Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 15th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab)]

But can the Foreign Secretary confirm that, actually, UN law is whatever communists in Beijing say it is? There is a whiff of Bosnia of 15, 16, 17 years ago about all this. We do not want the Foreign Secretary to talk about discussions at the UN, empty EU statements and NATO meetings that result in nothing; we want him to discover his mojo and take a lead in putting policies in place before Benghazi falls.

[Mr Speaker]

We thank the right hon. Gentleman. I call the Foreign Secretary.

[Mr Hague]

I will make a point of hoping never to discover what motivates the right hon. Gentleman, and never to partake of any of it. [Interruption.] Labour Members are agreeing with me.

I do not accept that UN law is made in Beijing. It is important to have a clear legal base for actions we take internationally, as well as widespread international support and demonstrable need, and since the British Government, along with the French Government, have been absolutely in the forefront of ensuring that all the international sanctions and measures so far have been taken, the right hon. Gentleman is not in much of a position to criticise.

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am sorry that some colleagues are disappointed: the demand today is huge and the supply limited.