Contributions
1,320 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMiddle EastI am not prepared to disclose that sort of data, but the hon. Gentleman should judge us by our actions, and well ahead of this war breaking out, we reinforced Britain’s defences…23 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastFirst and foremost, we are ensuring that we can protect British interests in the region. We are looking to protect our allies in the region, and everything we do is in…23 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastWe have agreed to the requests that the US has put to us. As I have said, one of our major principles is that we are working in close co-ordination with allies on defensive…23 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastWe will work in exactly the way that the joint statement that we helped to co-ordinate at the end of last week sets out, so as to de-escalate the conflict, co-ordinate with…23 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastThe decisions we have taken as a Government have been taken for defensive purposes, and in co-ordination with allies. This House has plenty of opportunities, including for almost…23 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastThe hon. Gentleman is almost last, but not least. I reject almost every assertion he makes in his tripartite question. The decisions we have taken and the permissions we have…23 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastWe will always work closely with the US. This is a deep military and security relationship that has seen the ups and downs of politics over many decades, and that will continue to…23 Mar 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. We have swept away some of the long-standing rules that got in the way of people being recruited into the forces. There is no shortage of those…16 Mar 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanBefore I answer, I want to thank our British personnel who are working 24/7 in the middle east, at home and around the world to protect British lives. For our part, we are working…16 Mar 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanAs the Prime Minister said, it will be published as soon as it is ready. This is not holding up major investments; there have been more than 1,200 major investments in contracts…16 Mar 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanWe will settle this defence investment plan. Unlike the plans we have seen recently from previous Governments, it will be affordable and deliverable. The hon. Gentleman knows from…16 Mar 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanThis is a whole-of-Defence effort; we are working flat out to deliver the defence investment plan. It will put into practice the 10-year vision that the strategic defence review…16 Mar 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanThe hon. Gentleman is the last person in the House to expect me to set out the detail of those sorts of operational arrangements in public. The defence investment plan is not…16 Mar 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanA principle of the investment that this Labour Government are making is that we will direct British defence investment first to British jobs, British businesses and British…16 Mar 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI agree that the strategy is key; my hon. Friend is entirely right. This capital is matched by the biggest increase in defence spending from public investment and the public purse…16 Mar 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanWe are working flat out to conclude the defence investment plan. The hon. Gentleman was the Minister for Defence Procurement who left defence programmes overcommitted, underfunded…16 Mar 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI appreciate the hon. Gentleman’s interest in the issue. He will recognise that, as was pointed out in the strategic defence review, this is a question for the whole of society…16 Mar 2026HANSARDMilitary Personnel: PayAt the election, military morale had fallen to record lows, and we promised, as a new Government, to renew the nation’s commitment to those who serve. That is what we are doing.…16 Mar 2026HANSARDMilitary Personnel: PayI will write to my hon. Friend with the detail, but part of the commitment that we have made to renewing the contract with those who serve has involved the extension of wraparound…16 Mar 2026HANSARDMilitary Personnel: PayThe hon. Gentleman will have welcomed the “get home” allowance that we made sure every one of our serving personnel could access at Christmas for the first time. We have delivered…16 Mar 2026