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Tag: Speeches

  • Amanda Milling – 2021 Comments on Climate Action for a Resilient Asia

    Amanda Milling – 2021 Comments on Climate Action for a Resilient Asia

    The comments made by Amanda Milling, the UK Minister for Asia, on 8 November 2021.

    Climate change does not respect borders. Countries across the Indo-Pacific region are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, with vulnerable communities threatened by rising seas, frequent typhoons and drought.

    This major new support from the UK, delivered through a range of regional partners, will help local communities, cities and governments to strengthen their resilience to climate change and promote low carbon growth.

    Biodiversity will be protected, weather forecasting improved, cities designed to withstand floods and storms, and funds mobilised to the grassroots community groups that need them most.

  • Anneliese Dodds – 2021 Comments on Donations and Peerages

    Anneliese Dodds – 2021 Comments on Donations and Peerages

    The comments made by Anneliese Dodds, the Chair of the Labour Party, on 6 November 2021.

    It’s now clear that the cash for access culture at the heart of this Conservative government stems from the top and reaches through every sinew of the Prime Minister’s party.

    This stench of sleaze emanating from Boris Johnson’s government grows by the day, with even a former Conservative prime minister calling his administration ‘politically corrupt’.

    Labour would stamp out sleaze, with a tougher system to restore the public’s faith in our democracy and political system.

  • Sarah Jones – 2021 Comments on the Falling Charge Rate

    Sarah Jones – 2021 Comments on the Falling Charge Rate

    The comments made by Sarah Jones, the Shadow Policing and Fire Minister, on 5 November 2021.

    These new figures confirm again that under the Conservatives, criminals have never had it so good.

    It is scandalous that so many crimes are going unsolved, and victims of the most serious crimes are being denied justice.

    Labour has a plan that will put victims first by putting police back into our neighbourhoods, improving rape conviction rates and tackling the courts backlog.

  • Angela Rayner – 2021 Comments on Need for Sleaze Inquiry

    Angela Rayner – 2021 Comments on Need for Sleaze Inquiry

    The comments made by Angela Rayner, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, on 5 November 2021.

    This week the Prime Minister’s corruption was clear for all to see when he tried to over-ride the Commissioner who is set to investigate him for breaking the rules and replace an independent cross-party committee with a sham group of Conservative stooges who would do his bidding.

    Boris Johnson’s attempt to make Conservative MPs judge and jury over allegations of corruption and rule-breaking was a blatant attempt to prevent the Commissioner from investigating his latest breaches of the rules.

    The events of the past few days are an attack on our democracy and have undermined the integrity of public office and our public life. It is absolutely vital that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is now able to conduct this investigation without any further attempts by the Prime Minister to block this investigation, over-ride or abolish the Commissioner or the Standards Committee and the bullying, threats and intimidation from Conservative Ministers must stop immediately.

    It can’t be one rule for Boris Johnson and another for the rest of us, and our corrupt and sleazy Prime Minister must be held to account just like anybody else would be if they broke the rules.

  • Owen Paterson – 1997 Comments about the European Union

    Owen Paterson – 1997 Comments about the European Union

    The comments made by Owen Paterson, the Conservative MP for North Shropshire, in the House of Commons on 12 November 1997.

    I shall be brief. During my business career, I have travelled widely throughout Europe. I should declare an interest in that I am president of the European Tanning Confederation, I speak a couple of European languages, and I struggle by in English.

    I draw the attention of smug, complacent Labour Members to the people of Europe. I have been in the Chamber for most of the evening and I have been astonished by the debate’s lack of touch with the real businesses and the real people who are trying to make a living in a sclerotic Europe, struggling under burdens such as the social chapter and over-regulation.

    My hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) spoke eloquently about the social chapter. I point out that Professor Patrick Minford of Liverpool university has calculated that the social chapter and other burdens could reduce gross domestic product by 20 per cent. They had such a devastating impact on the unemployment figures that the computer could not handle them.

    I remind hon. Members that, the last time the people of Britain were consulted, they voted to join a free trade area. They believed that they were joining a club of independent sovereign states that would work together in the interests of free trade. We are here for only a short time: power and sovereignty should rest with the people. Smug Labour Members should reflect upon who has sent them here and to whom they are handing powers.

    Qualified majority voting is increasing in 16 areas. The gentleman from Amsterdam, the hon. Member for Finchley and Golders Green (Dr. Vis), attended today’s hearing of European Standing Committee A, at which hon. Members considered landfill. He saw how qualified majority voting will clobber many British businesses whose waste goes to landfill. Incineration—which is proposed by the directive—is not suitable for this country.

    Dr. Vis

    I must admit that Amsterdam is not my constituency. I represent the constituency of Finchley and Golders Green.

    Mr. Paterson

    I apologise, but that was the only geographical reference that the hon. Gentleman gave.

