Contributions
1,009 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHouse Building: LondonAs the hon. Gentleman should know, changes to the London plan were part of the package that I announced with the Mayor of London, because this Government are prepared to work with…12 Jan 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsOf course high streets are vital to local communities. That is why it was so sad to see high streets up and down the country fall into severe decline in the 14 years in which the…12 Jan 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsOur planning changes will support affordable rural housing by giving rural authorities greater flexibility to require affordable housing on smaller sites. Our £39 billion social…12 Jan 2026HANSARDHouse Building: LondonOf course it is not the Mayor of London who can change planning legislation but the Government, and despite knowing the problems, the previous Government did nothing for 14 years.…12 Jan 2026HANSARD Electoral ResilienceIt is an independent review, and the reviewer and his team will be able to look at whatever they think may be problematic relating to the core terms of reference. The central part…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceYes, that is correct. What my hon. Friend has just described are foreign financial attempts to influence our democracy, and that will be in scope for the review.16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceI welcome the hon. Member’s question; he makes important observations. The role, resources and powers of the Electoral Commission will be in scope for the review, as will the role…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceThe hon. Member is absolutely right to raise concerns about cryptocurrency. There is no way of knowing for certain what the origins of that financing might be. It appears to be…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceI am always happy to receive invitations to appear before inquiries of that level of importance. The terms of reference will be laid in the House of Commons Library today—indeed,…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceWell, I am curious to know exactly the same thing, which is why I have appointed Philip Rycroft to lead an independent review, so that we can find out.16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question, not least because it gives me the opportunity to correct any misimpression. The independent review will be engaging cross-party…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceI will be responding directly to the findings of the commission when they are available at the end of March, and I will bring those responses back to the House. I agree with my…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceI agree with my hon. Friend. Our democracy is one of the most precious things in our country, and we must all do everything in our power to protect it. Resources will be made…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceThe leader of Reform UK, the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage), when asked to conduct an internal review into the Gill matter, of course refused to carry one out—although, to…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceI commend and congratulate my hon. Friend on her campaigning for the kidnapped children of Ukraine. We would expect representatives of all political parties to seek to support…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceMy hon. Friend speaks to a very real threat not just to our democracy, but to our national security, from foreign financial interference. We are all aware of bots and the role…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceI warmly welcome the hon. Member’s support for the review. I agree with him that this is way above party politics; this matters to all of us. It is about the integrity and safety…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceThank you very much, Mr Speaker, for granting the statement. When we each enter this Chamber, we carry on one shoulder the duty to represent our constituents and, on the other,…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceThe review will certainly have the freedom to be fully independent, because that is important if we are to have confidence in its findings, but it will be forward looking; there…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Electoral ResilienceI am sure that the elections Minister would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend to discuss her concerns. The review will look at any foreign financial interference in our…16 Dec 2025