Former Home Secretary James Cleverly criticises the Government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill as a missed opportunity that fails to deliver bold, game-changing solutions. While the new Border Security Command appears strong in name, it lacks the necessary powers to be effective. Additionally, the Bill offers no viable solution for failed asylum seekers from countries deemed too unsafe to return them to.
James served as Shadow Home Secretary from the General Election in July 2024 until November 2024. James had served as Home Secretary since November 2023. Prior to that, he had served as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs since September 2022, having previously served as Secretary of State for Education, Minister for Europe at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Minister for Middle East and North Africa and as joint Minister of State in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development.
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Responding to the Government statement on the negotiations of the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos islands to Mauritius, former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly calls on the Government to ensure we get a good deal and walk away if that is not the case.
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Following the statement on the national cancer plan, James Cleverly urges the Government to leverage the NHS’s very large database of historical tissue samples. He calls for the use of AI to do a retrospective analysis to identify patterns that could help speed up diagnosis across a whole range of cancers.
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Following the Government statement on the Southport murders, former Home Secretary James Cleverly highlights the need to revisit the distinction between a terrorist incident and a non-terrorist incident and the consequent response, he specifically calls for the review to consider removing the arbitrary distinction of motivation and instead focus exclusively on the risks and actions.
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James Cleverly emphasises the importance of preserving the bond of friendship between the UK and Ukraine, even after the scars and pain of the conflict have subsided. He calls on the Government to take steps now to support British-based businesses and investors going to Ukraine, in preparation for the day when Russia is expelled from Ukraine’s sovereign territory, allowing Ukrainians to fully rebuild their homeland.
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Following the Foreign Secretary’s update to the House of Commons on the deal announced between Israel and Hamas, James Cleverly cautiously welcomes the deal and urges the Government to do everything possible to help ensure the hostages are released promptly and the aid gets to the people who need it.
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James Cleverly urges the Government to welcome the appointment of Nawaf Salam as Prime Minister of Lebanon and take the opportunity to ensure that that positive step improves our relationship with Israel, Lebanon and the countries in the eastern Mediterranean.
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James Cleverly again asks the Government if there have been unminuted conversations between the Prime Minister and Philippe Sands KC, who challenged the United Kingdom’s continued administration of the Chagos Islands at the International Court of Justice and United Nations.