When Coventry East candidates’ responses to our 10 questions have been received they are published here.

See this page to find links to their party manifestos and/or policy statements about some of the urgent international issues facing the UK.

Sarah Cooper-Lesadd – Conservative

Stephen Gray – Green

Mary Creagh – Labour

Mike Massimi – Liberal Democrats

Some of the following answers were provided on behalf of Mike Massimi by Jamie Simpson, Chair of Coventry Liberal Democrats.

Gaza and Israel

1. Do you believe that UK companies should be allowed to continue to sell arms to Israel?

Answer: Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has called for arms sales to Israel to be halted in response to the deaths of seven aid workers, including three British nationals, in an air strike in Gaza. As Liberal Democrats, we believe in the rule of law and human rights. Therefore, we support halting arms sales to Israel to ensure compliance with international law and human rights standards.

2. Do you accept that the International Criminal Court is justified in seeking arrest warrants for senior Hamas and Israeli officials for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

Answer: Yes, the Liberal Democrats believe the UK government should support the legal processes of international courts such as the International Criminal Court. Due process must be followed under international law to uphold the rule of law, whether it involves leaders of Hamas, the Israeli Prime Minister, or other officials accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Climate Change

3. Do you agree that climate change is one of the biggest threats to human health and human rights?

Answer: Yes, I absolutely agree that climate change is one of the biggest threats to both human health and human rights.

4. If you are elected, what actions will you take to ensure the next government fights effectively against climate change?

Human Health: Climate change increases extreme weather events, spreads diseases, and worsens air pollution, all of which harm our health. We must invest in resilient healthcare and reduce pollution to protect public health.

Human Rights: Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, threatening their rights to life, health, food, water, and shelter. It’s crucial to support international climate justice and ensure our policies are equitable.

Personally, I am committed to bold climate action, including promoting renewable energy, sustainable practices, and improving public transport. Local solutions, like using sustainable materials and supporting locally sourced food and energy, are also vital. We must think globally and act locally, focusing on long-term solutions rather than simply displacing pollution. Additionally, we need to lead by example with sustainable farming and business practices.

We must move away from a consumable and disposable society, where products are designed for short-term use and quick disposal, contributing to environmental degradation. Instead, we should focus on creating durable, repairable, and sustainable products to reduce waste and environmental impact.

International Law

5. Has a government led by your party ever accepted that it is prepared to break or has actually broken international law?

Answer: Not to the knowledge of the Coventry Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats have always advocated for adherence to international law and have consistently opposed actions that would contravene these obligations.

6. If your party is elected to government, how would you try to ensure it abides by the rule of international law?

Answer: We will take powers away from the Home Office and establish a dedicated unit to examine how legislation interacts with international law, ensuring quicker and fairer decisions. We believe in the rule of law and will ensure that all government actions comply with international standards.

Asylum Seekers

7. Do you believe that everyone has the right to seek asylum from persecution?

Answer: Yes, as Liberal Democrats, we believe that everyone has the right to seek asylum from persecution, in line with Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

8. What, if any, changes would you like to see in the way the UK deals with people who wish to seek asylum in the UK?

Answer: We wish to provide genuine safe and legal routes to sanctuary, as demonstrated by the schemes available to Ukrainian and Hong Kong refugees. This approach will support those in genuine need and help the UK address human trafficking by gangs exploiting refugees and other migrants. We also support the scrapping of the Illegal Migration Bill, which we believe contravenes our obligations under international law.

Human Rights

9. Do you accept there is any justification for the views expressed by Amnesty International, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and others that the UK government has imposed serious and undue restrictions on this country’s international human rights obligations?

Answer: Yes, the Liberal Democrats believe that the Conservative government has damaged the UK’s reputation as an upholder of human rights through its attacks on the European Convention on Human Rights and other measures that restrict freedoms. We are committed to reversing these actions and upholding international human rights standards.

10. If you are elected, what will you do (if anything) to try to ensure the government implements the words of the UK Foreign Secretary in 2006 that “the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms is a moral imperative”?

Answer: If elected, we will champion human rights causes, ensuring that the UK remains a member of the EHRC and that all legislation is fully compliant with it. We will advocate for policies that promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, continuing the Liberal Democrats’ longstanding commitment to these principles.

Iddrisu Sufyan – Reform UK

Paul Bedsen – Workers