Commons
Proceedings
3 September 2025
Property Taxes
I thank the Minister for giving way—he is always very generous with his time—and congratulate him on his well-deserved promotion. The Conservatives are not fans of tax, but sadly they are also not fans of supporting public services. Under their Government, thousands of His Majesty’s Revenue and Cust…
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
2 September 2025
Topical Questions
First, I pay tribute to my constituent Anne Strike for her constant campaigning for the eradication of polio. Sadly, we have seen cases of polio in warzones like Gaza. What is the Foreign Secretary doing to ensure that we eradicate this disease once and for all?
Commons
Westminster Hall
2 September 2025
3 contributions
The Battle of Britain
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Desmond. I thank the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Cameron Thomas) for bringing this important debate to the House. Equally, it would be remiss of me not to thank my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Lizzi Collinge) for her passi…
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. We cannot talk about those heroes often enough in this place, as far as I am concerned, so I thank him for his contribution. In Hatfield Heath, which is in my constituency, we preserve living links to that history. Prisoner of war camp 116, which was establish…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
1 September 2025
2 contributions
Topical Questions
T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.
I hope you had a lovely recess, Mr Speaker.
Harlow is full of fantastic schools, and I see the potential of young people there every single day, but that potential is often overlooked because of economic circumstances. Will the Secretary of State explain how the new crisis and resilience fund will …
Commons
Debate
22 July 2025
Sir David Amess Summer Adjournment
It is a huge honour to speak in the Sir David Amess summer adjournment debate. My one story about Sir David relates to a late friend of mine, Julian Ware-Lane, who was often the Labour candidate who stood against him in general elections. Sadly, many years ago Julian was diagnosed with cancer and sp…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
22 July 2025
Music Streaming: Label-led Principles
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. There was some mention of national treasures earlier; to quote Alison Moyet, “Only you”. [ Laughter. ] I won’t be called last next time.
From the Newtown Neurotics to Don’t Worry and The Subways, Harlow has always had a vibrant music scene. What plans does the Minis…
Commons
Debate
21 July 2025
Victory over Japan: 80th Anniversary
The right hon. Gentleman is telling a vivid story—one that would be very familiar to a former constituent of mine, George Money, whose daughter, Pam Gillespie, leads the VJ Day commemorations every year in my constituency. Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that it is so important to tell these…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
21 July 2025
Infected Blood Inquiry: Additional Report
I thank the Paymaster General for his statement. I think the hearts of all of us across the House go out to the victims of this terrible scandal and their families. As somebody who saw a family member die of AIDS, I know how incredibly difficult that must have been for many of them. Does the Ministe…
Commons
Debate
16 July 2025
3 contributions
Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life
On that point, will the shadow Minister give way?
I thank the shadow Minister for taking my intervention; he is always very generous with his time. I will give him a friendly intervention. I was going to criticise the Conservatives for a lack of attendance in this debate, but he said the words “no reforms”, and I notice that there are no Reform MPs…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Debate
16 July 2025
Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill [Lords]
Does the Minister agree with me that although the Bill is small, it is very much mighty? It is important that we get the Bill on the statute book because we want this country to be ahead of the game on these issues.
Commons
Ministerial Statement
16 July 2025
Financial Services Reform
I thank the Minister for her statement. The No. 1 thing that my constituents raise with me is the soaring cost of the private rented sector. Does she agree that these reforms will help first-time buyers in Harlow get on the housing ladder? Working alongside the £39 billion of investment in social ho…
Commons
Oral Questions
15 July 2025
2 contributions
Clean Power: Jobs
9. What estimate he has made of the number of additional jobs that have been created in clean power industries since July 2024.
I know that the Secretary of State loves Harlow as well. Does he agree that the historic investment in clean energy secured at the spending review will mean thousands of job opportunities for young people, including in Harlow, in renewable energies, nuclear, energy efficiency and so much more?
