Contributions
953 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDReferral of Prime Minister to Committee of PrivilegesMy right hon. Friend has many skills; one that I have just learned of is that he is able to read the left-handed scrawl of my notes, even when he is sitting next to me, because…28 Apr 2026HANSARDReferral of Prime Minister to Committee of PrivilegesThere has been a common theme in the remarks made by the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull East (Karl Turner), the hon. Member for Nottingham East (Nadia Whittome)—it is a…28 Apr 2026HANSARDReferral of Prime Minister to Committee of PrivilegesWould my right hon. Friend forgive me if I do not? A lot of Members want to speak, so I want to make a little progress. The third compelling point is that Labour Whips and…28 Apr 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)For several months now, including when the Secretary of State has appeared before the Select Committee, he has in all good faith promised these amendments. Does he understand that…27 Apr 2026HANSARDLord Mandelson Humble Address: Government Response UpdateMay I, through the right hon. Gentleman, thank the officials in the Cabinet Office who have assisted me in the work that I have been doing in this area as Chairman of the Public…27 Apr 2026HANSARDSecurity VettingThe Prime Minister has spoken about process, the reviews, and trying to put that which went wrong right. That is to be supported, but he is asking the House and the country to…20 Apr 2026HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillI have two questions to the Minister, if I may. I welcome the retreat from this Bill and this deal, which ill served the taxpayer and our national interest. First, are the…13 Apr 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsAs a former elections policy Minister and member of the defending democracy taskforce, may I thank the Secretary of State for launching this inquiry? I also thank Philip Rycroft…25 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle East: Economic UpdateThe £474,000 awarded to Dorset council last week as part of the Chancellor’s announcement is welcome, but I must tell her that it really will not touch the sides; more will need…24 Mar 2026HANSARDFuel DutyI would probably suggest to my hon. Friend that a lie-down with a cold flannel in a darkened room might be a good idea for him if that is what he thinks they are doing. I think…18 Mar 2026HANSARDFuel DutyI do. My right hon. Friend is right to point to the universality of the negative impact of the proposal. As a good Yorkshirewoman who I know is always persuaded by the validity of…18 Mar 2026HANSARDFuel DutyIt is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Gordon and Buchan (Harriet Cross), who spoke with her usual passion on behalf of her constituents and a sector that is…18 Mar 2026HANSARDFuel DutyThis is a point I made to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury. All these increases—in council tax, domestic and transport fuel, food prices and so on—are putting pressure…18 Mar 2026HANSARDFuel DutyMy right hon. Friend is right. It is important to relitigate this point: we froze fuel duty not merely because we could but because there was a reason so to do. It is why—I say…18 Mar 2026HANSARD Student LoansOf course—it gives me an extra minute.18 Mar 2026HANSARD Student LoansI must be suffering from some sort of political amnesia, because I was absolutely convinced that it was a Labour Government that introduced tuition fees in the first place. Maybe…18 Mar 2026HANSARDFuel DutyThere are a huge number of families up and down the country who manage their household budgets incredibly tightly. They will be thinking about whether they can afford a holiday…18 Mar 2026HANSARD Student LoansNo, I will not give way; one can be a useful idiot only so often in an afternoon. I say to the Minister: whether it is at the front of the queue, the back of the queue or the…18 Mar 2026HANSARD Student LoansWhat I do accept is that the hon. Gentleman is swiftly gaining a reputation in this place as the only Labour Member who would defend a policy of the slaughter of the firstborn. He…18 Mar 2026HANSARD Student LoansI am just about to give up and I will not get an extra minute. I like the hon. Gentleman very much and in ordinary circumstances I would, but I will not. We need some urgency on…18 Mar 2026