Commons
Debate
26 January 2026
3 contributions
Armed Forces Bill
You didn’t do it!
Portsmouth North knows the value of service. We are a proud naval city, home to serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families, and to the many charities and individuals who support them. We are a city whose identity is inseparable from the Royal Navy. More than 9,000 veterans of all ser…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Debate
22 January 2026
Fishing Industry
I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting so many key issues, as well as developments and successes, in our fishing industry. With between 30 and 40 vessels, Portsmouth has a smaller fishing industry than it once did, although the industry still supplies many small businesses. Does my hon. Friend agre…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
22 January 2026
Business of the House
Residents and developers in Portsmouth are facing repeated delays from the council planning department. Despite clear assurances from the council given to me about the long-promised green light for the Tipner East development, it has stalled again. Those delays are actively driving the growth of hou…
Commons
Oral Questions
Cabinet Office
22 January 2026
Topical Questions
I thank the Chief Secretary for meeting me to discuss the £20 million Pride in Place money awarded to Portsmouth. To boost and expand those funds in my city and make investment lasting, will the Chief Secretary tell me and my constituents more about his work with the new Office for the Impact Econom…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
21 January 2026
Warm Homes Plan
I, too, congratulate my right hon. Friend on a deliverable warm homes plan. On Friday, I am hosting a utility cost of living event with energy and water suppliers and banks, because Portsmouth North residents were let down dramatically by the previous Government. Does the Secretary of State agree th…
Commons
Debate
20 January 2026
4 contributions
Sentencing Bill
This Bill delivers the long-term, joined-up, sustainable reform that our criminal justice system desperately needs. I will comment on amendments 1 to 7 and 14, which will strengthen the Bill. We inherited a system on the brink, with prisons close to running out of places, courts paralysed by backlog…
We are clearing up the mess left by the Tories. People are still waiting for their day in court. It is not okay for a crime to be committed and for there not even to be a sentence for four or five years. If the shadow Minister would like to intervene again, I will give way.
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
20 January 2026
Domestic Abuse-related Deaths: NHS Prevention
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir John. I thank my hon. Friend for securing this debate. At the beginning of this debate my hon. Friend mentioned suicide. As we are talking about NHS services, and when we have women trying to take their own lives, I wanted to highlight the devas…
Commons
Westminster Hall
12 January 2026
2 contributions
Call for General Election
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Edward.
I thank the Petitions Committee for this debate, and I thank those who engaged and signed the petition. Like my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock Chase (Josh Newbury), I always look at the petitions that come into this place, because they…
We will add it to the list. We need to ensure that children and young people who are not in education, employment or training are not neglected by the Government—and they will not be.
Men’s health is finally being taken seriously. There is money for potholes, parks and policing. Pride in place fund…
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
8 January 2026
2 contributions
Local Bus Services
11. What steps she is taking to help improve local bus services.
Buses in Portsmouth are not meeting the accessibility requirements of visually impaired passengers, and my constituents report that bus colour displays are unsuitable, audio and visual stop announcements are not functioning, and drivers are not calling out stops or identifying visually impaired pass…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
7 January 2026
Ukraine and Wider Operational Update
I thank the Secretary of State for his statement and leadership. As the Member for Portsmouth North, the home of the Royal Navy, I pay tribute to all our armed forces. Does the Secretary of State agree that continued strong UK leadership from our Prime Minister and commitment and consensus across th…
Commons
Debate
6 January 2026
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill
I want to start by saying happy new year to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, to the staff, to all in this House and to the residents of Portsmouth.
