Commons
Debate
28 April 2026
2 contributions
Select Committees
Will the hon. Gentleman give way on that point?
I just want to put on the record my thanks to the Chair of the Backbench Business Committee for his able chairing of the Committee throughout my time on it. I think he would agree that we have had some really good and useful debates in this Chamber and Westminster Hall because of the work of the Bac…
Commons
Debate
28 April 2026
4 contributions
Referral of Prime Minister to Committee of Privileges
I apologise to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for the fact that I cannot promise as learned and long a speech as that given by my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton West (Phil Brickell). [Interruption.] Even in such a heated and highly controversial debate, I have managed to gain cross-party consensus. M…
I thank the hon. Member for his contribution, I think. I am sorry that he is offended by my handwriting, but there are probably more important things to discuss.
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
27 April 2026
2 contributions
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
I thank the shadow Minister for giving way, and congratulate him on his efforts yesterday. I am sure we are both struggling to bob in the Chamber this afternoon.
I agree with the shadow Minister about the cabinet model for local councils. I am sure he agrees that one of the advantages of that model…
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
Commons
Debate
27 April 2026
Lord Mandelson Humble Address: Government Response Update
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. [ Interruption. ] . Are we all finished? I thank the Chief Secretary for returning to the House again on this issue. Will he reiterate how due process for the conducting of security vetting before appointments are announced will change as a result of this affair?
Commons
Oral Questions
27 April 2026
State Pension Age Changes: Compensation
I will not lie, Mr Speaker: bobbing is slightly more difficult than normal this morning.
Can the Minister detail what the ombudsman found about the financial loss women suffered as a result of the delay in sending out letters? On a more general point, can he say what this Government are doing to su…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
23 April 2026
UK Biobank Data
I will not mention Harlow Town, I promise. [ Laughter . ]
May I thank the Minister for his statement? I agree with others that UK Biobank is an excellent resource, and I have no doubt that its research has made a huge difference to the health of my constituents. Although this issue is not specifica…
Commons
Oral Questions
23 April 2026
Business of the House
May I ask the Leader of the House to welcome the new owners of Harlow Town football club to their role after a period of uncertainty, when the club went into administration. As I know he is a fan of football teams that play in red and white, will he join me in wishing Harlow Town football club, ofte…
Commons
Oral Questions
23 April 2026
2 contributions
Public Procurement
13. What steps he is taking to reform public procurement.
Happy St George’s day, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for his earlier remarks on procurement, and I agree that £400 billion of public spending is a significant lever that this Labour Government have to better support businesses across our country. How will the Minister and his colleagues across Go…
Commons
Westminster Hall
23 April 2026
2 contributions
Young Adult Carers: Education and Training
I beg to move,
That this House has considered access to education and training for young adult carers.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. Before I start, I want to declare that I am the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for young carers and young adult carers. Thr…
I thank the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for his powerful contribution and for recognising the sacrifice that young carers and young adult carers make. As the Minister said, he made it personal and very real for us. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Redditch (Chris Bloore) for his co…
Commons
Debate
22 April 2026
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
I thank the Minister for giving way; she is being generous with her time, as always. I declare an interest as a member of the Select Committee. I hope that I do not steal the thunder of the Chair of the Select Committee, my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Helen Hayes), who is si…
Commons
Debate
22 April 2026
Pension Schemes Bill
I do not claim to be a huge expert on pensions, which may be why, rather than focusing on the point last week, I made comments about the hair of the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Mark Garnier). I will not do so again—but it is fantastic hair.
Pensioners in my constituency are pa…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
22 April 2026
Pension Schemes
I join my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth North (Amanda Martin) in welcoming Andy back to the Speaker’s Office. He is a shoulder to cry on after Harlow Town’s recent results.
I thank the Paymaster General for his statement, which is hugely important to residents of Harlow, including veterans …
Commons
Debate
22 April 2026
Government Procurement Strategy
I thank the Minister for his response to the urgent question tabled by the hon. Member for Stafford, Eccleshall and the villages, my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Leigh Ingham). Can the Minister tell the House how this Labour Government’s reforms to public procurement will unlock hundreds of …
Commons
Debate
20 April 2026
5 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
I thank the Minister and the shadow Minister for opening the debate.
