Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Theresa Villiers and Boris Johnson

Tuesday 28th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Boris Johnson]

I do not believe that my right hon. Friend has said anything of the kind or called for any such boycott, and nor do I believe for a second that he would be interrupted if he chose to go to Israel. I must stress that the policy of the Government is unchanged. We remain opposed to illegal settlements and we believe that they are an obstacle to peace. I have said that many times already in this House, but I am happy to repeat it to the hon. Lady.

[Mrs Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con)]

The main aim of the boycott movement is to delegitimise the state of Israel, so will the Government continue to strongly oppose it?

[Boris Johnson]

We certainly shall.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Theresa Villiers and Boris Johnson

Tuesday 21st February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Boris Johnson]

If the right hon. Lady is referring to Russian-led peace talks in Afghanistan, I think she is in error. Perhaps she is talking about the Astana talks on Syria. It is strongly our view and the view of all Syria-supporting countries that those negotiations should resume as soon as possible in Geneva.

The right hon. Lady talks about the UK’s contribution to Afghanistan, and I think that she and the whole House can be very proud of the sacrifice made by those 456 British troops who lost their lives over the past 15 years. Hundreds of thousands of women in Afghanistan are now being educated as a result of the sacrifice made by British troops and the investment in that country by the British people. There are people who are now getting food, water and sanitation, which they would not otherwise have received.

[Mrs Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con)]

2. What steps he is taking to support the negotiations for a settlement to re-unite Cyprus.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Theresa Villiers and Boris Johnson

Tuesday 10th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Boris Johnson]

The right hon. Gentleman seems, alas, to have been failing to pay attention to the salient point, which is that the Israeli diplomat in question is no longer doing his job in London—whatever his job is, he is no longer doing it in this city. The Israeli ambassador has made a full apology for the matter and I am happy to consider it closed.

[Mrs Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con)]

Will the Secretary of State agree to meet me and colleagues to discuss our grave concerns about resolution 2334, which my constituents believe will make peace in the middle east harder to achieve by imposing a complex set of preconditions that the Palestinians will use to avoid serious engagement in negotiation?

[Boris Johnson]

I am very grateful for that question, and I am happy to offer exactly such a consultation with colleagues. I know that the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), has already undertaken to do just that.