Contributions
4,303 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDefence and SecurityAs my hon. Friend may know, I have had extensive discussions with all our European allies. Those have been particularly intense over the past three or four weeks, and I will…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityI certainly want that to be the case wherever we can. That is why we will have the plan for reform and efficiency, but that needs to be translated into British skills and secure…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityYes, I do. That is why I say that this is not just about the sovereignty of Ukraine, but about European defence and security and our own defence and security. We have already paid…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityI do not accept the argument that this has come too late. It has come at the point at which we are able to put a credible, costed plan before the House. We have known for three…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityYes, I do. We must rise to that challenge. Many of the well-paid, skilled jobs in the defence sector are found across the whole United Kingdom. We need to ensure that there are…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityI thank the hon. Gentleman for his support. We already work closely with Norway on defence and security, and we want to enhance and strengthen that, which the bilateral…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityThe hon. Lady is right to say that prevention is better than war—that is why it is important that we prepare our defence to be able to secure and maintain the peace, and that is…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityI do agree with that, and I agree with my hon. Friend’s comments about the supply chains, which are vital to the security effort.25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityI thank my hon. Friend for his commitment to international development. He is absolutely right about that, and we will of course work across the House on alternative and…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityThe hon. Gentleman is right to raise the question of Northern Ireland. It is important for this to be a whole-United Kingdom effort and contribution, and for us to ensure that…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityI thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter. It is a really difficult decision, and it is important that we make clear that we remain committed to the work we are doing in…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityI am pleased to hear about that direct link. I think that people-to-people contact is important, both in relation to our appreciation and understanding of what is going on in…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityI thank my hon. Friend’s constituents working in Stevenage for their important work. It is important that we make sure that this spending is measured in jobs and secure jobs…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityI do agree that our alliances are important, and that is why NATO is the bedrock of our approach. It has been for many, many years and will continue to be. I do accept that…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityI thank, through the hon. Lady, everybody in this country who has opened their doors to Ukrainian refugees. I am very proud of the fact that we have done that, and that the…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his support. On the question of security guarantees, intense discussions are going on about how that would look and what that might involve. I…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityI agree with both those propositions, and about what we spend and how we spend it. Speaking for myself, the Government and, I am sure, the whole House, we thank our armed services…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityThe right hon. Lady is right to raise the importance of overseas development—I have said that from the Dispatch Box a number of times—but this is a moment when we have to step up…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityI do not think the plans put forward by the hon. Lady, as far as I have seen them, are realistic. To make a commitment such as the one we have made, we have to put forward a…25 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityThe reforms are really important. The strategic review is very important, and the funding is very important. This is a moment when we must step up and play our full part in the…25 Feb 2025