I thank the Minister for his introduction to the Bill and for highlighting some of the major concerns that cyber-insecurity has caused and continues to cause…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
16 December 2025
Electoral Resilience
Will my right hon. Friend give a clear assurance to my constituents in Portsmouth North that the police have all the resources they need to pursue all remaining leads in the Gill case? Will he reassure us that the review will examine the full extent of Russian interference in our country’s politics …
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
15 December 2025
2 contributions
Women Veterans
5. What steps he is taking to improve support for female veterans.
I would like to thank my hon. Friend for her service and for her support in this area. In the last two years, changes have been made to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary maternity policy that prevent new parents from taking back-to-back shore assignments, which are crucial to balancing seafaring with young …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
10 December 2025
Resident Doctors: Industrial Action
As a proud trade unionist, I know that trade unions are there to represent their members’ interests and views, yet by pushing ahead with this strike action, the BMA appears set to ignore its members. The offer on the table is real and comes from a Government who are listening and making positive cha…
Commons
Oral Questions
24 November 2025
Topical Questions
In cities such as Portsmouth, outdated formulas for local authority funding have long failed to reflect real levels of deprivation. I would like to see a Labour Government increase support for children’s services, with a fairer system using up-to-date data. That would make an enormous difference to …
Commons
Debate
20 November 2025
2 contributions
International Men’s Day
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock Chase (Josh Newbury) on securing this important debate and on his eloquent and brave words to open the conversation.
As he said, today is a chance to celebrate the men and boys in our lives, acknowledge the challenges that many face, and recognis…
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. Online safety is also crucial in protecting boys from harmful content, misogyny and gambling promotions, which he mentions.
The measures that this Government have taken are a start. We know that we need to do more to restore trust, dignity, opportunity and a …
Commons
Debate
17 November 2025
Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill
It is a privilege to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Ghani. I want to speak on this Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill both as the Member for a coastal community, and as someone who is truly fortunate to have dedicated environmental campaigners locally. I want to thank one constituent …
Commons
Debate
17 November 2025
Asylum Policy
I fully support the Home Secretary’s statement and the need to get the balance right. In Portsmouth North, we have seen how quickly immigration misinformation can spread on our high streets and local forums. It has even forced businesses to put up signs on developments to say who will be living ther…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 November 2025
Police Reform
Will the Minister join me in thanking our hard-working named neighbourhood police officers across Portsmouth North, PC Jamie Christian, PC Chris Middleton, PC Nicholas Joyce, PC Ben Treend, PC Hannah Kelleher, PC Matt Lamper and PC Susan Smith, for their continued dedication to keeping our community…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 November 2025
Business of the House
During Remembrance Week we rightly honour the service and sacrifice of our armed forces and their families. Children from armed forces families often face unique challenges in education and mobility, yet data on their outcomes and experiences remains limited. There is a need for better recognition o…
Commons
Westminster Hall
13 November 2025
2 contributions
Rogue Builders
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Furniss. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Mark Garnier) for securing this important debate on protecting consumers from rogue builders—an issue that affects thousands of families, honest tradespeople and small businesses across the …
I absolutely agree. Voluntary measures only go so far, and the Competition and Markets Authority must step up to enforce this work.
The lack of consistent action against non-compliant trade recommendation sites undermines confidence, creates an unlevel playing field and ultimately hurts the very pe…
Commons
Proceedings
12 November 2025
Independent Football Regulator
I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. While this Government are focused on finally delivering for fans and securing the future of our national game, the record of the party opposite tells a very different story. We have for years seen Conservative …
Commons
Debate
11 November 2025
Remembrance Day: Armed Forces
I associate myself with the eloquent words of the Minister for the Armed Forces, and thank all those in this House who have served for their service.
I am honoured to contribute to today’s debate on behalf of the people of Portsmouth North, including members of the armed forces, as we pause to reme…
Commons
Debate
5 November 2025
4 contributions
Employment Rights Bill
I proudly refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests and my involvement in the trade union movement throughout my professional career.
The Employment Rights Bill is long overdue, and although others continually seek to wreck it with worker-unfriendly amendments, we …
I absolutely agree; I think the key word there is “exploitative”.
People in Portsmouth North and across the country deserve fairness, dignity and the ability to plan their daily lives and future. In sectors such as retail, hospitality, construction, social care and logistics, many workers are on un…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
4 November 2025
8 contributions
Supporting High Streets
rose —
The flexible labour market under the Tories meant that people were employed but did not know when they were working, how long they were working for and how much they were getting paid.
+6 more contributions in this session