I oppose Lords amendment 11, but I do recognise its merits. Let me begin, however, by talking about the wider issue of fly-tipping, which is an absolute bugbear of mine. When I go canvassing, or indeed when I visit Harlow Town foo…
I do not know much about Staffordshire’s police and crime commissioner, but I absolutely take on board what my hon. Friend says. If that is the case, it is hugely disappointing. It is hugely important that police and crime commissioners across the country take seriously all parts of the areas they r…
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
20 April 2026
Victims and Courts Bill
I apologise to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), because I have just beat him to an intervention. Can I put on the record my thanks to the Minister for her work on this Bill? Whether we agree on different parts of the Bill, nobody in this Chamber or the other place could fail to recognis…
Commons
Debate
16 April 2026
3 contributions
Modernisation Committee Report: Access to the House of Commons
I thank the Leader of the House, the shadow Leader of the House and the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip—I have no doubt that she will thrash me in the London marathon in 10 days’ time—for starting the debate. I join the Leader of the House in paying tribute to the former Leader of the House, my right ho…
Do you want more? Okay. [ Laughter. ]
To finish, I will say that it is hugely important that democracy is not just for the few. It is so important that everyone has the opportunity to take part in this country’s democracy, and this place is a beacon for democracy in this country like probably no ot…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
16 April 2026
Women’s Health Strategy
I thank the Minister for her statement, and for her ongoing commitment to ensuring that women’s health is at the heart of this Government’s agenda, which is hugely important. A bit like my hon. Friend the Member for Burnley (Oliver Ryan), I was shocked by the number of women from my constituency of …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
16 April 2026
British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme
I thank the Secretary of State for his statement, and I welcome the extension of the BIC scheme and the difference it will make to manufacturing businesses in my constituency. I wish to make a brief representation on behalf of the Lea Valley Growers, who are based in Nazeing in my constituency. As t…
Commons
Debate
15 April 2026
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
I welcome the consultation that the Minister is holding on this important issue. I declare an interest, as I am a member of the Education Committee—that seems to be something we should mention—and I am the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for young carers and young adult carers. Will she e…
Commons
Debate
15 April 2026
Pension Schemes Bill
I thank the Minister and the shadow Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Helen Whately), for opening this debate. I was not expecting it to be quite so lively, so I will try to add a bit of animation to what was initially going to be quite a dry speech from me. [ Interrupt…
Commons
Debate
13 April 2026
2 contributions
SEND Provision and Reform
I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way and for bringing this really important debate to the Chamber. I recognise his passion for supporting young people with SEND, but I disagree with his views on the Government’s White Paper. I say that not because I am sitting on this side of the Chamber, but a…
On that point, will the shadow Minister give way?
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 April 2026
North Atlantic Submarine Activity
I thank my hon. and gallant Friend for his statement. I pay tribute to our incredibly brave naval personnel for the important work they do, often in difficult weather conditions, to keep us all safe. It strikes me that Harlow is quite a way from the Arctic circle and that the Arctic circle is consid…
Commons
Debate
13 April 2026
Southport Inquiry
I thank the Home Secretary for her statement today and for her continued leadership on this issue. Can I join the whole House in sending my sympathies not only to the victims, but to their families? This was a dreadful crime, and I am sure that any parent in the Chamber will be, like me, rightly app…
Commons
Debate
25 March 2026
Victims and Courts Bill
I join the Minister in thanking the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mr Reynolds) for his work on this issue. I also take this opportunity to thank my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Natalie Fleet) for her work on the part of this Bill that ensures there are no parental rights for child sex offender…
Commons
Proceedings
25 March 2026
Foreign Financial Influence and Interference: UK Politics
I thank the Secretary of State for making this important statement. Like the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Bobby Dean), I am concerned about the ability of shell companies to make political donations. Clearly that is not transparent, and that is rightly recognised in the Rycroft review.…