Prime Minister's Update

Debate between Mike Wood and Boris Johnson

Wednesday 25th September 2019 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I do not know, Mr Speaker, whether you think the hon. Gentleman’s question is in order, but I will answer him none the less by pointing out what he should know—if he had read the judgment or listened to the judgment—that the court did not impugn the motives of the Government at all.

[Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con)]

The main constitutional functions of this House are to choose and sustain the Government and to legislate. Since this Parliament seems incapable of doing either, is not the correct constitutional way forward a general election so that voters can decide between a Conservative Government to deliver on the Brexit referendum or one of the Opposition parties to overturn it?

[The Prime Minister]

My hon. Friend is completely right. It is quite extraordinary that the so-called party of the people absolutely refuses to trust the people. I urge them once again, as I think there is still time: if they want to go for a no confidence vote, now is the moment.

Syria: De-escalation Zones

Debate between Mike Wood and Boris Johnson

Monday 26th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Boris Johnson]

The hon. Lady asks an important question. As I said to the House, careful records and tabulations are being made of exactly what is happening with a view to holding the perpetrators to account.

[Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con)]

The overwhelming majority of abuses in Syria have been committed by the Assad regime and his backers. Will the Foreign Secretary assure us that everything will be done to ensure that those who flout international law and human rights laws will be held properly to account?

[Boris Johnson]

We will certainly do everything we can both to gather the evidence that is necessary and to hold the perpetrators to account.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mike Wood and Boris Johnson

Tuesday 21st November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con)]

16. The UN has made it clear that Muslims in Rakhine state should receive a legal status that allows them to lead a normal life and, in time, be granted full nationality, with freedom of movement and access to labour markets, education and health services. Will my right hon. Friend continue to press those demands through the United Nations and directly with the Burmese authorities?

[Boris Johnson]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that that is critical. If those 608,000 people are to have any confidence about the prospect of their return, they must have clarity about their citizenship and their treatment when they come back to Burma and Rakhine. That is why the Annan plan makes it absolutely clear that there must be citizenship rights and investment in the development of equal treatment for all of Rakhine’s ethnic groups.

Counter-Daesh Update

Debate between Mike Wood and Boris Johnson

Tuesday 7th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Boris Johnson]

I thank my hon. Friend very much. It is absolutely true that, as far as we know, and as the figures that I have seen suggest, we have no reports of civilian casualties as a result of RAF action. Obviously we cannot be sure, but we do not have any evidence to the contrary. I therefore really do pay tribute to the skill and the effort of the RAF crews—and very, very brave people they are too.

[Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con)]

May I congratulate the Foreign Secretary on the fact that 46 countries co-sponsored his UN resolution on bringing Daesh to justice, which was then unanimously supported in the Security Council? Does not this show that Britain is both leading diplomatic efforts against Daesh and rallying the international community around this important cause?

[Boris Johnson]

It is a vital cause, and we will continue the pressure. I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s support.