Contributions
1,402 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFamily BusinessesMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. That is where the dearth of experience of entrepreneurship on the Government Front Bench really shows. We see this not just with BPR, but with…26 Feb 2025HANSARDFamily BusinessesTo paraphrase the leader of the hon. Gentleman’s party, I have already answered his questions. I do note his serial offence of being a member of several trade unions at the…26 Feb 2025HANSARDFamily BusinessesMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right, and we see that in the surveys to which I referred; business confidence is at virtually an all-time low. Before this whirlwind of…26 Feb 2025HANSARDFamily BusinessesAs the party that increased the personal allowance, doubling it between 2010 and the present day, taking millions of people out of tax altogether, and that brought in the national…26 Feb 2025HANSARDFamily BusinessesMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is not as if the Government were not warned about these issues. In its reports, the OBR made it extremely clear that while the headline…26 Feb 2025HANSARDFamily BusinessesThe hon. Gentleman may or may not be aware of this, but, at the time of the mini-Budget, I was the Chair of the Treasury Committee. I had a lot to say about what was being…26 Feb 2025HANSARDFamily BusinessesThe hon. Gentleman asks a very fair question. The Bill will create a situation where employers are fearful of taking on new hires because of the consequences that may follow,…26 Feb 2025HANSARDFamily Businessesrose—26 Feb 2025HANSARDGrowing the UK EconomyThe Chief Secretary told us that growth is the No. 1 mission of this Government and added, “Now we must go faster”, which I have to tell him suggests a certain lack of ambition.…29 Jan 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsA moment ago, the right hon. Lady spoke about the importance of spending money wisely, so in the light of the Treasury Committee’s conclusion that her new Office for Value for…21 Jan 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe Chancellor’s answer was an answer, but I do not think that it connected in any way with my question. Could I perhaps ask her about national insurance hikes? A full two thirds…21 Jan 2025HANSARD UK-China Economic and Financial DialogueIt is good to see the Chancellor in her place, and I thank her for advance sight of her statement. I know that she has been away, so let me update her on the mess that she left…14 Jan 2025HANSARD Public Finances: Borrowing CostsThe performance we have just seen was a slightly anxious and breathless one, which leads me to the question: where is the Chancellor? It is a bitter regret that at this difficult…09 Jan 2025HANSARD Public Finances: Borrowing Costs(Urgent Question): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if she will make a statement on the growing pressure of borrowing costs on the public finances.09 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillThis is not a Bill, but a Shakespearean tragedy. It is the “Hamlet” of our age. While the Labour party was tipping the poison into the ears of the electorate, it was assuring them…17 Dec 2024HANSARD Employer National Insurance ContributionsThat is an amusing intervention, but it is thoroughly inaccurate, I am afraid. The OBR did indeed look into the suggestion that there was a black hole of £22 billion, and what did…04 Dec 2024HANSARD Employer National Insurance ContributionsI have heard the hon. Gentleman intervene in various debates, and I am coming to the conclusion that he is probably a rather sensible SNP Member, because he is absolutely right. […04 Dec 2024HANSARD Employer National Insurance ContributionsMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right. Our record on employment shows that we were a job-creating machine after 2010, and the statistics he cites are quite right. When it came…04 Dec 2024HANSARD Employer National Insurance ContributionsIf the hon. Gentleman has a look at the history of that time, he will see that I was the Chair of the Treasury Committee, and I had a great deal to say about the economic policies…04 Dec 2024HANSARD Employer National Insurance ContributionsThe simple fact is that, at the time of the general election, we had the fastest-growing economy in the G7. The simple fact is that the Labour manifesto said it would deliver…04 Dec 2024