Armed Forces Bill

Baroness Brinton Excerpts

3rd reading
Tuesday 27th October 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Brinton (LD)]

My Lords, I am speaking on behalf of my noble friend Lady Smith of Newnham, who seems to have gone down with the lurgy that affected the Front Bench on this Bill last week. She sends her apologies that she cannot be in her place.

On Report, my noble friend Lady Smith indicated that she supported the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig of Radley, in his intentions with his amendment. She is also delighted with the concession that the Government have given today. We are really pleased that it has happened—it is a simple but important amendment that brings commencement at the earliest opportunity, within the first half of the next financial year.

[Baroness Goldie (Con)]

My Lords, I apologise to the House for not being present last week for Report. I thank everyone who so thoughtfully sent good wishes. I also hope that the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, is making a return to full health. We certainly look forward to seeing him in his place. I am so sorry to learn that the noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Newnham, is unwell. I send her the best wishes of these Benches and hope that she is soon on the mend.

Happily, my noble friend Lord Minto is indestructible and fit as a butcher’s dog: here last week, here today. I thank him for his doughty efforts in my absence. I was watching avidly on my iPad from the dining room table and I think we all agree that his adversary, the noble Baroness, Lady Antrobus, plunged in at the deep end and acquitted herself admirably.

As my noble friend said last week, these Benches support the amendment tabled by the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig of Radley. Had he divided the House, we would have supported him. I welcome that the Government have addressed this issue with their amendment, and I am delighted to hear that the noble and gallant Lord is now content with the position.

I know it is no longer accepted practice to thank a cast of thousands at Third Reading, but, if noble Lords might indulge me for a moment, I would like to pay tribute to the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig of Radley. Not only did he serve our nation with distinction for 40 years; he has continued that distinguished service through his highly effective work in your Lordships’ House for a further three decades. At the age of 97— I do not know what he is on, but I want some of it—the noble and gallant Lord is still serving the nation. If ever there were a reason to abandon the plan to remove the over-80s from your Lordships’ House, I think the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig, encapsulates it.

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, and the noble Baroness, Lady Antrobus, for their constructive engagement as Ministers during the Bill’s progress, as well as the Bill team and everyone else who has assisted in its smooth passage.

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Antrobus]

That the Bill do now pass.

[Baroness Brinton (LD)]

My Lords, I apologise for not combining everything earlier—I was trying to follow the rules on speaking. I thank both Ministers, the noble Baroness, Lady Antrobus, and the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, and their officials for the meetings between Committee and Report and earlier during the passage of the Bill on some complicated issues. I agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie: I do not think that we were divided by politics on this Bill, and it has been really important that we were able to progress things. If my noble friend Lady Smith were here, she would say that she was particularly pleased that she was successful in your Lordships’ House on the single occupancy housing arrangements, which have strengthened the Armed Forces covenant. She hopes that that might be continued, with the support of the Government, at the other end. With that, I conclude the comments from these Benches.