Contributions
589 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNATO: European SecurityAs the hon. Member will recognise, a review of Ajax is under way. However, Ajax has been overspent and the key user requirements have changed and oscillated from left to right for…15 Dec 2025HANSARDNATO: European SecurityLet us be really clear, for 14 years— [ Interruption. ] For 14 years, we have not seen defence spending going up. As shadow Ministers sit on the polished Opposition Front Bench…15 Dec 2025HANSARDNATO: European SecurityI thank the right hon. Member for his insight and support for all things defence. We must ensure that Ukraine is at the very centre of any negotiation, and this Government have…15 Dec 2025HANSARDNATO: European SecurityThis Government are not hollowing out defence or taking a dig at defence procurement. This Government are increasing morale, increasing recruitment and, importantly, making…15 Dec 2025HANSARDNATO: European SecurityThe reality is that armies, navies and air forces respond to crisis; economies, industries and societies win wars. We are stepping up in these key areas, but we are not alone. As…15 Dec 2025HANSARDNATO: European SecurityThe pain of losing one’s home is not lost on me, and being apart from friends and family over the Christmas period has a huge impact. Nearly 7 million Ukrainians have been…15 Dec 2025HANSARDNATO: European SecurityThe Government are putting NATO first and stepping up on European security. In the past month alone, I have met US, German and Estonian counterparts to discuss deepening our…15 Dec 2025HANSARDUncrewed Defence SystemsIt is not lost on me that the testing and trialling of systems, in both the maritime and the air space, is full of regulatory issues and hurdles. We have had a couple of meetings…15 Dec 2025HANSARDUncrewed Defence SystemsMy hon. Friend’s passion and support for this subject are not lost on me. The reality is that the majority of casualties on the frontline in Ukraine are caused by uncrewed…15 Dec 2025HANSARDUncrewed Defence SystemsThe Government are working exceptionally hard to ensure we speed up our procurement of uncrewed systems. In 2024 alone we are buying up to 5,400 drones, moving up to 8,000 in…15 Dec 2025HANSARDWar in UkraineFirst, I express great thanks to the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex (Sir Bernard Jenkin) for pulling together this debate. I have listened to the truly outstanding…04 Dec 2025HANSARDWar in UkraineI thank the hon. Member for his contribution. It absolutely was front and centre of the strategic defence review. There will be a couple of announcements coming in the next couple…04 Dec 2025HANSARDWar in UkraineI was in Germany just last week, and when I left, I muttered, “Germany is back.” I think that representatives from Germany going to Belgium to help unlock a significant amount of…04 Dec 2025HANSARDWar in UkraineThe right hon. Member makes a very valid point. We have led over 30 countries in the coalition of the willing in designing safe seas and skies and secure borders. We have a…04 Dec 2025HANSARDDefence Estate Security ReviewFurther to the Minister for the Armed Forces’ statement of 8 September (HCWS913), I am providing a further update on the measures we continue to take to enhance and improve…27 Nov 2025HANSARD Russian Ship YantarI thank the hon. Member for raising that point. It is something I will take up with my colleagues in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. If there is unruly or…20 Nov 2025HANSARD Russian Ship YantarAs my hon. Friend will know, we work with our allies to build contingency across all our critical national infrastructure. There is lots of work to do, and we are working in…20 Nov 2025HANSARD Russian Ship YantarI thank the hon. and gallant Member for his point. As someone who used to be in that part of the organisation, I am sure there are lots of people who are champing at the bit to…20 Nov 2025HANSARD Russian Ship YantarThat is a really useful point. Individually, we are strong. Collectively, we are united. It is really important that we double down on our allies and partners to…20 Nov 2025HANSARD Russian Ship YantarThe right hon. and gallant Member raises a valid point. When we came into government, we took the significant step of raising defence spending, but he knows as well as any that it…20 Nov 2025