Commons
Oral Questions
Culture, Media and Sport
18 June 2026
Topical Questions
T2. There are not one but two England teams that currently have a 100% record of success in world cups: not only did the men’s football team have a cracking result against Croatia last night, but the England women’s cricket team have won two from two in their world T20 tournament games so far. Will …
Commons
Proceedings
15 June 2026
Defence Investment Plan
The past is a story of the Conservatives hollowing out our defence, the present is a story of this Government spending more than the Conservatives did at any time in their 14 years, but my question is about the future. Our brave allies in Ukraine have revolutionised warfare—[Interruption.] The Oppos…
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
11 June 2026
Topical Questions
T3. It is a good time to be a commuter in Welwyn Hatfield. Trains from all five of our stations are now back under public control, and we have fast trains from Welwyn North to London King’s Cross, which have been a big success. We are right on track. However, does the Secretary of State agree that i…
Commons
Debate
28 April 2026
4 contributions
Referral of Prime Minister to Committee of Privileges
In advocating for the motion, the Leader of the Opposition— [Interruption.] She is just returning to her place; I knew she was waiting for me. Her essential argument, I believe, was that we in this House had not spent enough time debating this issue, and that perhaps just one more Committee would be…
I remember the debate vividly. Members from both sides made the case. I said in my remarks that that was an example of the House at its best, because we came to a good decision to involve the ISC. I raise the issue again today because I was fascinated by what the Leader of the Opposition said. She c…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 April 2026
Middle East
Since we last met in this place, the President of the United States has had at least three positions on the strait of Hormuz: first, he said that opening it was not in his interest because the US did not need it and did not use it; secondly, he speculated that it might be a good idea to have tolls o…
Commons
Committee Stage
24 March 2026
2 contributions
Representation of the People Bill (Third sitting)
I just want to clarify my understanding of the Green party’s policy position. I have been looking at the Sentencing Council guidelines, and typically a person convicted of racially or religiously aggravated assault serves two years in prison. Is it the Green party’s position that those people should…
I am grateful for the tenor of the debate. The hon. Lady talks about the connection to society, but I ask that she considers the victim for a minute. Let us stick with my example. Very sadly, we are seeing cases of religiously aggravated assault rising in this country, particularly relating to the J…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 March 2026
Spring Forecast
On days like this, I am particularly grateful that NHS waiting lists are falling. Although it seems a long time ago that we heard from the shadow Chancellor, I was very concerned about his blood pressure; he is no longer in his place, so I hope he has gone to get that checked.
It is important that …
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
3 March 2026
Topical Questions
T7. At the Munich security conference, the Prime Minister rightly said that we must do more to work with our allies to build our collective European security. Given that moral imperative, is there an ambition for the UK and the EU to reopen negotiations on UK access to the EU SAFE—security action fo…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
2 March 2026
Middle East
May I put on record my admiration for the skill and the bravery of our armed forces? We owe them a debt of gratitude now more than ever as they see action.
The Prime Minister was right to say that we must learn the lessons from Iraq, and all the other conflicts in which there has not been a viable …
Commons
Debate
4 February 2026
5 contributions
Lord Mandelson
Let me start by putting on record my horror at the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein, as so many hon. Members have done today. This man was a paedophile and a perpetrator of evil acts. The pain of the victims and their families is unimaginable. I wish to pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover…
The only thing that matches his number of interventions in Westminster Hall is his decency as a man and a parliamentarian.
The focus today has rightly been on Mandelson. There is unity in contempt for his actions: his scandalous and brazen leaking of Government information, and the way in which he …
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
2 February 2026
US Department of Justice Release of Files
I thank the Chief Secretary for coming to Parliament at the first opportunity to address this issue. Epstein’s crimes were vile, and I cannot begin to imagine how these latest revelations must have compounded the pain for all the women and girls who were victims. Many in this House have already spok…
Commons
Debate
28 January 2026
2 contributions
Youth Unemployment
I am pleased to have an opportunity to talk about young people, how we invest in their future, extend opportunities and do all in our power to leave nobody behind, but in order to have a serious debate about the prospects of young people in work, we need to look back at the unique set of circumstanc…
Speaking of daring, the Leader of the Opposition said today that the Conservatives do not want any more centrist ideas. What does the Minister make of that and their future with young people?
