Strategic Defence Review 2025

Baroness Wheeler Excerpts
Friday 18th July 2025

(2 weeks, 1 day ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Wheeler Portrait Captain of the King’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard and Deputy Chief Whip (Baroness Wheeler) (Lab)
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I am sorry, but speakers in the gap have four minutes. Can the noble Lord please wind up? Thank you.

Lord Young of Norwood Green Portrait Lord Young of Norwood Green (Lab)
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I am winding up. I hope that the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, can give me an assurance that there will be jobs in the British clothing industry.

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Baroness Wheeler Portrait Baroness Wheeler (Lab)
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Can the noble Lord please sit down? This intervention is not appropriate: the winding speeches are now done and the noble Lord, Lord Robertson, will respond. Thank you.

Afghanistan

Baroness Wheeler Excerpts
Wednesday 16th July 2025

(2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Browne of Ladyton Portrait Lord Browne of Ladyton (Lab)
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My Lords, if the reporting is correct, I understand that the date of the super-injunction was 1 September 2023 and that it was granted at the instigation of the then Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps. Eight months later, in debates on the safety of Rwanda Bill, I repeatedly moved an amendment to exclude from deportation to Rwanda Afghans who had served with British forces but had arrived here via irregular routes, no safe route being available. As these debates were taking place, some of the very people I was trying to exclude were being flown here by the United Kingdom without almost any Member of this House or the other place being aware. Why was I not told? Why was your Lordships’ House not told? If that was due to the super-injunction, why did the Government not accept my amendment? If my noble friend cannot answer any of these questions because he was not in government at the time, can he guarantee that we will have a chance to ask those questions and get them answered?

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Baroness Wheeler Portrait Baroness Wheeler (Lab)
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We will hear from the Tory Benches.

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger Portrait Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Con)
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My Lords, as I am sure the Minister is aware, there are a number of Afghans who are on the run from the Taliban, some of them in Pakistan, terrified about being sent back. The Taliban threatened to hunt down any woman who had played a public role. Could the Minister tell me whether there were any Afghan women on the list that leaked?