G20 and COP29 Summits Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

G20 and COP29 Summits

Tom Tugendhat Excerpts
Thursday 21st November 2024

(1 day, 14 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Keir Starmer Portrait The Prime Minister
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I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising the important issue of the west bank and settlements. It is a major and escalating cause of concern and has been for some time. Certainly, sanctions have been imposed in the past and will continue to be imposed.

Tom Tugendhat Portrait Tom Tugendhat (Tonbridge) (Con)
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I welcome the Prime Minister’s statement condemning China’s actions, but can he make a commitment here, now and completely clearly that, before any Minister meets any Chinese official, they will meet with the family of Jimmy Lai, or indeed any of the other many Hongkongers who are here and whose families have now been detained. We know—we can brief the Prime Minister on this—that there are Hongkongers who are threatened by the Chinese state here in the UK today, and it is his job to defend the people of this country, not to bow to the people in Beijing.

Keir Starmer Portrait The Prime Minister
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Defending the people of this country is what we do every day. Raising these important issues is the right way to do it. I was very clear about what I raised, and that is a matter of public record, as the right hon. Member will well know.