Contributions
191 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Support and AccommodationI thank the Minister for his response, and I thank all Members who have taken part in the debate. It is extremely important for everyone who signed the petitions to see that we…20 Oct 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Support and AccommodationDoes the hon. Gentleman believe that withdrawing from those conventions will actually make those things easier? There is no basis for saying so. The truth is that we need those…20 Oct 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Support and AccommodationFrom the logic of what the hon. Lady is saying, we would detain everybody—we would put the 102,000 people currently in asylum accommodation in a detention centre. Does she accept…20 Oct 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Support and AccommodationDoes the hon. Member accept that under the Conservative Government asylum applications were essentially paused, which had a huge knock-on effect on accommodation costs and the…20 Oct 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Support and AccommodationI want to underline the point I made in my speech, which is that France has a six-month period before work is permitted, so there is not that pull factor, or certainly not at that…20 Oct 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Support and AccommodationThe logic of that is that every country neighbouring a conflict zone should take all the refugees. That is an absurd proposition. We have to take our fair share of refugees. We…20 Oct 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Support and AccommodationThe reality is that, if we do not have a mechanism in place—and it was essentially jettisoned by the Conservative party—there is no way of creating either a deterrent or a way of…20 Oct 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Support and AccommodationWe did have a returns agreement with Europe before we withdrew from the European Union—the Dublin regulation. It was this Government that negotiated a new agreement with France in…20 Oct 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Support and AccommodationI completely agree with my hon. Friend. I will turn now to the issue of asylum support, and make two key points. First, people claiming asylum cannot access the UK’s mainstream…20 Oct 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Support and AccommodationI agree with the hon. Member that we absolutely must ensure that those seeking asylum have proper access to legal aid. It is much quicker and cheaper in the long run if we can…20 Oct 2025HANSARD Official Secrets Act Case: Witness Statementsrose—16 Oct 2025HANSARD Official Secrets Act Case: Witness StatementsNo.16 Oct 2025HANSARD Criminal Courts: Independent ReviewAs the hon. Lady seems to oppose a lot of the meat of the reforms, is there one that she can support to reduce the pressures on the system? That is a fundamental task that we all…14 Oct 2025HANSARDInternational Rail Services: AshfordIt is a privilege to serve under your chairship, Sir Desmond. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Hastings and Rye (Helena Dollimore) for securing this debate, which is…14 Oct 2025HANSARDInternational Rail Services: AshfordOn competition, why did it take a Labour Government to press the Office of Rail and Road to revisit the question of access to Temple Mills, which is key to unlocking competition?…14 Oct 2025HANSARD Criminal Courts: Independent ReviewIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Efford. I thank the right hon. and learned Member for Kenilworth and Southam (Sir Jeremy Wright) for securing this important…14 Oct 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillI do not think anyone is suggesting that people are going to leave their sentences early from the UK and walk free in their country of origin. There is a range of existing rules…16 Sept 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillI am glad to support a Bill put forward by the only party serious about reforming our criminal justice system. I say that as a barrister with 19 years’ experience, and I draw the…16 Sept 2025HANSARDHuman Rights Act 1998: ImmigrationBy leaving the EU, the Tories tore up our returns agreement with the EU, and they completely failed to negotiate a new one, but this Government have now rectified that. Does the…15 Sept 2025HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian AccessIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy (Melanie Ward) for her tireless activism on this…10 Sept 2025