To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.

Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 29 Nov 2022
Humanist Marriages

"To ask His Majesty’s Government when they intend to give legal recognition to humanist marriages...."
Baroness Bakewell - View Speech

View all Baroness Bakewell (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Humanist Marriages
Written Question
Marriage: Humanism
Monday 7th March 2022

Asked by: Baroness Bakewell (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to grant full legal status to humanist marriages.

Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General

The Government will consider the case for comprehensive and enduring reform once the Law Commission has completed its review of marriage law. The Law Commission will present options for reforms to modernise marriage law. Options are expected to include offering couples greater flexibility to form their own ceremonies, allowing the ceremony to take place in a much broader range of locations and to provide a framework that could allow non-religious belief organisations (such as Humanists) and/or independent celebrants to conduct legally binding weddings. The report is expected in July 2022.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Fri 22 Oct 2021
Assisted Dying Bill [HL]

"My Lords, I support the Bill so eloquently proposed by the noble Baroness, Lady Meacher. I am, like her, a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, which gives support to all those seeking the freedom to make choices about their own death. It is the mark of a humane …..."
Baroness Bakewell - View Speech

View all Baroness Bakewell (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Assisted Dying Bill [HL]
Speech in Lords Chamber - Fri 27 Jun 2014
Divorce (Financial Provision) Bill [HL]

"My Lords, in the 1830s Caroline Norton campaigned for the Custody of Infants Act, which for the first time allowed women separated from their husbands—though not of course divorced—access to their own children. In the 1870s Caroline Norton went on to campaign for the Married Women’s Property Act, which allowed …..."
Baroness Bakewell - View Speech

View all Baroness Bakewell (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Divorce (Financial Provision) Bill [HL]
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 03 Apr 2014
Prisons: Education and Training

"My Lords—..."
Baroness Bakewell - View Speech

View all Baroness Bakewell (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Prisons: Education and Training
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 05 Mar 2014
Assisted Suicide

"My Lords, I speak as the writer and presenter of the BBC Radio 4 programme, “Inside the Ethics Committee”, which tells of individual dilemmas faced by those having to make decisions about terminal care.

Tonight I will speak of a particular case to make my point. A man is dying …..."
Baroness Bakewell - View Speech

View all Baroness Bakewell (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Assisted Suicide
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 05 Feb 2013
Defamation Bill

"My Lords, in speaking to Amendments 6, 7 and 9, I declare an interest. I am a member of PEN, the defender of writers’ rights, and have been briefed by it in the matter of public interest defence. However, I speak as a journalist of some four decades’ experience, schooled …..."
Baroness Bakewell - View Speech

View all Baroness Bakewell (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Defamation Bill
Speech in Grand Committee - Wed 19 Dec 2012
Defamation Bill

"My Lords, I had not intended to speak but I am one of the campaigners, and one of the signatories to many appeals, for the reform of the libel laws. I am a journalist and I am at risk. I am at risk every day I write or report for …..."
Baroness Bakewell - View Speech

View all Baroness Bakewell (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Defamation Bill
Speech in Grand Committee - Mon 17 Dec 2012
Defamation Bill

"My Lords, my contribution to this debate will be anecdotal. I am a lay person. I am not a very experienced parliamentarian. I am a journalist. Even as we were debating the Second Reading of this Bill, events were engulfing the BBC in the most significant scandal of recent years, …..."
Baroness Bakewell - View Speech

View all Baroness Bakewell (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Defamation Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 09 Oct 2012
Defamation Bill

"My Lords, this is indeed a momentous and welcome Bill, which has long been needed. Our libel law is out of date and recognised by many to have a chilling effect on free speech, not merely in this country but around the world. It has encouraged the phenomenon known as …..."
Baroness Bakewell - View Speech

View all Baroness Bakewell (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Defamation Bill