Bangladesh: Attacks on Hindu Community

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Monday 2nd December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Catherine West]

I commend my hon. Friend for her commitment to the communities in her constituency. I want to emphasise that in my visit last month, freedom of religion or belief, the protection of minorities, and general law and order were right at the top of the agenda. The UK is at hand to support Bangladesh at this difficult time, when law and order, and stability, are at risk.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Clearly, it would have been expedient to have had a special envoy for religious freedom in place; it is all very well for the Minister to say that such an appointment is under ministerial consideration. What is the problem? Do the Government not have anyone committed enough or talented enough to do it?

[Catherine West]

I am a big believer in mainstreaming all these important responsibilities, because having a special envoy for freedom of religion or belief sometimes lets the Minister off the hook. As the representative of the UK in Dhaka, I see it as my responsibility, and mine alone, to make the case for the Hindu community or any other persecuted minority. I am not going to wash my hands of that and let somebody else do it. The responsibility is being mainstreamed across every single ministerial brief as we speak.

St Helena: UK Immigration

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Monday 21st October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Doughty]

I do not agree with the right hon. Gentleman’s characterisation of St Helena. It is a wonderful place with wonderful people, and its Government have voluntarily entered this agreement. It is obviously a much more suitable place, were people theoretically to arrive, than BIOT, which is not suitable. I am very confident that all our processes comply with international law.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

The opportunities available to any migrant are vastly greater in Rwanda, aren’t they?

[The Minister for Border Security and Asylum (Dame Angela Eagle)]

Why didn’t they go there, then?

British Indian Ocean Territory: Negotiations

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Monday 7th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lammy]

There is seriousness behind my hon. Friend’s question. I reassure him that the Defence Secretary and I have sought to secure a deal that secures the future of the base long after any of us in this Chamber are left. In particular, it ensures that China cannot locate on any of the other islands, as well as Diego Garcia. In truth, that is why the President, Defence Secretary and Secretary of State of the United States have welcomed this deal. It is also important to recognise that India has welcomed this deal—it does not want China in its backyard.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

How does the cost of leasing compare with the savings that the Government are making on the winter fuel allowance?

[Mr Lammy]

The right hon. Gentleman will be able to return to these issues when the treaty is before the House. He must wait, as I do, for the Budget of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Tuesday 12th March 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Mitchell]

I hope that I have set out my broad agreement with what the hon. Gentleman says. Britain wants to see steps taken against illegal settlements and settlers who have committed crimes—we want to see them arrested, tried and punished for those crimes. We want to see the Palestinian Authority reinvigorated, with new leadership and a strong approach to taking up the roles that it will need to fulfil when the sky clears and there is a moment for the political track to begin.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

3. What assessment he has made of the steps needed to secure a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.

[David Duguid (Banff and Buchan) (Con)]

13. What assessment he has made of the steps needed to secure a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Mr Andrew Mitchell)]

We need a humanitarian pause to get aid in and hostages out, leading to a sustainable, permanent ceasefire. We are pressing for this with Israel, regional leaders and our wider international partners, including the United States.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

Given the importance of their role, the Palestinian Authority will require thoroughgoing reform, won’t they?

[Mr Mitchell]

My right hon. Friend is right, and that is why both the Foreign Secretary and the noble Lord Ahmad have been in discussions with the Palestinian Authority and the wider regional community—to try to ensure that when the moment comes, as I set out in my response to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Wayne David), the Palestinian Authority are able to seize it.

Ceasefire in Gaza

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Wednesday 21st February 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We now come to the Scottish National party motion on Gaza. I understand that the second motion on the Order Paper will not be moved today.

This is a highly sensitive subject, on which feelings are running high, in the House, in the nation and throughout the world. I think it is important on this occasion that the House is able to consider the widest possible range of options. I have therefore decided to select the amendments both in the name of the Prime Minister and in the name of the Leader of the Opposition.

Because the operation of Standing Order No. 31 would prevent another amendment from being moved after the Government have moved their amendment, I will, exceptionally, call the Opposition Front-Bench spokesperson to move their amendment at the beginning of the debate, once the SNP spokesperson has moved their motion. At the end of the debate, the House will have an opportunity to take a decision on the official Opposition amendment. If that is agreed to, there will be a final Question on the main motion, as amended.

If the official Opposition amendment is not agreed to, I will call the Minister to move the Government amendment formally. That will engage the—[Interruption.] Order. I am going to finish. That will engage the provisions of Standing Order No. 31, so the next vote will be on the original words in the SNP motion. If that is not agreed to, the House will have the opportunity to vote on the Government amendment. Proceeding in this way will allow a vote to take place, potentially, on the proposals from each of the three main parties.

