08/04/2025 | 10:35:51 Thank you, Madam Chair. Of course, China and Russia want to do us down, but we are strong, and our greatest defence is total freedom of expression in our own countries and allowing people to stand for election, even if that inconveniences some people. I was once an election monitor for this organisation at one of Mr Vladimir PUTIN's elections. Of course, the actual ballot wasn't fiddled. He didn't need to fiddle it. He simply stopped his opponents from standing. And therefore it is a very... 30/01/2025 | 10:30:54 So, Mister President, it is true that since Shakespeare's time, we lawyers have had a bad reputation. But of course, we are essential to preserve the rule of law in a democratic society. And we see what's going on in Russia with the absurd, ridiculous and horrible persecution and imprisonment of the lawyers that represented Mr Alexei NAVALNY simply for representing him. So the rule of law is absolutely right. And in those terms I agree with everything that the Rt Hon Lord HERMER KC says. But... 29/01/2025 | 19:19:03 Mister President, Perhaps I should start by declaring an interest and therefore you can ignore what I say. I am a proud grandfather and the father of six children, and my personal view is that we cannot solve the demographic crisis in Europe by importing people from all over the world against the will of our own people. The best way is to encourage our own people to have children, to create the housing for them. At the same time, so many of our own people are on benefits. It's said by Paul... 29/01/2025 | 10:36:14 Madam President, the teaching of history is indeed essential for the future of Europe. And I agree with Lord George FOULKES that there is a multiplicity of narratives and modes of interpretation. The essential purpose of history must remain the search for truth, being able to relay, based on evidence and intellect, what actually happened at a given time and place and what the effect has been. Truth must always be the most important thing. But there's great value in examining a multiplicity of... 01/10/2024 | 13:03:15 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) So much of government, of good decision-making, is about maintaining a fine and often very delicate balance. This report and its resolution are both very wise and measured in that regard. Citizens today are all subject to a barrage of propaganda from a variety of sources. This is the age of the “influencer” on social media, and – given our fallen human nature – not all influences are beneficial or even benign. At the same time, the... 30/09/2024 | 16:39:10 Mister President, this report is good as far as it goes. I mean, I should declare an interest, having served myself on the board of a bank in the past, for nine years – not presently. And I know from my own experience that a bank has to focus on its core mission. And I'm pleased that we can read in paragraph 8, that in 2023, the Bank approved 4.1 billion Pounds in new loans and dispersed 3.7 billion Pounds while generating a profit of 1.19 million Pounds. What is the core mission? We see that... 24/01/2024 | 16:14:15 Dear President, Of course this report is adequate in itself and the language is worthy, but I don't think it's really tough enough, given the challenges that the West faces, faced with despotic countries such as Russia, China, Iran, North Korea. I think there is a unique challenge to our values in the West of human rights and democracy and safety. And the world has become even more dangerous following the hideous terrorist attacks by Hamas in October. Frankly, the West has been almost asleep... 23/01/2024 | 20:30:43 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) This report and its draft resolution are a farcical attempt to undermine democracy in Europe The assumptions which undergird it are an insult to the European voter Even the summary of the report can at best be regarded as mendacious It concedes that migration and asylum have become more prominent in the debates in election campaigns in recent years But the summary claims that “often partial and partisan treatment by the media and political... 23/01/2024 | 20:16:33 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) The Middle East is once again witnessing an unfolding tragedy Hamas’s attacks on 7 October of last year were cold-blooded, horrendous, and worthy of our complete contempt 695 Israeli civilians – including 36 children – were murdered, as well as 71 foreigners and 373 members of the Israeli security forces 250 civilians were taken hostage, including 30 children 110 of these have now been freed, some of them in exchange for Palestinian prisoners... 10/10/2023 | 18:58:24 There's no need for an Englishman to defend France, because France is a bastion and a beacon of human rights and always has been. Of course, France's relationships with Europe, and in particular with the United Kingdom, have been complicated over the centuries. Most recently in the First and Second World Wars and since, France has been a bastion of freedom in alliance with her family of free nations. We in the United Kingdom have immense respect for our closest neighbours, our partners, and...