It is completely unacceptable that in 2019 these barbaric acts are undertaken against people who are LGBT+. It is appalling that Brunei is one of the 53 Commonwealth countries and is one of the 35 countries in which same-sex relationships is criminalised. The Commonwealth’s strapline is “53 countries working together to celebrate diversity” and to “protect human rights”. However, Brunei and 34 other countries are allowed to deny their citizens their human rights.

The UK must raise this at the forthcoming Commonwealth meeting and use our position within the Commonwealth to act upon this as soon as possible. The Government, and the Foreign Office, must provide challenges within the Commonwealth and promote that if a country is a member of the Commonwealth they must advocate the equality legislation that the UK government and other members of the Commonwealth take part in.

Many of those who have been subjected to this abuse in their own country have been seeking asylum elsewhere and have had problems in doing so. I intervened in a debate on the 10 April to call on the Minister to raise concerns with the Home Office to ensure that we in this country are granting sanctuary to those LGBT people who are facing persecution in their home countries. You can read more about the debate here.

I can assure you that I will continue to press the Government at all opportunities to ensure that they are doing everything they can to provide sanctuary to those seeking asylum here and to make sure that action is taken to stop Brunei denying people their basic human rights.