Contributions
346 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEngagementsQ12. The best form of welfare in this country should be a well-paid job, but with unemployment up and this Labour Government choosing to raise taxes to spend even more on a…03 Dec 2025HANSARDEngagementsQ8. When it comes to economic growth, this Labour Government are all talk and no action—so maybe I can help the Prime Minister. Roadworks and traffic jams cost the UK economy £8…26 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. I signed his amendment, as that issue is important. It goes back to what I said at the beginning of this debate: the Bill is not…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI completely agree with my hon. Friend. The Government must come forward on that, as we are yet to hear solutions for councils with large amounts of debt. Councils are being…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillThe last Labour Government, which was elected in 1997, established devolution and moved powers away from Westminster under the premise of a referendum result. However, this Labour…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillDoes the hon. Member support my proposal that councils, particularly local district councils that currently have planning powers, need more powers over the licensing of houses in…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillThe council leader has fed that back to Government and the answer has been, “Tough—get on with it. This is what we are doing, and this is what we propose to happen. You have to…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillThe hon. Gentleman says that the Conservatives did not have referendums on structural political changes, but we did have a referendum to change the voting system; I voted against…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillOh, go on then; I will take one more intervention.24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI can take the hon. Member to my constituency if he wants to see a pro-growth local council that has delivered a local plan and delivered housing. What has held us back is the…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI thank my hon. Friend for all the work he has done on the Floor of the House putting forward our case on where the Government have got it wrong on devolution. He raised an…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI will not take any more interventions, as I have been more than generous—24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI support several new clauses and amendments to the Bill, but, frankly, I am fundamentally opposed to the changes it would impose on our constituents. That is why amendments 104…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillAs he is a Hampshire MP, I will give way to the shadow Minister.24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI was talking about the physical aspects of the transport currently in place, and the transport in Hertfordshire makes it very difficult for such interlinking services. The hon.…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillOne more time, and then I will make progress.24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI do not think that the Bill does that. It enables Ministers to force councils to reorganise. It keeps power in Whitehall. It does not devolve powers to councils. I have mentioned…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy hon. Friend is a passionate advocate for his constituents. We had a long discussion about that issue in Committee. I completely agree that “Isle of Wight” should be in the name…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillThe hon. Lady makes an interesting point with which I have great sympathy. We have to try to take different communities together, but we should not compare the rural county of…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI agree. We tabled a number of constructive amendments in Committee, and we worked across parties, with Members of all stripes, to improve the Bill and get these powers out into…24 Nov 2025