Conservative Peer. Ex-Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance. Formerly in DexEU and DfT. Proud Geordie and Toon fan.
Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
Joined October 2011
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Martin Callanan retweeted
A Conservative gov’t fought to defend the Falklands. A Labour gov’t signed away sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.
That’s the problem with projecting weakness: others notice.
We should resolutely defend our territory, our sovereignty and our national interests. Everywhere.
Martin Callanan retweeted
Today, Lord Effingham asked a Private Notice Question about the Government’s planned early release of two of PC Harper's killers halfway through their custodial sentences.
Conservative peers resisted the early release of criminals for months. But despite that Conservative opposition, the Government passed the legislation with the help of the Liberal Democrats.
Martin Callanan retweeted
WATCH: Today, Lord True argued for proper Parliamentary scrutiny of the Prime Minister's policies.
Having changed the programme in the House of Commons to avoid Parliamentary scrutiny, the Government has once again blocked Parliamentary scrutiny in the House of Lords with the support of the Liberal Democrats.
Only the Conservatives are standing up for Parliament's right to hold the Government to account.
Martin Callanan retweeted
The House of Lords will begin debating Lord True’s business of the House motion to enable Parliamentary scrutiny of the Prime Minister’s policies in the House of Lords at 3.25pm today.
Today's motion, if passed, will enable a debate on following motion tomorrow:
Lord True to move that this House takes note of the Prime Minister’s statements regarding the policies of His Majesty’s Government.
Watch here: parliamentlive.tv/Event/Inde…
Tonight the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords, Lord True, tabled a business of the House motion to enable ministers to come to the House of Lords and answer questions on the Prime Minister’s policies. If passed, this motion would ensure the Prime Minister’s announcements are subject to proper Parliamentary scrutiny before the summer recess.
If the initial motion is passed on Tuesday, peers will debate the below “take note” motion on Wednesday, allowing peers to ask questions of ministers and scrutinise the Government’s announcements:
Lord True to move that this House takes note of the Prime Minister’s statements regarding the policies of His Majesty’s Government.
Read Lord True’s letter to all peers here👇
Martin Callanan retweeted
Tonight the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords, Lord True, tabled a business of the House motion to enable ministers to come to the House of Lords and answer questions on the Prime Minister’s policies. If passed, this motion would ensure the Prime Minister’s announcements are subject to proper Parliamentary scrutiny before the summer recess.
If the initial motion is passed on Tuesday, peers will debate the below “take note” motion on Wednesday, allowing peers to ask questions of ministers and scrutinise the Government’s announcements:
Lord True to move that this House takes note of the Prime Minister’s statements regarding the policies of His Majesty’s Government.
Read Lord True’s letter to all peers here👇
Martin Callanan retweeted
Sir Hubert Pommebois (Sir Humphrey Appleby’s Bruxellois cousin) has produced a masterpiece
(h/t @alemannoEU)
Martin Callanan retweeted
I’ve never been to Moscow, but I must say that the footage going round today really makes me want to see more videos of its skyline.
Martin Callanan retweeted
Finally, a proportionate response to people playing music out loud on their phone.
Armed police at St. James Park tube station
Readers added context they thought people might want to know
The Metropolitan Police have clarified that this video dates from 23 April not today. It shows officers detaining three boys aged 15-16 suspected of robbery and carrying knives. They have since been bailed. x.com/metpoliceuk/st…
Martin Callanan retweeted
Breaking:
Donald Trump's latest broadside against Keir Starmer: 'It's not Winston Churchill we're dealing with'
He says the UK's refusal to alllow the US to use Diego Garcia meant that US bombers had to 'fly many extra hours'
'I'm not happy with the UK either. That island that you write about, for whatever reason he made a lease of the island. Somebody came and took it away from him. It has taken 3-4 days to work out where we can land.
'It would have been much more convenient landing there as opposed to flying many extra hours. We are very surprised. This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with'
Martin Callanan retweeted
“The stupidity of that decision allowing international lawyers of a dubious provenance to determine the national interest of the United Kingdom is a disaster for transatlantic relations.”
