Extract from report stage
(Lords)(day 2) of the Trade Bill
(Lab):...My Lords, I
had no intention of entering this debate other than to support the
amendment. However, I must make a point to the noble Lord,
, because he raised it. What
we heard from him is all too familiar. When my mother’s family came
to this country 120 years ago as Jewish immigrants from Russia,
exactly the same charges were being made about a flood
of Jewish immigrants arriving in this
country and, potentially, destabilising it and making it a more
difficult place to live. Does any noble Lord in this House think
that that generation of Jewish immigrants did anything other
than contribute massively to the wealth and prosperity of this
country? This absurd argument is trotted out every 100 years—mostly
from his Benches, I am afraid—yet it is always fallacious and,
frankly, very upsetting and quite disturbing...
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Extracts from Lords
debate on Bahrain: Human Rights
(Con):...It is the leading country in the Gulf region in
terms of political development, education for all, freedom of
religion, employment law and the emancipation of women. It is one
of only two GCC states with a freely elected Parliament, the
current Speaker of which is a woman. My noble friend mentioned
the two women who were ambassadors to the UK and the USA, one a
Christian and the other Jewish. The capital, Manama, is a
religiously diverse city, housing Sunni, Shia, Christian, Jewish
and Hindu places of worship. The Council of Ministers regularly
has at least one, and often several, female Ministers. Bahrain’s
appointed Upper House of Parliament always includes at least one
member of Bahrain’s Jewish and Christian communities—currently,
both female—and someone with a registered disability...
(LD):...If we
look at religious freedom in Bahrain, I believe that the capital,
Manama, is one of the most religiously diverse cities in the GCC,
with places of worship of Sunni, Shia, Christian, Jewish, Sikh
and Hindu faith across the city. Bahrain also has a history of
appointing non-Muslim ambassadors, both Christians and Jews, for
example to the UK and the USA, as was mentioned earlier...
(Con):...The violence that rocked the Middle East during
the Arab spring left its scars on Bahrain. It is a small country
where it was never an issue if you were Sunni or Shia or, for
that matter, Jewish, Christian or Hindu. It was
suddenly thrown into turbulence during the 2011 uprisings. The
ensuing troubles were a cause of sadness and deep concern to a
country which had long embraced democracy, where women had been
given the vote in 1950 and where men and women, Sunni and Shia,
were free to stand in all elections, and where significant
reforms including human rights were already taking form under the
office of the Crown Prince...
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Extract from
Westminster Hall debate on Application of the Family
Test
(Glasgow Central)
(SNP):...As Conservative Members present will know well,
the policy also has a disproportionate impact on people of
religious faith—those who will not use contraception or do not
believe in abortion. People who have four children and are
affected by the policy lose out, and that disproportionately
affects those of religious faith, including the Jewish community, who have spoken out
against the policy—as has the Church of England—and those of
Muslim faith. That is out-and-out despicable. The Government do
not accept that, but it is absolutely true. Furthermore, the
two-child policy will have a chilling effect as it impacts on
thousands of families throughout the country. People will lose
out on their entitlement and on their ability to support their
family, which is ridiculous...
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