Commons
Oral Questions
Work and Pensions
26 January 2026
2 contributions
Support into Work: Health Conditions
4. What steps he is taking to support people with health conditions into work.
I welcome the investment and the news earlier this month from the Office for National Statistics that the number of people in employment has risen by 500,000 since July 2024. I am sure that the Minister will join me in celebrating the fact that more people are entering the labour market under a Labo…
Commons
Debate
15 January 2026
New Towns
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch (Katrina Murray) on her powerful and deeply personal speech. The theme of the debate has been the stories of sons and daughters of new towns, and of people who have gone to new towns to make their lives there. Each new town h…
Commons
Oral Questions
13 January 2026
Topical Questions
In NHS Providers data published just before Christmas, we learned that in East and North Hertfordshire NHS trust, the number of people waiting for treatment has fallen more than in any other trust in the country. That is fantastic news for my community. Will my right hon. Friend commend all the staf…
Commons
Oral Questions
Energy Security and Net Zero
6 January 2026
Topical Questions
Happy new year to you and your team, Mr Speaker. It was a happy start to the new year, because we learned that in 2025, more renewable energy was generated in this country than at any time on record. That was driven by growth in solar in particular. Will my right hon. Friend make it a new year’s res…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
17 December 2025
Local Government Finance
There is fierce pride in Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and our villages, but we are a community of contrasts: the gap in life expectancy a few miles down the road is 13 years. I have had an initial look, and it seems that Welwyn Hatfield will benefit to the tune of about £9 million. That is wonderful…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
17 December 2025
UK-EU Common Understanding Negotiations
It was Christmas eve five years ago when Boris Johnson signed his fateful deal, which took away opportunities for young people and kicked us out of Erasmus. I thank the Minister for exorcising that ghost of Christmas past. Does he agree that the message we have heard in the Chamber today is that the…
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 December 2025
6 contributions
Grassroots Cricket Clubs
I beg to move,
That this House has considered Government support for grassroots cricket clubs.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. There is something quintessentially English about amateur cricket: the thud of the bat on ball, the awkward silence after a catch goes down—I…
Of course, Mr Turner, but I hope we can make an exception for a teammate. I thank the hon. Member for his intervention. I have played at some of the clubs that do so much for his community. I know that that is true of many hon. Members who will take part in the debate. As for future call-ups, there …
+4 more contributions in this session
Commons
Proceedings
3 December 2025
OBR: Resignation of Chair
Three years ago, the role of the OBR came into sharp focus after the delivery of another Budget, which became known as the mini-Budget, by which the markets were sent spiralling and the Bank of England was forced to take emergency action. Does my right hon. Friend agree that, while the events of thi…
Commons
Proceedings
27 November 2025
2 contributions
Budget Resolutions
rose —
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am sure the best is yet to come.
I am pleased to address the House on a day with bond yields falling, growth figures for the year revised upwards, and an opportunity to reflect on the announcements made yesterday and what they mean for people in Welwyn Hatfield. I…
Commons
Debate
26 November 2025
Budget Resolutions
The right hon. Gentleman is a respected Member of the House, but I think it is really important that we reflect on the facts. Both the Chancellor and the OBR announced today that growth is up from 1% to 1.5% this year. The right hon. Gentleman talks about having a plan on planning reform—a subject I…
Commons
Debate
12 November 2025
5 contributions
Energy
I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss energy and climate change, although I am still reeling from the speech made by the shadow Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for East Surrey (Claire Coutinho). By my count, she talked more about mushrooms than about climate change.
The debate c…
I agree entirely with my hon. Friend, and I will go on to talk more about why investment now is good for us, in both the short term and the long term.
We have a genuinely sad state of affairs. There have been Conservatives who have taken the climate very seriously, from Lord Deben, with his leaders…
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
30 October 2025
Infected Blood Compensation Scheme
In one of the first contributions I had the privilege of making in the House, I raised the case of the Blake family. Their son Stuart was infected aged six, and he died at the age of 27, back in 2006. I have been in regular contact with the family, and it was my privilege to show them around this pl…
Commons
Westminster Hall
30 October 2025
Land Value Capture
It is an honour to serve on the Select Committee with my hon. Friend. As she knows, I am biased when it comes to the importance of new towns. I represent two fantastic new towns: Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City. What she said this afternoon about the new towns of the future and how we get the balanc…