Following the fall of Assad in Syria, Sir John Whittingdale asks the Foreign Secretary to seize his assets in the UK
David Lammy Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement on Syria. Over less than a fortnight there has been an extraordinary change. What began as an opposition offensive in north-western Syria quickly became a headlong retreat by pro-Assad forces and, over the weekend, the fall of his murderous regime. […]
Sir John Whittingdale speaks in debate on Detained British Nationals Abroad
John Whittingdale Conservative, Maldon I congratulate my right hon. Friend Sir Iain Duncan Smith on securing the debate, and on the tremendous amount of work that he has done in this area. It is also a pleasure to follow Emily Thornberry, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which I have been delighted to join as a new member in […]
Sir John Whittingdale put question to Foreign Office Minister on Russian election interference in Georgia
Stephen Gethins Scottish National Party, Arbroath and Broughty Ferry (Urgent question): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the parliamentary elections in Georgia. Catherine West Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. […]
Sir John Whittingdale puts question to Defence Minister on the Chagos Islands
James Cartlidge Shadow Secretary of State for Defence (Urgent Question): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the impact of the Government’s Chagos negotiations on the UK-US defence relationship. Luke Pollard The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing this urgent […]
Sir John Whittingdale MP puts question to the Culture Secretary
John Whittingdale Conservative, Maldon May I commend the report from the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee, entitled “The future of news”? It highlights the threat from the unauthorised use of news content to train AI models. Will the Secretary of State consider, as a matter of urgency, strengthening the legislation in this area, and consider the introduction of a licensing […]
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation
Nusrat Ghani Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Ways and Means Before the debate begins, I remind the House of the application of the sub judice rule. It is extremely important that we respect the function of the courts. It is also important that we are able to discuss important matters. In civil cases, which are the […]
G20 and COP29 Summits
John Whittingdale Shadow Minister I strongly welcome the decision to allow Ukraine to strike against targets in Russia, from which missiles, drones and glide bombs are launched. In discussing how best to support Ukraine, will the Prime Minister say what progress was made in assisting Ukraine’s own military industrial sector to allow it to develop its own technology […]
Sir John Whittingdale MP speaks in response to Labour’s Budget
John Whittingdale It is a pleasure to follow Margaret Mullane, who made an excellent speech. She spoke with knowledge and passion about her constituency and about the challenges that face the residents of Dagenham and Rainham. Hers is a constituency I know well, since I drive back to my own on the A13 every week. Sometimes, when it is closed, as […]
International Engagement
John Whittingdale Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care) May I ask the Minister about another of the Foreign Secretary’s recent visits, to the Republic of Korea? Does she agree that the agreement to strengthen the defence and security dialogue with South Korea is very welcome, as is the condemnation of the support from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea—both with weapons and, […]
Sanctions: Iran
John Whittingdale I strongly welcome the regulations. As my hon. Friend Alicia Kearns and the Minister have made clear, Iran is a malign influence that is fuelling many of the most serious conflicts around the world. There was Iran’s horrendous attack on Israel recently, but there has also been its supply of weapons to Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis—and […]