The resignation statement by Jeremy Miles, issued on 16 July 2024.
Tag: Speeches
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Shabana Mahmood – 2024 Swearing in Speech as Lord Chancellor
The speech made by Shabana Mahmood, the Lord Chancellor, on 16 July 2024.
My Lords, Ladies, friends, colleagues.
Lady Chief Justice, thank you for that welcome.
May I also take the opportunity to welcome Richard Hermer KC as he takes his oath today as Attorney General.
Mr Attorney, your deep expertise will be of enormous value to the Government…
And I know already that we will be allies to one another in our roles.
So too Sarah Sackman, who takes her oath as Solicitor General today.
Madam Solicitor, it took me 14 years from becoming a Member of Parliament, to serving in government.
You’ve done it in 5 days.
That is a fitting tribute to the talent and dedication you have shown to upholding the rule of law throughout your career.
I look forward to working closely with you in the months and years ahead.
I must say what an honour it is to take my own oath as Lord Chancellor today.
There once was a little girl in Small Heath, one of the poorest areas of Birmingham…
Who worked behind the till in her parents’ corner shop.
Yes, she took great inspiration from Kavanagh QC, that brilliant barrister with working class roots…
But she never dared to dream she would be sitting before you all today…
Counted among the holders of this ancient role.
So believe me, I know: along with some fairly idiosyncratic outfits, comes great responsibility.
I hold this office in the very highest regard.
I do so not just as a former barrister, but as the child of immigrants.
My parents weren’t steeped in Magna Carta, Habeas Corpus and the Bill of Rights – as I would one day be.
But they did have a strong sense, arriving here in the UK from rural Kashmir, that this country was different:
That there are rules, some written and some not, that we abide by:
Queues must be observed, near religiously…
Weather must be discussed, pretty compulsively…
But also, more seriously, there are institutions, like our courts, that are incorruptible…
And that, in this country, no-one is above the law, not even the government, and none are below it either.
To have so many of my family here today, stretching the limits of my guestlist quota, means a great deal to me.
And while I have the chance:
Mum, Dad, can I just say: jazakallah khair, thank you.
Instilled as a child, my respect for the rule of law grew stronger as I grew older:
First, studying law at university…
Then, in practice.
And it was never felt more keenly than when appearing before a member of our fiercely independent judiciary…
I can now confirm that the same tingle of nerves never goes away…
Even when you’re the Lord Chancellor appearing alongside the Lady Chief Justice.
I’d also like to thank the man who set me on my way in the law, to whom I will forever be indebted:
My pupil master – William Audland KC – who is squeezed between members of my very large, extended family in the gallery today.
I understand it’s customary for a new Lord Chancellor to draw parallels with an eminent predecessor when they take their oath…
I had a good old look around for a Lord Chancellor who looks or sounds like me, but drew something of a blank.
That’s right, folks. There wasn’t a single Brummie.
There was one who leapt out though, whose example I hope to follow:
Frederick Elwyn-Jones.
We share a few things in common:
Our Inn of Court – Gray’s.
Our political party – Labour.
As a barrister he had a passion for human rights, and was a prosecutor at Nuremberg.
I – and this government – will follow his example in defending the international rule of law and upholding human rights.
And we will certainly not be seeking to extricate ourselves from the landmark human rights convention drawn up in the aftermath of that war.
Elwyn-Jones served as Lord Chancellor for 5 years between 1974 and 1979.
By recent standards, that counts as an eternity.
I certainly hope to emulate his longevity.
It is said that he was the first Welsh speaking Lord Chancellor for centuries.
I wonder what he would’ve made of the first Lord Chancellor to speak Urdu.
I’ve carried the weight of many identities in this career…
It is a privilege, but also a burden…
I am always aware that, for the good of those who come afterwards, getting this wrong – I usually use less temperate language – isn’t an option.
But getting it right can open doors.
When I walked into the Ministry of Justice for the first time…
10 days ago, though it feels like 10 months…
I walked past the portraits of my recent predecessors:
The good, the bad and the ugly.
They all looked alike, and not much like me.
So, at the very least, I hope my appointment shows the next little girl…
In Small Heath, or wherever she may be…
That, in this country, even the oldest offices in the land are within reach of us all.
The responsibilities of this ancient office are as real today as they ever were.
The rule of law is more than an ideal.
It is more than a vague concept, employed only by academic lawyers…
It is the most enduring of British values.
We are a nation that believes in due process…
We are a nation where the law has the final word, not the mob…
And we are a nation where our disputes, however fierce, are resolved by debate and argument.
For politicians of all stripes, the law looms large.
As parliamentarians, we are not only advocates for our constituents, we are legislators…
Charged with making and shaping the laws our society will live by.
But it is our independent courts who must then interpret and enforce those laws, with no hint of political interference.
And I take seriously my oath to defend your independence…
You are the guardians of the rule of law and at the heart of our legal prestige.
It is a job that requires deep expertise, knowledge and integrity…
As you make decisions on some of the most difficult ethical and technical issues of our time…
You must be free to make them without political pressure and undue influence.
