Commons
Ministerial Statement
25 November 2025
COP30
I commend the Secretary of State for his ongoing commitment to fighting the scourge of climate change in the face of rising denialism. I was really pleased to hear him leave the door open to future contributions to the TFFF. Will he spell out the circumstances in which they might come to reassure me…
Commons
Westminster Hall
24 November 2025
Gaza: Humanitarian Obligations
In addition to those who have plausibly been found to have endorsed or committed acts of violence against journalists, many have endorsed or committed acts of violence against aid and health workers. Does my hon. Friend agree that, as my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (T…
Commons
Westminster Hall
18 November 2025
2 contributions
UNESCO: 80th Anniversary
It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Dowd—there is always a sense of history when you are in it.
I want to speak about the contribution of Hexham and the broader north-east to UNESCO. We have a proud industrial heritage in the north-east, and I am proud to have the birthplace of Geor…
We need significantly more than 80 years to unearth all the secrets that Hadrian’s wall yet has. I have been deeply concerned to read about some of the damage that climate change is doing to potential unfound objects at Vindolanda, where certain changes in the soil acidity may be wreaking havoc on t…
Commons
Oral Questions
Solicitor General
13 November 2025
2 contributions
Violence against Women and Girls
5. What steps she is taking to help increase prosecution rates in cases of violence against women and girls.
In 2024-25, Northumberland domestic abuse services supported 555 adult survivors of domestic abuse and responded to thousands of domestic abuse incidents. Sadly, many of those incidents involved children. Will the Solicitor General meet me and Sharon Brown from NDAS—who is sat in the Public Gallery—…
Commons
Debate
11 November 2025
BBC Leadership
I echo the solidarity with BBC journalists that has been expressed across the House. Can the Secretary of State assure me and other Members that measures will be taken in the forthcoming charter review to ensure that all political appointments to the BBC board are made with full public scrutiny, and…
Commons
Proceedings
30 October 2025
Sudan: Protection of Civilians
I associate myself with colleagues’ comments about the barbarity of the events we are seeing in Sudan. May I ask that in addition to providing support to ensure that civilians are protected, we provide support to ensure that any crimes being committed are properly memorialised, so that those respons…
Commons
Debate
28 October 2025
Stamp Duty Land Tax
I represent a rural constituency where young people are constantly forced to move away from the villages they grew up in. Will the hon. Lady explain to me where in rural Britain those affordable homes were located, where young people could move to and make a family life? For 14 years, they were shut…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 September 2025
Neurodivergent People: Employment
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. I decided to come along to speak in this debate after meeting my constituent Bryn, who recently won an award for his campaign to raise awareness of autism and learning disabilities. I have reached out to congratulate him on that success, but …
Commons
Proceedings
4 September 2025
Business of the House
Next Saturday, Kielder is hosting the 75th annual leek show in the Kielder Tavern. We are all familiar with leaks in this place, but will the Leader of the House join me in recognising the stellar effort of the Kielder community, and can we have a debate in Government time on community initiatives—p…
Commons
Debate
3 September 2025
Hospitality Sector
I spent my summer on a tour across my constituency, holding over 80 surgeries, meeting residents face to face and hearing about the challenges in their communities. In the largest constituency in England, which takes in parts of Newcastle and stretches all the way up to the Scottish border, you cert…
Commons
Oral Questions
1 September 2025
2 contributions
Supporting Young People into Training: Hexham
2. What steps she is taking to support young people into training in Hexham constituency.
For too long, previous Governments did not take into account the realities of life in communities across my constituency, which is incredibly sparsely populated and quite rural. The youth guarantee can and will make a considerable difference in communities all across it, from the Tyne Valley all the…
Commons
Proceedings
17 July 2025
Business of the House
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of visiting St Matthew’s Catholic primary school in my constituency and to meet all the students. I particularly enjoyed meeting the pupils in year 1, who have since written to me with some of their concerns about global debt and its impact on poorer countries an…
Commons
Proceedings
17 July 2025
Strategy for Elections
For 14 years, young people in my constituency were frustrated by politicians who simply did not listen to their concerns on affordable housing, on the climate crisis or on good local jobs. Does the Minister agree that listening to young people and engaging them in the process is a key first step in …
Commons
Proceedings
16 July 2025
Sudan
I thank the Minister for her answers today, and the right hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir Andrew Mitchell) for bringing this urgent question to the House. The events in Sudan are undoubtedly an ongoing stain on the conscience of the global community. I am deeply concerned about increasing the …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
14 July 2025
State of Climate and Nature
I was privileged to host a net zero roundtable in my constituency involving many people from a wide variety of backgrounds, who were all appalled to see net zero becoming a political football and part of an ongoing culture war on the right. Will the Secretary of State join me in recognising the impo…
Commons
Oral Questions
7 July 2025
Topical Questions
T5. I associate myself with the Home Secretary’s comments on 7/7. Recently, the town of Prudhoe was shocked when Islamophobic graffiti was found on a building. Such graffiti has no place in Prudhoe, my constituency, Northumberland or this country. Can the Home Secretary assure me that upholding t…
Commons
Oral Questions
Northern Ireland
2 July 2025
2 contributions
EU Trade Agreement: Economic Impact
2. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK-EU trade agreement announced on 19 May 2025 on the economy in Northern Ireland.
I am pleased that the agreement secured with our largest trading partner, the European Union, will make it easier for food and drink to be imported and exported. Will the Secretary of State assure me and my constituents that all future conversations with trading partners will continue to prioritise …
Commons
Oral Questions
Treasury
1 July 2025
Topical Questions
T6. Towns in my constituency, such as Prudhoe and Haltwhistle, have lost access to bank branches—Prudhoe lost its Lloyds branch in May—and Hexham is due to lose two branches in November. The closures have had a huge impact on customers and communities, but the guidance on banking hubs is often too r…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
30 June 2025
Topical Questions
T9. Given that as many as 35,000 Ukrainian children are still missing and are probably being held in occupied territory or in Russia, will the Minister assure us that the Government are not only taking action to help injured soldiers in Ukraine back on to the frontline, but doing all that they can t…
Commons
Westminster Hall
30 June 2025
Driven Grouse Shooting
The right hon. Gentleman is making an interesting speech. I was drawn to his comments about Scotland where, as this matter is devolved, there is a degree of responsibility—vicarious liability—on landowners. To crack down on wildlife crime, does he share my desire to see the Minister explore the pote…
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
25 June 2025
Engagements
Q6. Prudhoe community high school in my constituency was forced to relocate to Washington after its just over eight-year-old building, built under the previous Government, was found to have cracks in the infrastructure. This incredibly distressing news has required huge resilience and strength fr…
Commons
Westminster Hall
25 June 2025
Access to Banking Hubs: Hertfordshire
I thank the hon. Member for his part in this largely harmonious debate—although I challenge him briefly on which is the most beautiful constituency. I represent a constituency similar to his in many ways. The hon. Member for South West Hertfordshire (Mr Mohindra) registered the point about flexibili…
Commons
Proceedings
19 June 2025
Business of the House
First, can I welcome the huge investment that the Government are putting into social and affordable housing? As I have already raised in this House, residents in my constituency, particularly in the towns of Hexham and Haltwhistle, have seen a rise in the number of derelict buildings, such as the fo…
Commons
Westminster Hall
18 June 2025
Businesses in Rural Areas
On transport, it is not just buses but road infrastructure that is important for our communities and businesses, whether that is the Lord Crewe Arms in Blanchland, in the south of my constituency, or Falconry Days in Simonburn, in the north. Filling potholes is important to ensure that we can get to…