Chinese Espionage: Parliament

Debate between Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent and Lord Watts

Monday 13th October 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

While I have huge respect for the noble Lord, I absolutely will not. This was an independent decision made by the CPS: there was no ministerial or special adviser involvement. The Deputy National Security Adviser, without interference, gave three different witness statements to the CPS for its use. This is not a matter of us not assisting the case: this is an independent matter for the CPS.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, does the Minister agree that, while all embassies have spies in them, the larger the embassy, the more spies can fit in? Is it appropriate to have an embassy the size of the one that has been proposed for China?

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

My Lords, I never thought I would be discussing real estate and espionage, but we find ourselves in a strange set of circumstances. I thank my noble friend. As he is very well aware, the decision about the future location of the Chinese embassy is a matter for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and a decision will be brought forward in due course.

Falkland Islands: Fisheries Exports Tariffs

Debate between Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent and Lord Watts

Thursday 10th July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

I wish the noble Lord had had that conversation with the previous Government, but he is right. I have been to the Falkland Islands—I went in 2018—and it is an incredibly important part of the British family in terms of its sovereignty. As regards what happens next, a key point in our conversations with the American Administration has been on the impact of tariffs, which is why I am so pleased that only today they have paused the tariff that would have had an impact on the Falkland Islands economy. We are working with the Falkland Islands Government at every opportunity, as we are with all of our overseas territories.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, is this not another case of where it has been a disadvantage to Britain to leave Europe? We were promised lots of benefits. When are those benefits going to arrive?

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

My Lords, I live in Stoke-on-Trent, and I campaigned for remain in a 72% leave constituency. There are some elections I was definitely never destined to win. My noble friend will be aware that this Government are committed to making Brexit work. There is no point in looking back at this point; now we have to fix some of the problems that we have inherited.

European Union: Court of Justice

Debate between Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent and Lord Watts

Wednesday 26th February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

There are times when I get all the easy questions.

I thank the noble Baroness for her question, but I have to disagree. I would never criticise the independence of any judiciary.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, is the Minister grateful that the Opposition keep raising the problems that have been created since Brexit? Have any of them contacted her to apologise for the mess they left?

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for his question. I think we did have an apology from the current leader of the Opposition who, on 16 January, said:

“We announced that we would leave the European Union before we had a plan for growth outside the EU”.


I think that is probably the closest we will get to an apology.

High-speed Rail Services: West Coast Main Line

Debate between Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent and Lord Watts

Wednesday 4th September 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, this side!

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

My apologies: I believe that this is a question for the Conservative Benches.