Commons
Westminster Hall
25 February 2026
3 contributions
UK-German Relations
My hon. Friend is making a very powerful speech. One of the most important areas for UK-German security co-operation is in tackling the full range of threats that Russia exposes us to as Europeans. It is very clear from discussions with German colleagues and others that we need a better doctrine on …
My hon. Friend is making a passionate and heartfelt speech about his relationship with Germany. In the cold world of national security, one important area for collaboration is cyber-security, and perhaps also AI, quantum and other areas. That is something that European democracies should have a shar…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Debate
11 February 2026
Local Government Finance
We are very grateful for the settlement and the announcements that the Secretary of State has made today. Both Redbridge and Waltham Forest in my constituency are receiving significant uplifts from this Parliament, and Ministers have been excellent in listening to the arguments of both those London …
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 February 2026
2 contributions
Place-based Employment Support Programmes
I am reminded of the JobsPlus scheme that is being run on one of our council estates in Leyton, where L&Q has been going out and actively knocking on doors. We have seen not only the young people who were the target of the scheme coming back into the work environment, but their parents. Does my …
My hon. Friend is making a powerful point about place-based intervention. Last week, I welcomed the Minister for Industry, my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton North (Chris McDonald), to Build Academy in Wanstead, an incredible scheme that is providing accessible training in construction skills to…
Commons
Debate
2 February 2026
China and Japan
Mark Carney rightly challenged fellow middle powers to stop “living within a lie”, and to recognise the changes in the geopolitical landscape, because comfortable assumptions about the international order are no longer true, and the system that we once benefited from cannot become the source of our …
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
2 February 2026
Security Action for Europe Fund
Building European strategic autonomy is vital to deterring Putin from making further attacks on us, but that is completely undermined by attacks on NATO—the bedrock of our security—by the Green party. Does my hon. Friend agree that when our alliances are undermined for superficial political gain, th…
Commons
Debate
26 January 2026
14 contributions
Armed Forces Bill
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
In the spirit of honesty and accepting past failures, the equipment plan that you presented this Government with had a gap in it of £7 billion to £29 billion in the MOD’s view, or £16 billion in the view of the National Audit Office. Do you accept that you handed over a hospital pass?
+12 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
21 January 2026
2 contributions
Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and Reconciliation
Will the right hon. Member give way?
Today I am going to try to speak as freely as I can about something in which I believe passionately. I will explain why I believe in the principles that underpin the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which is why I consider it necessary that we keep working on the specifics during its next phase in Pa…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
19 January 2026
Arctic Security
This week’s tensions highlight the strategic importance of the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap and the urgent need for Europeans to fill the gaps in their ability to defend that space. Currently, that can be done only by the United States of America. Will the Foreign Secretary update us on the Government’s…
Commons
Westminster Hall
19 January 2026
2 contributions
Sale of Fireworks
Will the hon. Member give way?
The hon. Gentleman is being extraordinarily generous. A mother in my constituency of Leyton and Wanstead was chased down the high street by some children firing fireworks at her and her kids. Her children spent the evening cowering under a table, suffering trauma. None of them was able to identify t…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 January 2026
2 contributions
UK-France Relations
My hon. Friend is making a powerful speech that highlights his love for and expertise in this subject. One of the greatest threats to our shared security is from Russian sub-threshold activity, which could well escalate further later this year. Through the Franco-British Council—my hon. Friend and I…
I will try and be sufficiently brief this time. The French have a very tight-knit strategic culture—something that we do not understand—that centres on European autonomy and being able to protect our interests as Europeans. Does my hon. Friend agree that that strategic culture is something we must r…
Commons
Westminster Hall
13 January 2026
2 contributions
Arctic and High North
My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech; I thank him for securing today’s debate. A recent article in T he Guardian highlighted how UK-based companies continue, shamefully, to be part of the supply chain for Europe’s imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia. While I am pleased that the UK h…
My hon. Friend continues to make an excellent speech. The Trump Administration have shifted both words and power to highlight the challenge in the Arctic and the High North from Russia and China. However, the United States drew down its peripatetic air force deployments across the Greenland-Iceland-…
Commons
Proceedings
12 January 2026
New Medium Helicopter Contract
It is not only the highly skilled jobs and sovereign capability brought by Leonardo’s investment in Yeovil that are at stake; we must also recognise the opportunities for social mobility that industries such as this create for young people from across the country and from every background. I note th…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
7 January 2026
Ukraine and Wider Operational Update
I welcome the Secretary of State’s statement and the bravery of our service personnel, who will have to consequence-manage the result of such a military action. This ship was part of an expanding global security threat. It was used to fund the war in Ukraine and the nefarious activity that occurs he…
Commons
Westminster Hall
6 January 2026
10 contributions
Therapeutic Play and Children’s Healthcare
I beg to move,
That this House has considered therapeutic play and children’s healthcare.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Harris. I thank all colleagues who have joined us to support this debate, and in particular my hon. Friend the Member for Hitchin (Alistair Strathern), w…
I agree with my hon. Friend, who is a leader in this area through his chairship of the APPG on play. We are all grateful for that, and for the significant impact he has made for his local hospital and for play more broadly.
