My Lords, I too thank the noble Baroness, Lady Fox of Buckley, for introducing this important debate. Freedom of expression has always been the lifeblood of great art. Art flourishes through freedom, not conformity. History reminds us what happens when freedom is lost.

In the Soviet Union, writers and artists who...

My Lords, I too thank the noble Baroness, Lady Fox of Buckley, for introducing this important debate. Freedom of expression has always been the lifeblood of great art. Art flourishes through freedom, not conformity. History reminds us what happens when freedom is lost.

In the Soviet Union, writers and artists who...

My Lords, given that abusive conversion practices are already criminal offences, can the Minister tell the House what conduct the Government

intend this Bill to criminalise that is not already unlawful? Can he identify a single case in which a victim was denied justice because existing criminal offences were insufficient,...

My Lords, given that abusive conversion practices are already criminal offences, can the Minister tell the House what conduct the Government

intend this Bill to criminalise that is not already unlawful? Can he identify a single case in which a victim was denied justice because existing criminal offences were insufficient,...

My Lords, it is an honour to follow my noble friend’s excellent speech. As many pointed out, the Alan Milburn review was a wake-up call. I am not going to go through all the facts and figures again, because they were so clearly presented by the noble Lord, Lord Evans,...

My Lords, it is an honour to follow my noble friend’s excellent speech. As many pointed out, the Alan Milburn review was a wake-up call. I am not going to go through all the facts and figures again, because they were so clearly presented by the noble Lord, Lord Evans,...

My Lords, the United States has offered $100 million in aid to be administered by the Catholic Church, which the Cuban Government have not accepted, as they insist that all aid must go through their own institution. Given that the Cuban regime has provided support to the Russian war effort,...

My Lords, the United States has offered $100 million in aid to be administered by the Catholic Church, which the Cuban Government have not accepted, as they insist that all aid must go through their own institution. Given that the Cuban regime has provided support to the Russian war effort,...

My Amendment 169 is a very modest one. It simply proposes that, if the Bill proceeds, before any doctor raises the possibility of assisted dying, the patient should first receive a psychological assessment from an appropriately qualified specialist. This is not an onerous hurdle but a basic and sensible safeguard.

As...

My Amendment 169 is a very modest one. It simply proposes that, if the Bill proceeds, before any doctor raises the possibility of assisted dying, the patient should first receive a psychological assessment from an appropriately qualified specialist. This is not an onerous hurdle but a basic and sensible safeguard.

As...

My Lords, today’s debate is ultimately about the national interest. Would a closer relationship with the EU best serve the UK’s economic and strategic needs as an outward-looking global nation? The Chancellor has described stronger EU ties as the country’s “biggest prize”, but would they materially improve growth and living...

My Lords, today’s debate is ultimately about the national interest. Would a closer relationship with the EU best serve the UK’s economic and strategic needs as an outward-looking global nation? The Chancellor has described stronger EU ties as the country’s “biggest prize”, but would they materially improve growth and living...

Moved by

Baroness Meyer

455: Clause 191, page 223, line 11, leave out “and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929”

Moved by

Baroness Meyer

455: Clause 191, page 223, line 11, leave out “and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929”

My Lords, Amendment 455 in my name seeks to preserve legal protection for unborn babies who could survive outside the womb. Clause 191 would fully decriminalise abortions by stating that a woman would commit no offence in relation to her own pregnancy. In doing so, it would disapply not only...

My Lords, Amendment 455 in my name seeks to preserve legal protection for unborn babies who could survive outside the womb. Clause 191 would fully decriminalise abortions by stating that a woman would commit no offence in relation to her own pregnancy. In doing so, it would disapply not only...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken today. I particularly welcome and support the speeches of the noble Baronesses, Lady Monckton, Lady O’Loan and Lady Foster of Aghadrumsee, the noble Lord, Lord Alton, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Lincoln, and so many others who spoke...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken today. I particularly welcome and support the speeches of the noble Baronesses, Lady Monckton, Lady O’Loan and Lady Foster of Aghadrumsee, the noble Lord, Lord Alton, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Lincoln, and so many others who spoke...

