(Con): My Lords,
the problems of terrorism and extremism were mentioned more than
once in the gracious Speech, and I will speak on this subject.
Unfortunately, I have suffered civil strife and terrorism most of
my life, first as a young child in 1947, when killing and carnage
followed partition of India, then in Belfast where I have been
living since 1966. There were some 16 bomb attacks on my
businesses; I have been held at gunpoint and robbed while my
family was held hostage. I believe that such experiences qualify
me to speak on this subject...
(LD):...We in the House of Lords can lead the way
in defining the character of the United Kingdom. Is it be one of
which we are proud, that we are delighted to be part of, or do we
have to say, “This is not in my name”? Years ago, I dreamed of a
country that could be a model of moral leadership, and so on, in
the world. I thought of India when Mahatma Ghandi was
there. I thought of the victims of the Holocaust, who had been
through so much trauma themselves that they could surely lead,
but that was not so. Now, who do we choose? Which is that nation?
Now we are four nations: Wales—let us put Wales first—England,
Scotland and Ireland. Could we not be the nation that leads
morally in this ruptured world? I am proud to be a Welshman—your
Lordships might have gathered that over the years—and I want my
kids and grandchildren to have even more reason to be proud than
I do...
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