Commons
Proceedings
14 July 2026
Future of Thames Water
My constituents are cheering on the work that the Government have done by getting a grip of this situation after the Environment Agency was left to mark its own homework, and the self-monitoring and regulation framework failed. Will the Minister say more about the dedicated supervisory teams in the …
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
24 June 2026
Engagements
Q6. This morning, a mature street tree fell on my house. No one was hurt, but it is another reminder of the results of this extreme heat that we face. Today is the hottest June day ever on record. Extreme heat and flooding are becoming more normal, and the Government need to stay ahead of that in re…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
22 June 2026
G7 Summit
I echo the Deputy Prime Minister’s praise for the Prime Minister’s success in restoring the UK’s standing in the world, including with the EU.
My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has welcomed the G7 commitment to accelerating humanitarian efforts for Gaza and ending violence on the west …
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 June 2026
Lifelong Learning: “University of the Air” White Paper
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for celebrating such a great Labour achievement, led by a great Labour woman, Baroness Jennie Lee. Will he join me in congratulating the Open University and underlining its importance for people like me? I was looking after four children and was able to do a master’s …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
15 June 2026
Russian Shadow Fleet
I join all hon. Members and the Secretary of State in paying tribute to the Royal Marines, as we are proud to host the Royal Marine reserves in my constituency. I welcome the Secretary of State to his place, and his assurance that we have not missed a beat in our support for Ukraine. I have been to …
Commons
Proceedings
8 June 2026
Digital Safety: Children
Social media companies have been conducting a social experiment on our children for too long and parents have been left trying to bear the burden. I thank the Minister very much for many meetings over many months. Can he tell us the criteria for deciding which platforms are going to be deemed safe o…
Commons
Proceedings
8 June 2026
Water Companies
My constituents write to me constantly about the failings of Thames Water—bills going up, but pollution staying the same—and I am glad the Minister is taking a grip of the matter through the taskforce. It is World Oceans Day, and this morning I met several groups that are campaigning on and providin…
Commons
Oral Questions
Northern Ireland
3 June 2026
2 contributions
Supreme Court Dillon Judgment: Policy Implications
2. What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of the Supreme Court judgment in the Dillon case [2026] UKSC 15.
The Supreme Court found wholly in the Government’s favour. Does the Secretary of State agree that the Government now have a responsibility to put in place legislation that delivers justice for victims and survivors of the troubles, who are both civilians and veterans, and that upholds the special du…
Commons
Westminster Hall
2 June 2026
2 contributions
Preparedness for National Emergencies
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Barker. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Dunfermline and Dollar (Graeme Downie) for securing this important debate, with so many MPs and such a short amount of time for such a big topic.
As the former shadow Paymaster General, I spent two yea…
No, I only have two minutes; I am afraid I will not be able to give way.
The message from stakeholders has been unequivocal. The UK is fundamentally unprepared for the scale of the climate risks that we face. These risks cascade across systems. Extreme heat killed nearly 3,000 people in 2022, but b…
Commons
Westminster Hall
21 April 2026
4 contributions
Hammersmith Bridge
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the future of Hammersmith Bridge.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Alec. I thank my hon. Friend the Minister for being here for this debate. I also thank everyone who attended my recent action event at Hammersmith bridge to campaign …
I thank the hon. Member for his acknowledgment of the many years that I have been campaigning on this issue and that he has seen me raising it in the Chamber. I agree that there is no time to wait, because the longer we wait, the more the bill goes up, as well as the hardship continuing for us.
Bui…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
20 April 2026
Security Vetting
I welcome the Prime Minister saying that he should not have appointed Peter Mandelson. In November, in the Foreign Affairs Committee, I asked who saw the vetting and was told this by Sir Olly Robbins:
“Obviously, the vast majority of those are relatively straightforward. Ones that require more seni…
