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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 04 Mar 2026
Security Update

"My Lords, does this not reflect the flaw in the approach of successive Governments to China? They have all said that we will engage with China where it is appropriate, trade with it where it is appropriate and contest it where it is appropriate. That would be fine if those …..."
Lord Stirrup - View Speech

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Division Vote (Lords)
4 Mar 2026 - Crime and Policing Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Stirrup (XB) voted No and in line with the House
One of 6 Crossbench No votes vs 6 Crossbench Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 52 Noes - 146
Division Vote (Lords)
4 Mar 2026 - Crime and Policing Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Stirrup (XB) voted Aye and against the House
One of 28 Crossbench Aye votes vs 13 Crossbench No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 41 Noes - 181
Division Vote (Lords)
4 Mar 2026 - Crime and Policing Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Stirrup (XB) voted Aye and in line with the House
One of 18 Crossbench Aye votes vs 2 Crossbench No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 213 Noes - 145
Written Question
Economic Crime
Tuesday 3rd March 2026

Asked by: Lord Stirrup (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of criminal financing mechanisms, including cash payments and cryptocurrencies, in enabling hostile state-linked sabotage and arson attacks; and what steps they are taking to disrupt such financial flows.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

National Security is the first duty of Government. The 2025 National Security Strategy identifies illicit finance as a core enabler of threats to the UK, including those posed by hostile states.

The Government’s 2025 National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, developed with expert input from across government, law enforcement and the private sector, further sets out a system‑wide assessment of money laundering risk, including cash‑based and cryptoasset‑enabled money laundering. It estimates that over £12 billion in criminal cash is generated annually in the UK, and that $1.7 to 5.1 billion in illicit cryptoasset transactions are linked to the UK each year. Both of these money laundering routes can be exploited to support hostile state activity.

The Government is committed to disrupting these illicit financial flows. We have already made significant progress through Economic Crime Plan 2, including bolstering law enforcement capability through providing the funding for the recruitment of 475 FTEs dedicated to tackling money laundering, investing in advanced cryptoasset tracing, and introducing amendments to the Proceeds of Crime Act in April 2024 that give law enforcement clearer powers to seize and recover cryptoassets.

Following completion of Economic Crime Plan 2, we will publish a refreshed approach to economic crime, including anti-money laundering and asset recovery, which will set out a strengthened whole‑system approach to tackling illicit finance.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 03 Mar 2026
Defence Industrial Strategy 2025: Economic Growth and Job Creation

"My Lords, the defence industrial strategy will have no economic effect. What might make an impact is a defence investment plan, backed up by the necessary level of resources. The absence of such a plan is undermining business confidence and investor confidence. When will the Government start taking such crucial …..."
Lord Stirrup - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 03 Mar 2026
Gibraltar Treaty

"Can I ask the Minister a point of clarification? I think I understood him to say this in his opening statement. Is it the British Government’s legal position that the nature of entry requirements to Gibraltar is a matter for the Gibraltar Government and not the UK Government?..."
Lord Stirrup - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 26 Feb 2026
Resetting the UK-EU Relationship (European Affairs Committee Report)

"My Lords, I add my thanks to all the witnesses who contributed to this report, to the committee staff who worked so hard to bring it together and, not least, to the noble Lord, Lord Ricketts, for his excellent chairmanship and clear and comprehensive introduction to the report. In the …..."
Lord Stirrup - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 25 Feb 2026
British Military Equipment: Chinese Components

"My Lords, the fact that 85% of all drone components worldwide come from China illustrates the urgent need for a more resilient supply chain. The development of such a supply chain depends on the placing of orders in the appropriate industries to build up their capacity. In the UK’s case, …..."
Lord Stirrup - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 25 Feb 2026
British Military Equipment: Chinese Components

"My Lords—..."
Lord Stirrup - View Speech

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