My wife and I had the privilege of attending the Buckingham Palace Garden Party, having been invited by @RoyalFamily. Great to see The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh & Zara Tindall. Honour to be among many remarkable people serving our nation🇬🇧🙏

We were honoured to be invited to an important #KoreanWar Veterans event at @RHChelsea. Many thanks to Lord Houghton (former Chief of the Defence Staff of the British🇬🇧 Armed Forces), @CatherineWest1 (former Foreign Office Minister) & @benedictrogers for representing #APPGNK!

🧵It was a great privilege to accompany former Minister for the Indo-Pacific @CatherineWest1 and former head of the British Army and Chief of Defence Staff Lord Houghton to visit British veterans of the Korean War at the historic @RHChelsea today, on behalf of @APPGNK2024 together with @Timothycho08 Thank you to our courageous veterans for their extraordinary sacrifice and bravery in service to our country, and thank you to the Royal Hospital for such a warm welcome /

The Government, and particularly the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, are now in a state of chaos following the resignation of the Defence Secretary, John Healey. His resignation letter lays bare his belief that the Government is reneging on its commitment to fund defence properly at a time when we face what I believe may be the greatest threat to our national security since the 1930s. His letter is a damning indictment of the Government's indecision and of the Treasury's refusal to meet the obligations that the Government itself has set out. It raises profound questions about whether Ministers truly understand the seriousness of the challenges facing our country. I am also informed that at least one other Minister has privately described the Government's Defence Investment Plan, due to be published on Monday, as "not fit for purpose". If that is true, it is an extraordinary condemnation from within the Government's own ranks. The first duty of any Government is the defence of the realm. Yet it is now becoming increasingly clear that Downing Street and the Treasury are not prepared to uphold that fundamental principle. By failing to provide the resources necessary to protect our nation, they risk leaving the United Kingdom exposed at a time when threats from hostile and totalitarian states are growing. This Government is now plumbing new depths of ignominy. We are witnessing a combination of chaos, indecision and a failure of leadership at the very moment when the country requires clarity, resolve and purpose.

To a public who have become deeply cynical about politics, @JohnHealey_MP resignation - on a matter of principle - as Defence Secretary -demonstrates that honour in politics is not entirely dead. The protection of its people is the first duty of any Government. John Healy knew that we have been failing in that duty and that the failure to prioritise our defence at a time of war in Europe leaves our people dangerously at risk. He is to be greatly admired for refusing to remain silent. @Vernon_Coaker @AlistairCarns @MartinCallanan @MPIainDS

The Standing Group on Atrocity Crimes has been taking evidence in @UKParliament over the past two days. Outstanding witnesses included Theodor Merin CMG, Prof Claus Kress, Dr.Kate Ferguson, Prof William Schabas, Prof.Diane Amann, Natia Navrouzov, and Kristina Arriaga. With my parliamentary colleagues @HelenaKennedyKC and @BrendanOHaraMP and lawyers @aarif_abraham and @EwelinaUO our Standing Group is working to bring the UK closer to creating a comprehensive framework to prevent and respond to international atrocity crimes.

#SlavaUkraïni #StandWithUkraine

At Josephine Butler College #DurhamUniversity, grateful for their invitation. 2 yrs ago, I spoke at Durham University Union Society &Christian Union; good to be back. Each generation faces its own challenges & carries the responsibility of defending freedoms/values it cherishes.

Did you know that the first women to land on the Normandy beachhead in June 1944 were nurses of Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service? Their task was to establish a field hospital for 600 wounded soldiers. They succeeded. Please remember these heroines who saved lives:

D-Day | 6 June 1944 Today marks 82 years since the Normandy landings. British🇬🇧 Commonwealth and Allied forces fought together in battles that changed the course of history & helped secure freedom in Britain and other democracies. Freedom is not free. We will remember them🫡

A powerful debate led by @DavidAltonHL, who's been sanctioned by Russia-China-NK-Iran, on first reading of his Genocide Determination Bill, calling out atrocities under 1948 Convention to prevent, protect, punish & how far global action still falls short in addressing its crimes.

Tiananmen Square : 37 years after its massacre of pro democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square, the CCP tries to air brush memory from public discourse. But we remember the atrocity and the heroism - symbolised by the courage and defiance of tank man. Later today, to mark the anniversary of Tiananmen, I will introduce my Private Members Bill in @UKHouseofLords on Genocide Determination- upholding the suffering Uyghur people of Xinjiang - and this afternoon I will open a three hour debate in @UKParliament on genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes- taking place all over world. @iguangcheng @BobFu4China @hk_watch @Stand_with_HK @thecfhk @Chloe_chc_25 @ipacglobal

Good Irish leaders need to call out disingenuous slogans claiming Ireland supports and stands with Ukraine while simultaneously exporting 80% of its aluminum production to Putin’s Russia - enabling the Kremlin to sustain a military machine which illegally seizes sovereign territory, abducts children, murders Ukrainian civilians and threatens Europe’s democracies. My Irish mother taught me that you should always stand up to aggressors and that Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine - “it is in the shelter of eachother’s lives that the people live.” An old truth and good advice. @Independent_ie @NualaLoan @RonanMullen @declanganley @CaolanReports @caoilfhionnanna

Exploring nature in Greater #Manchester, North West #England!

