Contributions
536 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDraft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026I will make some general points and then ask a Northern Ireland-specific question of the Minister. I really am amazed that in a debate where the starting point is that free…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Armed Forces BillJust on devolved issues, will the Secretary of State explain why the armed forces covenant is being extended to local authorities everywhere except Northern Ireland? Why are the…26 Jan 2026HANSARD Armed Forces BillLet me begin by associating myself with the remarks of several hon. Members in repudiating the outrageous slur on our armed forces by the President of the United States in respect…26 Jan 2026HANSARD Armed Forces BillNot all councils, happily, are controlled by Sinn Féin. There are 11 councils, many of which are not. Perhaps through the First Minister’s office—I do not know, but perhaps at its…26 Jan 2026HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillI hold in my hand the explanatory notes that accompany the Bill. There are extensive sections on historical background and legal background. Nowhere within those sections is there…26 Jan 2026HANSARD Police Reform White PaperThe Home Secretary has been reasonably clear today that the National Police Service would be UK-wide, dealing with counter-terrorism, organised crime and fraud, but she then said…26 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationThe Secretary of State needs to go back to what the High Court judgment said in the Dillon case. If he looks at paragraph 710, he will see that the basis of ruling that immunity…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationMay I refer the Secretary of State to what paragraph 710(ii) of the Dillon judgment says? It says: “Pursuant to section 7A of the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018 article 2 of the…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationOn the first Sunday of this year, I stood with the families of the innocent victims of the Kingsmill massacre as they marked 50 years since that horrendous event. It would have…21 Jan 2026HANSARDChinese EmbassyIs not the plain truth that this was a predetermined political decision from the moment that the political decision was taken to call it in, when the Government were faced with…20 Jan 2026HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillIf it were possible, one could almost feel sorry for the Minister. This is the Minister who, during previous stages of the Bill, batted away every criticism by telling us, “Oh,…20 Jan 2026HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillI do not think that there is time for the hon. Member to remedy his speech at this stage. The Minister is hoisted on the petard of his own manifesto, of which he is in blatant…20 Jan 2026HANSARD Arctic SecurityI absolutely agree with the sanctity of territorial integrity and how fundamental it is to sovereignty. Indeed, those principles provide a powerful basis to challenge the US’s…19 Jan 2026HANSARDChinese EmbassyWhy are this Government so evidently in awe of the Chinese Government and their requirements? Is one of those requirements that this mega-embassy be approved before the Prime…13 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Political Institutions: ReformThe hon. Member very piously tells us what would offend her, but of course it did not offend her in December 2024 to be a cheerleader for the Secretary of State railroading…13 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Political Institutions: ReformIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Vaz. I commend the hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Sorcha Eastwood) for securing this debate. That is probably where the…13 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Political Institutions: ReformIf the hon. Member had been listening more carefully, she would have understood why it is failing. It is failing because at its heart is a party that does not want Northern…13 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Political Institutions: ReformThe Minister has talked several times about consensus. Can he therefore explain why, when given the opportunity to live by the fundamental principles of the Belfast agreement and…13 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Political Institutions: ReformOn the childcare point, the childcare money was Barnett consequential. It was of the order of £50 million, but Stormont chose to spend only £25 million of it on childcare, so in…13 Jan 2026HANSARDFinance (No. 2) BillI rise to speak to clause 62 and schedule 12. I certainly welcome the fact that, though belatedly, the Government did get to the point of climbing down on the £1 million…12 Jan 2026