    In the dying two minutes, I draw Labour Members’ attention to the people of Europe. It is horrendous to see powers being taken from them and given to institutions. The people of Europe cannot vote for the removal of those who decide matters that govern their lives. I was in France last year during the by-election at Gardanne, the run-off for which was contested by the Communist party and the National Front.

    Mr. MacShane

    Who did the hon. Gentleman support?

    Mr. Paterson

    I am sorry, but I am making a desperately serious point.

    The vote is going increasingly to undemocratic parties that support the sovereignty of nations. The Vlaams Blok is a deeply unpleasant group that has taken 25 per cent. of the vote in Antwerp. Herr Haider in Austria is also attracting a substantial vote. I believe—as does everyone on the Opposition Benches—in a club of independent states going further into eastern Europe. We should be bringing in the newly free countries. The Amsterdam treaty does nothing for that; it increases the power of an unelected European elite and does down the people of Europe. The consequences will be serious.

  • Owen Paterson – 2021 Resignation Statement

    Owen Paterson – 2021 Resignation Statement

    The statement made by Owen Paterson, the Conservative MP for North Shropshire, on 4 November 2021.

    I have today, after consultation with my family, and with much sadness decided to resign as the MP for North Shropshire.

    The last two years have been an indescribable nightmare for my family and me.

    My integrity, which I hold very dear, has been repeatedly and publicly questioned.

    I maintain that I am totally innocent of what I have been accused of and I acted at all times in the interests of public health and safety.

    I, my family and those closest to me know the same. I am unable to clear my name under the current system.

    Far, far worse than having my honesty questioned was, of course, the suicide of my beloved and wonderful wife, Rose.

    She was everything to my children and me. We miss her everyday and the world will always be grey, sad and ultimately meaningless without her.

    The last few days have been intolerable for us.

    Worst of all was seeing people, including MPs, publicly mock and deride Rose’s death and belittle our pain.

    My children have therefore asked me to leave politics altogether, for my sake as well as theirs.

    I agree with them.

    I do not want my wife’s memory and reputation to become a political football. Above all, I always put my family first.

    This is a painful decision but I believe the right one.

    I have loved being the MP for North Shropshire and have considered it a privilege to have been elected to serve my constituents for 24 years.

    I would like to thank my staff who have worked for me so loyally over many years.

    I also want to thank those who have stood by me so staunchly.

    I wish them all the best in that difficult but vital job of being a Member of Parliament.

    I will remain a public servant but outside the cruel world of politics.

    I intend to devote myself to public service in whatever ways I can but especially in the world of suicide prevention.

    At this incredibly difficult time for my family, we ask that the media respects our privacy and lets us grieve my beloved Rose, the best person I ever met.

  • Nicola Sturgeon – 2021 Comments on Working With Sajid Javid on Green Investment

    Nicola Sturgeon – 2021 Comments on Working With Sajid Javid on Green Investment

    The comments made by Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, on 3 November 2021.

    COP26 provides what is possibly our best chance to advance the societal and economic change that is demanded by the climate emergency, delivering lasting action towards net zero and a climate-resilient future.

    By grasping the opportunities provided by green industries and supply chains, we can create the good green jobs of the future and secure a just transition away from fossil fuels.

    The role of private capital is fundamental to achieving this and governments must do what they can to channel investment into areas supporting transformational change.

    Through our Green Investment Portfolio, which is already valued at £2 billion, the Scottish Government highlights a range of exciting, commercially assessed investment propositions to investors and showcases businesses in Scotland as world leaders in innovative green industries of the future.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on Working With Nicola Sturgeon on Green Investment

    Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on Working With Nicola Sturgeon on Green Investment

    The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 3 November 2021.

    COP26 is a landmark moment in the battle against climate change. We must take bold action now or face dire consequences – with catastrophic impacts on our environment, the climate and the air we breathe – further down the line. In London, we are determined to play our part.

    That is why I’ve committed to making London net zero by 2030, faster than any other comparable city, and it’s why we are delivering a climate action plan that is compatible with the highest ambitions of the Paris Agreement. I also want London to be a zero-pollution city and have expanded our Ultra Low Emission Zone to cover all of inner London so that far fewer children have to grow up breathing toxic air.

    I have been clear that climate action and our economic recovery must go hand in hand. This will require record investment and coordinated action from everyone – cities, businesses, national governments and communities – to truly turn the tide. That is why I am leading the way by committing more than £30 million to help unlock up to £150 million of private investment in low carbon projects and create the green jobs that will help make our target of a zero-carbon capital a reality by the end of this decade.

  • Ian Blackford – 2021 Speech on the G20 and COP26 World Leaders Summit

    Ian Blackford – 2021 Speech on the G20 and COP26 World Leaders Summit

    The speech made by Ian Blackford, the SNP MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, in the House of Commons on 3 November 2021.

    I thank the Prime Minister for advance sight of his statement.

