Contributions
1,811 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Armed Forces DayI thank the right hon. Member for his attendance at an Armed Forces Day event this weekend. As someone who represents Devonport, which is home to western Europe’s largest naval…26 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces DayI am sure the House will agree that the right hon. Gentleman is by no means a poor substitute for the shadow Defence Secretary. We plan to publish our defence housing strategy…26 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces DayI could not agree with my hon. Friend more: that is so important. I am somewhat guilty of this myself, but many of our defence debates have been about kit, platforms and—if I have…26 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces DayI share the right hon. Gentleman’s passion for telling our nation’s story. To tell our full story, we have to explain the good bits and, sometimes, the bad bits, but at all times…26 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces DayThe right hon. Gentleman certainly does not want to offend the Chair of the Defence Committee, so I am glad that he has had the chance to put that on the record. What I heard in…26 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces DayI agree with the hon. Gentleman; it is important that the pledge is made in action and deeds, not just words. If we look at the implementation of the armed forces covenant across…26 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces DayI thank the hon. Gentleman for his years of service. It was in Westminster Hall yesterday that he added up all the years that he served in uniform. I think it was 14 and a half…26 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces DayIndeed, and when the announcement was officially made, I recall standing at the Dispatch Box and thanking the shadow Secretary of State for Defence, who is not here today, for his…26 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces DayMay I thank my hon. Friend for his remarks? It is a good reminder that on Armed Forces Day and in Armed Forces Week, there will be parliamentarians from all sides of the House…26 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces DayI thank my hon. Friend for all the work that she put into making the case for Cleethorpes to host the first of the renewed national day events. I know that my right hon. Friend…26 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces DayMembers who had to sit through my opening remarks will be pleased to know that I will not be repeating many of them, but I am keen to pick up on a number of points raised in their…26 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces DayI beg to move, That this House has considered Armed Forces Day. This week, our nation comes together to give profound thanks to the men and women of our armed forces, their…26 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces Recruitment: North-east EnglandI join my hon. Friend in celebrating the work of 361 Gateshead air cadets. What he has just done speaks to the critique, which I often hear, that young people are not interested…25 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces Recruitment: North-east EnglandDon’t be saying that we have been out telling people things before we announce them—we will get in big trouble for that, as the hon. Member will know. He is exactly right to talk…25 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces Recruitment: North-east EnglandI commend and thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. It is so important that we tell our story. We have not just accidentally arrived today—we are here because of the…25 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces Recruitment: North-east EnglandThe right hon. Member has made his point; I am turning to the points raised by other Members, if he will forgive me. We currently spend £380 million, but we want to spend more. To…25 Jun 2025HANSARD Armed Forces Recruitment: North-east EnglandIt is very good to see you in the Chair, Dr Allin-Khan. You and I being in the same room will probably alert the Whips—they will be keeping an eye on us both very shortly. I thank…25 Jun 2025HANSARDUK Military Base ProtectionGiven the seriousness of the issues we are discussing, my focus, and the focus of every Defence Minister, is on ensuring the protection of our people. I understand that the hon.…23 Jun 2025HANSARDUK Military Base ProtectionI thank the hon. Gentleman for raising the college at Harrogate. It is a really important part of the defence family and I know that the Minister for Veterans and People, my hon.…23 Jun 2025HANSARDUK Military Base ProtectionI thank the hon. Gentleman for raising the security changes that we have introduced at bases and reserve centres in Northern Ireland. It is certainly true that we had reservists…23 Jun 2025