Iran: Protests

Lord Swire Excerpts

Monday 12th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hussain (LD)]

My Lords—

[Lord Swire (Con)]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

The noble Lord speaks from his own perspective of the people of Iran and their capability of changing the regime in their country. All I would say is that much has changed in the decades since the events that he alludes to. I hope that the people of Iran, through their own voice, their own protests and the things that they are able to do themselves, are able, sooner rather than later, to bring about a Government who represent them so that they are able to live in freedom and to live their lives in the way that we are all able to.

[Lord Swire (Con)]

We owe the security services our respect and thanks for thwarting over 20 assassination attempts on British soil against Iranians. This situation will not die down. I suspect that both sides will become more entrenched and the regime, if it is trying to hold on, is likely to become more violent towards those who oppose it. With that in mind, what can the Minister say to reassure those brave Iranians living in the United Kingdom that everything will be done to protect them from agents of a foreign power who may seek to carry out atrocities against them on British soil?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

That is such an important point. As the noble Lord reminds us, our security services have done amazing things in preventing so many attempts at attacks on this country. We will not stand for it; we will take whatever measures necessary to keep everybody in this country safe. The noble Lord is talking in particular about those who have drawn the attention of the Iranian regime, and we will continue to do that. Our security services are alive to the increased threat that they face at present, and they will continue.