Commons
Oral Questions
16 March 2026
Strait of Hormuz
Fresh from the doorsteps of Arthurs Hill, West Denton and Blakelaw, I can confirm that this is an issue of real concern and some fear across Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West, and that there is overwhelming support for the Government’s decision not to join Israel and the US in initiating an un-th…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
10 March 2026
Digital ID: Public Consultation
I welcome the Government’s decision to remove the mandatory element of digital ID, so that we can all focus on the benefits that easier access to public services should deliver for everyone. Usefulness, security and inclusivity are good principles, and I urge my constituents to take part in the cons…
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 March 2026
9 contributions
Technology Sovereignty
I beg to move,
That this House has considered technology sovereignty.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Vaz. We are four years into the Ukraine war and 10 days into the latest Iran-Israel-US conflict. At the start of this year, the US seized the President of Venezuela. A few we…
I very much agree with my hon. Friend. He is absolutely right, and that support should take the form of access to investment, but also procurement and procurement decisions, which I will discuss in more detail.
The Digital Minister also told the Committee:
“There is no single internationally recog…
+7 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
3 March 2026
Topical Questions
T6. It was a pleasure to see the Foreign Secretary at last month’s Munich security conference, where, despite warm words on all sides, the trust gap between the European Union and the United States was absolutely palpable, impacting discussions on defence, procurement, technology, sovereignty, Green…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
2 March 2026
Middle East
There are direct flights from Newcastle to Dubai, and many Geordies in the region, including in the armed forces, so I thank the Prime Minister for the steps he is taking to support and protect them, and particularly for acting within international law. Iran is a murderous, despotic state that has f…
Commons
Oral Questions
House of Commons Commission
26 February 2026
2 contributions
Productivity: Technology
5. What steps the Commission is taking to help improve Members’ productivity through technology.
I thank the hon. Member for that answer. I believe that Parliament can—indeed must—use AI to improve our productivity, but it must be used securely, ethically, effectively and in the public interest. A poll by Brunel University has said that 80% of the public reject the idea of AI assisting parliame…
Commons
Oral Questions
26 February 2026
Topical Questions
Northern industries built this nation, but the previous Government did not care about our industrial heritage, which is one reason why Newcastle’s iconic swing bridge no longer swings. On her recent visit, the Minister for Heritage encouraged us to take the steps necessary to safeguard its future, b…
Commons
Debate
24 February 2026
7 contributions
Online Harm: Child Protection
Further to that point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. How can I assess what is orderly for my contribution to the debate given that the substance of the motion is about process? To be frank, I do not want to speak about process; I want to speak about protections for children.
I am grateful to the Liberal Democrats for bringing forward this debate on protecting children from online harms, although I remain uncertain as to the measures they are proposing. This debate is happening up and down the country, in homes and at school gates—indeed, wherever people gather—so it is …
+5 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
10 February 2026
2 contributions
Green Energy Sector: North-east England
8. What steps he is taking to support the green energy sector in the north-east.
I thank the Minister for that response. For 100 years and more, skilled workers in the north-east have relied on high-paid energy jobs, be they in coal, gas or oil in mines, factories, ports and rigs. Labour’s clean power mission can bring new jobs to existing supply chains, but companies and worker…
Commons
Oral Questions
Science, Innovation and Technology
4 February 2026
Teenagers’ Use of Social Media
One year ago, Meta, TikTok, X, and Google all confirmed to my Committee that they hold themselves accountable to the British people through Parliament, and before Easter we will revisit the findings of our social media and algorithms inquiry in an evidence session with them. I mention that because i…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
29 January 2026
Women’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO Report
The Secretary of State knows just how disappointing many will find this statement, particularly the WASPI women who feel so strongly the injustice that they have suffered. I appreciate that the he has set out the reasons in principle and in practice and explained how the Labour Government will suppo…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
21 January 2026
Water White Paper
I see that Tory MPs are too scared to turn up to hear how we are cleaning up their mess. As a Newcastle MP, as an engineer and as a cold water swimmer—the North sea is very cold—I welcome the Government’s new vision for water, which will deliver the water my constituents deserve at a price they can …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
20 January 2026
Mobile Phones and Social Media: Use by Children
