Contributions
589 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD DefenceI am going to a make a bit of ground, and then I will come back to the right hon. Gentleman. We come to perhaps the most revealing part of the motion: the suggestion that defence…24 Mar 2026HANSARD DefenceI will give way to the right hon. Gentleman.24 Mar 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (First sitting)I will triple down on what was said and say thank you very much to an amazing team, first, for putting together great evidence sessions and, secondly, for approaching this in a…24 Mar 2026HANSARD DefenceI thank the hon. Member for allowing the intervention. I cannot describe the laughing and bickering that is going on right now, when we have troops in harm’s way. There has to be…24 Mar 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (First sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. This clause is an essential part of each and every Armed Forces Bill, as it provides for the Armed Forces Act 2006 to…24 Mar 2026HANSARD DefenceDefence is very clear about what it requires. We are working collectively across Government to come to a joint decision on where that spending portfolio will fall. There are…24 Mar 2026HANSARD DefenceI thank my hon. Friend for her contribution. We have a large defence budget, and in the past it has not been spent effectively. I think we can collectively agree, on both sides of…24 Mar 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Second sitting)I thank hon. Members for their contributions on clause 2 and the new clauses. They are based on the right intent, and Members are trying to do the best by our serving and…24 Mar 2026HANSARDUkraine Air Defence: UK SupportAlongside the conflict in the middle east, the war in Ukraine continues to rage. Russia is taking more than 1,000 casualties a day, and has launched more than 55,000 missile and…16 Mar 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsThere are two key roles that the Ministry of Defence plays within this legislation. The first is to ensure that we protect veterans throughout any legal process to do with…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUkraine Air Defence: UK SupportThe UK-US relationship remains stalwart. Our collective leadership on Ukraine has been second to none; the Defence Secretary’s leadership of the Ukraine defence contact group has…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUkraine Air Defence: UK SupportAs the right hon. Member will know, we continue to support Ukraine with almost as much capability as we can. Through leadership of the Ukraine defence contact group, through…16 Mar 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Member for the field promotion—he, obviously, has not had one. We have two roles: protecting veterans and ensuring that no one can rewrite history through the…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUnited Nations CharterLet me be really clear: the UK’s priority is supporting British nationals and our partners in accordance with international law. The Prime Minister has made clear that any UK…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUnited Nations CharterLet me talk a little bit about crimes: support to Hamas; support to Hezbollah; support to the Houthis; support to various armed groups with lethal aid that has been killing…16 Mar 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Member is absolutely correct. We took a six-week programme of deep refit and rearmed in six days—a remarkable effort from both the industry and the Royal Navy. I doff my…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUnited Nations CharterI thank my hon. Friend for her really important question. I am absolutely dismayed by the reports of damage to the cemetery by both Israeli operations and Hamas fighters. Brave…16 Mar 2026HANSARDIran: US Plan for Sustainable PeaceWe are studying developments very carefully and remain in close contact with the United States and other allies. The UK’s position is clear: the best way forward for the region…16 Mar 2026HANSARDIran: US Plan for Sustainable PeaceI have attended every staff college in the military—initial staff college, advanced command staff college and higher command staff college—and they all say two things: “First, you…16 Mar 2026HANSARDIran: US Plan for Sustainable PeaceAs we speak, there will most likely be fast jets flying in the middle east or around Cyprus, tracking, identifying and engaging with drones that pose a direct threat to our…16 Mar 2026