recently, I understand that there is a range of opinion among the Israeli population and that the people are not afraid to let us know this. This needs to be acknowledged and respected. My noble friend i…
Lords
Oral Questions
1 September 2025
Palestinian Territories: Development Support
Clearly, what has happened in regard to the students is through no fault of those students—it is a very difficult situation. We are talking to our colleagues in the Home Office, and they obviously—and we understand why—want to make sure that all the necessary security clearances are obtained. That i…
Lords
Proceedings
23 July 2025
Asylum Hotels: Migrant Criminal Activity
My Lords, the evidence is that, when there were troubles last year, there was a great deal of misinformation being spread deliberately to encourage disorder. What action can the Government take to ensure that only proper information is disseminated and this other activity of telling lies to encourag…
Lords
Oral Questions
22 July 2025
Illegal Migration: Pull Factors
I am grateful to my noble friend for his comments. Through the agreement with France we are trying to ensure that those who reach the United Kingdom illegally by crossing the channel have their biometrics taken and are returned to France as part of an exchange of legal asylum seekers who are being c…
Lords
Oral Questions
15 July 2025
2 contributions
United Kingdom: Soft Power
My Lords, we recognise the opportunity and potential that the UK’s soft power presents. The Soft Power Council is advising government on how best to shape a new strategy on soft power. The British Council reaches around 600 million people globally, promoting UK values and interests. The BBC is the w…
I must declare an interest as well, as a humanist. My noble friend is absolutely right, but one reason why the Soft Power Council is essential is that it is not restricted to UK government. Our soft power is not only about UK government action, although that is important; it is about how we mobilise…
Lords
Debate
8 July 2025
Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
My Lords, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to several of these amendments, tabled by my noble friend Lord Browne of Ladyton, who regrets he is unable to be here today and has asked me to speak to the amendments on his behalf. I agree very much with what the noble Lord, Lord German, just sa…
Lords
Debate
26 June 2025
Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
My noble friend Lord Browne of Ladyton is unable to be here and has therefore asked me to speak to his amendment. I tried to add my name, but it was too late for the deadline.
Clause 9 requires the commander to comply with directions and “have regard to guidance” by the Secretary of State about the…