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Desecration of War Memorials
23 June 2020
Lead MP
Jonathan Gullis
Debate Type
General Debate
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Other Contributors: 3
At a Glance
Jonathan Gullis raised concerns about desecration of war memorials in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Proposes a Bill to create the offence of desecrating war memorials and ensure adequate protection for these sites. Acknowledges support from across the House, including the government. Emphasises that this is not a knee-jerk reaction but builds on previous efforts by David Burrowes in 2009-10. Mentions incidents like graffiti on the Cenotaph and Bomber Command Memorial, highlighting the need for stricter punishment. Suggests exemption of war memorials from the £5,000 damages threshold and proposes a maximum custodial sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.
James Sunderland
Con
Bracknell
Praises his co-sponsor Jonathan Gullis for introducing the Bill. Suggests a review of parliamentary procedure to allow co-sponsors more discrete time to present their Bills.
Nigel Evans
Constitutional
Ribble Valley
Responds to the point of order raised by James Sunderland regarding the ten-minute rule Bill procedure. Offers hope that the Procedure Committee may consider changes if it is in line with the will of the House.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Raises a further point of order, expressing caution about changing the established ten-minute rule Bill procedure. Emphasises that such procedures have worked well over his 37 years in Parliament.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.