Former Prime Minister Imran Khan

Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Viscount Stansgate

Thursday 26th March 2026 Grand Committee

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)]

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend Lady Alexander of Cleveden for securing this debate, and I thank all noble Lords for their contributions. The welfare and rights of detainees in Pakistan are concerns for many in the United Kingdom, particularly the British Pakistani community, and I recognise the strong feelings that this subject evokes. I welcome the opportunity to set out the United Kingdom’s approach.

I begin by underlining that Pakistan’s judicial processes are, of course, a matter for Pakistan; this has been the consistent position of successive UK Governments. However, we are clear—and I restate this today—that the Pakistani authorities must respect fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial, due process, humane detention and access to appropriate medical treatment. These principles apply to Imran Khan, just as they apply to every citizen of Pakistan.

The noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, raised concerns about Mr Khan’s health and his detention conditions. We note the findings of the Supreme Court-mandated medical team and reports of medical procedures, including during this month. We also note the Islamabad High Court’s decision not to order an immediate hospital transfer, instead directing a further clinical review. While we do not comment on specific judicial decisions, we are clear that detention must be humane and that credible allegations of mistreatment should be investigated promptly and impartially.

Family access has been highlighted by several noble Lords, including the noble Lord, Lord Mohammed of Tinsley. The Government recognise the importance of prisoner-family contact, particularly in cases involving long-term detention or significant medical treatment. Decisions on visits, though, visas and entry to Pakistan, rest solely with the Government of Pakistan. Our consular support applies to British nationals. I know noble Lords understand this and that Imran Khan is not a British national, which limits the role that we can play. It is important that I restate that distinction, but I am happy to agree to speak to my friend, Minister Falconer, with a view to arranging the meeting that noble Lords have requested.

In response to my noble friend Lady Goudie, I can confirm that Ministers and senior officials have raised with Pakistani counterparts the need to uphold civil and political rights, including due process and humane treatment of detainees. This includes engagement between the Minister for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Deputy Prime Minister Dar in August last year. There were also discussions with the then Foreign Secretary, now the Deputy Prime Minister, who specifically raised Imran Khan’s case during his visit to Pakistan in May last year.

The British high commissioner to Pakistan has also raised Imran Khan’s case at the highest levels, most recently with Pakistan’s Minister for Law and Human Rights last month. In our engagement, we raised wider concerns about democratic freedoms, the conduct of the 2024 elections, media freedoms and the use of military courts for civilians. We consistently urge the Pakistani authorities to examine concerns thoroughly and transparently to uphold democratic rights.

This is a short conclusion to a thoughtful, calm, well-informed and important debate. Let me finish by returning to the central point of today’s debate. The Government’s position is consistent and principled. Pakistan’s judicial processes are, of course, as many have said this afternoon, a matter for Pakistan. But like the noble Lord, Lord Hussain, we expect Pakistan’s authorities to uphold fundamental rights, fair trial standards, due process, humane detention and access to appropriate medical care for all detainees, including Imran Khan.

Where we have concerns, we raise them. Without interfering in Pakistan’s domestic matters or advocating for bespoke arrangements, we remain committed to supporting Pakistan’s democratic resilience, its human rights protections, and the stability and prosperity that will flow from strong and accountable institutions, as noble Lords have said. We do so as long-standing partners; we engage constructively and honestly, and this is in the UK’s national interest. I thank all noble Lords for their contributions and look forward to continuing to work with colleagues on these important issues.

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Viscount Stansgate) (Lab)]

My Lords, the debate we were due to hold on the UK’s civil preparedness for war has had to be postponed, because we have run out of time. I take this opportunity to wish all Members, clerks, doorkeepers and our Hansard writers a peaceful and restful Easter Recess.

Strait of Hormuz

Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Viscount Stansgate

Wednesday 18th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

My Lords, in begging leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper, I hope the House will understand why it is being asked.

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)]

Iran’s reckless actions in the Strait of Hormuz are having damaging consequences for the global economy and putting the lives of those aboard civilian vessels in danger. As the Prime Minister said, we are working with our allies and partners on a viable collective plan to return freedom of navigation to the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impacts. That is not a simple task, but the Strait of Hormuz needs to be reopened to ensure stability in the market.

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for that Answer. The House knows how the closure of the Strait of Hormuz poses a real risk to the world economy, not only because one-fifth of global oil supplies cannot be moved but because of the growing risk of fertiliser shortages and the effects on food supply and food and energy prices. Does my noble friend agree that this difficult and complex problem is going to require us to work with our strategic partners in the region and to make use of innovative technology, such as drones, to keep the waterway open and enable trade to resume? Does she also agree with the words of the Prime Minister earlier today:

“The best way forward is a negotiated settlement”,


rather than the continuation of this war?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I agree with my noble friend and I thank him for putting it that way. All these situations ultimately end in resolution through dialogue and negotiation, but this is an urgent situation and the United Kingdom will work very closely with our allies and partners across Europe, the GCC and elsewhere to support the resolution of this.

US National Security Strategy

Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Viscount Stansgate

Tuesday 16th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Clearly, it is for the United States to make its own assessment of risks to the US. We have, as my noble friend says, made our own assessment of the threat Russia poses. We do of course discuss these things constantly with the US, but as I say, it is for the US to make its own judgments about the threat to it.

