Muslims: Population Growth and Sharia Law

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Tonge

Monday 30th April 2018 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

The noble Lord never loses an opportunity to weave something about the Royal Navy into a question. I did not think that he would manage it today, but he has. I am very happy to join him in paying tribute to the Royal Navy.

[Baroness Tonge (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, will the Minister launch an investigation into the growth in the number of people named Pearson in this country and assess what effect it is having on racial harmony?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I get the noble Baroness’s point.

Terrorist Attacks

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Tonge

Thursday 22nd June 2017 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

As my noble friend knows, terrorists do not like democracy. We certainly had to perform a balancing act in the wake of the terrorist attacks. We wanted to give respect to the dead, which was extremely important. The feeling in Manchester was visceral; these were little children who had been murdered. I thought that after the Manchester attack it was right to give a longer period of respect during the election period. However, we did not want democracy thwarted either, so after the third attack, which was so close to the general election, activity was resumed at a much quicker pace. I think we got the balance right, and I think the cross-party view was that we got the balance right.

[Baroness Tonge (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, I thank the Minister for repeating the Statement. I share her horror at recent events and extend my condolences to the victims and their families. I wonder whether the House will join me in commending the imam of the Finsbury Park mosque, who held back a lot of very angry people who wished to attack the perpetrator of that event, and in doing so demonstrated the rule of law, which is surely one of the most noble of our British characteristics.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

From the noise that the noble Baroness is hearing she will be able to tell that the whole House agrees with her. I sometimes wonder whether the bravery of ordinary people is something that I would be capable of, and that imam was absolutely wonderful.