My Lords, I crave the indulgence of the House for this, my maiden speech. It is with much humility that I rise to speak. I hope that my words prove worthy of the debate. I feel especially privileged to speak on a day when this House remembers the victims of two world wars and other conflicts. I appreciate the warm …

My Lords, a few months ago I was in the Crown Court defending a 23 year-old labourer who had pleaded guilty to a number of dwellinghouse burglaries. He said that his parents were in the iron and steel business: his mother ironed while his father stole. My instructions were to ask the judge for one last chance to avoid prison. …

My Lords, I too support the Bill introduced by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Ackner. I extend my gratitude to him and to the Home Office for their assistance. There appears to be a gap in the law in this regard. As I understand it, the Bill merely enables the Criminal Cases Review Commission to refer to the Court …

My Lords, I support the proposed amendment of my noble friend Lord Windlesham. I make it clear that I welcome the proposal to refer young, first-time offenders to youth offender panels. I regard that as a positive alternative to the other disposals available to magistrates. However, it is the compulsory nature of the referral order which I oppose. I share …

My Lords, my father was born in Jamaica in the West Indies. After serving in the British Army in the Second World War he was proud to sign for Warwickshire as a county cricketer. Life was good: he was scoring runs; he was taking wickets; he was a star in the making. Then came tragedy. After just two seasons he …

My Lords, it was the comedienne, Victoria Wood, who uttered the rather dubious prayer, “Please God, let me prove that winning 1249 the lottery won’t spoil me”. For many, starting one’s own business is a lottery with no guarantee of success. I am privileged to be a vice-president of the Small Business Bureau and president of the African Caribbean Westminster …

I support the noble Baroness, Lady Miller, especially in relation to Amendments Nos. 4 and 5. It was Groucho Marx who complained, I worked my way up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty”. This aspect of the Bill in its present form could cause many small business owners to echo those words. The heart of the problem is …

There have been a number of references to black defendants during our debate. I do not put myself forward as an expert witness on the issue simply because I have a black skin, but I have represented a number of black clients in the criminal courts over the years. What I have found is that, rather than seeking an O. …

My Lords, in 1972 the popular Jamaican singer Johnny Nash had a hit record with a song called, “There Are More Questions Than Answers”. I am not aware that, when he wrote the song, he had in mind the creation of a supreme court and a judicial appointments commission. But the song’s title fairly sums up how I feel about …

My Lords, I add my thanks to the noble Earl, Lord Sandwich, for initiating this debate. It was Samuel Taylor Coleridge—sadly, not a relative—who said, In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in folly”. Much of the political rhetoric concerning asylum and immigration has historically been motivated by fear—fear of the foreigner, fear of those who look or sound …