Commons
Oral Questions
15 January 2026
2 contributions
Co-operative Live Music Venues
10. What steps her Department is taking to help support co-operative live music venues.
Southport does not need to apply to be the UK town of culture because we have a fantastic year of culture coming up this year anyway—Members should check out southport2026.com for more details. As part of building a legacy off our year of culture, I am meeting music industry professionals next week …
Commons
Westminster Hall
12 January 2026
11 contributions
Call for General Election
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Edward.
The petition presents itself as the voice of democratic urgency. In truth, it is something with which we are far more familiar, and something far less noble: it is nothing more than the collective stamping of feet, accompanied by the on…
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his intervention.
Back in 1983, when he was the Leader of the Opposition — [Interruption.] Members may remember Michael Foot—the right hon. Gentleman will never be the Leader of the Opposition. Michael Foot thought he was storming to victory back in 1983. “Look …
+9 more contributions in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
8 January 2026
Road Safety Strategy
As the Minister knows, my constituents Marie Cunningham and Grace Foulds were killed by a driver who had been told several times that his eyesight fell far below the legal standard to drive. Eyecare professionals are not currently required to inform the DVLA if someone’s vision is so poor that they …
Commons
Westminster Hall
7 January 2026
UK Town of Culture
It is a pleasure to serve, Ms Furniss. I want to tell a story about my own background and how it relates to the concept of culture-led growth.
I grew up in the ’70s and ’80s in the north-west of England in a town called Prescot, about 15 miles or so from my Southport constituency that was dominated…
Commons
Westminster Hall
6 January 2026
Less Survivable Cancers
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week is an important marker in the calendar, but I want to talk about another important marker when it comes to these cancers—one that is important for me and my family anyway—because this year marks 20 y…
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
5 January 2026
Topical Questions
In relation to the changes, announced at the end of last year, to indefinite leave to remain, my constituent Dr Matthew Hewitt advises on an issue relevant to his family and many other families across the country: that the information being put out by the Government is ambiguous as to whether or not…
Commons
Westminster Hall
2 December 2025
Homelessness: Funding
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Vickers. I thank the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) for securing the debate.
The latest annual rough sleeping snapshot has recorded thousands of people sleeping rough—just 2% below the highest level ever recorded. I am afraid to say …
Commons
Oral Questions
24 November 2025
2 contributions
Homelessness Strategy: Housing First
2. If he will take steps through the planned homelessness strategy to increase Housing First provision.
Housing First is a tried and tested, proven intervention to reach those who most need our help, so will the Minister expand on what plans she has to roll out Housing First, especially in the Liverpool city region, to ensure that we work effectively across state agencies and that we support people ex…
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
28 October 2025
2 contributions
Ukraine
3. What steps her Department is taking to support Ukraine.
I welcome the UK’s leadership on the issue of Russian sovereign assets. What further conversations is the Foreign Secretary having with her international counterparts to accelerate that work and ensure that Russia pays for its illegal war?
Commons
Oral Questions
Cabinet Office
23 October 2025
Topical Questions
T4. I was pleased that the Minister give an update earlier on the work of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, but the process is still taking too long. May I press the Minister to undertake work specifically to expedite the timescales in which compensation is expected to be paid?
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
22 October 2025
Engagements
Q15. Well over 1,000 youth clubs have closed in this country since 2010, having a huge negative impact on our young people. This is despite the fact that youth clubs have a long positive history of helping young people to mature in a healthy fashion. In particular, Phab clubs help disabled and non-d…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 October 2025
Manchester Terrorism Attack
First, I welcome the move to consider cumulative impact when it comes to policing the issues discussed today. It is a hugely positive move, and I hope it can be applied to static protests as well as marches. In the aftermath of the horrific attack on the synagogue earlier this month, the Centre for …
Commons
Oral Questions
13 October 2025
2 contributions
Devolution: Impact on Economic Growth
6. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of devolution on economic growth.
