Contributions
2,802 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFairtrade CertificationI suppose, on the whole, I was trying to say that I want to try to take down tariff barriers where I possibly can, so that we can engage in free trade, but that only works when we…11 Dec 2025HANSARDEconomic GrowthThe hon. Member seems to have lost the plot, frankly. Let me just point something out to him: what was average growth under the Tories? It was 1.5%. What is it under Labour? It is…11 Dec 2025HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesWell, I will find some hearing aids for the hon. Lady, because she refused to listen to the answer I was providing. Basically, when the Conservatives left government, they had not…11 Dec 2025HANSARDEconomic GrowthI can count; the hon. Member cannot. Let me remind him: growth under the Tories was 1.5%, and growth under Labour is 2.2%. Which is higher? It is higher under Labour, isn’t it?…11 Dec 2025HANSARDEconomic GrowthWe are going to get the best possible deal that we can out of the European Union. That is one of the reasons that I was in Brussels only yesterday alongside Nick Thomas-Symonds,…11 Dec 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s work in the Department; he is much missed, particularly by many of the civil servants and those who worked with him. I am happy to sit down with…11 Dec 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsIt is a bit of a cheek, isn’t it, the Conservatives coming and talking about a steel strategy when they had absolutely no strategy and did not even choose to go and visit some of…11 Dec 2025HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesLook, the single most important thing is that everybody, including the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative Government, when they were in power, knew that after the revaluation…11 Dec 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI apologise on behalf of the Secretary of State, who is striking deals in the United States of America. In recent weeks, we have announced £2.5 billion of investment in the UK’s…11 Dec 2025HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesNo, because I want the hon. Lady to apologise for what the Conservatives did to the British economy and British businesses. Why is it that, following the Brexit that they…11 Dec 2025HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesAs my hon. Friend knows, I know a bit about Slough, because my brother is a headteacher there—and I am sure he has been helping out some of the pubs. The most important point is…11 Dec 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI completely agree with the Chair of the Business and Trade Committee; this is a really good deal in many ways, not least because, as somebody who has benefited from medical…11 Dec 2025HANSARDFairtrade CertificationI think I can see a Liberal Democrat hand gesturing at me.11 Dec 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am very happy to meet my hon. Friend. The high street is a really important part of ensuring that we have economic growth across the whole of the United Kingdom, rather than…11 Dec 2025HANSARDEconomic GrowthI agree with my hon. Friend that gnats— I would not want to cast aspersions on any other kind, obviously—can be a terrible problem in Scotland. The aviation industry in the UK is…11 Dec 2025HANSARDEconomic GrowthFar be it from me to agree with a Lib Dem but, broadly speaking, I do. The truth is, as the Leader of the Opposition has now admitted, Brexit was a self-inflicted shock—and not…11 Dec 2025HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesWithout our small businesses, we as a country are nothing, which is why we have published the first small business strategy in 10 years. We are going to change the law to tackle…11 Dec 2025HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesFirst of all, we have given £5 billion more to the Scottish Government; I sometimes just wish they would stop whining and moaning, and get on with delivering what they can with…11 Dec 2025HANSARDUK-US Economic Prosperity DealThe UK and US met virtually to continue talks on the UK-US economic prosperity deal during November 2025. Discussions included areas across the scope of the EPD set out in the 8…01 Dec 2025HANSARDBusiness and Trade CommitteeI warmly commend the Committee on producing its report. I take no offence at the demand that there be a separate economic security Minister, even though I think the Culture, Media…27 Nov 2025