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
20 April 2026
2 contributions
School Food Standards
7. What plans she has to review school food standards requiring mandatory servings of meat, fish and dairy.
I am pleased that the consultation on school food standards was launched last week. Many constituents have contacted me about the benefits of having more and better vegetarian school meals. Having fewer meals from processed meat is healthier, better for the planet and better value. Does the Minister…
Commons
Westminster Hall
19 March 2026
5 contributions
Northern Ireland: Legacy of the Past
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain; I wish you a happy St Patrick’s day. I thank the Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Tonia Antoniazzi), for securing this debate and choosing this topic, and I commend her and the Committ…
I absolutely agree, and my hon. Friend makes a very good point: this also includes service families. No matter what family someone comes from, it is a huge loss. These are people missing from family tables, about whom there are still questions, and it is a trauma not to know what happened—that is wh…
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
4 March 2026
3 contributions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
I am honoured to speak in this debate. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Sarah Champion) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry) for securing the debate. I worked in international development for many years, specifically on water sanitat…
This is not a party political issue. We have led on Ukraine for many years and we still are doing so. I am very proud of the role we have played, under both Governments. The Labour Government are now moving forward far further and far faster. I am also proud that we recently signed the global ocean …
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
25 February 2026
Engagements
Q4. Given the recent challenges to the Equality Act 2010, will the Prime Minister commit to protecting laws that prevent discrimination at work and in society, make sure that women are not fired for being pregnant, and ensure that everyone is treated fairly, regardless of their sex, race or disabili…
Commons
Debate
5 February 2026
2 contributions
Occupied Palestinian Territories: Genocide Risk Assessment
Questions of genocide are among the gravest that Parliament must consider, and I thank the many constituents who have written to me in advance of this debate. In the case of Gaza, the International Court of Justice ruled two years ago that there is a “real and imminent risk” of genocide. The Court i…
On recent developments, my grandfather fought for our country in Palestine. There are reports that the IDF has destroyed a cemetery in Gaza containing graves of allied troops from both world wars. Would the Minister condemn that?
Commons
Ministerial Statement
5 February 2026
National Cancer Plan
I congratulate the Minister on this excellent plan and invite her to congratulate Young Lives vs Cancer, which has long campaigned for the travel fund for children and young people with cancer. I have joined the charity in its campaigning and am absolutely delighted to see the travel fund in place. …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
5 February 2026
Sudan
I thank the Foreign Secretary for her statement, her visit and her announcement about new money and the sanctions. Children are being deliberately and systematically targeted by both sides in this conflict: boys are being forcibly recruited, girls are subject to sexual violence, and even infants hav…
Commons
Debate
3 February 2026
2 contributions
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill
I am very proud to support the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill. It will tackle child poverty and restore basic fairness to our social security system. I, like many other Labour Members, have been campaigning on this issue since I became an MP. I thank the Child Poverty Action Grou…
The hon. Member highlights one of the many painful decisions that people have to make on the back of this policy, such as decisions about heating or eating and about what to do in their families. She also highlights the fact that the whole of Northern Ireland will benefit from this Bill as well. We …
Commons
Debate
21 January 2026
Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and Reconciliation
I commend the Secretary of State for the careful and thoughtful work that he has done to bring the House to this place today. Does he agree that, with this remedial order, he is doing the right thing for victims? That means ordinary people, including veterans and the wider armed forces community, al…
Commons
Oral Questions
20 January 2026
Official Development Assistance
The conflict in Sudan is affecting millions of people, including thousands of women affected by horrific sexual violence. I have been hearing from aid workers on the ground who are working with those women. Will the Minister assure the House that, despite aid budget cuts, support for the women victi…
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
8 January 2026
Transport for London: Commuter Services
Commuter services are extensively disrupted in Putney by the six-year closure of Hammersmith bridge. I will be holding a bus crisis taskforce again tomorrow to look at the impact that the closure of the bridge is having not just on bus services, but on active travel and commuting through Putney. Wil…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
7 January 2026
Ukraine and Wider Operational Update
I welcome the decisive leadership of the Defence Secretary and the Prime Minister in supporting Ukraine. When the Foreign Affairs Committee met the Ukrainian Government, it highlighted the necessity of a strong sanctions regime that is joined up internationally. The actions taken today show just tha…
Commons
Proceedings
17 December 2025
Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and Reconciliation
I commend the Secretary of State for the care that he is taking to work as fast possible for the victims, survivors and veterans families, who need to hear answers, while making sure that this is legally correct. I echo the comments about the South East Fermanagh Foundation quilts, which remind us o…
Commons
Proceedings
16 December 2025
Africa: New Approach
I welcome the change of approach that the Minister has outlined—a change from a paternalism to partnership—and I welcome the listening way in which it has been done. I am concerned that poverty reduction was not mentioned in the statement—neither were sustainable development goals, or working with l…