In his role as a monitor for Turkey on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) John and his PACE colleague Thomas Hammarberg (Sweden) have commented on the decision of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights to reject the appeal brought by the Turkish

A few weeks ago Ministers were working flat out to bring forward measures to try to keep us all safe and to help people in the very many different situations faced with the onset of COVID-19 in the UK.

The Environment Bill will place environmental ambition and accountability at the heart of Government. I am pleased that legislative measures will be introduced to address the biggest environmental priorities of our age.

I know that many communities had planned great celebrations for the commemoration of VE Day and that there is disappointment that we cannot join together for this. However, in true British spirit, many ideas for alternative ways for mark the occasion have come forward.

The Business Secretary Alok Sharma has announced a discretionary fund set up to accommodate certain small businesses previously outside the scope of the business grant funds scheme. This is an additional 5% uplift to the £12.33 billion funding previously announced for the Small Business Grants Fu

I firmly believe that all animals deserve to be respected and cared for throughout their lives As such, I welcome the Government’s clear commitment that future trade agreements will uphold our country’s high animal welfare standards, and also the assurance that these standards will not be watered

Those interested in how Parliament works will have noted that during the Coronavirus crisis we are doing things in different ways.  One aspect of this is that the number of occasions to put forward new Bills has been reduced.  So it is with the Local Electricity Bill of which I am in favour. 

Together with a number of colleagues John had raised concerns about measures to support small business during the COVID-19 crisis.  There are many small businesses in the constituency, and across the country they form a key part of our economy. 

One of the ways Parliament continues to hold the Government to account is through Select Committees. There is a House of Commons Select Committee for each government department, which examines spending, policies and administration.

John has  welcomed the adoption on 14 April of the Criminal Enforcement Law, allowing the early or conditional release of 90 000 prisoners to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in overcrowded Turkish prisons, but has expressed regret at the discriminatory approach with regard to certain