I welcome the consultation. We know that technology has changed childhood, we believe that it has changed child socialisation and we think that it may have changed brain development, perhaps even motor neurone skills, but there is little concrete evidence beyond the individual terrible stories and, …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
19 January 2026
Arctic Security
Knocking on doors in Denton, Westerhope, Arthur’s Hill and Wingrove, I found that, for the first time in my 15 years as an MP, the No. 1 issue was global insecurity. President Trump has succeeded in uniting the British people against his unwarranted attack on a close ally. My right hon. Friend is ri…
Commons
Proceedings
19 January 2026
Iran: Protests
The brutal regime in Iran has destroyed so many lives, and as a woman and a feminist I want to pay particular tribute to the brave women of Iran fighting for their freedom against such odds. They were promised support by President Trump. Can the Minister say what form that support may take, and what…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 January 2026
2 contributions
Science and Discovery Centres
I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this really important debate, and on his excellent and inspirational speech. The Centre for Life in Newcastle celebrated its 25th birthday last year. I have been inspired by its openness and how it supports young people from all backgrounds and different are…
I thank my hon. Friend for the passionate points that he is making. I want to support him by pointing out that the answer to a parliamentary question of mine in October stated that the Minister for Science, Lord Vallance, was following up
“with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to explore…
Commons
Debate
12 January 2026
Social Media: Non-consensual Sexual Deepfakes
Unlike her shadow, the Secretary of State was rightly passionate when calling out these sexually abusive images. The libertarian tech bro lobby has to accept that consent counts online, too. In her letter to me today, the Secretary of State said that the Online Safety Act was designed to deal with t…
Commons
Debate
6 January 2026
2 contributions
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill
I thank the Minister for the excellent points he is making on the importance of cyber-security and the cyber-security action plan. Can he say a little bit about how the success of the cyber-security action plan will be measured, monitored and communicated to the House? He is probably aware that only…
Happy new year to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, to all hon. Members and to the staff.
It is appropriate that we begin 2026 by talking about an issue in the House that is of grave importance to all our constituents, but is not discussed enough either here or in the country: cyber-security. At the start…
Commons
Oral Questions
17 December 2025
Supply Chain Resilience
This afternoon, UKRI will publish its detailed funding allocations for programmes such as ReImagining Supply Chains. Does the Minister agree with the Office for Budget Responsibility that the bursting of the AI bubble presents a significant downside risk to the UK economy? What steps are his Departm…
Commons
Proceedings
11 December 2025
Business of the House
When I am out across the constituency, whether it is in Elswick, Denton, Westerhope, Wingrove, Arthur’s Hill or Monument, too often the issue that people raise with me is litter. Some 14 years of austerity reduced Newcastle city council’s cleansing resources, but hourly cleansing would not be enough…
Commons
Proceedings
11 December 2025
US National Security Strategy
I am sure that my hon. Friend is far too discreet to set out honestly her assessment of President Trump’s contribution to civilisation, but can she reassure my constituents—be they angered, insulted or just plain bemused by the pronouncements in the US national security strategy—that although we cel…
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 December 2025
3 contributions
AI Safety
I congratulate the hon. Member on securing this really important debate. It is certainly the case that UK law applies to AI, just as it applies online. The question is whether AI requires new regulation specifically to address the threats and concerns surrounding AI. We refrained from regulating the…
I thank the hon. Gentleman—a fellow engineer—for allowing this intervention. As the Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee—a number of fantastic Committee members are here—I would like to say that we have already looked at some of the challenges that AI presents to our regulatory …
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
8 December 2025
2 contributions
Digital ID
Will the hon. Member give way?
There are many who seek the right and the ability to identify themselves, but who do not have it as it stands. We all have constituents who are experiencing that. My Committee has seen evidence that the figure cited by the hon. Gentleman is not recognised by the Secretary of State; it has been put f…
Commons
Proceedings
4 December 2025
Local Elections
The north-east has perhaps the strongest sense of regional identity in the country, and it benefits immensely from the brilliant Labour mayor, Kim McGuinness, who has the devolved powers and funding to make a real difference to the lives of the people in the north-east. I know that the Minister is w…
Commons
Proceedings
27 November 2025
Budget Resolutions
Had our productivity grown at the same rate as media speculation, the UK would have been in a much stronger fiscal position ahead of the Budget. All the more credit is due, then, to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer for delivering a Budget for working people, lifting children out …