Contributions
622 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRural CrimeI am sorry to hear about the terrible experience of my hon. Friend’s constituent, and I recognise the significant impact that the theft of equipment has on farmers, both…13 Nov 2025HANSARDViolence against Women and GirlsTackling violence against women and girls is a top priority for this Government and for me. With the Crown Prosecution Service, I am utterly determined to drive improvements in…13 Nov 2025HANSARDViolence against Women and GirlsThe right hon. Gentleman raises a really serious and important case; I am sure the thoughts of the House are with the victims. As he is aware, I cannot speak to cases in which…13 Nov 2025HANSARDViolence against Women and GirlsMy hon. Friend’s question provides another example of the enormously important work that organisations such as NDAS do to support survivors of domestic abuse. I welcome Sharon to…13 Nov 2025HANSARDViolence against Women and GirlsI thank the hon. Member for raising the tragic case of Tony Hudgell. I know that his parents, along with the right hon. Member for Tonbridge (Tom Tugendhat), who is no longer in…13 Nov 2025HANSARDSerious Fraud Office: Economic CrimeOn 9 September, the Serious Fraud Office secured £1.1 million from the sale of a Lake district house in an investigation involving its first use of an unexplained wealth order,…13 Nov 2025HANSARDViolence against Women and GirlsFor several years now, the CPS has maintained a high and steady charge rate of around 80%, and a conviction rate of 75%. This Government are taking radical action to ensure that…13 Nov 2025HANSARDSupport for Victims of CrimeI know the hon. Gentleman is a big champion on this issue. Victims of economic abuse face real challenges in getting justice, and he is right to draw attention to that issue.…13 Nov 2025HANSARD Alleged Spying Case: Role of Attorney General’s OfficeToday we have heard from the shadow Justice Secretary yet more of the baseless smears that have characterised the Conservative party’s approach to a matter of such importance to…23 Oct 2025HANSARD Alleged Spying Case: Role of Attorney General’s OfficeI thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising this urgent question, following the deeply disappointing collapse of the prosecution case concerning two individuals charged under the…23 Oct 2025HANSARD Alleged Spying Case: Role of Attorney General’s OfficeThe charges in this case were brought under the Official Secrets Act 1911—outdated legislation, drawn up even before the dawn of world war one. As I said, the Attorney General,…23 Oct 2025HANSARD Alleged Spying Case: Role of Attorney General’s OfficeAs I set out in my answer to the urgent question, the previous Law Officers gave consent to prosecute in April 2024. After that happens, it is right that there is no further…23 Oct 2025HANSARD Alleged Spying Case: Role of Attorney General’s OfficeI politely remind the right hon. Gentleman that this case was to be tried under the Government’s position in relation to China between 2021 and 2023, when his party was in…23 Oct 2025HANSARD Alleged Spying Case: Role of Attorney General’s OfficeAs I have set out, consent to prosecute in this case had to be granted by Law Officers, and that was done under the previous Government. Once consent is granted, it is for the CPS…23 Oct 2025HANSARD Alleged Spying Case: Role of Attorney General’s OfficeThe Attorney General will be giving his evidence to the Committee next week. I think it is right to say that the case was dropped by the CPS not on public interest grounds but on…23 Oct 2025HANSARD Alleged Spying Case: Role of Attorney General’s OfficeThe Prime Minister and the DPP have both confirmed that there was no political interference in the evidence given by the deputy National Security Adviser, and rightly so. The…23 Oct 2025HANSARD Alleged Spying Case: Role of Attorney General’s OfficeUnder the law as it now stands, it would be easier to bring prosecutions in cases such as these. We are deeply disappointed that this prosecution did not go ahead, but I will get…23 Oct 2025HANSARD Alleged Spying Case: Role of Attorney General’s OfficeIn terms of the witness statements, to start with the first and by far most substantive witness statement was the one made under the previous Government. In relation to more…23 Oct 2025HANSARD Alleged Spying Case: Role of Attorney General’s OfficeThe Government are disappointed that this prosecution did not go ahead. If the previous Conservative Government had tightened our laws in relation to national security before…23 Oct 2025HANSARD Alleged Spying Case: Role of Attorney General’s OfficeIn order for this case to succeed, it was based on the relationship with China at the time of the offences and how China was viewed then. I have already referred to the meeting on…23 Oct 2025