Commons
Westminster Hall
21 January 2026
Animal Welfare Strategy for England
I am immediately imposing a four-minute time limit on Back-Bench speeches, so not every Member will get to speak. However, if Members keep their speeches shorter, more people will get in.
Commons
Ministerial Statement
19 January 2026
Public Office (Accountability) Bill
I thank my hon. Friend for her statement, and my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool West Derby (Ian Byrne) for the leadership that he has shown on this. It is right that we have a pause, but the Minister will know how distressing this is for the families, and about the emotional and physical toll …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
19 January 2026
Arctic Security
I welcome the Prime Minister’s calm diplomacy this morning. It is right that only adversaries stand to gain from the fracturing of NATO. The Government do not believe that the US President is serious about using military force to seize Greenland, but even in just the past hour he has refused to rule…
Commons
Proceedings
19 January 2026
Business Rates: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure
I thank my hon. Friend for his engagement so far on this issue. It will come as no surprise to him that we need a cut to VAT and the maximum 20p discount for business rates applied across hospitality, not just pubs, because nobody wants to drink in a pub surrounded by boarded-up cafés, restaurants a…
Commons
Proceedings
15 January 2026
Digital ID
This is a mess. Increasing surveillance, Department for Work and Pensions powers to snoop on bank accounts, the removal of trials by jury, postponing elections and clamping down on peaceful protest—the public are starting to become very angry about these encroachments on our fundamental freedoms and…
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
15 January 2026
2 contributions
End-of-life Ministry
10. What assessment the Church of England has made of the potential impact of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on end-of-life ministry.
Where assisted dying is being legalised with opt-outs for faith-based hospices, it is now being challenged in the courts. Opt-outs and faith-based conscientious objections are unworkable and will be subject to constant legal wrangling. That is just one of the very many serious concerns associated wi…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 January 2026
Business of the House
I am sure that the Leader of the House shares my concern that families, including my constituents who have been repeatedly failed by the state, had arranged time off work and booked travel and expensive accommodation to make the journey to London, only to be told that there will now be no debate tom…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
15 December 2025
NATO Defence Expenditure Target
Allies rightly agreed that up to 1.5% of GDP would go towards civil preparedness and resilience measures, but public support for our current commitments—let alone for mobilisation in a crisis—does not meet Government assumptions. Will my right hon. Friend say how he plans to address that, so that we…
Commons
Proceedings
27 November 2025
Business of the House
Since July, I have been assisting my constituent who is the victim of stalking by a foreign national. After correspondence, proposed legislative amendments and a ministerial meeting, we were promised some support. The situation has recently deteriorated, placing her in danger. Despite numerous attem…
Commons
Oral Questions
24 November 2025
2 contributions
Topical Questions
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
The hospitality industry in South Shields has really struggled over the last year. There are now deep concerns, which I share, about the imposition of a tourism tax. Can my right hon. Friend explain what assessment he has made of such a tax’s impact on beautiful little coastal tourist towns, like mi…
Commons
Oral Questions
24 November 2025
2 contributions
Social and Affordable Housing: South Shields
1. What steps he is taking to build more social and affordable homes in the South Shields constituency.
After a long campaign from myself and constituents, South Tyneside council has eventually agreed to curtail any new houses in multiple occupation, but we remain saturated with them. My right hon. Friend knows that they are no substitute for good social housing, so does he have any plans to strengthe…
Commons
Westminster Hall
17 November 2025
4 contributions
Parkinson’s Disease
I will need to put a two-minute time limit on Back-Bench speeches.
Order. I call Graeme Downie.
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Petition
3 November 2025
Regulation of houses in multiple occupation
I rise to present a petition on behalf of my constituents regarding the uncontrolled growth and lack of monitoring of houses in multiple occupation across South Shields. HMOs are having a detrimental impact on our community, increasing antisocial behaviour and contributing to the erosion of family h…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
3 November 2025
Topical Questions
North-east industry has always supported our nation’s defence, yet we now have the lowest MOD spend out of every single region, leaving our potential untapped. Will my hon. Friend meet me and the North East Regional Defence and Security Cluster to redress that?
Commons
Oral Questions
Work and Pensions
27 October 2025
2 contributions
Employment: People with Health Conditions
23. What steps he is taking to support people with health conditions into work.
The Motability scheme provides a lifeline to people with disabilities, allowing them to get to health appointments, study, maintain employment and so much more. Cuts to the scheme risk increased health needs and increased unemployment, which are likely to cost much more than any short-term savings. …
Commons
Westminster Hall
27 October 2025
Holidays During School Term Time
Order. Will Members please keep their contributions to five minutes, so that everyone can get in? I the Chair of the Education Committee.
Commons
Debate
21 October 2025
2 contributions
Sentencing Bill
I am going to make a short speech on new clause 27, tabled in my name and the name of other hon. Members.
After a short relationship, my constituent Sophie Hall has suffered and continues to suffer from a prolonged and relentless stalking campaign from her ex-partner, who was residing illegally in …
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his intervention and support.
Simply put, I want no one else to go through what Sophie is going through. She has to live her life in constant fear and has been through absolute hell. I hope that the Minister will give my new clause proper consideration.
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 October 2025
Tree Maintenance: Guidance to Local Authorities
I will call Esther McVey to move the motion. I will then call the Minister to respond. I remind other Members that they may only make a speech with prior permission from the Member in charge of the debate and the Minister. There will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up, as is t…
Commons
Oral Questions
Justice
16 September 2025
Support for Witnesses
My constituent Billy Boyack saw his wife Angela and son Stephen killed in a head-on collision. The driver responsible initially showed no remorse and was already banned from the area under bail conditions. He received only a 13-year sentence. How does the Minister intend to redress the unfairness in…
Commons
Oral Questions
11 September 2025
2 contributions
Bus Services
5. What steps she is taking to help improve local bus services.
My constituents are sick of being ignored when it comes to vital bus routes being withdrawn. More than 600 of them recently signed a petition after the unexpected and rapid withdrawal of the well used No. 17. Giving more powers to local councils does not always equate to communities having more of a…
Commons
Westminster Hall
4 September 2025
7 contributions
Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund
I was about to remind Members that they need to bob if they wish to speak in the debate, but I see everyone already has. I need to call the Front Benchers at 2.38 pm, so we will need to impose an immediate time limit of two and a half minutes. I call Helen Hayes, Chair of the Education Committee.
Order.
+5 more contributions in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
4 September 2025
3 contributions
Procedure Committee
We begin with a Select Committee statement. Graeme Downie will speak on the publication of the second report of the Procedure Committee, “Proxy voting: Review of arrangements introduced in Session 2024-25”, HC 489, for up to 10 minutes, during which no interventions can be taken. At the conclusion o…
I remind the hon. Member that these are brief questions.
+1 more contribution in this session