Knocking on doors in the #Makerfield by-election yesterday - great to be out supporting the wonderful @Conservatives Candidate Michael Winstanley @Winstamike. Beautiful weather for it🌞

Human Rights Concern - Eritrea (HRCE) hrc-eritrea.org ask 33 Years After Independence: What Has Changed in Eritrea? @JennyChapman @YvetteCooperMP As Eritrea marked its 33rd Independence Day on 24 May 2026, Eritreans around the world continue to ask a painful question: What has truly changed for the people of Eritrea? Eritrea achieved independence after a 30-year liberation struggle against Ethiopian occupation. Thousands sacrificed their lives in the hope of building a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous nation founded on dignity, equality, and the rule of law. However, more than three decades later, the fundamental aspirations of the Eritrean people remain unfulfilled. While Eritrea is politically independent as a state, the Eritrean people continue to be denied basic freedoms and human rights. Eritrea still has: • no implemented constitution, • no national elections, • no functioning parliament, • no independent judiciary, • no independent media, • no independent civil society, • and no democratic institutions. No independent human rights organisations are allowed to operate inside Eritrea, and international human rights monitors are denied access to the country. The absence of transparency and accountability has contributed to a climate of fear, repression, and impunity. The country has become one of the most repressive states in the world. One of the clearest examples of national decline is the destruction of education. Eritrea’s only university, 'Asmara University' was effectively closed in 2006. In the 21st century, an entire country has been left without a proper university system capable of producing independent professionals, researchers, scientists, academics, and specialists. What future can a country have when its youth are denied higher education and intellectual freedom? The healthcare situation is equally alarming. Eritrea lacks adequate specialist medical care and essential medical infrastructure. Those with financial means travel abroad for treatment, while many others suffer and die silently without access to proper healthcare. At the same time, Eritreans continue to endure widespread violations of fundamental human rights, including: • arbitrary detention, • enforced disappearances, • religious persecution, • torture, • severe restrictions on freedom of expression, • and collective punishment of families. Indefinite national service remains one of the gravest injustices in Eritrea today. What was originally introduced as limited national service for 18 months has evolved into a system of indefinite forced labour and modern-day slavery. Many Eritreans conscripted during the first rounds of national service in 1994 have now spent approximately 32 years in indefinite national service without demobilisation, remaining under state control and unable to freely choose their profession, education, movement, or future. Generations of Eritrean youth have been deprived of their freedom, opportunities, and dignity. As a result, Eritrea continues to experience one of the world’s largest refugee crises relative to its population size. Thousands continue to flee repression, indefinite conscription, poverty, and hopelessness, risking their lives crossing deserts and seas in search of safety, dignity, and freedom. Independence was meant to bring freedom, justice, dignity, and hope. Yet for many Eritreans today, fear, silence, repression, and indefinite control continue to define daily life. On this Independence Day, we honour the sacrifices made for Eritrea’s liberation. But true independence cannot exist without freedom, justice, human dignity, accountable governance, and respect for fundamental human rights. The Eritrean people deserve: • constitutional governance, • democratic participation, • constitutional governance, • democratic participation, • independent institutions, • freedom of expression, • access to education and healthcare, • an end to indefinite national service, • and the right to live in dignity and freedom in their own country. The struggle for freedom and justice in Eritrea is not over. True independence will only be achieved when Eritrean citizens can live in dignity, freedom, and peace under a system that respects human rights, democratic governance, and the rule of law. We therefore call upon the international community, governments, the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, human rights organisations, and all defenders of human dignity to stand in solidarity with the Eritrean people and support their legitimate aspirations for freedom, justice, accountability, and democratic change. ---

A beautiful Whitsun reflection- Malcolm Guite’s sonnet “Pentecost” “This is the feast of fire,air, and water Poured out and breathed and kindled into earth. The earth herself awakens to her maker And is translated out of death to birth. The right words come today in their right order And every word spells freedom and release Today the gospel crosses every border All tongues are loosened by the Prince of Peace Today the lost are found in His translation. Whose mother-tongue is Love, in  every nation.” In full: malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2…

Post about Deadly Quartet speech in @UKHouseofLords from Parliament News url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com… “Top human rights expert and peer challenges Government to do more on the “deadly quartet”

Grateful for the invitation to speak at the Honiton & Sidmouth Conservative Association in #Devon, where I was warmly received. Also enjoyed visiting Neil Parish’s (former MP for Tiverton & Honiton) farm and meeting many cows, who were very friendly😊

This week @APPGNK2024 hosted Mr Tae Yong-ho, former DPRK Deputy Ambassador to UK. Many thanks to @MPIainDS @DavidAltonHL, Lord Houghton, Sir Julian Lewis MP, @timfarron MP, @dsnorthnorth & @AndrewRosindell offices &others for warmly welcoming him. Inevitable failure of dictators!

9 years on from 22 May 2017, today we remember the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing and hold their loved ones in our thoughts. #ManchesterRemembers