Contributions
577 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDClean Energy: FundingIt is becoming clear that one year in, the public still do not know what Labour is all about, and the same could be said for its so-called National Wealth Fund. Not only has the…01 Jul 2025HANSARD VAT Registration Threshold: SMEsIt is always a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mr Vickers. First, I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Leicestershire (Mr Bedford) on securing this excellent debate.…24 Jun 2025HANSARD VAT Registration Threshold: SMEsI think the hon. Gentleman is accusing you, Mr Vickers, rather than me. I simply say to him that increasing the threshold made a big difference to the 28,000 businesses that were…24 Jun 2025HANSARD VAT Registration Threshold: SMEsI am delighted that the Liberal Democrats are keen to meet us and are willing to pay for it. Perhaps we can speak afterwards, but his constituents can speak to me any time. We are…24 Jun 2025HANSARDBusiness and the EconomyI am grateful to close this debate on behalf of His Majesty’s Official Opposition. Let me start by thanking all those who contributed and from all sides of the House, but…21 May 2025HANSARDNight-time EconomySacha Lord, Labour’s former night-time economy adviser, says that it is tougher for the hospitality industry today than it was even during the pandemic, but the Chancellor is…20 May 2025HANSARDDraft Finance Act 2021 (Increase in Schedule 26 Penalty Percentages) Regulations 2025It is a great pleasure to be here, Mrs Harris. This is a relatively straightforward instrument, and I am grateful to the Minister for setting out its detail. Tackling the tax gap…07 May 2025HANSARDEconomic Growth: Transport InfrastructureWe know that the Energy Secretary is against airport expansion unless it is in Doncaster, and we know that many Labour MPs are against airport expansion unless it is in Pakistan.…08 Apr 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy right hon. Friend has raised that matter at every single opportunity that he has been afforded, and he is right to stand up not just for St Barnabas, but for all hospices.…25 Mar 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillI rise on behalf of the official Opposition to support Lords amendments 1B, 5B, 8B and 21B. It feels like only last week that we were all here, but it is clear that our colleagues…25 Mar 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillIt is rare that questions come with a musical accompaniment, but the right hon. Gentleman’s mobile ringtone made for a great effect. None the less, his point is the right one,…25 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillThe problem with that intervention is that the chairman of GB Energy himself disagrees about the number of jobs that it will supposedly be creating. I have set out clearly some of…19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillI remind the House that inflation has already gone from 2% to 3% under this Labour Government, and in fact, the OBR scored the Hallowe’en Budget as inflationary. The hon.…19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillThe jungle awaits the Minister, clearly. My right hon. Friend is absolutely right; in fact, the OBR has clearly demonstrated in its analysis that 76% of this tax increase will be…19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillThat is right, and it is an important point, because the decisions made by this Government are having such a profound impact on people in the real economy. I simply say to the…19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillTo answer simply, I do not think the Government did that assessment before announcing this tax rise, but with plummeting business confidence, declining economic growth and…19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillI will make some progress, if the hon. Gentleman will allow me, and then give way. This tax, purely and simply, is a financial penalty on 940,000 businesses—that is how I look at…19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillAbsolutely. To be fair, I do not think the profound impact of this tax is appreciated by Labour Front Benchers. The hon. Lady has pointed out yet another area in which it will…19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillI rise on behalf of the official Opposition in support of Lords amendments 1 to 4, 8, 10, 14 and 21. Before I dive into the detail, I want to get a little nostalgic. One year and…19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillYes, it is. My right hon. Friend is exactly right; the Government are giving a small amount with one hand and taking a larger amount with the other, but the bottom line is that it…19 Mar 2025