The special relationship has reached a new low, says @AfNeil.
RT @HLConservatives: Tonight, the Leader of the Opposition, Lord True, replied to today’s statement on Iran and the conflict in the Middle…
Martin Callanan retweeted
CHAGOS: AN APPEAL TO LABOUR
There is, as I keep pointing out, no enthusiasm for the Diego Garcia surrender on the Labour benches. Its only supporters are Keir Starmer, Richard Hermer, Philippe Sands, Peter Mandelson and Jonathan Powell.
Even a month ago, Labour cannot have imagined quite how awful the politics would become. They are handing away a pristine marine conservation zone, betraying a dispossessed black population and paying billions of pounds more to Mauritius than it would cost to resettle the outer atolls with Chagossians.
Now they are ordering the eviction of those Chagossians who have returned home to stake their claim.
Think about that.
We won’t stop small boats in the Channel, but we lose no time in ordering the removal of British subjects from British territory.
We are slow and reluctant when it comes to deporting illegal immigrants, but we snap into action to evict British Overseas Citizens from a British Overseas Territory.
Labour friends, this is not why you went into politics.
You can see as clearly as the rest of us how shameful all this is. You know that, under any other Labour leader, the whole project would have been dropped long ago.
Well, here is your last chance. Donald Trump has given you a final off-ramp. For the love of justice and decency, take it. If that means replacing Starmer with someone more sensible, so be it.
Martin Callanan retweeted
We are ordering the removal of British subjects from British territory so that we can hand that territory to a state that has never owned it.
Even if we set aside, for a moment, the ancestral claims of the Chagossians to their own archipelago, this is despicable behaviour.
Martin Callanan retweeted
It is clear from this that the Government has midled Parliament on the Chagos Islands. Surely they must now withdraw the Bill that is in its final parliamentary stages, no matter how embarrassing that would be.
Martin Callanan retweeted
UK trade data for 2025 published yesterday. We now have 10 years of data since the EU ref & 5 since we left the customs union.
Remember the OBR forecast Brexit would reduce UK trade by 15% (hence their forecast of a 4% hit to productivity).
Let’s see how that is working out …
Martin Callanan retweeted
It's good to hear that the US and UK will protect the US-UK military base in the Chagos Islands.
But that hardly detracts from the utter strategic foolishness of the UK's decision to transfer sovereignty of the islands to a Chinese ally.
Martin Callanan retweeted
You can now read the Leader of the Opposition, Lord True's, article on the important role of the House of Lords in holding the Government to account online.
politicshome.com/opinion/art…
Martin Callanan retweeted
Dear Chagos campaigners!
Be on ALERT that Downing Street (currently on fire) will say ANYTHING about President Trump’s position on Chagos as a distraction and obfuscation right now. ***This is called spin - and be prepared to hear much more of it in the coming days.***
Whatever Starmer / No10 says about the US position is IRRELEVANT. It only matters what President Trump says and what then actually occurs.
There are many ways the US could ‘approve’ of a new position from Starmer / changes by UK govt. He could seek to acquire Chagos for the US. Starmer could have dropped elements of the ‘deal’. There are many outcomes in play. And notwithstanding that, the deal may never be implemented for a variety of reasons.
The only thing that matters is you don’t give up. Now is the time to DOUBLE DOWN on the campaign to save Chagos! Based on what my friends in DC continue to tell me, I have every confidence that all will be well.
We were here before, only a matter of weeks ago!
IN TUTELA NOSTRA LIMURIA 🇮🇴🇮🇴🇮🇴
Martin Callanan retweeted
@HLConservatives have won their vote to ban the use or possession of smartphones in schools.
The evidence is clear: the Government's guidance has not worked. This Conservative amendment is now crucial for the wellbeing, behaviour and attainment of children at school.
Despite the policy having the support of parents, teachers and health experts, Labour voted against the amendment.
Martin Callanan retweeted
Tonight, @HLConservatives won their vote on @dianabarran's amendment to prevent the Government from introducing a cap on the intake of high quality schools, ensuring more children have access to the best education.
Labour voted against the Conservative amendment.