Commons
Ministerial Statement
30 June 2026
2 contributions
Defence Investment Plan
I welcome that this Government are prioritising the delivery of our nuclear deterrent, including investment in not only the current but the all-important future submarine programmes. The shadow Secretary of State said it was too little, too late. The price that the Liberal Democrats demanded for the…
Our MOD is under a cyber-attack every day. Does the Secretary of State agree that if we told the public the truth, they would be more willing to go along with those difficult decisions?
Commons
Proceedings
23 June 2026
Defence Spending and Readiness
We have talked about the changes after 2014. Might we also look back to what was referenced earlier, under the 2010 coalition Government, where the blame seemed to very suddenly shift to the Liberal Democrats? It was a joint decision to delay what was happening with our submarines. I will take no ar…
Commons
Debate
20 May 2026
2 contributions
Defence Readiness
Will my hon. Friend give way?
I thank my hon. Friend for his powerful contribution. The work of the Defence Committee involves a lot of private briefings that some Members in this Chamber and the public do not have the privilege of hearing. When I asked the Chief of the Defence Staff recently why we do not tell the public more, …
Commons
Oral Questions
Justice
19 May 2026
Topical Questions
T6. I welcome the youth justice White Paper and its focus on tackling the root causes of offending. Like many of my colleagues, I have seen tragic cases of vulnerable young people being clearly exploited by adults and drawn into crime. May I urge the Minister to ensure that the new offence of child …
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
20 April 2026
2 contributions
School Rebuilding Programme
9. What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the progress of the school rebuilding programme.
In January 2023, children at Sacred Heart Catholic primary school in my constituency were forced to evacuate their building after inspectors warned that it could collapse. I am pleased to welcome its headteacher, Simone Beach, to the Public Gallery today, and I know that the whole House will join me…
Commons
Proceedings
24 March 2026
3 contributions
Defence
First, I should note that, for all their chatter outside this Chamber on defence, there is not a single Member of the Reform party here. They are utterly incapable of having a serious conversation when it comes to defence.
I would like to congratulate the shadow Defence team. I did not believe it w…
No, we have heard quite enough.
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
16 March 2026
2 contributions
Defence: UK Allies
14. What steps he is taking to improve defence relationships with the UK’s allies.
The Government understand that “made in Britain” means good quality jobs for British people. Exporting those goods to international allies not only equips our allies with the best of British workmanship but puts billions of pounds into the UK economy. Barrow-in-Furness will build our AUKUS submarine…
Commons
Debate
4 March 2026
Ministry of Defence
Thank you for the opportunity to speak in this debate, Madam Deputy Speaker. In Barrow, defence spending means everything to apprentices starting out at the shipyard, to engineers perfecting their craft and to families who have worked for generations in support of our national security. It means pri…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
2 March 2026
Middle East
Over the weekend, I passed through Dubai airport, along with thousands of other people and many of my own constituents, as it turns out, and boarded a flight home. Shortly after leaving, we heard the news that this attack had happened, and my immediate thoughts went to the people who were still in t…
Commons
Statutory Instrument
2 March 2026
Draft National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Having run a business on the high street for the last 21 years, I can safely say that we have not had Saturday jobs around for at least the last 10 of them. That is not to do with the national minimum wage; it is due to a lack of support from Government over the last 14 years. Hundreds of ideas came…
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
12 February 2026
2 contributions
Energy Coast Train Line: Upgrades
6. What recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the progress of upgrades to the energy coast train line.
People in Barrow-in-Furness have had to put up with an increasingly unreliable rail service, which is having a huge impact on lives and businesses locally. From our work together so far on the energy coast rail upgrade, the Minister is aware that we have cross-Government support, and that the techni…
Commons
Debate
26 January 2026
Armed Forces Bill
As Members on both sides of the House have said over many years, this Bill is unlike most others that come before us. It is not simply a piece of Government business; it is the foundation on which our armed forces rest. It is renewed every five years and carries with it a deep responsibility.
