My Lords, it is always a distinct privilege to rise in your Lordships’ House, particularly when the subject matter before us concerns the key priority of any nation: the defence and security of the realm in an era of unprecedented global volatility and conflict.

However, before I turn to our physical...

My Lords, it is always a distinct privilege to rise in your Lordships’ House, particularly when the subject matter before us concerns the key priority of any nation: the defence and security of the realm in an era of unprecedented global volatility and conflict.

However, before I turn to our physical...

Lords private notice question on, further to the announcement by the US and Iran of an agreement to end the conflict in the Middle East, what plans they have, if any, to (1) support the reopening of the Straits of Hormuz and (2) address wider issues of defence and security of the United Kingdom's Gulf partners.

Lords private notice question on, further to the announcement by the US and Iran of an agreement to end the conflict in the Middle East, what plans they have, if any, to (1) support the reopening of the Straits of Hormuz and (2) address wider issues of defence and security...

To ask His Majesty’s Government, further to the announcement by the US and Iran of an agreement to end the conflict in the Middle East, what plans they have, if any, to (1) support the reopening of the Straits of Hormuz and (2) address wider issues of defence and security...

To ask His Majesty’s Government, further to the announcement by the US and Iran of an agreement to end the conflict in the Middle East, what plans they have, if any, to (1) support the reopening of the Straits of Hormuz and (2) address wider issues of defence and security...

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question of which I have given private notice. I draw attention to my interests in the register as an adviser to the Arab Ambassadors Council and organisations working on conflict resolution in the Middle East.

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question of which I have given private notice. I draw attention to my interests in the register as an adviser to the Arab Ambassadors Council and organisations working on conflict resolution in the Middle East.

My Lords, I am sure that the Minister and all noble Lords will join me in recognising the important role of Pakistan—bohat bohat shukria to Pakistan, and shukran to Qatar for their able support in getting to where we are. But the agreement is still to be signed on Friday,...

My Lords, I am sure that the Minister and all noble Lords will join me in recognising the important role of Pakistan—bohat bohat shukria to Pakistan, and shukran to Qatar for their able support in getting to where we are. But the agreement is still to be signed on Friday,...

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords, I draw attention to my entry in the register on the Middle East and conflict resolution. Perhaps I could push the Minister further on the issue of Lebanon raised by my noble friend Lord Callanan. The United Kingdom, as he rightly acknowledged, has a long-standing support for Lebanon...

My Lords, I draw attention to my entry in the register on the Middle East and conflict resolution. Perhaps I could push the Minister further on the issue of Lebanon raised by my noble friend Lord Callanan. The United Kingdom, as he rightly acknowledged, has a long-standing support for Lebanon...

My Lords, we meet today at a moment of profound consequence, as we have already heard, for the Middle East and, as events have shown subsequently, for our shared future. I draw attention to my registered interests and to my work with organisations focused on conflict resolution and with the...

My Lords, we meet today at a moment of profound consequence, as we have already heard, for the Middle East and, as events have shown subsequently, for our shared future. I draw attention to my registered interests and to my work with organisations focused on conflict resolution and with the...

My Lords, I declare my interest as a member of the International Relations and Defence Committee. Does the Minister agree with the assessment made by the chair of the committee, the noble Lord, Lord Robertson, about complacency in the Government? Bearing in mind that the theme of this Statement is...

My Lords, I declare my interest as a member of the International Relations and Defence Committee. Does the Minister agree with the assessment made by the chair of the committee, the noble Lord, Lord Robertson, about complacency in the Government? Bearing in mind that the theme of this Statement is...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for the strong Statement and pay tribute to my noble friend Lord Wolfson. He made the important point that we must attack and tackle all forms of extremism. As someone who has served in government, in the Foreign Office and at the Home Office...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for the strong Statement and pay tribute to my noble friend Lord Wolfson. He made the important point that we must attack and tackle all forms of extremism. As someone who has served in government, in the Foreign Office and at the Home Office...

My Lords, I welcome the Statement and draw attention to my interests in the Middle East and in working with conflict resolution organisations. Will the Leader of the House join me in commending, as my noble friend Lord True did, the role of Pakistan in its convening of the important...