You must never be subjected to the kinds of attacks that we saw in recent years…
When newspaper headlines branded those who uphold the law: “enemies of the people”.
I will be a champion for the rule of law, and our judiciary, inside Cabinet and in our government, at home and abroad.
I will say ‘no’ where ‘no’ is warranted…
Even if, at times, I frustrate my ministerial colleagues in doing so.
After all, that frustration is not a failure of our system, but an essential feature of it.
The final part of my oath places a duty on me to ensure the provision of resources for the courts…
Which is where safeguarding access to justice truly begins.
I must first take the opportunity to acknowledge the complete dedication shown by those who work in our courts and tribunals…
And how hard you have worked to recover from the effects of the pandemic.
I know the challenges faced in our courts, and across the justice system, are very deep indeed.
I hope you saw last week, in the emergency measures that we have taken to address the prisons crisis…
That I will do what it takes to ensure justice can be done in this country.
But I know there is so much more that must be addressed:
Justice delayed is all too often justice denied…
And this has proved particularly true of women and girls who are the victims of violence and abuse.
So we must work hard across the justice system to ensure cases are heard sooner and justice is done in a timely way.
We must also continue the modernisation of our courts and tribunals – criminal, civil and family.
And we need legal aid that is fit for the needs of the modern world.
I don’t pretend that any of these have easy answers…
Nor that everything will be solved quickly.
But I can say that I will fight for our justice system…
And that I intend to be in that fight for the long haul.
Chapter 4 Verse 135 of the Quran reads:
O ye who believe!
Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah…
Even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin…
And whether it be (against) rich or poor:
For Allah can best protect both.
This is the fundamental articulation of how we, as Muslims, view justice in how we deal with the world.
It places justice above all else.
Upholding justice is the ideal that has guided my life.
It ties together both where my family came from, and the great nation we chose to call home.
And so I will fight for it, every day…
With the fierceness of many generations of small but mighty Kashmiri women…
Inherited from my mother.
And I will pursue the hard work of rebuilding our justice system…
With the dogged determination I inherited from my dad…
Who came to this country to make a new life for his family – and never took “no” for an answer.
To swear this oath today is the greatest honour of my life.
But, more even than that, it is the greatest of responsibilities.
I will work tirelessly to discharge its duties and to defend justice.
Thank you.
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John Healey – 2024 Statement on the Armed Forces Review
The statement made by John Healey, the Secretary of State for Defence, on 16 July 2024.
At the start of a new era for Britain, we need a new era for defence. Hollowed-out armed forces, procurement waste and neglected morale cannot continue. Meanwhile, we need to be clear eyed about the threats we face, with the world becoming more volatile and technology changing the nature of warfare.
In response, our armed forces need to be better ready to fight, more integrated and more innovative. We need clearer accountability, faster delivery, less waste and better value for money.
The Review will ensure that Defence is central to the future security of Britain and to its economic growth and prosperity.
This new era requires a new type of review that moves at pace. The Prime Minister and I will therefore draw on both external military, industrial and foreign policy experts, and those from inside Government, to help set the path for Britain’s defence for the next decade. Together, we will make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.
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Keir Starmer – 2024 Statement on the Armed Forces Review
The statement made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 16 July 2024.
We live in a more dangerous and volatile world. My government will forge a new clear-eyed approach to our national defences, equipping us to tackle international threats head-on while keeping the British people safe and secure.
I promised the British people I would deliver the change needed to take our country forward, and I promised action not words. That’s why one of my first acts since taking office is to launch our Strategic Defence Review. We will make sure our hollowed out armed forces are bolstered and respected, that defence spending is responsibly increased, and that our country has the capabilities needed to ensure the UK’s resilience for the long term.
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Jim Allister – 2024 Speech in the House of Commons at Start of New Parliament
The speech made by Jim Allister, speaking on behalf of the Traditional Unionist Voice, in the House of Commons on 9 July 2024.
I join in the congratulations and best wishes expressed to you, Mr Speaker-Elect. I have observed your speakership from a distance, and now I will have the benefit of observing it rather more close up. With me on my best behaviour, and with you at your tolerant best, I trust that we will have a mutually cordial relationship. I will certainly draw on your guidance and the experience that you bring to this House.
I come to this House on behalf of my constituents in Northern Ireland with a very clear message: Northern Ireland’s place within this United Kingdom must be restored. We must end the partitioning of our kingdom by a foreign border, and we must end a situation in which 300 areas of law in Northern Ireland are controlled not by this House, and not by Stormont, but by a foreign Parliament. That is an appalling constitutional affront, and my focus in this House will be on playing my part in seeking to redress that gross inequity.
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Sorcha-Lucy Eastwood – 2024 Speech in the House of Commons at Start of New Parliament
The speech made by Sorcha-Lucy Eastwood, the Alliance MP for Lagan Valley, in the House of Commons on 9 July 2024.
Thank you, Mr Speaker-Elect. I warmly congratulate you on your re-election.
