Contributions
151 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDOnline Safety Act 2023: RepealI thank the hon. Member for introducing the debate—and, as somebody who shares a house with a Newcastle fan, I thank him for a miserable weekend. It is important that we get the…15 Dec 2025HANSARDNATO Defence Expenditure TargetIt was troubling to hear—unless I misheard the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Buckinghamshire (Greg Smith)—that the Secretary of State can talk with exactitude about…15 Dec 2025HANSARDNATO Defence Expenditure Target9. What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of Exchequer on meeting the NATO target of 5% of GDP on defence expenditure.15 Dec 2025HANSARDDraft Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) (No. 2) Regulations 2025I welcome the statutory instrument, and I wonder whether my hon. Friend agrees that this is about ensuring not just the future of the free press and editorial independence, but…09 Dec 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsT5. I have recently been contacted by constituents who are concerned that local jobcentres are not doing enough to get people back into work. What more can the Minister do to…08 Dec 2025HANSARDUnemployment Levels22. What assessment he has made of trends in the level of unemployment.08 Dec 2025HANSARDDigital IDDoes my hon. Friend agree with me and the thousands of people across Bromley and Biggin Hill who signed the petition that at a time of rising taxation and spiralling debt, the…08 Dec 2025HANSARDUnemployment LevelsI recently heard from Bill Perera, who runs a franchise of McDonald’s in my constituency of Bromley and Biggin Hill. He runs nine restaurants and employs nearly 800 people, 70% of…08 Dec 2025HANSARDLocal MediaI will happily give way—the hon. Gentleman wins the prize.03 Dec 2025HANSARDLocal MediaWell played! That was very good, and of course I agree. I used to work with Toby Granville, so I know him well. I think that sets the tone for a lot of the interventions that will…03 Dec 2025HANSARDLocal MediaI of course agree with my hon. Friend. The role that local media plays at the centre of the community is what I will develop during my speech, if I get to the second page. I…03 Dec 2025HANSARDLocal MediaMy hon. Friend makes an important point, which I will get to as I develop my speech. I also have to declare an interest: I spent the majority of my working life in local news.…03 Dec 2025HANSARDLocal MediaTell me about it. It remains the go-to place for my constituents across Bromley and Biggin Hill for the news that counts, and that is local news. It is where we go to find out…03 Dec 2025HANSARDLocal MediaI do agree. That has been happening in local media since the invention of Facebook, which I will come to later. Across the UK, local journalism attracts 42 million readers each…03 Dec 2025HANSARDLocal MediaI agree with my hon. Friend, and I will touch on the BBC charter later in my comments. Let us start with the digital environment, which the hon. Member for Winchester (Dr…03 Dec 2025HANSARDLocal MediaI entirely agree on that extraordinary story. I think Kevin Sinfield has run further than I have ever driven. The way he has used national, regional and local media to highlight…03 Dec 2025HANSARDLocal MediaI do not have enough time to thank everybody individually, so please take it that all are thanked and loved, especially the people who gathered outside to beep in support of the…03 Dec 2025HANSARDLocal MediaI beg to move, That this House has considered the future of local media. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, I think for the first time, Dr Allin-Khan. I will start by…03 Dec 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI thank the hon. Lady for her comments. I have tried hard to ensure that my new clauses are objective and would apply to anybody serving as mayor. If I could be cheeky, I can…24 Nov 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI will speak today in support of new clauses 64, 65 and 66, all tabled in my name. As I said on Second Reading, my concern is that the Bill does precious little to strengthen…24 Nov 2025