Commons
Oral Questions
24 March 2026
Middle East Conflict: Energy Security
Given the recent jump in the price of oil, would it not be good for the UK economy, jobs and the Government’s tax receipts to maximise drilling for North sea oil, as Norway does, rather than phasing it out and closing those sites down because of this Government’s, and in particular the Secretary of …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 March 2026
Spring Forecast
Does the Chancellor now accept that there is a correlation between increasing national insurance contributions on employers and higher unemployment, or does she still believe that those two things are not connected in any way?
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
2 March 2026
Topical Questions
Alderley Edge school for girls, in my constituency, has just announced its closure, blaming increased costs, such as national insurance costs, and, most significantly, VAT on school fees. Given that the Secretary of State is responsible for its closure, what will she do to help minimise the disrupti…
Commons
Debate
24 February 2026
Food Labelling (Halal and Kosher Meat)
I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to introduce compulsory labelling of halal and kosher meat and products containing halal and kosher meat; and for connected purposes.
This is a Bill about animal welfare, transparency in meat production and consumer choice. It does not seek to …
Commons
Oral Questions
23 February 2026
Labour Together and APCO Worldwide: Cabinet Office Review
The steps taken by the former head of Labour Together to smear journalists when they dared to look into the murky finances of this Labour think-tank are nothing short of chilling. No longer head of Labour Together, he is now serving as a Minister in the Cabinet Office, which is the Department curren…
Commons
Debate
11 February 2026
11 contributions
Police Grant Report
I apologise for the fact that I cannot stay until the end of this debate, because I have a debate in Westminster Hall, but I need to ask the Minister a question. She talks about outcomes. Is she as shocked as I am that the Labour Cheshire police and crime commissioner has already spent £200,000 on t…
Following on from the Minister’s point, I noticed today that the same Labour police and crime commissioner has put up an advert for a senior public relations officer on £45,000 to £55,000, and there are other vanity projects. Surely that money should be spent on PCSOs and police on the ground, not o…
+9 more contributions in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
11 February 2026
8 contributions
Rural GPs: Funding
I beg to move,
That this House has considered GP funding in rural areas.
I am pleased to have the opportunity to talk about this important topic. Statistics show that, as of 2024, 17% of England’s population, equating to 9.6 million people, live in rural areas. For these communities, accessing hea…
The hon. Lady raises a very relevant point, and I agree wholeheartedly. People in lots of areas in my constituency cannot get to a GP and are bereft of a GP surgery.
Until now, we have had a measure of rurality, but this Government have instructed the National Institute for Health and Care Research…
+6 more contributions in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
9 February 2026
Standards in Public Life
Given the importance of standards in public life, why is it that the adviser who suggested that Peter Mandelson be made ambassador to the United States had to resign, but the person who actually appointed Peter Mandelson—the Prime Minister —is still in post?
Commons
Debate
4 February 2026
2 contributions
Lord Mandelson
When we talk about the appointment of Mandelson, what we are really talking about is the judgment of the Prime Minister. Mandelson is now a key part of the Starmer Government —appointments, what goes on, the key people—which brings into question every judgment made by this Prime Minister, from Chago…
I am going to raise a very sensitive issue. My hon. Friend raised a point about vulnerable women being abused, about powerful men taking advantage, and about a friend who was appointed when he was known to be a friend of a convicted paedophile. We also have a Labour Government who ran away from inve…
Commons
Debate
2 February 2026
2 contributions
High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill
I rise to object to the High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill carry-over and Select Committee motions.
Why is there any need to carry over the Bill? To paraphrase Monty Python, this project is no more: it has ceased to be, it has expired and gone to meet its maker. It is a stiff, bereft of life…
According to the Secretary of State’s announcement, the money being put forward was, I think, £1.1 billion out of a £45 billion cost, which was to be delivered in decades to come, when the Secretary of State and her Government will no longer be around—hence, it is a charade to keep the mayors of the…
Commons
Debate
2 February 2026
US Department of Justice Release of Files
Do the Government believe that Lord Mandelson should be stripped of his peerage, yes or no? If they do believe that, they should bring forward primary legislation to do just that. I am afraid the Minister’s excuse of a queue does not wash. Will they bring forward legislation for the disgraced Lord M…
Commons
Debate
2 February 2026
China and Japan
Does the Prime Minister accept that in his rush to hoover up economic crumbs from President Xi because of his appalling handling of our economy, he is having to increase strategic dependence on Beijing? The public see the risks the Prime Minister is taking with UK security; does he?