My Lords, I too oppose the removal of the defence of reasonable punishment. I realise that Amendment 97 from the noble Baroness,

Lady Finlay, no longer does that directly, but it is intended as a staging post, and this is why I would like to talk about the issue.

As a...

My Lords, I too oppose the removal of the defence of reasonable punishment. I realise that Amendment 97 from the noble Baroness,

Lady Finlay, no longer does that directly, but it is intended as a staging post, and this is why I would like to talk about the issue.

As a...

May I say something?

May I say something?

My Lords, I support Amendment 32, to which I have added my name. Giving the Chagossian people a say before their homeland is transferred to Mauritius is not an unreasonable demand; it is basic justice. At its heart lies the principle of self-determination embedded in international law and central to...

My Lords, I support Amendment 32, to which I have added my name. Giving the Chagossian people a say before their homeland is transferred to Mauritius is not an unreasonable demand; it is basic justice. At its heart lies the principle of self-determination embedded in international law and central to...

My right honourable friend Kemi Badenoch hit the nail on the head when she described this Budget as one “sold on a lie”. It is a house of cards built on misleading claims about the public finances to justify sweeping tax rises. This is not responsible management; it is politics...

My right honourable friend Kemi Badenoch hit the nail on the head when she described this Budget as one “sold on a lie”. It is a house of cards built on misleading claims about the public finances to justify sweeping tax rises. This is not responsible management; it is politics...

My Lords, I shall speak in support of Amendments 14 and 25. This treaty and the Bill that will enact it is bad for our country, for our security and for British taxpayers. As we have already discussed, it will leave Britain poorer, weaker and strategically exposed.

This treaty is also...

My Lords, I shall speak in support of Amendments 14 and 25. This treaty and the Bill that will enact it is bad for our country, for our security and for British taxpayers. As we have already discussed, it will leave Britain poorer, weaker and strategically exposed.

This treaty is also...

I presume that a referendum would actually ask the Chagossian people what they want for their future and self-determination.

I presume that a referendum would actually ask the Chagossian people what they want for their future and self-determination.

But I allow my noble friend.

But I allow my noble friend.

Yes, and they seem to approve what we are saying. Basically, these amendments are about asking the Chagossian people about the right to self-determination through a referendum. I have never met a Chagossian in my life, but I have received many letters from them over the past few days and...

Yes, and they seem to approve what we are saying. Basically, these amendments are about asking the Chagossian people about the right to self-determination through a referendum. I have never met a Chagossian in my life, but I have received many letters from them over the past few days and...

My Lords, being 30th in the list is a problem, as I am bound to repeat what many noble Lords sitting on my Benches have said. But sometimes things need to be repeated time and time again for them to sink in, and this is particularly so when you are...

My Lords, being 30th in the list is a problem, as I am bound to repeat what many noble Lords sitting on my Benches have said. But sometimes things need to be repeated time and time again for them to sink in, and this is particularly so when you are...

My Lords, as I look at the empty Benches opposite, I wonder whether some Labour Peers are just realising how unnecessary and reckless the Bill is.

First, the people of the Chagos Islands were not even consulted about the future of their homeland. Having already suffered the injustices of forced removal...

My Lords, as I look at the empty Benches opposite, I wonder whether some Labour Peers are just realising how unnecessary and reckless the Bill is.

First, the people of the Chagos Islands were not even consulted about the future of their homeland. Having already suffered the injustices of forced removal...

My Lords, I will speak to all the amendments in this group to which I have added my name and all those in the names of my noble friend Lord Murray and the noble Lord, Lord Strathcarron. Basically, these amendments offer a far more practical and balanced way for the...

My Lords, I will speak to all the amendments in this group to which I have added my name and all those in the names of my noble friend Lord Murray and the noble Lord, Lord Strathcarron. Basically, these amendments offer a far more practical and balanced way for the...