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

My Lords, I would not expect my noble friend to pass public judgment on the national security strategy of the United States—that is a matter for the US—but it is a remarkable document. Although I am reassured by what my noble friend said about what happened in Congress last week, nevertheless, the UK and Europe must react to it. Will my noble friend reassure the House that the Government will look even more urgently at preserving certain sovereign capabilities in critical areas such as defence, space and critical national infrastructure? This is a new world to which we must adapt accordingly.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

It is right that the world has changed, and it had changed before the most recent strategy was published. Decisions had already been taken by this Government and others to increase spending on defence and security more generally. Principally, that has of course been driven by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, but we must also take into account the words of and decisions being made by other allies and partners.

Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill

Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Viscount Stansgate

Committee stage
Tuesday 18th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Viscount Stansgate) (Lab)]

The noble Baroness has moved that the House do now resume. I will take advice as to whether it is debateable. It is debateable, in which case the Motion now stands before the Committee.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I wish to oppose the noble Baroness in the suggestion, because I think we have made some good progress this evening and had some good debates. We are about to discuss some very important issues around the marine protected area. I am here and ready to do that, despite the bizarre late degrouping for no apparent reason, when we had a repeat of an earlier debate. I think it would be good to make some progress this evening.

HIV/AIDS: US Withdrawal from WHO

Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Viscount Stansgate

Thursday 20th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Absolutely not. Why would we do that? It is our ambition to regain the 0.7% spend on official development assistance. We have been very clear about that. Why would we repeal that legislation? I find it very difficult that we are spending so much money on housing asylum seekers and migrants in the UK out of our ODA budget. I do not think that is what we should be doing. The previous Government completely lost control of the borders of this country and we have inherited this situation. The Home Office is working hard to get the numbers down and to reduce the spend so that money can be spent where it is needed most. We did make the decision—and it was a difficult one for this Government—to prioritise spending on defence. I do not think I need to explain to noble Lords why we did that. It is a decision I support, and I will be working incredibly hard, with allies and partners, to make sure that the money that we do have is spent wisely, and that we get the best value for money for British taxpayers and the most impact that we can for our partners overseas.

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

My Lords, last week, I co-hosted on behalf of the parliamentary Science and Technology Committee a meeting of STOPAIDS in this House. We heard from people from Africa whose ability to access drugs had, in one case, enabled a woman to live to become a grandmother. We heard about the devastating effect, mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, of the cuts in USAID, for which we are not responsible. I hope my noble friend the Minister will understand that, to the extent that Britain can continue to play its part in trying to reach the 2030 target, it must use the resources, scarce though they are, to enable this work to continue. We cannot allow the world to go backwards. This needs to be tackled now.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I completely agree. There are encouraging things happening around some of the medical devices and the drugs that can be used now to provide protection against HIV, including devices for which women are in control of their use, because we are seeing an increase in prevalence among women and young girls. There are encouraging things happening, but it would be incredible to stand here and say that the situation that we now find ourselves in is not far more challenging than it has been more recently.

Prime Minister: Meeting with Prime Minister of Canada

Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Viscount Stansgate

Wednesday 12th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Stansgate]

To ask His Majesty’s Government when the Prime Minister expects to meet the new Prime Minister of Canada.

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)]

My Lords, as the Prime Minister said in the House of Commons, the UK and Canada are the closest of allies. The Prime Minister has congratulated Mark Carney on his forthcoming appointment as Canada’s new Prime Minister. He looks forward to working closely with him on shared international priorities through the G7 and to further deepening the UK-Canada relationship together.

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend the Minister for that Answer. Mr Carney is indeed well known in this country. In the light of growing tension and destabilising global uncertainty, with the world apparently changing in front of our very eyes, does my noble friend agree that the Prime Minister has been skilfully navigating his way towards a different role for the UK in international affairs? In that context, when he next meets the Prime Minister-elect of Canada, will he be able to offer some reassurance to a fellow head of a Commonwealth Government that the UK values its friendship with Canada and its close links and ties, and that Canada will, and should, remain a sovereign country?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

My Lords, the UK and Canada are of course the closest of allies. We have a proud history of partnership built on shared values. We share a sovereign; we are among the oldest parliamentary democracies in the world; and the British and Canadians fought bravely alongside one another in two world wars, and in nearly every major conflict for more than a century. It should go without saying that the future of Canada lies solely in the hands of the Canadian people.

Ukraine

Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Viscount Stansgate

Tuesday 25th February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

That is completely right, and I thank the noble Lord for reminding us of it. The idea that this conflict does not directly affect the people of the United Kingdom is wrong. It is important that we remind people in our country that the conflict in Ukraine and the invasion by Russia are a threat to our security here.

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

My Lords, the House has been united on Ukraine and I hope it will be united in wishing the Prime Minister well in his visit to Washington. The Statement we are discussing now should have been taken in conjunction with the Statement made by the Prime Minister in another place about defence spending. Does my noble friend agree that the world is changing before our eyes? The recent UN vote, to which reference has already been made, is the most dramatic example from the last 80 years of the fact that we may have to face a future in which the protection of America is not there, in the way that it has been all my life.