Speeches by Brandreth.

“Yes, I have a question about that, but I also have a follow-up on this point. Obviously, the US and Israel have an incredibly strong relationship, and under the incoming Administration it is likely that US support and resolve for Israel may get firmer. Are there any steps that the Government could be taking now to work…”

“Absolutely. Do you think that the ceasefire in Lebanon has any bearing on whether we are more or less likely to have a ceasefire in Gaza?”

“You are saying that you are looking at things like investing in tech, etc. I am asking whether you have considered whether there is a financial aspect to that, or you are simply going to give words but not actually follow through with a financial element?”

“Can I clarify how you think he and you intend to fulfil those commitments? When you say “conversations”, do you intend for there to be actual outcomes at the end of those and will there be a financial tag attached to them?”

“To clarify on that, as you have alluded to, the Prime Minister committed to engaging in meaningful, truthful and respectful conversations about reparations.”

“It is.”

“I was pleased to hear you say that the Commonwealth is important in one of your earlier answers. You attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting with the Prime Minister recently. However, there were notable absences, with both the South African and Indian Prime Ministers choosing instead to attend the BRICS s…”

“That answered some of my next question, which was helpful. At the conclusion of CHOGM, a communique was signed by the 56 Heads of Government, which outlined the issues discussed at the summit. As you know, the communique acknowledges the calls for discussions on reparatory justice for the abhorrent transatlantic slave …”

“I have a final question with the future in mind. Between now and the next Heads of Government meeting, are there any clear and explicit outcomes, not to do with this last topic but in general, for what you would like to see us progress on with CHOGM and with our Commonwealth friends and partners?”

“There was reporting recently of phone hacking in the British high commission in Mauritius. Can I ask whether you have launched an investigation into whether our post in Mauritius was affected? Are you aware of any risks that discussions that you held were potentially recorded?”

“Thank you, Foreign Secretary. I am sure you will agree that the US is our closest ally and that the special relationship is an alliance and friendship like no other. You have in the past made some extremely undiplomatic remarks about incoming US President Trump and, as you have noted today, language matters. Given some…”

“Do you now regret your comments?”

“You feel that that addresses the communique of reparatory justice.”

“I am hoping that you are going to tell me, as you are the Foreign Secretary.”

“The Government have indicated that they would arrest the democratically elected Prime Minister of Israel. Doing so would contradict an Act of Parliament and breach state and diplomatic immunity. Will the Foreign Secretary tell the House whether he believes compliance with the ICC’s decision sets a precedent for future …”

“Thank you to the three of you for being here. Dr Westcott, I have a couple of questions for you. As a former diplomat and from your time as an ambassador, how strategic and useful did you find the World Service to be in furthering the objectives of the Foreign Office?”

“I know that we are going to come onto more questions on misinformation, so that is really useful. We have talked a lot about funding models, and there have been cuts to funding of language services. I just wanted to understand what your observations have been, particularly on the ground, about what these kinds of cuts …”

“Thank you to the three of you for being here. Dr Westcott, I have a couple of questions for you. As a former diplomat and from your time as an ambassador, how strategic and useful did you find the World Service to be in furthering the objectives of the Foreign Office?”

“I was really interested in your response earlier about digital and news spread through outrage. How do you see the World Service staying a widely consumed source of news on the ground, especially in places where you have been ambassador and where people are increasingly looking at different formats in terms of where th…”

“That is the challenge. Professor Scott spoke very passionately about ways of funding. Dr Westcott, you have spoken before about the World Service being overwhelmingly trusted, so I wondered what, in your view, would be the most appropriate funding model to secure its survival while maintaining trust in its impartiality…”