Welcome
This website serves the purpose of carrying what Lord Owen has said or written on current topical issues. It is not meant to be a comprehensive archival record. Lord Owen has donated all his personal papers dating back to when he was a Minister in Government and covering the SDP years and time as EU Co-Chairman of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia to the University of Liverpool, of which he was Chancellor from 1996-2009. These papers are available to be researched in the University of Liverpool Library Special Collections and Archives.
A catalogue of what is available can be found here.
Latest
Lord Owen speaks on constitutional implications of the eurozone crisis”.
Speech by Lord Owen, Wednesday 10 May 2012
My Lords, I wish to speak about what I believe is the biggest constitutional crisis facing this country, and it is related to the eurozone. There is a feeling, which I think is profoundly mistaken, that somehow we can isolate ourselves from the constitutional changes that are being suggested for the eurozone. It is to the credit of the Government, the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer that throughout this eurozone crisis they have been ready to accept that in order to get the crisis eased, or at best overcome, there will have to be substantial changes in the eurozone.
To read the full speech click here
Annan is right for Syria. But he needs time
Article by The RT Hon Lord Owen published in The Times Monday 16 April 2012
When Governments look to the UN it is usually because they have decided that they themselves cannot solve the conflict. This means that the UN starts, almost by definition, with an immensely difficult, often unsolvable, problem. Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary-General, in calling upon his predecessor Kofi Annan to deal with Syria, chose very wisely. He had to have a negotiator who could command the respect of Russia and China on the Security Council if the deadlock was to be broken…
To read the full article please click here
Health Bill Transition Risk Register
To view the Health Bill Transition Risk Register please click here
Peace Plan Backlash in Syria
CNN Interview with Lord Owen, 3 April 2012
Lord Owen discusses different approaches to dealing with Syria’s upheaval.
To view the full interview please click here
Lord Owen presents 38 Degrees Petition to Parliament and moves motion in advance of Third Reading of the Health and Social Care Bill
To read the latest Health and Social Care Bill Report and speech by Lord Owen presenting 38 Degrees Petition to Parliament please click here
NHS bill: keeping parliament in dark is a constitutional outrage
The government’s attitude towards publication of the risk register covering the health bill reveals a growing authoritarianism
Article by Lord Owen, published in The Observer, 18 March, 2012
Constitutional legitimacy has plagued the health and social care bill. The prime minister started by breaking an election pledge not to make yet another top-down reorganisation of the NHS. There is, therefore, no electoral mandate for the bill. He also pledged that there would be no further transfer of legislative powers to the EU without a referendum, but has nevertheless introduced health legislation that paves the way for unprecedented levels of EU interference in the NHS. To read the full article please click here
Lord Owen tables motion on NHS Transitional Risk Register
Lord Owen has tabled the following motion, which will be moved as an amendment to Earl Howe’s motion at Third Reading of the Health and Social Care Bill on Monday, 19 March.
Lord Owen to move, as an amendment to the motion that the Bill be now read a third time, to leave out from “that” to the end and insert “the bill be not read a third time until either the House has had an opportunity to consider the detailed reasons for the first-tier tribunal decision that the transitional risk register be disclosed and the Government’s response thereto, or until the last practical opportunity which would allow the Bill to receive Royal Assent before prorogation…”
To read the full motion please click here
Health and Social Care Bill Report (7th Day) 13 March 2012
To read the latest Health and Social Care Bill Report and speech by Lord Owen please click here