I am …
Commons
Debate
12 January 2026
Finance (No. 2) Bill
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the Labour Rural Research Group and to see the difference it makes when we have serious conversations behind the scenes, talking to the Treasury and Ministers. In the last 12 months, I have met over 100 farmers from my constituency, who were all incredib…
Commons
Oral Questions
Energy Security and Net Zero
6 January 2026
Topical Questions
T4. Without energy security, projects such as Team Barrow and the regeneration of Barrow-in-Furness more widely would be impossible to deliver. Does the Secretary of State agree that large-scale proposals, such as the MESH—Marram energy storage and decarbonisation hub—project in the Irish sea, can p…
Commons
Oral Questions
16 December 2025
Topical Questions
Forests With Impact is delivering innovative prisoner rehabilitation through horticulture, paid work and accredited training at HMP Haverigg, helping people to gain skills for employment on release while also contributing to environmental recovery. Would the Minister be willing to pay a visit and ob…
Commons
Oral Questions
Work and Pensions
8 December 2025
2 contributions
Post-16 Skills Education
10. What steps his Department is taking to help to ensure that post-16 education provides the necessary skills to support the economy.
After 14 years of neglect, young people in Barrow and Furness are going to benefit from this Government’s commitment to supporting the apprenticeships that will drive our local economy. Does the Minister agree that Labour’s unprecedented investment in skills shows just how serious this Government’s …
Commons
Debate
11 November 2025
Remembrance Day: Armed Forces
It is an honour to speak today on behalf of the people of Barrow and Furness as we mark this season of remembrance. Each year, we pause to reflect on the courage, duty and sacrifice of those who served, including those who never returned and those who live with the cost of service every day.
In Bar…
Commons
Proceedings
23 October 2025
Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund
As a coastal MP, I was delighted that my constituency was selected for £20 million of pride in place funding. How will those funds benefit coastal communities around the country?
Commons
Oral Questions
Cabinet Office
23 October 2025
2 contributions
United Kingdom Security Vetting
3. What recent assessment he has made of the efficiency of the security clearance processes of United Kingdom Security Vetting.
The Minister will know how proud we in Barrow are to be building our world-class nuclear submarines. Working in the shipyard requires security clearance, which is provided by UKSV. However, some of my constituents have lost job offers due to the significant delays in receiving clearance. That has a …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
15 October 2025
Pride in Place
I welcome the pride in place funding announcement and, in particular, the £20 million that has been allocated to Barrow Central ward in Barrow-in-Furness. It is one of the most deprived in the whole country, and it is refreshing to see that under this Labour Government, we are delivering to those wh…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
8 September 2025
Veterans: Support
This Government are resetting the relationship between those who serve and those who served. The Government’s response to the Defence Committee’s inquiry into the armed forces covenant was positive. Will the Minister provide an update on the work that is being to strengthen the covenant?
Commons
Oral Questions
1 September 2025
2 contributions
NEETs: Barrow and Furness
3. What steps she is taking to support young people into employment, education or training in Barrow and Furness constituency.
I have been impressed by the work being done in Drop Zone in my constituency. It runs a variety of projects for young people, including specialised education for those with additional needs, mental health support, and support for the transition back into education, employment and training. But young…
Commons
Oral Questions
22 July 2025
2 contributions
Neighbourhood Health Services
12. What steps his Department is taking to support neighbourhood health services.
My constituents in Barrow and Furness very much welcome the Government’s move towards delivering more neighbourhood health services, but my right hon. Friend will be aware of the great concern locally about the proposal from Lancashire and South Cumbria integrated care board to permanently end level…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
15 July 2025
Afghanistan
It is staggering to hear of yet another serious data breach under the previous Conservative Government. Does the Secretary of State— [ Interruption. ] Conservative Members can bicker from their Benches, but it was clearly a mistake made when they were in power. Does the Secretary of State agree that…
Commons
Debate
3 June 2025
Armed Forces Commissioner Bill
I recently met the mother of Jaysley Beck, who tragically took her own life after being sexually assaulted and abused within the services. I was really impressed by her mother’s strength and her campaign. Does the Minister agree that the Bill will give more powers to family members, and that maybe w…