I am here as the new MP for Lagan Valley and representative for the Alliance party of Northern Ireland. My presence here demonstrates a changing, more shared and more integrated Northern Ireland. Of that, we in Alliance are very proud.
Mr Speaker-Elect, you have managed business smoothly and fairly, including ensuring that smaller parties have had their voices heard. Given the greater diversity of parties in this House, that leadership and precedent becomes even more important. I also want to put on the record how well you represented Parliament on the world stage, and at the time of the passing of our late Queen and the coronation of our new King.
I also want to associate myself with the Prime Minister’s remarks about this job being one of public service. All of us in this House owe a debt of gratitude to our constituents. I will never forget the constituents of Lagan Valley, and I join everyone in the whole House in looking forward to committing myself to public service for all.
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Colum Eastwood – 2024 Speech in the House of Commons at Start of New Parliament
The speech made by Colum Eastwood, the Leader of the SDLP, in the House of Commons on 9 July 2024.
Thank you, Mr Speaker-Elect. I am very glad to be back and very glad to see the results of the election. Many people in Northern Ireland are delighted with it. We look forward to holding the new Government to account for the promises that they have made to the people of the north of Ireland.
I want to take this opportunity to welcome all the new Members—even the ones I profoundly disagree with. The one piece of advice I would give every new Member is to remember that the Speaker does not just chair the meetings; he is the boss. He is in charge of everything around this place and it would do well for you not to fall out with him. In fact, even a bit of sucking up is sometimes good. I want to take this opportunity, as I say that, Mr Speaker-Elect, to congratulate and thank you for all the fantastic work you did over the last Parliament. You were a champion, as you said yourself, for Back Benchers and for the smaller parties. Even when some of us pushed very close to the line, when we felt that certain things had to be put on the record of this House—he knows what I am talking about—you were there to protect us from some of the legal authorities who would like to get at us. Thank you very much for that.
Mr Speaker-Elect, I wish you all the best in corralling this new House. It is very diverse in terms of representation and in terms of opinion. I look forward to the end of tribal politics—I think that will be a sight to behold. Congratulations.
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Adrian Ramsay – 2024 Speech in the House of Commons at Start of New Parliament
The speech made by Adrian Ramsay, the Co-Leader of the Green Party, in the House of Commons on 9 July 2024.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker-Elect, and congratulations on the support you have received from across the House today. I can already say, on behalf of the new cohort of Green MPs, that we have been very pleased with the support you have given us. You have shown that you go out of your way to support new Members in this House, and to support MPs from all parties to be able to hold the Government to account and represent our constituents. I know that I speak on behalf of all the Green MPs—and, I am sure, all new MPs—in saying that we are very conscious that we are here first and foremost to be constituency MPs, to represent our residents. We appreciate your support in enabling us to do that.
May I associate myself with the remarks of the Prime Minister about the importance of politics being about public service? I very much hope that in this new Parliament we can all move to a less tribal form of politics, where we work together where we can agree and move things forward in the national interest.
Mr Speaker-Elect, thank you for your support, and congratulations.
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Liz Saville Roberts – 2024 Speech in the House of Commons at Start of New Parliament
The speech made by Liz Saville Roberts, the Leader of Plaid Cymru, in the House of Commons on 9 July 2024.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llefarydd. I, too, rise to congratulate you on your re-election as Speaker of this House, and to wish you well in presiding over this historic Session of the new Parliament. I am heartened that, for the first time in history, the proportion of women elected here is over 40%. More than half of those are new to this House. It is fantastic to see steady progress towards proper representation.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate not just the incoming Government on their victory, but the smaller parties in this place. All of us here, whether we belong to the largest parties, the smallest parties or no parties at all, were elected in the same way. Whatever the size of our parliamentary grouping, the principle of one vote, one value is the foundation of our democracy. That principle should be cherished and defended for the sake of all our constituents.
I repeat to the House what I said upon your election all those years ago: all those constituents are equal and they all deserve respect. We begin the work of representing and championing our constituents, and I have every confidence, Mr Speaker-Elect, that you will continue to ensure that representatives here are treated fairly, because our constituents should be treated fairly, too. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
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Nigel Farage – 2024 Speech in the House of Commons at Start of New Parliament
The speech made by Nigel Farage, the Leader of Reform UK, in the House of Commons on 9 July 2024.
Mr Speaker-Elect, thank you very much. We are the new kids on the block. We have no experience in this Parliament whatsoever, even though some of us have tried many times over the years to get here, so we cannot judge you from working in this place, but we can judge you from how the outside world sees you. I mean not just the United Kingdom but the world, because Prime Minister’s question time is global, box office politics. It is pretty clear to everyone that you act with great neutrality and that you have brought tremendous dignity to the role as Speaker, so we absolutely endorse you entirely for this job. That is, I must say, in marked contrast to the little man who was there before you, who besmirched the office so dreadfully in doing his best to overturn the biggest democratic result in the history of the country. We support you fully, Sir.