21/04/2026 | 10:42:46 President, Promoting hate and threatening violence against politicians is the norm now in every country in Europe. I first encountered such a threat when I stood for election in Wales, 52 years ago. My wife and I had anonymous phone calls from a man threatening to kidnap our baby son. In those days, such actions were very rare. Not so today, when it's commonplace. I have many friends who have endured personal abuse and threats to their families. One female colleague received a text message... 28/01/2026 | 13:11:01 Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2. "How can we expect to have knowledgeable voters and people who take voting seriously if we don't educate them when they are young?" Those words were spoken by my dear friend and colleague the late Baroness Doreen Massey in a debate here in Strasbourg. Doreen was my mentor and an inspiration to those of us who want to see young people engage with us and with the democratic institutions we serve and defend. More, if we want them to share our... 27/01/2026 | 18:15:10 Mr President, The people of Ukraine are fighting for us now, today, at this moment. These brave people are resisting an aggressor that shows no respect for human life. An aggressor that has murdered women and children and yet before that, subjected them to horrible abuse, children as well as their mothers. An aggressor that has no desire to limit the suffering of the civilian population. Ukraine is resisting an aggressor who not only wants their country, but has kidnapped their children. More... 01/10/2025 | 11:51:05 Mister President, Ms Yevheniia KRAVCHUK’s report is one of the best, and most powerfully argued cases I have seen. I spent 27 years of my life as a journalist working on a newspaper called The Free Press. And when I read this report, paragraph 89 on page 18 jumps off the paper. Speaking of the Ukraine conflict she writes: "This war is also a war against truth and, as such, free media and journalists are treated as enemies." I was trained to report true facts untainted by personal opinion or... 01/10/2025 | 11:04:08 Thank you very much. Now I'd like to make a statement to the Assembly. I've been the subject of a bit of anger, abuse. You're entitled to it. We're a free country, free society. But I acted on the advice of the Secretariat. That was obviously unsatisfactory to the overwhelming number of people here. In order that no one else should endure on the disruption we've had here, may I respectfully suggest to the leaders of the political groups that they have a meeting with the Secretariat so these... 01/10/2025 | 10:46:51 It is not a one-hour debate. I'm advised. I'm only doing what I'm advised. It is not a one-hour debate, and I'm sorry, I cannot take any more points of order. We must get on with the business. The speeches of members on the speaking list who are present during the debate but have not been able to speak may be given to the Table Office for publication in the Official Report. [indistinct comments off mic] Speeches must not exceed 400 words. I remind colleagues that the typewritten text must be... 01/10/2025 | 10:05:31 Good morning, colleagues. The sitting is now open. I'm sorry, we're running five minutes late and there are a lot of speakers, so we really do have to get started. The first item of business this morning is the current affairs debate on the political crisis in Serbia. The speaking time is limited to two minutes for all members except for the first speaker chosen by the Bureau, who has seven minutes. And can I urge you please to keep to the two minutes, because the longer you take, you're... 25/06/2025 | 21:04:24 Thank you. The debate is now closed. The Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development has presented a draft resolution in Document 16182, to which three amendments have been tabled. I understand that the Vice-Chair of the Committee wishes to propose to the Assembly that all three amendments to the draft resolution, which were unanimously approved by the Committee, be declared as definitively approved. Is that so, Mr Vice-Chairman? If no one objects, I will consider these... 24/06/2025 | 11:27:23 Mr President, across Europe, we are seeing more and more challenges to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Our Convention is essential to defending these rights. As British and European, I am proud of the fact that the United Kingdom played a major role in establishing the Council of Europe and drafting the Convention. For my part, I was very pleased that last week the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, addressing the Committee of Ministers here, reaffirmed Britain's continued support... 09/04/2025 | 11:31:40 Thank you very much. Thank you for all your hard work and we wish you well for the future. Colleagues, the debate is now closed. The Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs has presented a draft resolution to which no amendments have been tabled, and a draft recommendation to which no amendments have been tabled. We now proceed to vote on the draft resolution contained in Document 16138. A simple majority is required. The vote is now open. The vote is now closed...