Joe Conway (Independent)

There has been a significant European dimension to the contributions this morning. I am happy to add my three ha'pence worth before we go our separate ways.

I am charmed and warmed that a very important meeting is taking place this morning in London between Prime Minister Starmer and the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz. It signals a rapprochement and closeness between two countries that were traditional enemies in times past. It also signals the urgency with which European leaders want to address the current situation, which is fraught with dangers all over the Continent, within and without the European communion. The Government should signal to all our European partners our ever-growing eagerness to stand up for what we believe in, which is European democracy and our way of life. We need to signal a greater co-operation and closeness in defending, and being willing to defend, those European values.

In a different Senate, a long time ago, a politician called Cato the Elder used to finish all his speeches with the ringing words, "Carthago delenda est", which means "Carthage must be destroyed". We could adopt the same attitude in this and the other House in terms of the need to stand up to Russia. I have said so many times during the course of this term. Russia is an ever-present threat and that threat will not go away by reconciliation or mediation. It must be faced up to with growing efforts of deterrence and strength by the Europe we hold dear. Unless we do that, we will face the same possibility as that faced by the unfortunate people of Ukraine not so long ago. Well done to our European partners. Let us get on board. We must stand up to Russia.