Commons
Westminster Hall
7 July 2026
Fraud Strategy 2026-29
I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing this important debate. My constituents have similar concerns about the impact of fraud, especially on vulnerable people. I have spoken to the noble Lord Hanson, who has been developing the strategy, to outline those concerns. Does the hon. Gentleman agre…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
25 June 2026
Draft Conversion Practices Bill
I congratulate my hon. Friend on bringing forward the draft Bill and on all her work on it. Having grown up as a gay person in the early ’90s, I know what it is like to feel as if you are not normal and do not belong. There are some parties, particularly Reform UK, whose Members are not in their pla…
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
10 June 2026
Engagements
Q8. Happy birthday, Mr Speaker. Last summer, my constituent Ryan Long went on his first lads’ holiday to Ibiza. On his first night, he made what turned out to be a fatal decision when he took an ecstasy pill, and after falling into a coma, he sadly passed away at the age of 18. Since his death, his …
Commons
Proceedings
10 June 2026
Speaker’s Statement
Q8. Happy birthday, Mr Speaker. Last summer, my constituent Ryan Long went on his first lads’ holiday to Ibiza. On his first night, he made what turned out to be a fatal decision when he took an ecstasy pill, and after falling into a coma, he sadly passed away at the age of 18. Since his death, his …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
14 May 2026
National Security
I thank my hon. Friend for his statement, and for the work that the Government are doing to protect the Jewish community. My thoughts are with all those who have been victims of these attacks, and of antisemitism and hate crime. In my constituency of Southend West and Leigh, we have quite a signific…
Commons
Proceedings
14 May 2026
Point of Order
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. On 29 April, my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth North (Amanda Martin) and the hon. Member for Lewes (James MacCleary) raised a point of order concerning the right hon. Member for Newark (Robert Jenrick) visiting their constituencies without notifying …
Commons
Proceedings
21 April 2026
SS Richard Montgomery: Masts
I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this debate forward. The SS Richard Montgomery is equally as visible from Southend, and my residents in Southend and Leigh on the other side of the estuary share all the same stories as his residents. They have an affinity to these masts and the stories of the shi…
Commons
Debate
21 April 2026
Middle East: Economic Update
As my right hon. Friend mentioned, in 2022 Liz Truss launched a household energy support package that provided blanket support to every household, including the most well off. It was estimated to cost between £57 billion and £60 billion, just over the first six months; that was predominantly funded …
Commons
Oral Questions
16 April 2026
Business of the House
Under the former Conservative leader of Southend city council, who is now the leader of the Reform group, £4 million was budgeted for road and pothole resurfacing works, even though highways engineers had estimated that £6 million was needed just to keep them in the poor condition they were in. I am…
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
25 March 2026
Engagements
In my constituency, we have a cohesive and diverse community, with a significant Jewish population, a thriving Muslim community and many others from various different backgrounds all living together and supporting each other. I was therefore appalled to learn of the arson attack against the Jewish c…
Commons
Oral Questions
19 March 2026
Business of the House
Southend recently held its second City Day to celebrate and recognise us officially becoming a city following the tragic murder of Sir David Amess. This year the celebration stretched right across the city, including to Leigh-on-Sea in my constituency—a town filled with heritage and culture, and whi…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
16 March 2026
Topical Questions
Last month, I joined several Members from across the House in Ukraine for the fourth anniversary of Putin’s illegal invasion. The mood was very different from the previous year, after an extremely harsh winter and Putin’s bombardment of the power networks. Can the Secretary of State give assurances …
Commons
Oral Questions
11 March 2026
Royal Mail: Universal Service Obligation
Southend sorting office was part of the original pilot for these changes to the USO. It failed, and nine months later it is clear that it is still failing, so today I have summoned the management to meet me and my constituents to hear at first hand the challenges this is causing. Following that meet…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 March 2026
Spring Forecast
The Liz Truss Budget in September 2022 affected many homeowners, with mortgage rates shooting up and the average two-year fixed rate exceeding 6%. When I was working in the mortgage industry, I saw the impact of that on working people’s finances. That is still being felt, but does the Chancellor agr…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
2 March 2026
Middle East
I thank the Prime Minister for his measured response so far. I have spoken to former constituents and friends who are British expats in the UAE. While they feel confident that the local Government there are doing all that they can to protect them, for clarity, will they too be considered for evacuat…
Commons
Westminster Hall
29 January 2026
Ukraine: Non-recognition of Russian-occupied Territories
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Jeremy. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds Central and Headingley (Alex Sobel) for securing the debate but, most importantly, for his significant commitment to the people of Ukraine and everything he does. It is great to see Members across…
Commons
Debate
26 January 2026
Armed Forces Bill
Like many Members across the House, I am on the armed forces parliamentary scheme, and I get to meet some incredible people through training, including people who are serving. They are totally committed and ready to serve this country when they may need to. Does my hon. Friend agree that this provis…
Commons
Westminster Hall
19 January 2026
Sale of Fireworks
In my constituency, over 300 people have contacted me about this issue—100 just this year. I have also been aware of my own dog’s trauma over fireworks. However, there is another issue. What the hon. Gentleman is saying about reducing the decibel limit is the right way to go, but there is also the i…
Commons
Debate
12 January 2026
2 contributions
Higher Education: Government Support
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Southend East and Rochford (Mr Alaba) for securing the debate. He knows that we both care passionately about this matter, especially given the impact that the closure of the Southend campus of Essex University will have on both our constituencies and our constit…
I agree with my hon. Friend’s analysis. We have been left in this situation by the last Government, and this Government have the job of getting our universities back on to a good footing. I hope that they will do all they can to address her concerns.
I have grave concerns about the impact that the …
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
5 January 2026
2 contributions
Topical Questions
T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.
In my constituency I have launched the We Love Westcliff campaign, which, as well as promoting greater civic pride, aims to drive down antisocial behaviour such as fly-tipping and drug dealing. What support will the new neighbourhood policing teams provide to help us to achieve that goal?
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 December 2025
Transgender People: Provision of Healthcare
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire and Bedworth (Rachel Taylor) on introducing the debate. I will be brief.
A trans woman from my constituency told me:
“Transgender healthcare. Even these words feel contentious… If I have a toothache, I understand that I can book an ap…
Commons
Debate
10 December 2025
2 contributions
Conduct of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Will the right hon. Member give way?
The shadow Chancellor wants to talk about fiction, so let us talk about the Liz Truss Budget. Before we do, though, imagine if the Chancellor had turned up to deliver her Budget with headroom of £4.2 billion—£2.2 billion below what is set out by the stability rules. That would have been fiction. But…
Commons
Debate
9 December 2025
Railways Bill
My hon. Friend is giving a very interesting speech. In my constituency, Chalkwell station has been waiting an age for further Access for All works to take place, and they are now taking place. Both of my train lines are now in public ownership and working closely with Network Rail. Does he agree tha…
Commons
Debate
4 December 2025
2 contributions
War in Ukraine
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
The hon. Gentleman is giving a great speech, and I agree with his points. With spy ships through the channel and submarines off the coast of Scotland, does he agree that it is vital for not only Ukraine but the rest of Europe that we work closely with the coalition of the willing throughout this con…