"My Lords, is this not a question of letting people choose whether they wish to vote or register to vote? This seems an easy thing. I hate to agree with the Government on this, but taking caution is a very sensible thing to do...." Lord Robathan - View Speech
"My Lords, back in 2010 I knew the Prime Minister slightly; he has probably forgotten me. He was a rather nice man, I thought, and I did offer to help him with his first election campaign for leader. He did not accept me, and the MPs who knew him did …..." Lord Robathan - View Speech
"My Lords, will the Minister explain to Natural England that game crops put out tend to lead to a vast number of songbirds? It is not by chance that they go there to feed. Will she explain that to it so that it can perhaps stop trying to assault people …..." Lord Robathan - View Speech
"My Lords, I used to deal with mines a little, in clearance and so on. What is it that we cannot do now that we used to be able to do? Can we not just clear mines as we used to do, or is that too difficult?..." Lord Robathan - View Speech
"How many NATO counterparts with whom the Minister has discussed this, particularly the Americans, have agreed with his summation of political problems?..." Lord Robathan - View Speech
"My Lords, may I say that this is a disappointment, to put it mildly? I am on the same side as the Minister on this. This, I assume, was what led John Healey to resign—I suspect that it was the same document. Given that, does he think that any other …..." Lord Robathan - View Speech
"My Lords, I have kept two hares in my time: one 50 years ago, and one about 10 years ago. They were absolutely delightful. I would not dream of hurting hares, and I would not dream of shooting one. However, this is quite difficult, because the close season for hares …..." Lord Robathan - View Speech
"The Minister has been making a very good meal of this, and I pay tribute to her. I am going to America next week; does she share my deep embarrassment that this country, renowned for its integrity, appointed this shocking man as ambassador?..." Lord Robathan - View Speech
"My Lords, the point is that £100,000 is not a huge amount of money. I am glad that the Labour Peers want to pay, but it is very important to encourage people to stay here to keep their money in the country. If they are taxed beyond belief, they will …..." Lord Robathan - View Speech
"My Lords, while of course I welcome the King’s gracious Speech, the lack of some attention to the needs of this country is staggering. I could speak about HS2, which the noble Lord, Lord Adonis, allegedly has marked on his heart. I do not think that is true, but there …..." Lord Robathan - View Speech