Commons
Debate
20 November 2025
2 contributions
International Men’s Day
Madam Deputy Speaker, you may or may not have noticed the unusual growth appearing between my nose and top lip. Yes, it is Movember, and for the first time I have had the opportunity to prove to everyone that I can grow facial hair—if that is what you can call it. My Mo is becoming the subject of mu…
I agree with everything that my hon. Friend just said. Domestic abuse is abhorrent, and although it does mainly affect women, we cannot deny that it also affects men. We need to look into and address it.
I was delighted to see the first ever men’s health strategy launched yesterday, starting to add…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
20 November 2025
Business of the House
At this time of year, the fireworks debate always rages. As a dog owner, I share my constituents’ view that we need legislation to make fireworks safer and more controlled, not just for the sake of animals, but for people too. I recently met the fireworks impact coalition, which is also calling for …
Commons
Proceedings
20 November 2025
Ukraine: Forcible Removal of Children
The stealing of Ukrainian children by Putin is scandalous and equally devastating for the Ukrainian families impacted. Putin shows no desire to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine, with continued bombardments on the Ukrainian people day in, day out. Does the Minister agree with me that, until Putin demonst…
Commons
Westminster Hall
22 October 2025
Financial Inclusion
I thank my hon. Friend for securing this important debate. In my constituency of Southend West and Leigh, nearly 30% of people who are financially vulnerable are in the “squeezed and sliding” group—people with mortgages and rent commitments but on a low income and, most importantly, with limited sav…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
15 October 2025
Ukraine
All of us who have visited Ukraine will know the stoicism of the people. Despite being bombarded night after night, they continue to rebuild, often supported by UK businesses and individuals, as well as others from across the European Union. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that we must do more to c…
Commons
Proceedings
4 September 2025
Business of the House
I am becoming increasingly concerned about the level of fraud facing individuals and businesses in the UK. Fraud accounts for over 40% of all crime, from online and push payment fraud, to phishing, vishing and smishing, to name just a few schemes. I have even seen examples of businesses in my consti…
Commons
Debate
2 September 2025
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
The right hon. Gentleman has just listed a load of things that the Tories did with devolution. He cannot deny that the reason we need devolution and local government reorganisation is because his Government significantly underfunded local government, which is now on its knees. We therefore have to t…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
1 September 2025
Middle East
I thank the Foreign Secretary for his statement and his work on this very important matter. Over the summer I received messages from Fossie, Joseph and Alice, three children from Eastwood Baptist church, among many other messages. They expressed their sadness at the situation in Gaza and wanted my a…
Commons
Oral Questions
1 September 2025
2 contributions
NEET: Young People
20. What steps she is taking to support young people into employment, education or training in Southend West and Leigh constituency.
In Southend West and Leigh, I will soon host a youth day, featuring local star of “The Apprentice” Chisola Chitambala, who is now an apprenticeship coach, among other things. Does the Minister agree that early interventions, like this youth day, are really important to prevent young people from beco…
Commons
Debate
22 July 2025
Sir David Amess Summer Adjournment
It is not lost on me that I have huge shoes to fill in this place, as I stand here representing the constituency that was Sir David Amess’s. I send my thoughts to his wife Lady Julia and all the family, and I hope that we can find a way to give them the answers that they need. This is my second year…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
21 July 2025
Independent Water Commission
I congratulate the Secretary of State and his team on their steadfast commitment to cleaning up our waterways, and on today’s welcome announcements. My constituents care greatly about cleaning up the scourge of sewage being pumped into our waters—our beautiful estuary—after years of neglect by the C…
Commons
Debate
8 July 2025
Football Governance Bill [Lords]
My hon. Friend will know that my football club, Southend United, nearly disappeared because of mismanagement. Does he agree that the Bill will make sure that we keep these football clubs at the heart of our communities, because, ultimately, that is where they belong?
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 July 2025
NHS 10-Year Plan
I thank the Secretary of State for his statement and the 10-year plan, which I welcome. I am already seeing the benefits of this Government’s commitment to reforming the NHS in my constituency, with a second linear accelerator radiotherapy machine coming to Southend hospital and investment in four o…
Commons
Proceedings
23 June 2025
3 contributions
Pride Month
I draw Members to my declarations of interest.
