UK Parliament - Page 5

We often debate difficult issues in Parliament but few matters have shaken me as deeply as the systematic abduction of Ukrainian children by Russian forces. When I stood to open the recent Westminster Hall debate on this very subject, joined by colleagues

At the end of April, I called an Adjournment Debate on Government support for people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in response to the horror, frustration and guilt my constituents told me they were feeling as the horrors in Gaza and the

Earlier this week, in my role as a member of the Petitions Committee, I had the privilege of leading a Westminster Hall debate on e-petition 701159, which calls for transgender people to be able to self-identify their legal gender. With over 127,000

Despite the UK currently enjoying some very welcome warm weather, the reality is that as a nation we experience considerable rainfall – regrettably the threat of inland flooding is a reality for far too many residents. In my Mid Norfolk constituency, we

We are fortunate to have so many amazing pubs in the UK. In my own constituency the pubs Reigate, Redhill, Banstead and our villages, are far more than just a place to have a pint. They are the heart and soul of

Each April, Parkinson’s Awareness Month reminds us of the 150,000+ people in the UK living with this complex, progressive neurological condition. But awareness alone is not enough. As I highlighted in a recent debate I lead on Parkinson’s care on 21st may,

“Life or death for a young child too often depends on whether he or she is born in a country where vaccines are available or not”. Those were the words of Gavi’s inaugural Board Chair, Nelson Mandela, over 20 years ago. The

The atrocities committed by Daesh — also known as Islamic State — between 2014 and 2017 represent one of the gravest human rights failures of our time. During this period, across Syria and Iraq, Daesh waged a brutal campaign of terror against

By common agreement housing affordability has reached crisis point across Britain, whether for renting or buying. Successive governments have adopted a variety of tactical fixes such as help-to-buy and stamp duty amnesties. In the long term, these simply fed back into another

The quiet, often unseen work of coroner services forms a crucial pillar of our society – a system we will all rely upon someday. Yet this vital service faces a crisis that demands urgent government attention. The delays in the post-mortem process

It is now just shy of two years since my Private Members Bill, the Carers Leave Act, received Royal Assent, and a little over a year since the necessary regulations passed to enact the legislation. It came after years of work by

During a recent Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons, I raised a concern that, at first glance, might seem niche — the decline of traditional neon sign-making. But behind the warm glow of vintage shopfronts and buzzing signs lies a story

I don’t doubt that Donald Trump thinks it is a good thing to strike a deal with the U.K. that reduces his damaging tariffs on our products. But I don’t know what he might think about it in a month’s time, or

Last week, I led a Westminster Hall debate on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and its impact upon glass packaging manufacturers. EPR is intended to hold packaging manufacturers responsible for the costs of managing their products throughout their lifecycle, rendering them cost neutral

This Government has rightly prioritised growth across the whole country, developing industrial strategies and securing new trade deals along with record levels of corporate investment in sectors such as renewable energy and AI. What does that really mean for communities like Rossendale

The abattoir sector is in crisis. A worrying, and steady decline of small abattoirs now sees just 60 left in 2023 and given that they have been closing at an alarming rate of 10% per year, those remaining may well disappear altogether

The Assisted Dying Bill currently going through its parliamentary stages has shone a spotlight on the quality of care given to people approaching the end of their lives. This has been further amplified by the recent horrific accounts of patients dying on

I recently led a debate in Westminster Hall on a subject close to my heart: the cultural contributions of Staffordshire. I called for it not just to mark Staffordshire Day, but to speak up for a county whose cultural legacy must not

The public are deeply worried about the “perfect storm” of MPs legalising assisted dying, while pushing through savage benefit cuts impacting disabled people, finds a new poll. Asked if they agreed with the statement: “I would be worried about the timing of

In a country as wealthy as the United Kingdom, it is a tragedy that so many communities are left behind. Glasgow North East, where I have the honour of serving as Member of Parliament, is a stark example of this. It is

In marking the eightieth anniversary of VE Day, it is important to recognise the special contribution made by Northern Ireland to UK national defence in the Second World War and, crucially, its public policy implications for us today. Given the relatively small

Members of Parliament are turning against Kim Leadbeater’s Assisted Dying Bill, finds a “bombshell” poll from Care Not Killing. The poll of over 100 MPs, carried out over March and April, at the same time the Bill Committee was scrutinising the draft

Anti-social behaviour is a blight on our communities, and nowhere is this more evident than in Dudley. From vandalism and intimidation to dangerous joyriding on off-road bikes, persistent disorder, theft, drug dealing, and the ever-frustrating issue of fly-tipping, these behaviours strike at