    The G20 was an opportunity to build momentum ahead of the COP summit, but I think even the Prime Minister would admit that it largely failed to meet people’s demand and desire for increased global co-operation. If we are to meet the global challenges that all of humanity now faces, that needs to change, and change very quickly, with a meaningful agreement in Glasgow over the course of the coming week. All of us hope that that will be the case.

    On climate change, we know that the G20 is responsible for 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions, so it is right that the G20 members bear the biggest responsibility. Countries that have contributed the least to this climate crisis must not be left to pay the biggest price. That is why there has to be a commitment to climate justice and why that is so important.

    In Scotland, we recently doubled our climate justice fund to £6 million per year, providing £24 million over the Scottish Parliament Session. But the commitments from the largest nations in the G20 always seem to be heavily caveated. On Monday, the Prime Minister promised £1 billion in UK aid for climate finance, but—here is the catch—only if the UK economy grows as forecast. Exactly the same excuse is presented when it comes to the Government’s disgraceful policy of cuts to overseas aid. When will the UK Government stop caveating their commitment to climate justice, follow Scotland’s leadership and establish a climate justice fund?

    On Afghanistan, what concrete actions and timelines were agreed to help end the terrible famine that is ripping through that country? Finally, on covid, what specific targets and timelines were agreed to rapidly increase vaccine roll-out to those nations that are being left behind in the suppression of the virus?

  • Angela Rayner – 2021 Speech on the G20 and COP26 World Leaders Summit

    Angela Rayner – 2021 Speech on the G20 and COP26 World Leaders Summit

    The speech made by Angela Rayner, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, in the House of Commons on 3 November 2021.

    I thank the Prime Minister for advance sight of this statement, and for updating the House on the G20 summit in Rome. It cannot be overstated how crucial the next week and a half is. I am pleased that there has been some progress as the Prime Minister outlined, but the next 10 days need to move beyond prepacked announcements. This is an opportunity for Britain, alongside our friends and allies around the world, to deliver historic change. By taking action to reduce emissions right now in this decade, we can avoid the worst effects of climate change. That cannot just be a political ambition; it is a necessity for humanity.

    As the G20 ends and COP26 continues, I assure the Prime Minister that all Labour Members are desperate for it to be a success. We hope that our negotiations can bring people together and deliver urgent solutions to the biggest challenge our world has ever faced. However, there is some cause for concern. The G20 needed to be a springboard to COP26, and a real opportunity to show Britain’s diplomatic strength in bringing people together and applying pressure where it is needed. We need to convince the big polluters to meet the commitment to 1.5°, to find solutions to phase out fossil fuels, to ensure a just transition for workers, and to create a fairer and greener economy. However, the G20 did not achieve that, and the Prime Minister is failing in his efforts to convince world leaders that more must be done. He has welcomed commitments for the distant future, and I accept that, but he knows all too well that we need to halve carbon emissions now, and at least by the end of this decade, if we are to keep global temperatures down. It is time for urgent climate action now, not more climate delay.

    We all know how difficult it is to convince the world to curtail carbon emissions, but it is our responsibility to do so. It is the Prime Minister’s responsibility to influence world leaders and lead by example. As we try to convince other countries to phase out coal, the Government are refusing to make their mind up about coalmines within their borders. They could have followed the lead of the Welsh Labour Government and changed planning policy to ensure that no new coalmines were developed, but they did not. As we try to convince big emitters to do more on reducing emissions, unfortunately this Government are agreeing a trade deal with Australia that removes key climate pledges. They are undermining our messages by giving a free pass to our friends. When Britain must convince the wealthiest nations in the world to pledge more money to help developing countries cut their emissions and adapt to climate change, what have this Government done? They cut development aid that would have funded vital climate projects. How does the Prime Minister expect to convince others to do more, when he is setting such a poor example?

    I also want to raise global vaccinations. Last week the G20 agreed a vague promise to explore ways to accelerate global vaccination against covid-19, yet in some of the world’s poorest countries, less than 3% of people have received even one dose of the vaccine. We all know that we live in a globalised world, where the more the virus spreads, the greater the threat of new variants. We are not safe from covid here until people are safe from covid everywhere. There is no more time for rhetoric; it is time for action. The Prime Minister mentioned our efforts on vaccines, but last week it was revealed that the UK is lagging behind all other G7 countries bar one in sharing surplus vaccines with poor countries. That is shameful. Our fantastic scientists who developed the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine are being let down by our Prime Minister’s actions. We need booster jabs in Manchester, and vaccines shared with Madagascar. It is now time for actions, not words. As the world gathers over the next two weeks, we all hope for the breakthrough that we need. Britain has a proud history of building alliances and standing up for what is right, and I have no doubt we will be able to do that again. I wish the Prime Minister well in his efforts, and I ask him to pay attention and go for the detail on this. If he fails to deliver the change we need through this conference, we will all pay the price.