The Riots of 2011 and the Riots of 1981

The Riots of 2011 and the Riots of 1981 Just thirty years ago, between July 4th and 6th 1981, I watched as rioters assaulted policemen, looted shops, and reduced Liverpool’s Lodge Lane and Upper Parliament Street to burning embers. Hundreds of policemen sustained...

Thomas More, Edmund Campion and Westminster Hall

Much was written about the historic significance of Pope Benedict's address to Members of Parliament in Westminster Hall – during the Pope’s visit last year. It was here, in July 1535 that the former Speaker and Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas More, was tried for high...

The Fate of India's Dalits

The Fate of India's Dalits 2.18 pm: March 5th 2010 Second Reading Debate on Bill to create an Anti-Slavery Day. Lord Alton of Liverpool: My Lords, it is with great pleasure that I add my voice to those supporting the terms of my noble and learned friend’s Bill to...

To Seek A Newer World – Robert Kennedy

To Seek A Newer World - written in 1967 by Robert Kennedy. by David Alton on Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 11:38pm In 1967, a year before he was assassinated, Senator Robert Kennedy published “To Seek A Newer World.” It grew out of his speeches, out of his travel...

The Condition of England Question

Debate on The Big Society Versus The Big State, Wednesday June 17th 2010. 6.42 pm Lord Alton of Liverpool: My Lords, the quality of the introductory remarks made by the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Leicester and of the ensuing debate demonstrate why this was...

Dr Alveda King and her Uncle's legacy

One of my childhood heroes was Dr. Martin Luther King. In my study I still have a battered copy of his paperback "Why We Can't Wait" – which set out his opposition to institutionalized racism along with the case for the civil rights movement.� His writing and his...

Harry Patch, Michael Murpurgo and War Horse

Harry Patch and War Horse It's just two years since the death, at 111 years of age, of Harry Patch – often called "the Last Fighting Tommy." He was the last surviving soldier to have fought in the trenches of the First World War. In August 2009, on the day of his...

Lord David Alton

For 18 years David Alton was a Member of the House of Commons and today he is an Independent Crossbench Life Peer in the UK House of Lords.

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In advance of a debate on April 25th on how UK aid is used to support minorities in Pakistan, Government responds to my Question on why Ahmadi Muslims were not included on the single electoral list with all other voters in the recent elections in that country

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL3227): Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool.:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord...

As senior officials in Hong Kong remain unsanctioned by the UK, Ministers say they have “urged the authorities” and HSBC Trustees to release savings of escapees; that “Article 23 of Hong Kong’s Basic Law, enacted on 23 March is likely incompatible with international human rights law and will have a negative impact on the people of Hong Kong in the exercise of their rights and freedoms”; and have “noted the allegation that some evidence to be used to prosecute Jimmy Lai had been obtained through the torture of Andy Li.”

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL3229): Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will take steps to impose...

Reply to Question in Parliament about whether the UK Government will allow British National (Overseas) visa holders to voluntarily pay up to 15 years’ worth of Class 3 national insurance contributions towards a state pension, in cases where such visa holders have been denied access to their Mandatory Provident Fund pension savings by HSBC

Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Treasury, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL3506): Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will allow British National (Overseas) visa holders to voluntarily...