Commons
Westminster Hall
8 July 2026
Draft UK-EU Agreement on Gibraltar
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir John, in this important debate.
For more than six years, the people of Gibraltar have lived with uncertainty. As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Gibraltar, I have had the enormous privilege of visiting the Rock several times since…
Commons
Proceedings
8 July 2026
NHS Corridor Care
Does my hon. Friend agree that often this is compounded when somebody has been arrested and police officers are sitting for hours? I was recently in A&E, and there were two police officers there for the duration that a member of the public was there. They may also need somewhere else to deal wit…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
6 July 2026
Topical Questions
T6. Two weeks ago, alongside colleagues, I met a network of families and parents from all three armed forces. I heard from serving personnel about the real strain of starting a family while serving our country. A recent snapshot survey by the Dad Shift of over 450 serving forces members found that 9…
Commons
Debate
6 July 2026
3 contributions
Employment and Training
The levy proposals may sound technical, but at their heart they are about investing in people and in Britain’s future, because, let us be honest, everything we touch and see is supported, repaired and built by these industries. As the Labour MP for Portsmouth North, this debate matters deeply to me.…
Too many of those skilled industrial jobs have disappeared and too many young people today do not see the same opportunities that previous generations had. When we talk about levies like this, we are really talking about whether today’s young people will be given the opportunities that their parents…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
30 June 2026
2 contributions
High Street Regeneration and Unlawful Storefronts
I thank the hon. Member for securing this important debate. The issues that he highlights exist across the country. A common struggle for hon. Members across the House is that we cannot find out who owns these buildings on our high streets. I have approached my council, but it either does not have t…
Does the hon. Member agree that we need to make sure that data sharing flows, with intelligence, between all relevant organisations, including mayors, local government, the police, and the small businesses that are following the law and doing the right thing?
Commons
Ministerial Statement
30 June 2026
Defence Investment Plan
Portsmouth, as the home of the Royal Navy, welcomes the defence investment plan, with investment in the hybrid Navy, at least six new warships and the biggest upgrade to our naval base for 45 years. It will strengthen national security in a new era of warfare and support skilled jobs, but ships and …
Commons
Westminster Hall
29 June 2026
NHS Breast Screening
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Vickers. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Irene Campbell) for introducing this debate. I also thank all those who signed the petition and who have campaigned to raise awareness of this issue.
Breast cancer is one of t…
Commons
Westminster Hall
23 June 2026
Fly-tipping: Residential Areas
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes (Melanie Onn) for securing the debate and for her excellent speech outlining all the issues our residents face with fly-tipping. Nothing makes me more fed up and deflated …
Commons
Westminster Hall
22 June 2026
3 contributions
Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Newborn Screening Test
Thank you, Mr Mundell, for your chairmanship. I, too, pay tribute to the determination of Jesy Nelson and all the parents and young people who have been campaigning for this. I was alarmed to discover from parents this weekend that Portsmouth will not be included in the roll-out of the SMA screening…
rose—
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Debate
16 June 2026
Isle of Wight Dementia Patients: Discharge to Mainland Care Homes
I thank my hon. Friend and neighbour for securing this debate, and I strongly support him on this issue. People living with dementia and their families deserve care close to home, and should not have to cross oceans or seas and get trains to get the support that they need. I want to recognise the de…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
15 June 2026
Russian Shadow Fleet
I welcome the Secretary of State to his place. Operations such as this demonstrate an incredible level of planning, co-ordination and professionalism across our armed forces, police, Border Force, and wider Government, so I pay tribute to and thank all those involved. For a city like Portsmouth, whi…
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
11 June 2026
2 contributions
Transport Decarbonisation
10. What steps she is taking to help decarbonise the transport sector.
Portsmouth international port has invested significantly in shore power infrastructure, supported by Government funding, to enable ships to connect to grid electricity while berthed, rather than run diesel engines. However, the high cost of electricity is threatening to render the entire investment …
Commons
Debate
1 June 2026
3 contributions
Coastal Communities: Government Support
I represent a coastal city that has high levels of deprivation and inequality. Unlike your beaches, none of ours are blue flag—
My apologies—I meant my hon. Friend’s beaches.
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Debate
20 May 2026
3 contributions
Defence Readiness
Does the hon. Member agree that, had his Government not got rid of shipbuilding in my city but instead put some plans into place, we may well have been able to continue to build ships there? Instead, they decimated it and left us with three incompetent Portsmouth Ministers.
It is always a privilege to speak in this House and to represent the people of Portsmouth, a proud naval city built on service, innovation and hard work. As Portsmouth marks 100 years of city status, and as the city bids to become the next and the first ever southern city of culture, there is a real…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Justice
19 May 2026
2 contributions
Criminal Justice System: Support for Men and Boys
14. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support men and boys through the criminal justice system.
As the founding member of the Labour group for men and boys, I welcome the Government’s focus on prevention opportunity, because supporting men and boys is not zero sum; it benefits women, girls, families and communities, too. In Portsmouth, too many boys and young men are struggling with education,…
Commons
Oral Questions
27 April 2026
Apprenticeships
This month I launched a space apprenticeship pilot in Portsmouth North, bringing together Airbus and the Solent Growth Partnership to ensure that candidates who narrowly miss out on an Airbus apprenticeship are matched directly with defence and space SMEs in the area. Following the failure of the la…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
22 April 2026
Pension Schemes
Before I ask my question, I would just like to welcome back Andy. He gives us a great deal of service in this Chamber. It is good to see him back. [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”]
I welcome the action the Government have taken and the Minister’s statement today. I thank him for his engagement with me …
Commons
Debate
22 April 2026
Government Procurement Strategy
Like me, many in Portsmouth will welcome today’s announcement, particularly the new shipbuilding framework and the commitment to reward bids that deliver local jobs and skills. Will the Minister outline today—and meet me to discuss—how these reforms will help to ensure that cities such as Portsmouth…
Commons
Debate
21 April 2026
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
It is a privilege to speak tonight in support of two specific areas of the Bill that will directly affect my constituents in Portsmouth North.
First, I welcome the strengthening of gambling impact assessments. That links directly to the work that my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby and Clee…
Commons
Debate
21 April 2026
Middle East: Economic Update
I thank the Chancellor for her statement and for the work she is doing at this globally difficult time. As a proud coastal, naval and defence city, Portsmouth understands that economic, national and climate security are inseparable, from household bills to flood resilience and defence jobs. Will she…
Commons
Debate
20 April 2026
Crime and Policing Bill
I am very proud of my city and proud to be a resident, but my constituents tell me at my coffee mornings, at “Pint with your MP” events, at surgeries and on the doorsteps that they find it very difficult to feel pride when antisocial behaviour, fly-tipping, abandoned vehicles and electric scooters b…
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
16 April 2026
2 contributions
Small Churches
10. What steps the Church of England has taken to support small churches.
St Nicholas, Hilsea, in Portsmouth is not a rural church; is a low-income parish in a city. It is trying to replace a much-loved community hub that had to be demolished in 2020, but it faces a shortfall of £20,000 because of rising construction costs. What steps is the Second Church Estates Commissi…