All 1 Clive Efford contributions to the Legal Tender (Scottish Banknotes) Bill 2017-19

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Thu 11th Apr 2019
Arrest of Julian Assange
Commons Chamber

1st reading: House of Commons

Arrest of Julian Assange Debate

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Department: Home Office

Arrest of Julian Assange

Clive Efford Excerpts
1st reading: House of Commons
Thursday 11th April 2019

(5 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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My hon. Friend, a distinguished former journalist himself, is right in what he says. Press freedom in this country is sacrosanct, but by and large people who work in the press in this country are responsible.

Clive Efford Portrait Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab)
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I find it extraordinary that someone so rich and powerful—or powerful, anyway—can avoid an allegation of rape in the way that Julian Assange has for so many years, costing so much taxpayers’ money. Who is paying the £13.2 million bill that Julian Assange has cost us? Is it the people of London in cuts to their police service, or does it come from a central budget?

Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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I understand very much the hon. Gentleman’s sentiment; he speaks for many people across the House. He asks who has paid the bill. I referred earlier to the £13.2 million up to 2015. It has come from various sources, but each one is the British taxpayers, and that is why they will welcome the justice that has been done today.