Victory in Europe and Japan: 80th Anniversaries

Lord Kerr of Kinlochard Excerpts

Thursday 20th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Craig of Radley (CB)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kerr of Kinlochard (CB)]

My Lords—

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Balfe (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kerr of Kinlochard (CB)]

My Lords—

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Blake of Leeds) (Lab)]

If we conduct our business appropriately, we will still have time for other Members to come in. We have not heard from the Liberal Democrats.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Berkeley (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kerr of Kinlochard (CB)]

My Lords—

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Blake of Leeds) (Lab)]

We will hear from the Cross Benches, please.

[Lord Kerr of Kinlochard (CB)]

My Lords, I agree with the need to involve allies. I would like to say a word about the need to involve former enemies as well. My uncle was shell-shocked and injured at Kohima. My father was one of the first Army doctors to go into Bergen-Belsen; I think he was the first. They would have said that it is very important that commemoration should also be mingled with reconciliation. It is important that, on VE Day, the Germans are fully involved, as the Japanese should be on VJ Day.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

We are trying to involve all nations appropriately. One of the clearest indications of how we work with those countries that were previously our enemies is shown in the steadfast allyship particularly of Germany in relation to conflict in Europe.