Lawfare and UK Court System

Baroness Laing of Elderslie Excerpts

Thursday 20th January 2022 Commons Chamber

[James Cartlidge]

I will respond to the intervention first, because this is important. I said at the beginning that I would not comment on specific cases no matter how—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)]

Order. We will be very careful about specific cases. I understand the point that the right hon. Gentleman is making, but the Minister is being rightly careful. There are perhaps some discussions that might better take place not here in the glare of publicity.

--- Later in debate ---

[Liam Byrne]

rose—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)]

The right hon. Gentleman has already spoken, but he has the leave of the House to speak again.

[Liam Byrne]

This has been one of the most remarkable debates that I have sat through in 18 years in the House. The issue is extremely serious, there has been a high level of cross-party consensus and immense practical detail has been offered. I have been in the Minister’s position, when there is turbulence at the top. I urge him to keep his head down and to plough on. We cannot afford anything less.

Thirty-two years ago, President Gorbachev came to the Council of Europe and talked about his dream of a common European home and a single legal space, our great gift to the world. That dream is now shattered, but that means that we have a special obligation in this country, as the home of the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights, to be a beacon and a champion of freedom, rights and free speech. That is the challenge to which the Minister must now rise.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)]

I am glad that the right hon. Gentleman had the leave of the House to speak again.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this House has considered the matter of lawfare and the UK court system.