Tag: Lisa Nandy

The comments made by Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, on 24 August 2021.

This is a dark moment for the UK Government and for Afghans. The Prime Minister has failed to persuade President Biden to agree to extension to evacuation efforts and the painful reality is that people will be left behind – that’s appalling and unconscionable. With 18 months to prepare for this, we are left with a desperate scramble, with heroic soldiers and diplomats on the ground trying to move mountains while the clock keeps ticking.

The urgent priority remains the evacuation. The next few hours are vital. There are still so many desperate people on the ground. All possible resource should be placed into getting as many people out safely as possible.

We need to confront the new reality of Taliban control. This is a difficult situation and it is hard to swallow. But it does not mean we can give up on the Afghan people or on the things they and our troops fought so hard to build over two decades. Afghanistan is facing a humanitarian crisis and a refugee crisis. We need to do all we can with regional partners to keep land routes open and work together to ensure people can access food, water and basic essentials and those in danger can flee. We should agree a common approach to the Taliban and seek a UN Security Council resolution to set the parameters of the world’s expectations.

We should use every lever we have, especially economic, to try to protect the gains of the last 20 years, including protecting our security and preventing Afghanistan becoming once again a safe haven for international terrorism.

The comments made by Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, on 19 August 2021.

How can Boris Johnson allow the Foreign Secretary to continue in his role after yet another catastrophic failure of judgement? If Dominic Raab doesn’t have the decency to resign, the Prime Minister must show a shred of leadership and sack him.

The comments made by Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, on 1 August 2021.

This reckless Iranian attack on a merchant vessel in international waters is a flagrant breach of international law. It is tragic that this has led to the death of two sailors, including one Briton. We send our deepest condolences to their families.

The Prime Minister must make it clear to the incoming Iranian President that lawless actions will carry costs. This is the moment where Britain must show we are resolute in our determination to end this pattern of behaviour.

The breakdown of a clear strategy to deal with Iran has not served the UK or our allies well in recent years. The Foreign Secretary must now make it a priority to pursue coordinated international efforts to tackle these actions by the Iranian Government.

The comments made by Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, on 15 July 2021.

Today’s landmark decision by Parliament to back a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics sends a clear message that appalling human rights abuses must have consequences.

By refusing to back today’s motion, this Government is sleepwalking into a situation where members of government and the Royal Family will participate in a PR coup for the Chinese authorities while genocide is committed against the Uyghur. Global Britain must stand for more than this.

With a global audience of billions, the Beijing Olympics must be the moment we show the world that we will not look away. The Government must use this moment to call time on one of the world’s most appalling human rights atrocities. We cannot turn a blind eye to genocide.

The comments made by Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, on 10 July 2021.

On Srebrenica Memorial Day, we remember the thousands who lost their lives and the survivors whose stories continue to serve as a reminder of the horrors they faced.

As we pay tribute to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide, we are reminded that we continue to live in a world scarred by intolerance, persecution and inhumanity. This year’s Srebrenica Memorial Day should be a moment when we remember the horrors of the past and commit ourselves to building a world that is more inclusive, more generous, more tolerant and more just.

The comments made by Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, on 14 June 2021.

The approval of a new coalition government offers an opportunity for change in Israel and a chance to kickstart a meaningful process towards a peaceful two state solution.

As a priority the international community must reach out to the new Israeli government and the new US President to urge a renewal of negotiations, the protection of human rights, adherence to international law, and the importance of a two state solution, based on a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable, sovereign and recognised Palestinian state.

Whilst we are pleased the current ceasefire in Gaza is holding firm, the cycle of violence over the past few weeks only highlights diplomatic failures of the past.

This conflict continues to cost lives and bring needless suffering to millions of people. There is now a new opportunity to address this and work with Israeli allies, Palestinian leaders and Arab neighbours to start a dialogue about how we move away from conflict towards a more peaceful Middle East.

The comments made by Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, on 12 May 2021.

The escalation of violence in Jerusalem, Gaza and Israel is appalling. The Labour Party utterly condemns the attacks that have endangered civilian lives and resulted in Palestinian and Israeli casualties, including children. Communities here in the UK and around the world have been horrified by these scenes and are gravely concerned by the prospect of the situation deteriorating further.

There must be an immediate end to the rocket attacks and air strikes that risk further civilian fatalities. With the coordinated support of the international community, Palestinian and Israeli leaders must work to urgently de-escalate tensions. Anything less is an abject failure of responsibility which will lead to further suffering.

Once this terrible violence has ended, we must ensure that the root causes of the conflict are recognised and addressed. International law must be adhered to. The eviction of Palestinians from their homes in occupied East Jerusalem has got to stop and all religious sites must be respected. At the same time, Britain and the international community must reinforce our commitment to a two-state solution.