Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Steve McCabe Excerpts
Thursday 11th November 2010

(14 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who has raised a really serious issue. The coalition Government intend to introduce a defamation Bill during this Session.

Steve McCabe Portrait Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)
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Can we have a debate about the House’s attitude to the barbaric policy of ritual stoning to death in Iran, and can we use that debate to hear the Leader of the House’s response to the call by Birmingham Conservative councillor, Gareth Compton, for the stoning to death of the journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown? Will such disgraceful behaviour be tolerated?

Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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Stoning to death is a barbarous form of punishment, which the Government and I am sure all Members deplore. I hope that no elected person will threaten any member of our society with that sort of punishment.