Tag: valedictory

Bishop of Southwark gives valedictory speech on importance of humanitarian law and human presence in conflict

The Bishop of Southwark gave his valedictory speech in a debate on the future capability of the armed forces on 16th July 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Harlech, for bringing this debate. Let me begin my valedictory address by making it clear that it is not my intention to advise His Majesty’s Government on the number of dreadnought battleships they should be laying down or what the future of the Blue Streak missile programme should be. I wish to address some wider issues that I believe are directly relevant to our future capability and which arise out of our current situation.

Quoting from the Global Peace Index 2026, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Norwich reminded the House during a debate on the Armed Forces Bill on 6 July that

“the world has continued its longstanding trajectory of deteriorating peacefulness”.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about government steps towards securing release of British citizen in custody in Hong Kong

In his valedictory contribution in the House of Lords on 22nd May 2025, the Bishop of St Albans tabled a question on government efforts to secure the release of Jimmy Lai from Chinese custody:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty’s Government what recent steps they have taken towards securing the release of Jimmy Lai.

Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab, FCDO): My Lords, British national Jimmy Lai’s case is a priority for this Government. We continue to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and release him. The Foreign Secretary committed in the House of Commons that Ministers would raise Jimmy Lai’s case with the Hong Kong and Chinese officials at every opportunity, and we have been doing so. Our diplomats have attended his trial and continue to press for consular access.

I know the right reverend Prelate will be retiring at the end of the month. I express my gratitude and, I am sure, that of the whole House for all his work.

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