International Women’s Day

Lord Singh of Wimbledon Excerpts

Wednesday 5th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

My noble friend raises a very important point. I do not have the exact details in front of me on the issue she raised and where it is going to go next. I know that she will be critical as we take the Employment Rights Bill forward, and she will make sure that the concerns she has are absolutely front and centre of the work that we do.

[Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)]

My Lords, religion still plays an important part in many lives. Religious texts written centuries ago often denigrate women. Most people learn to skip over those bits, but the extremists latch on to them. Is it not time to ask religious leaders to interpret those texts in the context of today’s times for guidance to their followers? That is the only forward, to get away from the kind of situation we find in Afghanistan.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

The noble Lord raises an important point, though I am not sure I am fully qualified to answer the points he raises. However, I am always intrigued by translations of religious texts and how certain aspects have been accepted. There is a lot more debate to be had on this. I am proud particularly of the city where I come from, where our religious leaders work tirelessly together to come forward with common understanding and means to move forward and to achieve equality for all.