My Lords, I welcome the Statement and draw attention to my interests in the Middle East and in working with conflict resolution organisations. Will the Leader of the House join me in commending, as my noble friend Lord True did, the role of Pakistan in its convening of the important...

Lords private notice question on, following the deployment of UK naval and air assets to the Middle East and the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the Supreme Leader of Iran, what assessment they have made of the conflict in the region and the status of the UK's security and diplomatic relationship with the United States.

Lords private notice question on, following the deployment of UK naval and air assets to the Middle East and the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the Supreme Leader of Iran, what assessment they have made of the conflict in the region and the status of the UK's security and...

My Lords, I beg to ask a Question of which I have given private notice, and I draw attention to my entry on the register of interests as an adviser to the Arab Ambassadors Council.

My Lords, I beg to ask a Question of which I have given private notice, and I draw attention to my entry on the register of interests as an adviser to the Arab Ambassadors Council.

My Lords, at a time when our Gulf partners are asking for de-escalation and diplomacy, and indeed the United States President has said that he does not require the UK’s intervention, we seem to be intervening and escalating. The Minister delved on the issue of national security, but what is...

My Lords, at a time when our Gulf partners are asking for de-escalation and diplomacy, and indeed the United States President has said that he does not require the UK’s intervention, we seem to be intervening and escalating. The Minister delved on the issue of national security, but what is...

My Lords, recognising the important role the United Kingdom has played—and indeed the clarification provided by the Minister to my noble friend—is key. There is a UN resolution on the table which will be discussed at the Security Council. As a friend to both Algeria and Morocco, the autonomy plan provides a practical way forward. Let us be real. I know from my time as a Minister that the external influences over the Polisario of countries that do not hold the United Kingdom with great esteem, to quote my noble friend, is still a real danger. Now is the time to interject. The UK’s role, as we heard from my noble friend, is key to facilitate that dialogue and have a resolution which provides the pathway to peace.

My Lords, recognising the important role the United Kingdom has played—and indeed the clarification provided by the Minister to my noble friend—is key. There is a UN resolution on the table which will be discussed at the Security Council. As a friend to both Algeria and Morocco, the autonomy plan provides a practical way forward. Let us be real. I know from my time as a Minister that the external influences over the Polisario of countries that do not hold the United Kingdom with great esteem, to quote my noble friend, is still a real danger. Now is the time to interject. The UK’s role, as we heard from my noble friend, is key to facilitate that dialogue and have a resolution which provides the pathway to peace.

My Lords, I agree with the Minister that leadership on the international stage is crucial, and I welcome the Prime Minister’s attendance at both conferences because you have to be present at the most senior level to ensure that your voice is heard. There is a deep symbolism in the...

My Lords, I agree with the Minister that leadership on the international stage is crucial, and I welcome the Prime Minister’s attendance at both conferences because you have to be present at the most senior level to ensure that your voice is heard. There is a deep symbolism in the...

Lords private notice question on what assessment they have made of the current hostilities between Israel and Iran.

Lords private notice question on what assessment they have made of the current hostilities between Israel and Iran.

My Lords, I beg leave to ask a Question of which I have given private notice. In doing so, I draw attention to my entries in the register of interests.

My Lords, I beg leave to ask a Question of which I have given private notice. In doing so, I draw attention to my entries in the register of interests.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that update. To use “escalation” to describe the situation in the last 24 to 48 hours would be an understatement. We are now facing a very great challenge in the region which will have an impact not just on the two countries involved,...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that update. To use “escalation” to describe the situation in the last 24 to 48 hours would be an understatement. We are now facing a very great challenge in the region which will have an impact not just on the two countries involved,...

My Lords, I draw attention to my entry in the register. The Minister talked about the important levers of diplomacy. On the issue of snapback, the noble Lord knows that the clock runs out by October. Snapback should have been exercised because we have already seen Iran betraying the basis...

My Lords, I draw attention to my entry in the register. The Minister talked about the important levers of diplomacy. On the issue of snapback, the noble Lord knows that the clock runs out by October. Snapback should have been exercised because we have already seen Iran betraying the basis...