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Letter to the Bucks Free Press on freedom of expression and extremism


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Via the Bucks Free Press, my letter on freedom of expression and extremism: I was delighted that this year’s parade in High Wycombe to celebrate the birth of Muhammad once again demonstrated the friendship we enjoy in our Town. It was by all accounts a happy and successful occasion. I have observed closely the development of local commentary in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre. I read the Mayor’s statement on Facebook carefully, and the support and criticism he […]

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PM’s statement on Sri Lanka calls for Independent Inquiry


Yesterday, the Prime Minister made a statement to the House of Commons on his recent attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka. He took the opportunity to reiterate why he felt it was right to attend the Commonwealth meeting and to better understand the situation of the Sri Lankan people. He formally repeated his calls for the Government of Sri Lanka to set up an independent inquiry into alleged war crimes during the final stages of […]

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Syria vote – update


I’m grateful to all the constituents who have written to me since the vote to approve in principle military action in Syria, in which I voted against. An overwhelming majority of correspondents have approved of that decision, just as they have also condemned the use of chemical weapons. We all want action to end the violence and outrageous suffering in Syria. General Lord Dannatt, a previous head of the British Army, described the vote as ‘victory for common sense’ and said, “I’m absolutely […]

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Government-bench MPs were decisive in moderating policy on Syria


Anyone reading the BBC news site this morning might think Labour, the party which led us into Iraq, had saved the day. Via BBC News – MPs debate Syria after ministers drop quick vote on action: MPs are set to debate military action in Syria in principle only, after the government dropped plans for a speedy vote on British intervention. A Commons motion to be debated later states that a final vote on action should be held only after UN […]

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Kashmir update


Following the recent armed contact on the Line of Control dividing Kashmir, I asked the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for an update on its position: Steve Baker: What reports he has received on the armed contact between India and Pakistan in Kashmir on 6 January 2013? Mr Swire: We are concerned about the recent incidents on both sides of the Line of Control in Kashmir. There were two incidents on 6 and 8 January involving cross-border incursions on both sides of […]

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Remembrance Day prayers


By convention, the MP for Wycombe leads prayers in All Saints’ Church on Remembrance Day and I feel privileged to be allowed to continue the tradition. These are the prayers I used today: Let us give thanks for those who, in the day of decision, ventured their all for the liberty that we now enjoy. May we strive to maintain freedom in our nation, in Europe and in the world, and to safeguard the peace which was won at such cost. […]

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Supporting Wycombe’s Tamil Community


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On Saturday, I joined the local Tamil community for their annual Tamil School concert. It was one of the most joyful events I have attended. The children were hard working, talented and happy, the parents were proud and the teachers dedicated. It was a treat. We are more usually in touch about the aftermath of the conflict in Sri Lanka and the need for an independent international investigation. Parliament has debated Sri Lanka recently and I was successful in the last […]

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The latest Government stance on Kashmir


Last week, the Foreign Secretary launched the Government’s Human Rights and Democracy Report. The Report is a comprehensive look at the human rights work of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office around the world. The Foreign Secretary has said that 2011 will stand out as a positive year for human rights and democracy. He went on to say that the UK is one of the most active governments in the world when it comes to promoting human rights and that this […]

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A call for non-aggression towards Iran


Today, the Commons will debate this motion brought forward by John Baron MP: That this House believes that the use of force against Iran would be wholly counter-productive and would serve only to encourage any development of nuclear weapons; and calls upon the Government to rule out the use of force against Iran and reduce tensions by redoubling diplomatic efforts. It is being met by the following proposed amendment: Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘supports […]

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Remembrance Day


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Let us give thanks for those who, in the day of decision, ventured their all for the liberty that we now enjoy. May we strive to maintain freedom in our nation, in Europe and in the world, and to safeguard the peace which was won at such cost. Today, I will be joining the Mayor of High Wycombe, Cllr Chaudhary Allah Ditta, at the Remembrance Day parade and service at All Saints, where I will lead prayers. In the evening, I […]

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