Commons
Westminster Hall
28 January 2026
Ivanhoe Line: Restoration
I will call Amanda Hack to move the motion and I will then call the Minister to respond. I remind other Members that they may make a speech only with the prior permission of both the Member in charge of the debate and the Minister. There will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up…
Commons
Westminster Hall
28 January 2026
Defence Industry: Environmental, Social and Governance Requirements
I remind Members to bob if they wish to be called. We will go to the Front-Bench speakers at about 3.30 pm. I am aware we are expecting a vote, which might come as early as 3.30 pm; I will obviously suspend the sitting when that happens.
Commons
Westminster Hall
21 January 2026
3 contributions
Waste Collection: Birmingham and the West Midlands
I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to speak in the debate. I also remind them that the latest that this debate can go to is 6.8 pm.
Order. Before you do, I think we are going off topic. Can we keep to the topic?
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
21 January 2026
2 contributions
UK Wine Industry
I will call Tristan Osborne to move the motion and I will then call the Minister to respond. I remind other Members that they can make a speech only with the prior permission of the Member in charge of the debate and the Minister. As is the convention for 30-minute debates, there will not be an oppo…
It’s nearly over!
Commons
Westminster Hall
21 January 2026
4 contributions
Local Government Reorganisation: Referendums
I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to be called to speak and that interventions should be short. We will come to the Front-Bench speeches just before 3.30 pm.
Order. Before the hon. Gentleman replies, we have a Division. I think there will be three Divisions, so Members should come back in 35 minutes.
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
20 January 2026
3 contributions
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill
Will the Minister give way?
This evening, the Minister is trying to convince us to vote for this Chagos deal. The President of the United States says that the Government are handing over the island “FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER”, so can he give us some reasons?
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Debate
20 January 2026
5 contributions
Chinese Embassy
No, you’re not.
Answer the question!
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
15 January 2026
4 contributions
Covid-19: Financial Support
I thank the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Manuela Perteghella) for securing the debate and the Backbench Business Committee for granting it.
There is no doubt that the hardship affecting families, businesses and communities as a result of covid-19 policies is ongoing. The depth of suffering is…
I do not believe the evidence proves that. We can look to other parts of the world where that was not the case.
This policy had unwavering and enthusiastic support from across the House, with just a few of us in this House —too few—raising valid concerns, but we were shut down. It should be obvious…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 January 2026
Horse and Rider Road Safety
I thank my hon. Friend and constituency neighbour for giving way. I am getting an increasing amount of correspondence from Tatton constituents concerned about careless drivers on country roads and the dangers they pose to horses and riders. Does she share my concern about the changes to planning rul…
Commons
Debate
7 January 2026
2 contributions
Jury Trials
You’re going soft!
Who would have thought that a Government led by a human rights lawyer would be leading the charge to remove one of our most basic human rights, trial by jury? The Government are removing the right to a jury trial for any offences that carry a likely sentence of less than three years, supposedly to r…
Commons
Debate
5 January 2026
Northern Ireland Troubles Bill: Armed Forces Recruitment and Retention
Seven former SAS officers say that troops feel abandoned by this Government’s legacy Bill. Given those comments, does the Minister believe that the Bill will incentivise the next generation to apply to serve in the armed forces, or, rather, that it will prevent the next generation from taking that c…
Commons
Debate
5 January 2026
HMP Leyhill: Offender Abscondments
The police have said that the prisoners who absconded from the open prison HMP Leyhill are dangerous and should not be approached by the public. How can any prisoner described in that way be in an open prison? It defies logic, Minister.