+8 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
5 January 2026
Rights of Women and Girls: Afghanistan
I thank my hon. Friend for her important and powerful speech and for giving voice to the plight of Afghan women. Does she agree that recognition of gender apartheid is an essential part of our foreign policy? After four years of direct engagement with the Taliban, it is perhaps the only way we can s…
Commons
Debate
5 January 2026
Middle East and North Africa
The combined operation of the Royal Air Force Typhoons and French aircraft in Syria reminds us of the continuing threat that Daesh poses to the people of Syria and our partners in the region, the importance of our European allies, and the importance of funding a strong and capable military. Does the…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
5 January 2026
Venezuela
The Maduro Government had no democratic legitimacy, but a return to gunboat diplomacy and strongman-led spheres of influence is not in our national interest. The rules-based international order is not teetering but collapsing, and that is disastrous. However, we cannot just bemoan it; we must respon…
Commons
Oral Questions
17 December 2025
Topical Questions
T2. The space sector is critical in enabling our security and our ability to counter Russia and defend Europe. Can the Secretary of State explain how she is working with the new national armaments director and the Ministry of Defence to develop a more cohesive approach to the space industry, which d…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
16 December 2025
Electoral Resilience
Russia is attacking every aspect of our state—our industries, our infrastructure and our way of life—and, as we have seen from the treacherous actions of the Reform UK politician outside this place, it is attacking the underpinning democracy that holds us together. While I welcome the steps and the …
Commons
Proceedings
16 December 2025
Africa: New Approach
I have visited four of my six markets in southern Africa this year, and we are clearly hearing support from those nations for this new approach. It transforms our relationship from donor to investor and from benefactor to partner. Key to delivering this ambition will be a focus on economic diplomacy…
Commons
Debate
15 December 2025
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill
This is an important Bill, not only for the agenda of increasing trade and therefore economic growth, but for our entire foreign policy in this chaotic and insecure international environment. My work over the past year as trade envoy to southern Africa has shown me just how important joined-up trade…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
15 December 2025
Defence Investment Plan
The Government’s ambition to repair the damage that the previous Government did to our defence will be made clear in the defence investment plan. The roadblock to our safe entry will not change in reality, but to support our ambition we will need long-term financing vehicles that enable multilateral…
Commons
Debate
11 December 2025
Foreign Interference
I thank the hon. Member for Lewes (James MacCleary) for securing the debate. I have expanded my remarks beyond foreign interference, because the way Russia views what it is doing at the moment is more than that. It is a direct attack on a system and on our way of life. This is more than interference…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
24 November 2025
Critical Minerals Strategy
The Defence Committee has been conducting a review of the AUKUS submarine programme and has recently published its review on European defence security. Secure critical minerals are central to both. Will the Minister explain how the strategy supports our national security strategy and the delivery of…
Commons
Debate
20 November 2025
International Men’s Day
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock Chase (Josh Newbury) for securing the debate and for the strength he showed in his speech. It was not a speech; it was an act of leadership.
It is also a privilege to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Ms Creasy), because International Me…