Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
3 November 2025
Topical Questions
I very much welcome the Government’s Op Valour pilot programme and the Minister’s commitment to improving support for our veterans. However, I am disappointed that Portsmouth—home to the Royal Navy and one of the largest veteran communities—is not part of the programme. Can the Minister reassure me …
Commons
Debate
29 October 2025
Sentencing Bill
I am pleased to support this vital Sentencing Bill, which represents a significant step towards protecting victims and delivering justice.
I would like to draw Members’ attention to new clauses 8 and 31 and amendment 1. The Conservatives claimed to be champions of law and order, yet their record wa…
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
28 October 2025
Gibraltar: UK-EU Agreement
I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
It was an honour to welcome Gibraltar’s First Minister to last week’s annual general meeting of the all-party parliamentary group on Gibraltar. As a cross-party group, we wholeheartedly welcome the treaty, but…
Commons
Westminster Hall
27 October 2025
Statutory Maternity and Paternity Pay
I congratulate all new parents, and especially my cousin Jake and Shannen on the arrival of baby Kai Burley last week. It is a reminder of the joy that new life brings and the responsibility we have to support families at that crucial time. This is not just about numbers; it is about real families. …
Commons
Debate
20 October 2025
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC: Away Fans Ban
Ensuring that all fans can attend sporting events in safety and without fear must always be our first priority, and we must fully respect the operational independence of the police. Can the Secretary of State reassure the House that this Government will provide the necessary resources to support loc…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
15 October 2025
Pride in Place
On behalf of the people of Portsmouth, I am delighted that we have received £41.5 million under Labour’s pride in place impact programmes. Some £20 million of that is for Paulsgrove, which is close to my heart. It is a proud and resilient place, but it was neglected and ignored under 14 years of the…
Commons
Debate
13 October 2025
Baby Loss
I rise to speak about baby loss on behalf of those affected—those who I know and love, and those who I do not know. This tragedy touches far too many families in Portsmouth North and across our country. We have heard today how each year in England and Wales, tragically, around 2,500 babies are still…
Commons
Debate
3 September 2025
Hospitality Sector
As the third-largest employer in Britain, hospitality supports 3.5 million jobs and is the beating heart of our high streets and communities, yet this vital sector has been let down by a decade of Conservative neglect; over 10,000 pubs closed between 2010 and 2024. This motion continues to let down …
Commons
Debate
3 September 2025
2 contributions
Property Taxes
Like my family and friends and the people of my city, I saw at first hand the economic failures and harms done to the people of this country under 14 years of the previous Government—harm to our council services, armed forces and public services, the special educational needs and disabilities system…
As a former teacher, I say no. I will continue with the term free school meals.
We are also seeing breakfast clubs to support pupils and families at the start of every day, additional nursery allocations to help working parents with the crazy cost of childcare, and investment in our NHS. All of tho…
Commons
Debate
2 September 2025
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
As someone who also represents a constituency in Hampshire, I agree with my hon. Friend. In terms of the letter we have sent, would it not make more sense for boundary changes to be part of the process, as opposed to an add-on at the end?
Commons
Ministerial Statement
1 September 2025
Borders and Asylum
It cannot be denied that we have inherited a very difficult position, and that there has recently been a real increase in the rhetoric on this issue, which is causing serious worry, upset, anger and mistrust in our communities. Many vital measures to tackle this organised crime, such as counter-terr…
Commons
Debate
21 July 2025
Extending the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme
Does the hon. Member agree with me that the Homes for Ukraine scheme matters? It is not just an immigration policy; it is about real families who have made a home in our communities. I am particularly thinking of a wonderful couple who came along to my surgery. The woman, who came from Ukraine, is w…
Commons
Debate
21 July 2025
Victory over Japan: 80th Anniversary
It is an honour to rise to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day—the day when the guns finally fell silent and the second world war came to its end.
Portsmouth has been the beating heart of Britain’s naval power for over 500 years, and it played a crucial role in the Pacific campaign that led to VJ D…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
21 July 2025
Independent Water Commission
I warmly welcome the statement and the work of the Government. Portsmouth, as an island city, is well aware of the damage done; we see it, we smell it and we feel it in our pockets every day. More than 100 of my constituents have raised their fury and disappointment at the way that the Tories allowe…
Commons
Proceedings
21 July 2025
Asylum Hotels: Migrant Criminal Activity
I agree that it is important that we are able to debate immigration and asylum. People across the country know the consequences of the asylum system failing to protect the public, communities and businesses—we have had experience of that in my own city. Does the Minister agree that public safety mus…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
15 July 2025
Afghanistan
I thank the Secretary of State for his openness and transparency, and for his apology, and I thank Portsmouth city council for its involvement in Afghan resettlement schemes, which have helped many of those who served alongside my Portsmouth North constituents. I welcome today’s decision. The Govern…
Commons
Debate
8 July 2025
Football Governance Bill [Lords]
Does the Minister agree with me and my hon. Friend the Member for York Outer (Mr Charters) that we do need to look at alcohol sales, but that we need to do it with all stakeholders in the round—not just throw it in as a gimmick to this Bill, which is about finance and governance?
Commons
Westminster Hall
8 July 2025
Down’s Syndrome Regression Disorder
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Jeremy. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft) for securing the debate, and for her opening words on Down’s syndrome regression disorder.
As we have heard, Down’s syndrome regression disorder is a little known but deeply dis…
Commons
Debate
4 July 2025
Licensing Hours Extensions Bill
As the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North, I am proud to speak in support of the Licensing Hours Extensions Bill, which is a sensible and necessary reform to support our struggling hospitality sector and, as we have heard, allow communities to come together during moments of national signific…
Commons
Debate
4 July 2025
Space Industry (Indemnities) Bill
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow East (John Grady) for bringing the Bill forward. I also thank the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Mark Garnier) for chairing the all-party parliamentary group for space and for his promotion of the sector.
As the MP for Portsmouth North, I strongly support…
Commons
Debate
4 July 2025
Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh North and Leith (Tracy Gilbert) for introducing the Bill and welcome the opportunity to raise issues of fairness and equality in the UK’s democracy.
We have seen in England that absent voting, by post or proxy, has empowered thousands of people to mak…
Commons
Debate
4 July 2025
Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill
I am proud to speak in this debate as the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North—a seat I did not hold this time last year, but proudly hold today, although technically not for a year until 4.30 tomorrow morning.
I want to speak today in strong support of the Bill. It is a vital step forward in …
Commons
Debate
26 June 2025
2 contributions
Armed Forces Day
I associate myself with the Minister’s opening words.
It is a privilege to speak in this debate as both a member of the armed forces parliamentary scheme and the proud Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North, the home of the Royal Navy and a community with deep historic ties to our armed forces. …
I thank the hon. Member for that wonderful intervention and send my best wishes to Jack for his birthday. In remembering that, I would also like to remember John Jenkins—one of our very own veterans from Portsmouth.
In Portsmouth, we also proudly celebrated Armed Forces Day last Saturday, honouring…
Commons
Debate
24 June 2025
3 contributions
Department for Education
A rise in the number of independent schools.
In Portsmouth North, we know that education does not just open doors, but transforms lives. I welcome this Government’s commitment to rebuilding the foundations of the education system.
Before entering this House, I was a teacher, and I have seen at first hand the power that education has to transf…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
24 June 2025
War Memorials
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stuart. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy (Melanie Ward) for securing the debate.
In Portsmouth North, we are proud of our naval heritage and deep connection to those who serve. Our war memorials are more than stone…