UK Parliament - Page 3

Last week in Westminster Hall, I secured a debate about the proposed local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire. A process that, if mishandled, could have long-term consequences for local services, community identity, and financial fairness. Under the Government’s devolution plans, all Cambridgeshire district

Last week in Parliament, I led an adjournment debate on an issue that has gone unaddressed for too long: the outdated and unjust peak-time restrictions on disabled bus passes. Under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, eligible disabled people are entitled to

“Am I going to go blind?” It’s a question optometrists hear all too often. Tragically, in many cases, despite our best efforts, the answer is yes. Few things are more disheartening in our profession, especially when that blindness could have been prevented.

UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Labour faces backlash for failing to deliver on animal welfare pledges in its first year, as critics say key promises have been delayed or weakened. As reported by The Guardian, activists have criticised Labour for not fulfilling

UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK cross-party group considers new legal duty to prevent genocide, aiming to shift responsibility from global courts to domestic mechanisms.  As reported by The Guardian, a cross-party panel led by Lady Helena Kennedy, comprising UK politicians, lawyers,

UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Critics slam the UK’s skilled visa list for including DEI roles and bloggers, arguing it diverts focus from vital sectors amid rising migration concerns. As reported by GB News, diversity and inclusion professionals in Britain now qualify

I am proud to be a London MP, and of the contribution our great city makes to our country and to the world. It’s disappointing that in some quarters London-bashing has become popular again; people who want to talk down our city

UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp branded Labour’s migrant deal a “gimmick,” arguing that only 6% of illegal Channel crossers would be returned. As reported by GB News, Chris Philp has criticised Labour’s migrant plan, calling it ineffective

Since my first few weeks in office as the Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam, I have been fighting for hospices. St Raphael’s, a vital hospice in North Cheam, have cared for so many of my constituents. They provide, as hospices

In the UK, around 17,000 cancers each year are caused by alcohol—that’s nearly 1 in 20 cases. Breast cancer, the most common cancer in the UK, has an especially strong link: as many as 1 in 10 breast cancer cases are attributed

Every human being deserves dignity, respect, compassion and empathy. And how we treat one another is a basic measure of us as a people and society. That is why I was keen to host a Westminster Hall debate on Refugee Citizenship Rights.

When Wes Streeting promised to create the “healthiest generation ever,” it was a bold, admirable ambition. But ambition alone doesn’t feed babies. Supporting vulnerable parents, in the weeks and months after giving birth, with community support, clear concise information and access to

“If you can’t see the opportunity in a situation, look at it in a different way.” That was a lesson I learned from 25 years in the Army. It served me pretty well in ten years in venture capital too. So, when

Next week we are hosting our first round table event on the importance of press freedom with a special reference to conflict zones. George Orwell, a passionate advocate on the importance of freedom of the press, famously stated, “Freedom of the press,

While we’ve been enjoying some lovely British sunshine in recent weeks, the impact of last September’s flooding in Mid Bedfordshire is in the front of many minds as we race towards Autumn. Although the sun may shine now, many residents who were

Amongst the most dangerous threats to Britain today is one we barely discuss, and cannot see. It doesn’t wear a uniform or move through diplomatic backchannels. It arrives from the Sun, travels at the speed of light, and has the potential to

On 23rd June, I brought to the floor of the House of Commons an Adjournment Debate on access to GP services. While my focus was on the growing challenges faced in North Down, the debate struck a chord far beyond my constituency

Opponents of grouse shooting often ignore the economic and environmental realities of this activity. So, when I was asked to open a debate on this issue, as a member of the Petitions Committee, I jumped at the chance to set the record

GPs are the front door of the NHS. They diagnose and treat illness, prevent disease, and provide vital mental-health support. They are the first point of call when a person is feeling unwell, they offer so much more than a diagnostic and

The campaign to get the criteria for speed camera siting changed is one that I have been working on for far longer than I have been an MP. Like many of the new 2024 intake of MPs, I was a councillor prior

From Richard Branson to Lord Alan Sugar to James Dyson, the United Kingdom has long been the home of entrepreneurial spirit. We encourage, we celebrate, and we praise the innovation behind enterprise that bring economic growth to our modest in size but

I never imagined I’d lead a campaign to ban cousin marriage. Like many, I was unaware of its prevalence and impact until professional warnings and mounting public concern landed on my desk. That reality changed everything. In parts of Britain, particularly in

I have long been an advocate about removing animals from medical testing. I am the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Phasing Out Animal Experiments and on behalf of the Petitions Committee recently opened a Westminster Hall debate on banning dogs

Just three hours away, in the same time zone, and without significant colonial baggage, the relationship between the UK and Morocco, whilst always cordial, is way short of its potential. The sticking point – the UK as the peer-group backmarker on Rabat’s