I am pleased to see that the Government are pressing ahead with their commitment to implement new strategic authorities. May I press the Minister to consider how those new strategic authorities can grow their local economies by providing support for things like community businesses and social enterp…
Commons
Oral Questions
Science, Innovation and Technology
10 September 2025
2 contributions
Technology Companies: Accountability
6. What steps her Department is taking to hold technology companies accountable for the content on their platforms.
I welcome the Minister to his place.
Yesterday, I sponsored a drop-in event here in Parliament with Parent Zone to highlight the “hit pause” campaign, which aims to teach people to recognise conspiracy theories and misinformation online. Does the Minister agree that although we can make online plat…
Commons
Oral Questions
Treasury
9 September 2025
2 contributions
Better Futures Fund
8. What progress she has made on establishing the better futures fund.
The better futures fund is a big step forward in working with the impact economy; as the chair of the social, co-operative and community economy all-party parliamentary group for the social enterprise sector, I am really pleased to see how it can unlock extra resources from social investors, private…
Commons
Oral Questions
4 September 2025
2 contributions
Bathing Waters: Pollution
6. What progress he has made on reducing pollution in bathing waters.
Over the summer, we saw the announcement of a £50 million investment into Southport’s waste water treatment works to reduce the number of sewage overflows to just three per bathing season, allowing Southport to once again become the jewel in the crown of the north-west coast. Does the Minister agree…
Commons
Westminster Hall
3 September 2025
Duty of Candour for Public Authorities and Legal Representation for Bereaved Families
It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mrs Hobhouse. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool West Derby (Ian Byrne) for securing the debate. We served on Liverpool city council together many years ago, so I know how long he has been fighting this fight.
Inquiries into all the disa…
Commons
Westminster Hall
2 September 2025
Defibrillators
First, I add my voice to those calling for VAT to be removed from defibs. That appears to be an easy win for the Government at the coming Budget.
Secondly, a lot of Members have spoken about voluntary groups and charities in their constituencies that do good work. The Southport Saviours charity in …
Commons
Oral Questions
Housing, Communities and Local Government
14 July 2025
2 contributions
Homelessness Prevention
5. What steps her Department is taking to increase funding for homelessness prevention services.
The number of people in the UK who have no recourse to public funds has increased significantly in recent years. Lots of those people end up falling through the cracks in the system—some of them perhaps end up rough sleeping, and some engage in antisocial behaviour—but the one thing they all have in…
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
9 July 2025
Engagements
Tomorrow evening sees the annual national police bravery awards. Three of the officers nominated this year are three of those who were first on the scene of the tragedy in my Southport constituency last summer. Will the Prime Minister join me in paying tribute to Sergeant Gregory Gillespie, Constabl…
Commons
Oral Questions
Science, Innovation and Technology
25 June 2025
3 contributions
Topical Questions
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
Across the northern part of my constituency, from Marshside over to Hesketh Bank—
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
4 June 2025
Disadvantaged Communities
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Roger. When I was a child, my hometown was thriving, the high street was teeming and there were places to go and things to do. The British Insulated Callender’s Cables factory was at the top of my street, and employed perhaps 1,000 people. In co…
Commons
Oral Questions
3 June 2025
2 contributions
Employment: Ex-offenders
20. What steps her Department is taking to help support ex-offenders into employment.
We got there eventually! Employment is crucial to reducing reoffending, and data shows that offenders who are employed within six weeks of leaving prison have a reoffending rate around half of those out of work. Will the Minister outline how the regional employment councils, including in Southport a…
Commons
Oral Questions
22 May 2025
Topical Questions
T4. Earlier this week, I attended the launch of the Independent Venue Community, which is a charity aiming to bring community activity into night-time music venues when they are usually closed. Does the Minister agree that such innovative thinking is beneficial to health and wellbeing, the arts sect…
Commons
Oral Questions
Treasury
20 May 2025
2 contributions
Spending Review: Economic Growth
10. What steps she is taking through the spending review to help increase levels of economic growth.
Whether it is the Marine Lake Events Centre, the Enterprise Arcade or the new Market Quarter in my Southport constituency, my town has benefited from state-led investment in neighbourhoods and the public realm. Does the Chancellor agree that investment policies of this sort are essential to driving …