Contributions
1,811 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. It is not normal that the SNP has a very strong pro-defence line, but it is, I guess, welcome. If this is a change of heart from the…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanThe hon. Lady is right to argue that we need more investment in our steel industry. That is why the defence industrial strategy identified steel as one of the sectors we need to…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanLook, I want to see more defence spending, but the way we have drafted the defence investment plan is as a scalable proposition. With more defence spending, we would see more…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanThat is a good one. As someone who comes from a defence family, whose— [ Interruption. ] The Leader of the Opposition sighs. Let us talk about those people who come from a proud…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanWe are already increasing defence spending, renewing our forces, fixing defence housing, increasing the pay of our armed forces, and tackling the toxic culture that existed in our…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanAs the right hon. Gentleman would know if he was present at more Defence questions, I like defence scrutiny and debate. As far as I am concerned, everyone could go round again,…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI know that the Conservatives do not like hearing about their hollowing out of the armed forces, but that is what we inherited and are trying to put right. If the Conservatives…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanOf all the people I expected to be arguing for more defence spending, the right hon. Gentleman was not among them. Let me say very clearly to him: NATO is the guarantor of much of…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI thank my hon. Friend for her question. I also thank all those who served in the Falklands in the 1982 conflict. Yesterday marked the 44th anniversary of Liberation Day, which is…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanWe support all 62 recommendations of the SDR, and they are all in progress. The defence investment plan sets out how we will deliver our equipment, personnel and estates for the…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI can confirm that we will continue to invest in our people. I think the last time we had a defence review that did not cut the size of the British Army was in the late ’80s. In…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI have a lot of time for the former Defence Secretary and the former Armed Forces Minister, and I agree with much of the argument they have made about the importance of increasing…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI will say two things to the hon. Member. I know that she is relatively new to the House, but it is a really important rule that we do not comment on special forces. We neither…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI thank the right hon. Member for his question. He will know from his time in the Ministry of Defence and on the NATO PA that getting procurement right and fixing the broken…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI thank the hon. Lady for her question and Martin for his interest in how we increase defence spending. She will know from our debates in this Chamber that it is not just the…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI have seen the previous Defence Secretary make the case for defence spending, and I have seen the Prime Minister and the Chancellor increase defence spending since Labour came to…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanWhen I held the shadow Environment brief, the hon. Gentleman and I were in many debates where I made the case strongly that food security is national security. This is something…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanYes, I have been involved in doing it. Let me be very clear and answer the hon. Gentleman’s question in full— [ Interruption. ] His Front-Bench colleagues want to shout at me, but…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI have just replied: yes. The hon. Gentleman needs to listen to the answer. Yes, I have seen it, and I have been involved in writing it. The plan itself is a good plan; the debate…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI recommend that the hon. Gentleman reads the new defence diplomacy strategy, which we published a few months ago to deliver on what he has just asked me.15 Jun 2026