It has always been one of my top priorities to ensure that infrastructure in our areas is accessible and reliable for all, and an essential part of this is access to cash. More and more, our rural and semi-rural areas are seeing

Last week I was privileged to host the e-petitions debate relating to the use of cages and crates for farmed animals. The debate provided a real opportunity to highlight how many animals are kept in restrictive cages and crates and have a

I have watched in horror as Gaza has been reduced to a landscape of rubble and despair: children dying of hunger, families drinking brackish water, hospitals rendered inoperative by deliberate bombardment and blackouts, civilians shot dead while queueing for food. In the

ADHD services are in the UK are failing. Underinvestment and poor organisation mean that children, young people and adults are not getting the diagnosis and treatment they deserve. Increasingly patients are met with challenges when trying to access care. Whether it be

The Prime Minister remarked that action on child poverty will be a “measure of what this government does”. I could not agree more. The Child Poverty Taskforce is set to unveil its strategy later this year, with measures such as introducing free

It’s been more than seven years since the Court of Appeal ruled that changes to public sector pensions unlawfully discriminated against younger workers, and the Government introduced the McCloud remedy to fix it. The changes saw thousands of dedicated public servants forcibly

Work experience is more than just a line on a CV—it can be a turning point. For many young people, especially those without connections or confidence, a placement in the right setting can be the difference between a future full of possibilities

We need growth. It’s the key part of the Government’s agenda and it’s a fact that our economy has to get going again. That’s why it was so important for me to lead the crucial debate on Government support for rural businesses.

On 1 July, MPs will vote on the biggest package of cuts to welfare since George Osborne’s years of austerity. The Government’s own assessment predicts that 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty as a result of the proposals – including 50,000

Bristol Airport stands at the forefront of an extraordinary opportunity — not just for our region, but for the country. The future of flight and the British aviation industry are being written right here in the South West, and they’re powered by

The public is deeply worried about the impact of assisted dying on vulnerable and disabled people, find a major new poll for Care Not Killing. Asked, “If assisted dying were legalised in Britain, how concerned or not would you be that the

Britain was forged in the fires of the Industrial Revolution. Regions like Teesside were the powerhouses that helped build a global economy. Towns like Middlesbrough, once proudly stood as “Ironopolis”, at the centre of global industry. The metals produced in our foundries

Being Chair of the Petitions Committee has been a learning curve and also a joy. One is exposed to a wide variety of topics that make the general public tick, from animal welfare to school reforms and the infamous call for another

Politicians have tried multiple times to bring mass transit back to Leeds, without success. We’ve had everything; plans for trams, a trolley bus scheme, an elevated railway (not dissimilar to a Simpson’s style mono-rail) and even an underground proposal if you go

The Irish Sea border, dividing Northern Ireland (NI) from Great Britain (GB), is defined by the Windsor Framework. It introduces ‘Not for EU’ labelling requirements for companies based in GB wishing to sell certain food products to Northern Ireland using the Green

The benefits of outdoor education experiences are obvious to anyone who has ever gone for a hike through a muddy field while wrestling with an Ordnance Survey map, abseiled, spent the night camped in a lakeland forest, climbed a rockface or kayaked

Last year, NHS funding was a key issue for so many candidates ahead of the general election, particularly for myself and the Liberal Democrats. This issue is deeply personal to me, with my wife having worked for the NHS for longer than

Having led a debate just last week in which I bemoaned various government policy decisions – such as cuts in real terms to the UKRI budget, the shelving of the exascale supercomputer in Edinburgh, and a general lack of investment in specialist

Long-term health conditions are one of the greatest challenges facing our NHS and our society. Addressing this will take more than short-term fixes. It requires a determined, coordinated, and sustained effort. We have been promised a long-term plan for the NHS, and

One of the most striking things about working in the pro-life movement is how often we’re told our views are “extreme” or “out of touch.” Yet, when you actually ask people — when you listen to them, not the headlines — a

As an ex-miner and Member of Parliament for a coalfield community, I have been contacted numerous times by both constituents and non-constituents, about the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, otherwise known as the BCSSS. It’s a topic close to my heart, as

Tool theft is not a minor inconvenience. It is a devastating, growing crime that is hitting tradespeople across the country, often with no accountability and no justice. Over the last year, I have been campaigning to change that. It’s time our justice

Space. The final frontier, or an extraordinary opportunity? The stuff of science fiction, or the way to drive productivity in our economy? Space today is both unique and ubiquitous. Who knows that when you tap your credit card on the tube ticket

Last week, the Strategic Defence Review containing the Government’s plans to rebuild our armed forces was unveiled. We also voted on an Armed Forces’ Commissioner Bill. The Commissioner will be an independent person for serving personnel and their families to raise problems

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is not just a national crisis – it is a moral emergency. In the West Midlands, the scale of this crisis is staggering. Every 30 seconds, a woman or girl reports an incident of violence to