Contributions
1,811 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryI am very pro-Lukes generally speaking, but the hon. Member had 20 minutes in which to speak, and a few more interventions will not correct the quality of his speech.28 Jan 2026HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryWhat a terrible example of collective amnesia. In the entire debate, not a single Tory MP could say why they started the negotiations.28 Jan 2026HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryI am happy to take interventions if Conservative MPs can start their intervention with the reason why their Government started the negotiations. If it is true, as the shadow…28 Jan 2026HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryAgain, the hon. Gentleman did not quite hit my bar, but I am sure I will get a parliamentary question from him about it. The Conservatives started the negotiations, I am afraid,…28 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractThe hon. Gentleman and I have had a number of conversations about Aldergrove, and I suspect we will continue to do so. It is important that, as part of the defence investment…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractI thank the hon. Gentleman for his advocacy for the defence industries in Northern Ireland. He will know that this Government placed a £1.6 billion order for new missiles from…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractI thank the hon. Lady for her question, as well as for the promotion she has given me! Since the general election, we have signed over 1,000 defence contracts, and more than 80%…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractThe hon. Gentleman is certainly right that it is really important to have an industrial base that can build autonomous helicopters and autonomous lift, and a number of players are…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractConstituencies across the south-west of England and around the country stand to benefit from the increase in defence spending set out by the Chancellor: £5 billion for the defence…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and for the tone in which he asked it, and he is right to say that corporate decisions about where investment goes are important. That…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractThe right hon. Gentleman knows that we have found additional funding for defence; there is £5 billion extra in our defence budget this year. We have an increasing defence budget…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractMy hon. Friend is right to say that the defence industrial strategy is a key piece of the puzzle in building up our new armed forces. It was published last year— [ Interruption. ]…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractThe hon. Lady is absolutely right to say that there are important defence companies in her constituency, and across the country. We continue to place contracts with the defence…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractAs a fellow Unite member, I recognise the importance of good, well-paid, unionised jobs in our defence industry. The opportunities in autonomy were set out clearly in the…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractI thank the hon. Gentleman for his questions. They are, I am afraid, the same questions that his hon. Friend asked, so I will have to give him the same answers. All decisions on…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractMy hon. Friend is right about two things. First, defence is an engine for growth. That is why we are investing more of the increasing defence budget in British companies.…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractDeary me. It is this Labour Government who are increasing defence spending to the highest level since the end of the cold war. It is the Conservatives who hollowed out and…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractI met the chief executive of Yeovil College briefly at the Great South West conference last year, and I understand its involvement and partnership with the private sector in that…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractI thank the hon. Gentleman for his advocacy for his constituents who work at Leonardo. I entirely understand what he says. We are already taking steps to reform defence…12 Jan 2026HANSARD New Medium Helicopter ContractI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question and the tone in which he asked it. I have a lot of time for him and his arguments. In fact, I think that “Shifting the…12 Jan 2026