Baroness Kennedy of Shaws Portrait

Baroness Kennedy of Shaws

Labour - Life peer

Became Member: 27th October 1997


Human Rights (Joint Committee)
31st Jan 2023 - 30th May 2024
Justice and Home Affairs Committee
14th Apr 2021 - 31st Jan 2023
EU Justice Sub-Committee
12th Jun 2015 - 2nd Jul 2019
European Union Committee
8th Jun 2015 - 1st Jul 2019
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
16th May 2012 - 30th Mar 2015


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Baroness Kennedy of Shaws has voted in 36 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Baroness Kennedy of Shaws Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(8 debate interactions)
Lord Collins of Highbury (Labour)
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
(6 debate interactions)
Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour)
Minister of State (Home Office)
(4 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Leader of the House
(6 debate contributions)
Home Office
(3 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(2 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Baroness Kennedy of Shaws's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Baroness Kennedy of Shaws, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


2 Bills introduced by Baroness Kennedy of Shaws


A Bill to make provision about prevention of and response to genocide and other atrocity crimes.

Lords Completed

Last Event - 3rd Reading
Friday 17th May 2024
(Read Debate)

A bill to enable the Secretary of State or an immigration officer to refuse entry, or to vary or curtail leave to enter or remain which has already been granted, to a person who is known to be, or to have been, involved in gross human rights abuses and who is not a UK or EEA national

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 22nd January 2020
(Read Debate)

Baroness Kennedy of Shaws has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 7 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
24th Feb 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Ryan Cornelius’ health and treatment while in detention in the United Arab Emirates.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) prioritises Mr Cornelius' welfare. Since he was first detained in 2008, FCDO consular staff in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been in regular contact with him. If Mr Cornelius has any health or welfare concerns, with his consent, we can raise these with the UAE authorities.

Lord Collins of Highbury
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
24th Feb 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made, if any, on behalf of Ryan Cornelius in the ongoing negotiations for the free trade agreement between the UK and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Consular cases are not raised as part of trade negotiations. We continue to provide consular support to Ryan Cornelius.

Lord Collins of Highbury
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
24th Feb 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to impose targeted sanctions against the individuals responsible for the arbitrary detention of British citizen Ryan Cornelius in the United Arab Emirates.

Sanctions can be used to achieve a range of foreign and security policy objectives. We use sanctions when they complement other tools as part of a wider strategy. We consider designations under our sanctions regimes, including the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations, guided by the evidence and the objectives of the sanctions regime. It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.

Lord Collins of Highbury
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
24th Feb 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to make a new appeal for clemency for Ryan Cornelius by the end of Ramadan, in accordance with United Arab Emirate law; and whether they plan to make a public statement in support of this plea for clemency.

The Minister for the Middle East submitted a supporting letter alongside Mr Cornelius' clemency application to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, on 30 January ahead of the next round of pardons. The Government's support of Mr Cornelius' clemency application is already public.

Lord Collins of Highbury
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
24th Feb 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of fair trial rights in the United Arab Emirates, in the light of the cases of British citizens detained there, and considering the recent UAE84 mass trial highlighted by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

The UK has a strong history of protecting human rights and promoting our values globally. We continue to encourage all states, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to uphold international human rights obligations.

Lord Collins of Highbury
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
7th Oct 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in the light of the urgent appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture of 12 September regarding the detention conditions of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong.

We are aware of the urgent appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture with respect to British national Jimmy Lai and are deeply concerned by the allegations of torture and mistreatment it makes. The Foreign Secretary raised Jimmy Lai's case in his first meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the ASEAN Summit on 26 July and his case remains a priority for this Government. I met with Sebastien Lai and Jimmy Lai's international legal team on Tuesday 8 October. We will continue to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and immediately release Jimmy Lai and we will continue to press for consular access.

Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)