Barnet is one of the country’s most diverse boroughs, with residents from an immensely wide range of different cultural, religious, ethnic and national backgrounds. Theresa’s campaigning priorities reflect that diversity with a focus on a number of issues looking out to the wider world. Some of these include:
- Supporting the cause of a free and united Cyprus, gaining assurances from the Prime Minister that Britain would support the talks aimed at delivering a negotiated settlement;
- Working extensively to combat antisemitism and speaking up in Parliament in support of the state of Israel;
- Working with Chipping Barnet’s Tamil community to highlight the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka and issues resulting from the country’s long civil war;
- Bringing MPs together in Parliament to support Christians facing persecution around the world;
- Raising concerns about oppression and human rights abuse in Iran.
Read more about current and past campaigns:
A reunited Cyprus
For 20 years, Theresa has been campaigning for justice for Cyprus and supporting efforts to reunify the island. She gained assurances from former Prime Minister May at PMQs that the UK Government would give its full support the talks between President Anastasiades and Mustapha Akinci to secure a negotiated settlement for a free and united Cyprus.
She has met four successive President of Cyprus. She has also had countless meetings with UK Europe Ministers and Foreign Secretaries to urge them to ensure the British Government takes every step it can to assist in efforts to reach a just, balanced and last settlement between the two sides in Cyprus.
August 2022: Anniversary of second Turkish invasion: Villiers calls for freedom for Famagusta
May 2022: Villiers reiterates support for Cyprus as 48th anniversary of Turkish invasion approaches
March 2022: Leader of Cypriot centre-right party visits Parliament
November 2021: Villiers condemns flying of flag of unrecognised regime in north of Cyprus
October 2021: Villiers speaks up for Cyprus to new Foreign Secretary
November 2020: Villiers condemns President Erdogan’s Varosha visit
July 2020: MPs mark 46th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus
April 2020: Campaign for freedom for Famagusta continues
December 2019: Cypriot support to re-elect Theresa Villiers
November 2019: Villiers meets Cyprus High Commissioner
November 2019: Cypriot backing for Villiers
July 2019: 45th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus: Theresa Villiers speaks out
May 2019: Barnet MPs condemn Turkish violation of Cyprus EEZ
March 2019: Theresa Villiers celebrates 20 years of support for Cyprus
February 2019: Theresa Villiers urges UK Government to support a settlement for a free and united Cyprus
January 2019: Theresa Villiers celebrates Cypriot culture with Vasilopita cake-cutting ceremony
October 2018: Conservatives for Cyprus host Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt
July 2018: Theresa Villiers renews her support for a free and united Cyprus
July 2018: No direct flights to north of Cyprus: Grayling gives assurance to Villiers
April 2018: Happy Easter to the Cypriot community
February 2018: Villiers protests about Turkish warships obstructing oil and gas extraction in Cyprus EEZ
October 2017: Conservative Friends of Cyprus host Boris at annual party conference reception
October 2017: Conservative Friends of Cyprus meet Committee on Missing Persons
October 2017: Villiers attends 2017 Morphou Rally in Cyprus
July 2017: Conservatives call for Cypriot unity on 43rd anniversary of invasion
May 2017: An 18 year track record of supporting freedom for Cyprus
April 2017: Cypriot community shows support for Theresa Villiers MP
February 2017: Villiers visits Cyprus to express support for efforts to reunify the island
January 2017: Europe Minister assures MPs that UK will take all steps to support a Cyprus solution
November 2016: Villiers brings Cyprus and Israel groups together in Parliament
October 2016: Support for Barnet twin town Morphou
October 2016: Hope for a reunited Cyprus: Villiers speaks up at Conservative Party Conference
September 2016: A free and united Cyprus: Villiers receives assurances from PM
January 2016: Will 2016 see progress on Cyprus settlement?
Supporting the persecuted church around the world
Theresa is gravely concerned about the discrimination and violence faced by Christians in many countries around the world. For the past two years, Theresa has brought MPs together in Parliament to discuss the ‘World Watch List’ produced by the Open Doors charity: a list of 50 countries where Christians face persecution because of their faith. The 2017 report highlights the link between the increase in religious persecution and the global migrant crisis. She has continued to host the launch of the Open Doors report including an event this year.
July 2020: Villiers condemns decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque
January 2020: Villiers launches Open Doors report on attacks on Christians around the world
January 2018: Barnet MP launches World Watch List 2018 on persecution of Christians
March 2017: Questions to the Church Commissioner on helping victims of famine in South Sudan
January 2017: Persecuted Christians receive support from MP
January 2016: Launch of ‘World Watch List’
January 2015: Chipping Barnet MP at Religious Freedom Report Launch
Campaigning for justice for Tamils in Sri Lanka
After her Tamil constituents came to see her to set out their concerns about war crimes committed during the military conflict in Sri Lanka, Theresa pledged to support their campaign for accountability for those responsible. She is working with the Tamil community to promote a negotiated settlement to deliver justice and political equality for Tamils in Sri Lanka. She helped set up the British Tamil Conservatives to encourage this minority community to get involved in politics and ensure their voice is heard. She was also one of the founder members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Tamils when it was recently re-established.
Theresa also visit the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to lobby the delegates there to ensure that the Government of Sri Lanka keeps the promises it signed up to restore human rights in the north and east of Sri Lanka and bring to justice those accused of war crimes during the conflict.
January 2021: Demolition of Tamil Memorial condemned
March 2020: MPs condemn pardon for Sri Lankan army officer
March 2020: Call for justice for Tamils at the UN Human Rights Council
November 2019: Villiers campaigns for human rights and accountability in Sri Lanka
May 2019: Statement on 10th anniversary of the Mullivaikal massacre
October 2018: Theresa Villiers MP lobbies UN for implementation of Sri Lanka resolution
February 2018: Theresa Villiers MP condemns actions of Sri Lankan diplomat
October 2016: Speech to British Tamil Conservatives
June 2015: Villiers supports the re-establishment of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Tamils
April 2015: Villiers campaigns for justice for Tamils
Standing up against human rights abuses in Iran
At the invitation of her British Iranian constituents, Theresa has attended a number of rallies and meetings to protest against human rights abuses in Iran. Whilst on the backbenches, she was a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Iran Freedom. She has spoken out in Parliament to condemn human rights abuses in Iran.
In the past, Theresa repeatedly raised concerns with the Iranian Government about a constituent who she believes was kidnapped and killed by the Iranian authorities.
She has also lobbied the Government on British citizens who have been imprisoned in Evin prison in Iran. She is urging Boris to press the Iranian authorities for the release of 77 year old Kamal Foroughi, held for over 5 and a half years and deprived of urgent cataracts surgery needed to avoid going blind; 37 year old Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, held since April 2016; 50 year old Roya Nobakht, held for over 3 years.
October 2021: MP calls for sanctions to be re-imposed on Iran
October 2017: Villiers leads debate in Parliament on horrific human rights abuses in Iran
July 2017: Villiers addresses the global Iranian community at Free Iran Annual Gathering
February 2017: Villiers speaks out on plight of women in Iran
November 2016: Rally against human rights abuses in Iran