Commons
Debate
17 June 2026
National Security (State Threats) Bill
I note the definition on activities being
“prejudicial to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom”,
but does my right hon. Friend agree that we are getting into some tortuous territory? It could be properly argued that it is in the interests of the United Kingdom to seek to uphold basic huma…
Commons
Debate
10 June 2026
Railways Bill
On what is in the best interests of the citizens of this country, why does the hon. Gentleman think it was rational that other state-owned railways were franchised to run the railway system in this country to the exclusion of this country’s operators? That was absolute nonsense. Trenitalia, Deutsche…
Commons
Proceedings
3 June 2026
Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces Operations
I share the Minister’s condemnation of the murderous attacks on Kuwait airport this morning. I am sure he will share with me the condemnation of the murder of two more health workers in Lebanon this morning, at the hands of the IDF.
The Minister referred to the Israelis ordering the war crime of th…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
21 May 2026
2 contributions
Middle East
This week we have seen two Israeli Ministers, already sanctioned by this Government, act with impunity—Ben-Gvir assaulting and mocking humanitarian aid activists, and Smotrich saying the Palestinian Authority will “get a war”. Smotrich then ordered the ethnic cleansing, an apartheid act, of the vill…
Because you’re not going to do it—that’s why!
Commons
Debate
28 April 2026
Referral of Prime Minister to Committee of Privileges
The Prime Minister has set out a detailed chronology. He has made it abundantly clear that he has not lied and he has not misled this House. In those circumstances, would it not be right to embrace this process and wipe the floor with the critics who have put those things to him? While we are at it,…
Commons
Debate
27 April 2026
Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)
The Bill must be carried over. We need to replace the unlawful 2023 Act, and we must get this right. This is a test of whether the House is serious about addressing legacy in Northern Ireland. The Good Friday agreement commits us to reconciliation based on self-determination, consent and rights. Tha…
Commons
Debate
21 April 2026
Middle East: Economic Update
I thank the Chancellor for her statement and for the work that she and the Energy Secretary have done in this regard. The focus on renewables and the decoupling of gas and electricity is most welcome, but may I point something out? One of the problems that we inherited from the Conservatives, who ha…
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 April 2026
Single Status of Worker
It is good to see you in the Chair, Mr Efford. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough (Justin Madders) for securing this debate and for his sterling work in ensuring the Employment Rights Bill became the Employment Rights Act. He was doughty in his prosecution of it. I …
Commons
Debate
14 April 2026
7 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
My hon. Friend will remember our discussion, and I hope that she can help me. Lord Macdonald of River Glaven KC was appointed to lead an independent review of laws on public order and hate crime. The review was also to consider the laws around protest, and we were hopeful that we would have that. I …
The hon. Gentleman is talking about the proscription of the IRGC. Will he explain to the House why the Tory party did not do that in their 14 years in government?
+5 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
14 April 2026
Crime and Policing Bill (Ways and Means)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. As you know, I have tabled an amendment to Lords amendment 312 seeking to disagree with their lordships. This House will not be given the opportunity today to vote on this singular matter, notwithstanding that it does—in my view and that of many thousands o…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 April 2026
Hidden Credit Liabilities: Role of the FCA
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Roger. I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) for securing the debate, for his expert exposition and for the work he has done on this issue over many years.
I will raise case of my constituency neighbour,…
Commons
Debate
26 March 2026
Business of the House
May I associate myself with the remarks made by the Leader of the House concerning our colleague David Winnick?
The Leader of the House has just announced that the Crime and Policing Bill will come back to us for consideration of Lords amendments on 14 April. It will return to the Commons massively…
Commons
Westminster Hall
18 March 2026
3 contributions
Royal Mail: Performance
Over the past week, the delivery offices that serve Middlesbrough and Hartlepool have both been ranked in the top five in their regional area for delivery failure. This matters for customers waiting for vital posts and for staff under immense pressure. It is not the fault of the posties; the respons…
Was privatisation a mistake?
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
16 March 2026
Strait of Hormuz
The Prime Minister was right when he said today that
“we will not be drawn into the wider war”.
But the US President is now requesting UK military assets to police the strait of Hormuz. This is exactly the sort of mission creep that many have warned against. Discussing NATO this morning, General S…
Commons
Oral Questions
11 March 2026
Royal Mail: Universal Service Obligation
This situation is completely intolerable, as everybody has described. Will the Minister confirm that if the owners continue to fail to discharge their obligations as a matter of urgency, the option of taking Royal Mail back into public ownership will be fully considered, because that is popular with…
Commons
Oral Questions
9 March 2026
Immigration Policy
I thank the Minister for his response to the urgent question. On work visas and people integrating into our communities, will he say something about the abuses that we hear of—including how sponsors control the situation for these people—and about the potential damage that will be caused, especially…
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
3 March 2026
2 contributions
West Bank: Illegal Settlements
2. What diplomatic steps her Department is taking to help prevent the expansion of illegal settlements in the west bank.
I thank the Minister for his answer, but since December 2015, 19 new settlements have been approved, bringing the coalition’s total to 68 in three years and around 210 overall, housing 750,000 settlers. Last month, the Israeli Cabinet approved measures to designate large areas as state property and …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
26 February 2026
Business of the House
May I ask the Leader of the House whether the Government will make time for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to report to this House on the findings of the best value process for the mayoral Tees Valley combined authority as the 12 months of the best value notice …
Commons
Westminster Hall
25 February 2026
Student Loan Repayment Plans
It is a pleasure, Ms Lewell. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford South (Jas Athwal) for securing this debate. I was a beneficiary of free higher education under Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan, but I must begin with the stark reality that today’s graduates face. The average debt on graduati…
Commons
Debate
24 February 2026
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
I am listening closely to what the hon. Member is saying. Does he agree, given that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is no longer a royal, that nothing is really stopping us having a judge-led public inquiry into his affairs and all that attends them?
Commons
Westminster Hall
24 February 2026
Gaza Healthcare System
It is a privilege to serve under your chairship, Sir Jeremy. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Dr Opher) on securing this debate and on his expertise in the area.
The Israeli Government carry out these crimes against humanity because they can, and no one stops them. For nearly tw…
Commons
Debate
23 February 2026
Lord Mandelson: Government Response to Humble Address
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his statement. I agree that the Prime Minister was quite right to put the “Lord of the files” outside the tent; we got there eventually. However, can my right hon. Friend assure me that the answer to the $64,000 question—what was known at the time when Peter…
Commons
Oral Questions
23 February 2026
Labour Together and APCO Worldwide: Cabinet Office Review
This is truly a sordid affair. The Minister speaks of receiving funds from Labour Together to work on policy; I will just remind him that when we sat on the Opposition Benches, many of us were quite content with the support we received from the trade union movement and were proud to declare it as so…
Commons
Debate
11 February 2026
10 contributions
Police Grant Report
Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?
rose—
+8 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
10 February 2026
Pensions and Social Security
I am sure my hon. Friend will be aware of today’s Resolution Foundation report that shows how increases in income have significantly slowed over the past 20 years, particularly for those on low incomes, as shown by the basic rate of UC, which has fallen by 9% in real terms since 2010. Does she think…