Counter-Daesh Update

Jo Swinson Excerpts
Tuesday 7th November 2017

(7 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Boris Johnson Portrait Boris Johnson
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My hon. Friend is right that Daesh and the phenomenon of Islamist terrorism is widespread and ubiquitous, but we can defeat it. Look at what we have done just in Iraq and Syria—removing Daesh from 90% of the territory it held. As I said, 2 million people are back in their homes. Daesh can be defeated in the ungoverned spaces where its fighters have made their homes and set up their headquarters, and it will ultimately be defeated in Afghanistan as well. I am not saying that this is for tomorrow or, indeed, for the day after, but we, and moderate Muslims everywhere, will win this struggle.

Jo Swinson Portrait Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire) (LD)
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The casual disregard for the truth shown by the Foreign Secretary in his campaign bus last year was bad enough, but his carelessness in the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe last week is unforgiveable. Does he realise that his words have a serious impact in this role? This is not a game. If he will not take his job seriously enough even to read his brief, he should step down and make way for one of his colleagues who will.

Boris Johnson Portrait Boris Johnson
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With great respect, I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave a moment ago.