Commons
Ministerial Statement
14 July 2025
Future of the Post Office
I thank the Minister for his statement. As a fellow Labour and Co-op MP, I welcome the inclusion of mutualisation among the long-term ideas for the Post Office. Does he agree that post offices, particularly in rural communities like Little Hallingbury in my constituency of Harlow, are a vital part o…
Commons
Debate
14 July 2025
UK-France Migration: Co-operation
I thank the Home Secretary for her statement. It was a real pleasure to hear President Macron’s address last week with Members from across this House and the other place. Does she agree that it does not take Jules Maigret to realise that to tackle this issue effectively and humanely, we must work wi…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
14 July 2025
State of Climate and Nature
I thank the Secretary of State for his important statement. I say to him gently that I was a Mili-fan before it was cool. When I visit schools in my constituency of Harlow, including the wonderful Freshwaters primary academy, which I visited on Friday, and the Downs primary school, where one young c…
Commons
Oral Questions
Housing, Communities and Local Government
14 July 2025
Elections: Participation
I recently visited some wonderfully politically engaged sixth-formers at Sir Frederick Gibberd college in Harlow, including Luka and Finlay, who shadowed some of my office staff last week. Does the Minister agree that giving 16 and 17-year olds the vote will help to build a lifelong habit of democra…
Commons
Proceedings
9 July 2025
Trial by Jury: Proposed Restrictions
I thank the Minister for her statement and for the recognition of the importance of magistrates courts. Sadly, Harlow magistrates court was closed by the previous Government—as was Chorley magistrates court, of course. I recently spoke to a police officer in my constituency who has been a police off…
Commons
Oral Questions
8 July 2025
2 contributions
Crown Court Backlog
1. What steps her Department is taking to reduce the Crown court backlog.
In Essex, 20% of cases are stopped after a defendant has been charged because victims are dropping out and withdrawing their support. With some waiting years for their case to get through the courts, is it any wonder that they give up on justice? Does the Secretary of State agree that we need radica…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
7 July 2025
Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life
I thank the Secretary of State for her brilliant statement today and, as I did with the Prime Minister last week, I thank her for her recent visit to Harlow. How will the hubs, like Sure Start before them, work in collaboration with local communities to benefit people in Harlow and across Essex? I h…
Commons
Debate
7 July 2025
Government Performance against Fiscal Rules
I thank the Chief Secretary for his statement. My thoughts today are with the family of Anne Moffat of Old Harlow, who lost her life 20 years ago in the 7/7 attacks.
Does the Chief Secretary agree that part of the reason we have been left with such a fiscal mess is the previous Government’s decisio…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 July 2025
NHS 10-Year Plan
I thank the Health Secretary for his statement, and I promise not to lobby him too much on the potential move of the UK Health Security Agency to Harlow, although perhaps I should also lobby for a neighbourhood health centre. Instead, can I ask him to set out how the 10-year plan will ensure a shift…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 July 2025
Business of the House
I was not expecting to be called quite so soon, Madam Deputy Speaker, as you can probably imagine.
Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Jo Doyle, the new headteacher of Sir Frederick Gibberd college in Harlow, on her recent appointment? As the Leader of the House knows, the school…
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
3 July 2025
2 contributions
People on Low Incomes in Rural Communities
2. What steps the Church of England is taking to support people on low incomes in rural communities.
In the local authority of Harlow, 30% of children are living in poverty, according to research by Loughborough University and the End Child Poverty coalition. Poverty also exists in rural areas of my constituency, such as Sheering and Nazeing. Many families turn to their local place of worship for s…
Commons
Debate
2 July 2025
2 contributions
Defence
On that point, will the right hon. Gentleman give way?
I thank the Minister for his statement. I appreciate him bringing the debate to the Floor of the House. It shows the importance of the issue and the importance that the Government place on our armed forces and, in particular, our armed forces personnel. I welcome the pay rise that this Government ar…
Commons
Committee Stage
2 July 2025
Secure 16 to 19 Academies Bill
I welcome the opportunity to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Mundell. Does my hon. Friend agree that this part of the Bill will help to ensure that these institutions are better integrated with local services? I am thinking particularly about my hon. Friend’s opening remarks about the importance o…