I can inform the House—[Interruption.] Just let me finish. I can inform the House that there is a precedent for an official Opposition spokesperson being called second in the debate and moving an amendment before—[Interruption.] Order. Does somebody want to leave? I am determined to finish. I can inform the House that there is a precedent for an official Opposition spokesperson being called second in the debate and moving an amendment, before a Minister has been called to speak in the debate. In that circumstance, however, no Government amendment had been tabled.

I should also inform the House that the Clerk of the House will be placing in the Library a letter to me about today’s proceedings. I have asked for that letter to be made available in the Vote Office as soon as possible.

Finally, I should tell the House that in my opinion the operation of Standing Order No. 31, which governs the way amendments to Opposition day motions are dealt with, reflects an outdated approach—[Interruption.] Order. Members will be going and not be voting—

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Bring back Bercow!

[Mr Speaker]

That is the first one to leave, then.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

Bring back Bercow!

Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Monday 29th January 2024 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

What circumstances would change the Government’s policy towards Israel, which is currently determined to oppose a two-state solution?

[Mr Mitchell]

My right hon. Friend reflects one strand of opinion in Israel, but he does not reflect the fact that there are many others. There is, not only inside Israel but across the region, internationally and at the UN, a very clear understanding that a two-state solution is the right answer. People may disagree about how we get there, but most accept that that is the destination.

Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Tuesday 24th October 2023 Commons Chamber

[Chris Clarkson (Heywood and Middleton) (Con)]

2. What recent discussions he has had with the Government of Israel on the situation in Gaza.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

10. What recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Palestinian Authority on a two-state solution.

[Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)]

12. What recent reports he has received on the situation in Israel and Palestine.

--- Later in debate ---

[James Cleverly]

I can reassure my hon. Friend that we always ensure that UK aid money is protected from misappropriation. I can confirm to him and the House that no British aid money goes directly to the Palestinian Authority. We have raised this issue with the Palestinian Authority and highlighted our belief that it is not conducive to good relations and a future two-state solution.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

What are the prospects of a two-state solution, given the pace of Israeli settlements on the west bank?

[James Cleverly]

The Government’s long-standing position is that we oppose settlement expansion, for the reasons I have highlighted extensively in the conversations that I have had with the Israeli Government and the leadership of countries in the region. Despite the terrible circumstances we are experiencing, there is a renewed desire for a meaningful resolution that means that the terrible images that we saw on 7 October will never be repeated.

Violence in the West Bank

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Tuesday 4th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Anne-Marie Trevelyan]

This Government and Members on both sides of the House do not waver from the two-state solution that we all wish to see. As I have said, settlements are illegal under international law and we will continue, alongside allies and partners, to make that point clear. As for the ongoing activity today, I hope that Lord Ahmad will be able to pick up on that later today as progress is made with our counterparts in Israel.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

But hasn’t our strategic partnership with Israel, announced in this House, afforded us any leverage over Israeli policy in the west bank?

[Anne-Marie Trevelyan]

Our strategic relationship with Israel is a strong and long-standing one. We work with Israel in many areas, from security to trade. It is an important partner. That does not negate the fact that we want to see a de-escalation of the current situation and to ensure that the loss of civilian lives is minimised.

Sudan: Atrocities

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Thursday 22nd June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

I join the hon. Gentleman in thanking my right hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford for her deep expertise and experience, and for tabling this urgent question today.

We did not ignore warnings. We have absolute confidence in our diplomats, our civil servants, and those members of our institution who have deep expertise in Sudan. They do not have a crystal ball; they cannot predict every last machination in a conflict that is highly complex and extremely volatile. Diplomacy is the art of the possible, as is peacebuilding, and that is where our diplomacy, considerable humanitarian investment and expertise will be focused.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

On the Wagner Group, my hon. Friend said that he keeps matters under constant review and close watch. When will it be time to stop watching and do something?

[Leo Docherty]

I cannot comment on any timescale; it would be inappropriate for me to do so.

Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Thursday 20th April 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Mitchell]

The right hon. Gentleman is right on the second point that he makes. I should explain to him that while his description of the governance arrangements is entirely correct, we do our best to remain even-handed in assisting the cause of peace in the middle east, and that is the point we were making. We were not equating the two forms of governance in the way that he feared.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

May I associate myself with the condolences, the tribute and the condemnation that my right hon. Friend has expressed from the Dispatch Box? Has he considered the possibility that sooner rather than later we will need to decide what our priority is? Is it to preserve even the physical possibility of a two-state solution, or is it to maintain at quite the current level of intensity the strategic partnership that he has announced with the current Israeli regime?

[Mr Mitchell]

My right hon. Friend, with his usual incisiveness, poses an important and interesting question, but the position of the UK Government is precisely as I have set out, and I hope that he will therefore reflect that all these discussions we are holding are aimed at that singular end.