Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Sultan of Brunei on the new anti LGBT laws in that country; and if he will make a statement.

The Foreign Secretary spoke to Brunei’s Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dato Erywan, on 4 April in order to express the UK’s deep concern over Brunei’s decision to implement the final phases of the Sharia Penal Code.

I raised UK concerns with the Sultan about hudud punishments during my visit to Brunei Darussalam in August 2018 and delivered a statement to the House of Commons on 4 April addressing the the implications of Brunei’s decision.

Additionally the British High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan regularly discusses our concerns with the Government of Brunei and has received assurances that the Common Law will continue to operate in parallel with the Sharia Penal Code.

Commonwealth Heads of Government most recently met in the UK in April 2018. His Majesty The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam was present. A communique issued by the leaders included the most progressive language yet on LGBT rights, complimented by an historic speech from the Prime Minister. The UK strongly supports and defends the rights of the LGBT+ community globally. The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and all its forms. The UK upholds international human rights laws relating to torture, or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment.

We will continue to encourage and work with the Bruneian Government, as with many other countries, to remove corporal and capital punishment from their statutes. We will also urge them to take steps to decriminalise and pass laws to protect LGBT people from all forms of discrimination.