Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Debate between Baroness Fox of Buckley and Lord Harper

Committee stage
Friday 20th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Harper (Con)]

I will be very brief in my response to that because of the time. That has nothing to do with this issue; this is a completely separate issue. Deciding on assisted suicide is not the same as allowing abortion to term without any legal consequences, which is an extreme provision supported by only 1% of the British public—but I accept that Parliament made a different decision. Those two issues are not connected in any way, so that issue is not relevant to this debate. We raise these issues—real concerns about how this would operate in practice—but we are still waiting to hear specific answers from the sponsor of the Bill. If we had answers earlier, we might make faster progress.

[Baroness Fox of Buckley (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, I cannot let the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, get away with that. What happened on Wednesday night was a separate issue. As it happens, I argued for a change in the law in relation to decriminalising abortion—but now I am on this side. This sort of easy “swatting away”, “culture war”-style argument is unhelpful. People, in good faith, are concerned about the lack of safeguards in this Bill.

I do not agree with the idea that no one wants to get to Report. I would much prefer to be voting on aspects of the Bill, because a wide range of the concerns that have been raised could be addressed through amendments tabled by the sponsor of the Bill so that we can get on with it. That is what I would want.

The only reason we are discussing Wales, as far as I am concerned, is what has happened since we discussed it on the first day in relation to the Senedd’s decision. It is a perfectly appropriate thing to raise. The idea that we are wasting time talking about Wales—said by people who apparently respect devolution—seems a bit rich. We want to get to Report, and we should keep the insults out in order to do so.

Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025

Debate between Baroness Fox of Buckley and Lord Harper

Thursday 3rd July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Harper (Con)]

My Lords, I declare an interest as I had a recent trip to Israel, organised by Conservative Friends of Israel, to learn more about the consequences of the terrorist events of 7 October.

I had not intended to speak in this debate had it just been the statutory instrument in front of us. I was provoked into doing so by the amendment from the noble Baroness, Lady Jones, which I think is misplaced. I have to say that my experience is that, when Members advance arguments and are not willing to take questions, it is usually the sign of a very weak argument. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Hain, for taking an intervention. That shows somebody who has confidence in their arguments and is prepared to have them challenged. The fact that the noble Baroness was not even prepared to take an intervention from a single noble Lord I think demonstrates that she does not actually think her arguments are that strong.

[Baroness Fox of Buckley (Non-Afl)]

My Lords—

[Lord Harper (Con)]

Of course I will take an intervention.

[Baroness Fox of Buckley (Non-Afl)]

The noble Lord had little choice then.

First, I think it is entirely inappropriate in this discussion, which is fraught enough, to assume you know which side people are on around the Israel-Gaza situation. The noble Baroness, Lady Jones, and I disagree wholeheartedly, but I agree with her that there is real concern over this particular issue. Secondly, when you are trying to make a contribution and are heckled, with people standing up and calling out, and you are basically on a minority side, I think it is perfectly respectable for noble Lords to accept that you do not want to take interventions. To draw any other conclusion from that has a really unpleasant, nasty vibe about it.

I am actually shocked. I am generally on the side of the people backing this proscription. At one point, listening to the noble Lord, Lord Beamish, I thought maybe people were being proscribed for misinformation. I have got to the point now where I do not know what the terrorist act is. However, I think it is completely wrong to assume that there is cowardice involved in not taking points from other Members.