Commons
Oral Questions
Wales
17 June 2026
2 contributions
Defence Spending
3. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in defence spending on Wales.
In the King’s Speech, the Labour Government made it clear that our key priorities are national security, economic security and energy security. Those three priorities have one thing in common: the promise of jobs for communities across the whole UK. The defence growth deal stands to unlock some 50,0…
Commons
Proceedings
15 June 2026
Defence Investment Plan
At the beginning of the month, I attended the NATO Parliamentary Assembly spring session in Lithuania with representatives of NATO and other allies, including Ukraine. As you will be aware, Mr Speaker, the Labour party has a strong tradition, going back to Ernest Bevin, of maintaining a strong and e…
Commons
Oral Questions
Business and Trade
21 May 2026
2 contributions
Digital ID: Businesses
1. What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing digital ID for businesses.
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, yet research shows that the average small business cannot start its real work until 2.36 pm on a Wednesday because of the time lost to administrative tasks. My own experience is that business owners need to engage regularly with various departments a…
Commons
Debate
28 April 2026
4 contributions
Referral of Prime Minister to Committee of Privileges
Last week in the emergency debate I spoke about the appointment of Peter Mandelson, the approach taken by the Prime Minister as details have become available, and the vetting process overall. Today, I want to address the motion and why I feel it is premature. In doing so, I believe that three princi…
My point is about our consideration of the motion. The fact that Mr Speaker made the decision means we are here discussing it. I am putting a case forward about why I think it is premature to vote on the motion today. Just because the Leader of the Opposition and others have decided to table it does…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
21 April 2026
7 contributions
Peter Mandelson: Government Appointment
I want to address three aspects in my remarks: first, the appointment of Peter Mandelson in the first instance; secondly, the approach taken by the Prime Minister as details have emerged over the last few months; and finally, the vetting process overall.
The debate so far has been characterised by …
No, I will not.
While the initial appointment has been, and I suspect will continue to be, a matter of debate, the Prime Minister’s apology cannot be faulted.
+5 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
20 April 2026
Security Vetting
I thank the Prime Minister for his statement and for the clarity contained within it, and for his apology again. Despite the protestations of Opposition party leaders and Opposition Members, and including some Members on the Government Benches too, I am sure that everybody in this House agrees that …
Commons
Oral Questions
14 April 2026
Topical Questions
T8. Can I first take this opportunity to wish a very happy Vaisakhi to the Sikhs around the world who are celebrating it? Vaisakhi is a cultural celebration, but it is also the time of the Amrit Sanchar, the baptism ceremony. Residents in my Smethwick constituency are benefiting from the investment …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
9 March 2026
Social Cohesion Action Plan
In times of increasing division, there is no place for divisive rhetoric, and the Government clearly have a role to play in supporting cohesion. The Tories clearly failed in that respect; we have heard again of their inability to embrace the United Kingdom of today. I welcome the definition of anti-…
Commons
Oral Questions
20 January 2026
Topical Questions
T3. I recently visited the Lodge community centre in West Bromwich to meet five of the 25 young people who had arrived in the UK from Gaza to receive specialist medical attention—they were with their families at a fun day put on by the Yemeni Community Association. I spoke with them about their comm…
Commons
Debate
14 January 2026
West Midlands Police
I thank the Home Secretary for her statement. The west midlands is an incredibly diverse area, and this whole episode has had a significant impact on community cohesion and confidence in West Midlands police, particularly among the Jewish community but among all communities. I therefore add my voice…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
7 January 2026
Ukraine and Wider Operational Update
I thank the Secretary of State for his statement. The unity of the House in opposing those states who would do us harm is a key foundation of our strong national security framework. Does the Secretary of State therefore agree that when a senior leader in Reform accepts Russian bribes and when the sh…
Commons
Debate
26 November 2025
2 contributions
Budget Resolutions
I thank the Chancellor of the Exchequer for her excellent Budget statement. I would take the right hon. Member for Tonbridge (Tom Tugendhat) and his colleagues more seriously on defence spending if the Conservatives had not wasted 14 years and cut back our defences to the bare minimum.
I will make my points.
