🗣️ Speeches and Debates
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My Lords, I normally bow to the views of the noble Lord, Lord Carlile, on these matters—I am not entirely sure I understand the point he made about split infinitives—but I am not sure he is right on this occasion; nor was the noble Lord who last spoke. The IRGC, for example, is not simply a military arm of the Iranian state. It also operates through propaganda, symbolism, recruitment and...
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My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord. I very much look forward to hearing him develop those points in Committee. Let me begin directly. Legislation of this kind is long overdue. As the Library briefing makes clear, the character of state threats has evolved over the years, and this legislation is necessary. It is not a criticism directed solely at this Government;...
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My Lords, now that we have recognised the Palestinian Authority, what discussions have the Government had with it, following worries expressed by the United States and the EU about the continued practice of paying a stipend to people convicted of killing Jews: “pay for slay” money? We have been promised that this would end. What discussions has she had with Palestinian authorities to...
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My Lords, the Minister said that there was no place for antisemitism online. However, I am afraid that antisemitism is alive and kicking online with, as the noble Baroness, Lady Berger, said, conspiracy theories, Holocaust denial and extreme Jew hatred. This is having a rotting effect on British society and is a serious threat to public safety, social cohesion and democratic trust. We have...
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My Lords, extremism in democratic societies rarely presents itself fully formed. More often, it emerges through gradual shifts—in what is tolerated, expected, and left unchallenged. These shifts are now visible: declining trust in institutions, tolerance of political violence, and the spread of conspiracy narratives. The question is not how we respond but whether we recognise the conditions...
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My Lords, the Prime Minister used his considerable communication skills to make it clear that he wanted to appoint Lord Mandelson to the post of ambassador. Why did he not use the same skills to make clear to officials that this would be only on the condition that Lord Mandelson passed the vetting process? If that had happened, the noble Baroness would not be at the Dispatch Box now and the...
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My Lords, many noble Lords had the opportunity in the last few weeks to hear directly from students. This report confirms all the things that they said. Does the Minister regard it as significant that the report found that both the college authorities and the police were slow and reluctant to take this on? What concrete action will the Government take to remind authorities and the police that...
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My Lords—
More of Lord Pickles's speeches and debates
✍️ Written Questions and Answers
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To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 27 November 2025 (HL12257), which specific organisations advocating for immunosuppressed individuals they have engaged with, and continue to engage with, throughout phase four of Exercise Pegasus.
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To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the IMPACT-se review published in November which reports instances of incitement and antisemitism in the new Palestinian Authority school curriculum; and what are the implications for their policy regarding the Palestinian Authority.
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To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with other donors to UNRWA and the Palestinian Authority regarding attaching conditionality to future funding linked to reforms.
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To ask His Majesty's Government whether the high value council tax surcharge valuations by the Valuation Office Agency will include (1) drive-by site visits, or (2) site visits within the curtilage of the dwelling, by valuation staff.
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To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Livermore on 14 May (HL7072), whether (1) garden sheds, (2) conservatories, (3) fish ponds, and (4) garden gnomes, within the curtilage of a domestic dwelling, are deemed to be a material consideration by the Valuation Office Agency when a property is valued for council tax in (1) England, and (2) Wales, including when...
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To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to assess whether students arriving in the United Kingdom from Gaza have expressed support for Hamas or any other proscribed organisation operating in the Gaza Strip.
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To ask His Majesty's Government whether Exercise Pegasus assessed the adequacy of government communication with clinically vulnerable populations during health emergencies.
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To ask His Majesty's Government whether they considered the impact of ongoing COVID-19 circulation on shielding immunocompromised patients as part of Exercise Pegasus.
More of Lord Pickles's written questions