As many of us know, the Pride movement started with the Stonewall riots in 1969, but some people now see Pride as a party. It certainly did not start that way, and for many of us it is still a protest and will continue to be so until we genuinely do no…
Absolutely. I celebrate York Pride, and I thank its organisers for what they contribute. We stand up against discrimination at Pride events and outside; it is unacceptable.
I have to mention my team at Southend Pride, which came into being the year before Basildon Pride. They, too, put on an annual…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Debate
20 June 2025
2 contributions
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
This is my first time speaking to the Bill, so I want to start by thanking my hon. Friend the Member for Spen Valley (Kim Leadbeater) for having the courage to bring forward such a significant piece of legislation. I thank all hon. and right hon. Members who have been part of the debate and who have…
I will not, because I want other Members to be able to speak.
I supported the Bill on Second Reading, to allow the debate to move forward and with the hope of satisfying my concerns—the main two being the definition of mental capacity and how it can be interpreted, and the safeguards in place to en…
Commons
Oral Questions
Women and Equalities
18 June 2025
2 contributions
Banning Conversion Practices
1. What steps she is taking to ban conversion practices.
Since the Supreme Court ruling, many trans people have felt discrimination and a loss of their rights despite still being protected under the Equality Act 2010. I am pleased to hear that the Government are bringing forward a trans-inclusive conversion therapy ban, but what else will the Minister do …
Commons
Committee Stage
17 June 2025
3 contributions
Mental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)
The hon. Gentleman makes a good point—mental health services are in a very bad place—but does he agree that the Government have already announced investment in mental health specialists in all schools, and in mental health crisis centres? I have no doubt that once the 10-year plan for the NHS comes …
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Desmond. I rise to speak to clauses 24 to 28, and I will start by sharing the story of two of my constituents: Carol and her husband John.
John had been an active member of the local community before he was sadly diagnosed with dementia. As his de…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Committee Stage
12 June 2025
3 contributions
Mental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Vickers. I was interested to hear what the Minister has just said, but I think it goes much further. Can he give me assurances that we will take time to look at what is driving so many young black men in particular into these mental health crisis si…
The Lampard inquiry, which relates to my area of Essex, is ongoing. It highlights the issue of people being detained without any clear therapeutic plan or clinical justification. Does my hon. Friend agree that the clause will start to address some of the concerns raised by the inquiry?
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Committee Stage
10 June 2025
Mental Health Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Vickers. I have received contact from Send the Right Message, an organisation in my constituency of Southend West and Leigh. It welcomes clause 3 and clause 4, which I will speak to later, but it makes it very clear that during the implementation it…
Commons
Committee Stage
10 June 2025
Mental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)
The Labour Government are working on a range of early interventions for young people in the area of mental health and to stop them spiralling into crime, such as the Young Futures hubs and introducing mental health support in every single school. The hon. Gentleman makes a valid point, but it sits o…
Commons
Debate
5 June 2025
Bank Closures and Banking Hubs
My hon. Friend mentioned the issues caused for businesses. There are also significant issues for charities. In my constituency, many local charities and community groups receive cash donations and struggle to find a place to bank them. Does he agree that this is an issue for charities, just as much …
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
4 June 2025
Engagements
This time last year, Southend United football club almost went bankrupt, thanks to mismanagement by the former owner, but on Sunday they made it to Wembley for the national league play-off final. Despite being beaten by Oldham Athletic at the eleventh hour, it was like the phoenix rising from the fl…
Commons
Debate
19 May 2025
Mental Health Bill [Lords]
I thank all Members who have spoken so far to share their professional experience, leaving me feeling very under-qualified to speak on this matter, and those who shared their deeply personal contributions. We all know the shocking statistics associated with mental health. Indeed, the cost of poor me…
Commons
Westminster Hall
19 May 2025
Gender Self-identification
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Mundell. In the Supreme Court ruling, the judge said that the Equality Act 2010 applies to trans people. Does the hon. Lady agree that we have been failing trans people for many years in this country, despite the fact that they are covered by the…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
8 May 2025
Trade Negotiations
I thank the Minister, the Prime Minister, Lord Mandelson and all involved in this work for getting the deal over the line. Unlike some Opposition Members, who seem intent on talking down the Government’s positive work and our country, I find the deal really positive. Does the Minister agree that thi…