I will focus on the benefits of the Budget and the choices made by the Chancellor for people in my constituency. It is worth first reminding ourselves of the disgraceful situation in which the Conservative party left the economy in July last year and the scale of the mess the…
Commons
Oral Questions
24 November 2025
Topical Questions
I recently met representatives of BUUK, a multi-utility infrastructure provider that constructs and operates essential utility assets, and can provide all utilities as a one-stop shop. In view of the Department’s progress on new towns, and the need to rapidly scale up house building, what considerat…
Commons
Debate
17 November 2025
Asylum Policy
I thank the Home Secretary for her statement, which I fully support. My constituency, like hers, is incredibly diverse, with people originating in countries across the world settled and contributing to our communities. One thing that people from all backgrounds have in common is that they detest the…
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
17 November 2025
2 contributions
Violence against Women and Girls
9. What steps her Department is taking to tackle violence against women and girls.
The Minister will be aware of the important role played by specialist “by and for” organisations in supporting victims from minority communities and bringing crucial cultural awareness to the table. Sikh Women’s Aid recently held an all-women’s meeting in which it focused on the trauma and fear gene…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
3 November 2025
2 contributions
Defence Industrial Base
6. What steps he is taking to help strengthen the defence industrial base.
A key ingredient in strengthening the industrial base is the innovation that our companies bring to the table. A&M EDM Ltd in my constituency is a specialist engineering company working with aerospace, automotive, Formula 1 and other industries. When I visited recently, it was testing a drone en…
Commons
Oral Questions
Cabinet Office
23 October 2025
Topical Questions
T3. Cryptocurrencies and digital assets are held by an increasing number of UK citizens—over 8 million people, according to recent figures—and the UK has the potential to be a world leader in this field, supporting our growth mission. Can the Minister detail what steps he has taken to ensure that we…
Commons
Proceedings
21 October 2025
Rape Gangs: National Statutory Inquiry
I thank the Minister for her responses, and I absolutely agree that it is crucial to get this right, so can she be absolutely clear that the inquiry will not be watered down, particularly in its focus on grooming gangs and ethnicity, including on models of grooming where groomers focused on the ethn…
Commons
Oral Questions
21 October 2025
2 contributions
Topical Questions
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
We promised 2 million more appointments, and we have delivered 5 million, along with 2,000 extra GPs, 6,500 more mental health workers, 7,000 more doctors, and 13,000 more nurses and midwives. The cancer diagnosis standard has been met, GP satisfaction is up and waiting lists are down. The brand-new…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
14 October 2025
Middle East
I thank the Prime Minister for updating the House on the three points. I join him in his condemnation of the antisemitic terrorist attack in Manchester and the arson attack on the Peacehaven mosque, and I welcome his commitment to fight hatred in all its forms and the support provided for security a…
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
15 September 2025
Topical Questions
I warmly welcome the Home Secretary and her team to their places. The Home Secretary will be aware of the recent horrific attack and rape of a Sikh woman in Oldbury, in my constituency, who reportedly had racist abuse directed at her. The case is being treated as a hate crime and a suspect is under …
Commons
Debate
3 September 2025
Diabetes in Sport
My hon. Friend talks about health inequalities; we know that people of some ethnicities are more predisposed to diabetes, so as well as sports organisations focusing on improving information and support for people with diabetes, does he agree that they should also support people from different ethni…
Commons
Oral Questions
Northern Ireland
2 July 2025
3 contributions
Spending Review: Northern Ireland Executive
8. What discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the adequacy of the level of funding for Northern Ireland in the spending review 2025.
Thank you for calling me, Mr Speaker— [ Interruption. ]
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
24 June 2025
China Audit
I welcome this statement, particularly as it has become clearer that the Conservatives badly mismanaged not just their policies towards China but our relationship with it over successive years. China offers economic opportunities, but also poses threats, as we have been hearing. We also heard earlie…
Commons
Proceedings
24 June 2025
National Security Strategy
I welcome this statement, particularly the attempt to renew and refresh our key alliances and develop new partnerships in strategic locations across the world. Clearly, the United States remains our most important defence and security ally, but we also have historic relationships with countries such…