Iran

Lord Hamilton of Epsom Excerpts

Thursday 15th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

That is a really good point. The danger that those journalists doing that vital work are exposed to is often overlooked. Of course we keep their safety and security under constant review. I pay tribute to the work of the World Service. Those journalists—I have met some of them—are tremendous and vital, particularly at a time like this.

[Lord Hamilton of Epsom (Con)]

If the noble Lord, Lord Anderson, is right and there is unlikely to be any internal pressure to achieve regime change in Iran, the only thing that will achieve it will be outside military intervention. Do the Government support that, and is it likely to happen?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Obviously, we all have opinions about that, but I think it is probably better that I do not speculate about that kind of intervention at this point.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Hamilton of Epsom (Con)]

I have been listening to the noble Baroness’s answers, and I do not think I have heard an answer on whether the Government actually support regime change in Iran. I do not think she would be betraying any confidences if she can clarify that issue.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Our position is that regime change relies on the execution of the wishes of the people of Iran. We want to see the people there being able to live, as they are telling us they wish to, in freedom and able to exercise their fundamental rights, one of which is to protest without fear. At the moment, that is not possible. The regime there could take a different position, but we want to see a situation where those people can live without the fear that they are currently exposed to.