At the end of last month I stood up in Parliament to debate the many factors outside of health services that determine the health and wellbeing of our communities. Where you live should not determine how long you live, and yet in

I have long been a passionate advocate of animal welfare and have been a vegan for over 30 years. When I joined parliament last summer, I became the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Phasing Out Animal Experiments in Medical

A top lawyer is warning that Kim Leadbeater’s highly controversial assisted dying Bill is not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), because of inadequate safeguards for certain disabled people. Tom Cross KC was commissioned by The Christian Institute to

When you enter parliament, there are some issues you know will be universally felt, then there are others that are more niche and local. When I began contacting colleagues about some casework I’d been receiving about residential estate management companies, I thought

Aberdeen is oil and gas city. The oil capital of Europe. Since the advent of oil extraction in the North Sea more than 60 years ago we’ve become experts at extracting it as cheaply and efficiently as possible. And, at least since

One of the challenges facing people in any part of the UK seeking to come to terms with the partitioning of our country by the EU is that its architects are building their border gradually. Notwithstanding the fact that in one sense

The poppy stands tall, with bended head—the perfect personification of honouring our dead. Every year, one of the most iconic flowers is seen and respected across this nation, and it is down to the work of the Royal British Legion. Last month

Last month, I had the honour of leading an Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons to make a case that, in truth, makes itself – for Government support for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT). For over two decades, the CRT has

Last week, I introduced a 10 Minute Rule Bill in Parliament to require the Government to publish a dedicated strategy for tackling interpersonal abuse and violence against men and boys. This is not about detracting from the vital work being done to

This Lesbian Visibility Week, I led a debate in Parliament to mark the occasion: a chance to reflect, to celebrate, and to push for change. This year’s theme, celebrating rainbow families, speaks to something deeply personal for so many of us: how

Time and again, I have had conversations with my constituents who can see no visible government investment in our local towns. I led a debate in Parliament on the Green Book review, and I reiterate something I said in my speech: people

UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – London Mayor Sadiq Khan urges the UK to adopt the EU youth mobility scheme, warning it could shield Britain’s economy from Trump’s sweeping tariffs. As reported by The Independent, Sadiq Khan pressed officials to sign an EU

Fly-tipping is not only a growing concern in my own constituency of Aldridge-Brownhills, but also across the wider West Midlands region. It has become a persistent and damaging problem, and it is vital that we come together to explore practical solutions and

Last week, I held a Westminster Hall debate on the subject of waste incinerators – an issue that has long been of deep concern to my constituents and one that raises broader questions about local accountability, environmental sustainability and the direction of

Last month, I used Parliamentary privilege to shine a light on a case of appalling injustice. A man silenced by the very system that was meant to protect him — gagged by a legal agreement he was never truly free to refuse.

Like many other politicians, I too have received political donations. I received donations from Unite the Union and The Communications Workers Union, and therefore I know how much politicians and political parties rely on donations to help get their message across to

I recently hosted a debate in Parliament on relationship education in schools – as a mother of three and as MP for Epsom & Ewell, where the devastating reality of violence against women and girls has been felt far too acutely in

Adoption is often viewed as the happy ending in a child’s journey through trauma and instability, but for many families across the UK, it marks the beginning of a far more complex and challenging chapter. The issue of adoption breakdown—when adopted children

The UK’s higher education sector is facing a financial crisis that could have profound implications for students, staff, and the country’s future. Two years ago, university lecturers across the UK took to the picket lines, urgently raising alarms about the state of

The Cornish Language and Heritage (Education and Recognition) Bill represents a landmark moment for the Cornish language ‘Kernewek’, affirming its importance as a living part of our heritage. By promoting the teaching of Kernewek and recognising its importance in public life, the

Following recent events in my constituency of Woking, it is evident that there is a stark need for stronger retrospective accountability for failures in construction. In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Government introduced much-needed reforms through the Building Safety

I strongly believe in the UK showing leadership on the world stage to address key global challenges and, in doing so, to protect our national interest. Tackling the scourge of global malnutrition is one such example. It is the leading killer of

In the last decade, drug-related deaths across the UK have surged – nearly doubling across all four nations. The evidence is overwhelming: our current approach is failing. That’s why I secured a Westminster Hall debate, bringing MPs from across the House together

Public transport should work for everyone. Yet for millions – wheelchair users, parents with pushchairs, older people, and anyone with mobility challenges – it’s a daily struggle. The Government must take action by fixing their ‘Access for All’ scheme, mandating step-free access