21 MPs support Umbrella Movement Nobel Peace Prize nomination

Shortly after Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, Alex Chow and the Umbrella Movement were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a cross-party group of US Senators, 21 United Kingdom MPs have expressed their support for the nomination.

A Parliamentary motion, tabled by Fiona Bruce MP, the Chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, publicly expresses Parliament's support of this nomination, recognising the 'peaceful efforts’ of Umbrella Movement leaders ‘to defend basic freedoms, strengthen democracy and protect autonomy for Hong Kong guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint-Declaration.'

The motion has gathered support from MPs from across the political spectrum in the UK, with support from MPs from the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish National Party, the Conservative Party, the Democratic Unionist Party, and an Independent. The full text of the motion is:

‘That this House welcomes the nomination of Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, Alex Chow and the entire pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, known collectively as the Umbrella Movement, for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of their peaceful efforts to defend basic freedoms, strengthen democracy and protect autonomy for Hong Kong guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong's Basic Law; supports the letter released on 1 February by eight Members of the United States Congress and four United States senators to the Chair of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee; and encourages the Nobel Peace Prize Committee to give this nomination serious consideration.’

Fiona Bruce MP, who tabled the motion, said that:

‘The Umbrella Movement was one of the most peaceful and restrained movements of public protest that the world has ever seen. It was led by exceptional young people, some of whom I have met, whose fight for freedom and democracy deserves our full support. I hope the Nobel Peace Prize Committee seriously considers this nomination.’

Benedict Rogers, the Chairman of Hong Kong Watch, said:

‘We are delighted that a cross-party group of UK parliamentarians have joined their counter-parts in America in expressing support for the Umbrella Movement’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. They are absolutely right in describing the Umbrella Movement as a whole, and its leaders, as among the most inspiring and courageous peaceful movements for democracy and human rights in recent times, certainly fitting the criteria of the Nobel Peace Prize and in keeping with the values of previous Laureates.’