Contributions
4,303 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEngagementsMay I start by joining the Prime Minister in his remarks about yesterday’s day of reflection for the 126,000 people who lost their lives to covid? That is a shocking number, and…24 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsThe Prime Minister is fighting the last war. Is he trying to pretend, hidden in that answer, that the Army stands at over 100,000—the number that he just quoted? When the…24 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsLet’s try this for up ’em. The Prime Minister might want to avoid the promises he made, but I have found an interview that he gave during the general election campaign. Here is…24 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsI have every respect for our reservists, but the Prime Minister is just playing with the numbers. He knows very well that the numbers have been cut. The trouble is that we just…24 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsThe 2015 manifesto said: “We will maintain the size of the regular armed services”. The 2017 manifesto said: “We will maintain the overall size of the armed forces”. In 2019, the…24 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsWhat is weaker than making a promise to our armed forces just before the election, then breaking it and not being prepared to admit it—not having the courage to admit it? There is…24 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsI thank the Prime Minister for that answer. In that spirit, can I turn to the practical challenges we face if we are collectively to rise to this moment? The first challenge is…17 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsMay I join the Prime Minister in his comments about St Patrick’s day? My thoughts, and I am sure those across the whole House, are with the family and friends of Sarah Everard,…17 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsI was Director of Public Prosecutions for five years and spent every day prosecuting serious crime, including terrorism, sexual violence and rape, so I really do not need lectures…17 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsThe Prime Minister mentions the Bill last night. That provided for longer maximum sentences for damaging a memorial than the sentences imposed in the three cases of rape I have…17 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsI will come to last night’s Bill later, but it did say a lot more about protecting statues than it did about protecting women. Let me, if I may, given the gravity of the…17 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsI agree with the Prime Minister on that last point. Can I gently remind him that for 10 years this Government have been promising a victims’ law? I think it has been in his…17 Mar 2021HANSARDIntegrated ReviewWe want the integrated review to work. Threats to our national security are increasing; they are becoming more complex and less predictable. The Government must get this review…16 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsMy mum was a nurse; my sister was a nurse; my wife works in the NHS—I know what it means to work for the NHS. When I clapped for carers, I meant it; the Prime Minister clapped for…10 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsThe Prime Minister says that he voted for it; he did. Now he has ripped it up—2.1% ripped up. If he will not listen to me, he should listen to what his own Conservative MPs are…10 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsThe Prime Minister says, “We support them. We’ll reward them.” He is cutting their pay. [Interruption.] “Not true”, he says. Prime Minister, a 1% rise versus a 1.7% inflation rise…10 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsThe Prime Minister talks about recruitment; there are currently 40,000 nursing vacancies and 7,000 doctors’ vacancies. How on earth does he think a pay cut is going to help to…10 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsWho does the Prime Minister think deserves a pay rise more: an NHS nurse or Dominic Cummings?10 Mar 2021HANSARDEngagementsThe Prime Minister says nurses’ pay has gone up; I know he is desperate to distance himself from the Conservatives’ record over the last decade, but as he well knows, since 2010…10 Mar 2021HANSARDBudget Resolutions and Economic SituationThe Prime Minister says, “Rubbish.” That is no doubt because the kickstart scheme is helping only one in 100 eligible young people—rubbish is the right word, Prime Minister. In…03 Mar 2021