I have just come back from an unusual, possibly unique, meeting. Iraqis from Iraq and England came together with some Israelis and Palestinians, the latter from both Gaza and recognized Israel. The gathering took place on neutral ground, in Cyprus. The dominant Shia tradition was present at a distinguished level, while the Sunnis had to…
My Question for Short Debate on 27th February 2014 I concentrated on Indefinite Detention without trial, and on killings of terrorist suspects by missiles launched from drones together with nearby civilians. The Government reply failed to deal with these points and left me disappointed. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldhansrd/text/140227-gc0001.htm#14022777000346
Can the current situation in Ukraine and Russia’s new assertiveness spin out of control?
I have noticed a new, irrational, approach to burying issues that the coalition does not like, and that is to label them “trivial” or to say that “we have more urgent priorities”. It came up in Any Questions on radio 4 today in relation to prenuptial contracts, and it was used to deflect my recent attempt…
On Thursday, the House of Lords approved various orders under the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013 to enable same-sex marriages to take place. You can read the debate here. The Government has managed to complete the necessary administrative action ahead of schedule, with the effect that the first marriage will be able to take place…
Representatives from local authorities and businesses in Devon and Cornwall are due to give evidence to the Commons Transport committee on Tuesday 25 February as part of the Inquiry into TRANSPORT’S WINTER RESILIENCE: RAIL FLOODING. They must insist on: 1. Urgent reopening and long term protection of the Dawlish part of the line, both from…
The Failure of the Two-State Solution – The Prospects of One-State in Israel/Palestine Pub: IB Tauris 2013, pp 336, with bibliography, index, footnotes etc Ed Professor Hani A Faris This book presents nineteen essays, nearly all by academics and scholars, from Israel and Palestine and the wider world. It examines the prospects and problems for…
On Thursday 13 February I had the pleasurable task of hosting the Honorary Award Holders Dinner for the University of East London; it was a chance for students, honorands, UEL colleagues and governors to get together to celebrate the work of this wonderful institution. It was held in the Cholmondeley Room at the House of…
Apparently without anyone noticing the Government’s has just published its response to the Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee’s recent report House of Lords Reform: What Next? The report effectively gave cross-party endorsement for making a little progress with ‘tidying-up’ the Lords, pending more wide ranging reform. A Private Member’s Bill, which could give effect…
