Iran: Protests

Lord Singh of Wimbledon Excerpts

Monday 12th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Do you know what: the noble Baroness is right about this. Because we have been unable to gain access for journalists, citizen journalism has become all that we have, and the reports that have been able to be shared have been vital in alerting the world to what is going on. That can be said for very many of these precarious locations and places where it is difficult to gain access. The extent to which I am prepared to stand here and thank Elon Musk for anything is a different question, but I agree with her about the vital role that social media has played.

[Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)]

My Lords, to go back to the original Question, it is difficult to get President Trump’s support for international law when he is on record as saying that he does not agree with international law. Will the Minister try to ensure that no attempt is made to try to install the son of the disgraced ruler of Iran, whose behaviour led to the influx of the present regime, and instead give support to the National Council of Resistance of Iran, led by Madame Rajavi? She has a 10-point plan for democratic rule, free from religious interference and with equal rights for women, which is very important when we remember that one of the present rulers in the current regime said that women have smaller brains than men.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

That is the noble Lord’s view of what should happen next in Iran. The UK Government’s view is that the future of Iran and its leadership should be firmly in the hands of the people of Iran.