Commons Chamber

Thursday 8th January 2026

(began 20 hours, 53 minutes ago)

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09:34
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None Portrait Q1. What steps she is taking to help reduce rail fares. (907102)
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Question number one, Mr. Speaker.
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None Portrait Q17. What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of public transport services in Runcorn and Helsby constituency. (907124)
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Sarah Pochin.
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None Portrait Q18. What recent discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on the extension of the management of commuter services by Transport for London. (907125)
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Blackburn here.
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None Portrait Topical questions: Transport
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We go to Tottenham, Andrew Snowden.
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None Portrait Business Statement: Business Questions to the Leader of the House
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On Monday, the 12th of January, we will have Committee of the whole House of the finance number two
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John Lamont Portrait John Lamont MP (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, Conservative)
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John Lamont. May I begin by wishing you, Mr. Speaker, the honourable and right hon. Members and all staff of this House, a very happy New Year. I appreciate that the leader may still be recovering from the excesses of the festive season, so I will not try to add unduly to his discomfort. But I want to start with a simple request. Will he give a clear commitment that this government will stop making significant policy announcements when Parliament is not sitting? Mr.

speaker, I know you take this issue very seriously, but we had another significant announcement made not to Parliament, but to the media. Whilst we on this side welcome the partial U-turn of the vindictive and cruel family farm tax, it was utterly wrong for the government to sneak out such a major policy shift. Just a few days before Christmas, when this house was not in session and members could not properly scrutinise Ministers about their change, of course. We then saw Labour members rush to social media to claim that they had always thought it was the wrong policy, and had been working hard behind the scenes to persuade Ministers to change it.

I have to say to the House that will simply not wash with farmers. Farmers are not daft. They will remember the Honourable and right hon. Members opposite, trooping through the division, lobbies to vote down conservative attempts to stop this dreadful family farm tax. They will remember the Labour MPs clapping like seals from the back benches every time. The Prime Minister insisted that this tax was the right thing to do. There was, however, one exception. The hon. Member for Penrith and Solway.

He did the right thing. He knows the difference between right and wrong. He stood up for farmers and businesses in his constituency. He voted against this disastrous policy because he knew Labour had promised before the election not to introduce such a tax, and he knew that pledge had been broken. Now that events have proved hon. Member for Penrith and Solway correct. Can I ask the Leader of the House when will the whip be restored to him? If the government now accepts that the policy was wrong? Will it also accept that punishing those who opposed it was wrong to Mr Speaker? The turn of the year is traditionally a time for reflection and resolution.

Before Christmas, the leader informed us that he does not make New Year's resolutions. Can I ask him, please, to think again? 2025 was, in truth, a year defined by U-turns. So ask the leader what is he going to do to ensure that this government is better led, more stable and more honest with the public in the year ahead in 2025? We had U-turns on inheritance tax and farmers and small businesses. A statutory inquiry into grooming gangs, winter fuel payments, the two child benefit cap, income tax, welfare reform, National insurance compensation for Waspi women, the Prime Minister warmly welcoming Al-fatah back to Britain, only to claim he regrets it.

The deputy Prime Minister, forced to resign over his tax off her tax affairs. The US ambassador, Peter Mandelson, sacked for his links to a notorious paedophile. The homelessness Minister quit after making her tenants homeless. Mr. speaker, on issue after issue, the government has lurched from announcement to reversal, creating uncertainty for families, for businesses and for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. So can I ask the leader, with all this chaos and uncertainty at the very top of government, does he believe that the Prime Minister will still be in a job this time next year? If the Prime Minister's beloved Arsenal stay top of the table and win the league this year? Will he be enjoying it as Prime Minister or as a punter? Mr.

speaker, there has been speculation that His Royal Highness the King will open the new session of Parliament on 12th May. Can the leader confirm this and when Parliament will prorogue? Finally, Mr. Speaker, the pub and hospitality sector are facing a bleak, dry, dry January. But it's particularly bad this winter because of the policy decisions taken by this Labour government to hike up their taxes. Hundreds of pubs, restaurants and hotels across the country have now banned Labour MPs from their premises.

One publican said that everyone is fed up because the Labour government has not listened and has instead taxed us more. Why does the Labour government not understand the importance that local pubs and hotels play in our economy? The country is ready to call time on the Prime Minister. It is last orders for his Labour government after just 18 months in power. The Prime Minister's leadership is stale. He is like a flat pint. Even the regulars have had enough. So will the leader commit to make representations to the Chancellor to lessen the tax burden on this industry? And will he tell us if he has been banned from his local pub yet?
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Alan Campbell Portrait Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour)
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Leader of the House, indeed. >> Leader of the House, indeed. >> Mr. speaker, can I start with

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Mr. speaker, can I start with wishing you, Mr. Speaker, and everyone across the House, a happy New Year. And I'd like to congratulate parliamentarians, past congratulate parliamentarians, past and present, recognised in this New Year's honours. It's right and proper that people make an exemplary contribution to public service or are recognised, like so many others across our country. I also want to say, Mr. Speaker, that I was saddened to hear about the passing of Sir Patrick Duffy at the age of 105.

He was a committed Member of Parliament for Colne Valley between 1963 and 1966, and then for Sheffield Attercliffe between 1970 and 1992, and he served as Minister for the Navy. He is the longest lived MP in British history, and I send my condolences to his friends and family. I must say, Mr. Speaker, that it's a shame that the Shadow Leader is not here today. I understand that he's been described in Tatler as, and I quote, the last upper class Tory MP and the truest Renaissance man in Parliament, and he does always bring some class to our proceedings.

But I'm delighted to be responding to his more than capable deputy. Today, Mr. speaker, Mr. speaker, this week the the government has published the road safety strategy. The strategy makes our roads safer and cut road deaths by 65% by 2023. We will save thousands of lives on our nation's roads and are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone. We will tackle drink driving, improving training for young drivers and introducing mandatory tests for older motorists. This is another example.

Mr. Speaker of the government, responding to the concerns raised by members across the House, including at business questions and the Transport Minister will say more in her statement later today. But that's not all, Mr. Speaker. In the coming months, thousands more free breakfast clubs will open, 3000 more neighbourhood police officers will be on our streets by March. Almost 120 community diagnostic centres will be open seven days a week across the country by April, as we bring down waiting lists and renew our NHS, and there will be new rights for renters and workers coming into effect in the spring.

Which is why, Mr. Speaker, after 14 years of decline and drift under the previous government, our aim is the 2026 is the year of renewal when it becomes real, visible and felt in terms of what the hon. Gentleman has asked, Mr. Speaker, and in terms of announcements, he knows my view, because he's quoted it back to me that announcements, wherever possible, should be made in this House first. But the reality was we were very aware of the concern amongst the farming community.

We have listened to the farming community and at the earliest opportunity, Mr. speaker, we wanted to inform the farming community of what our plans are going forward. And I have to say, contrary to what he has, the impression that he has given today, that the announcement has been warmly welcomed by farmers, we will have an opportunity to debate this matter more fully, because I have just announced that we'll be debating the finance bill shortly. In terms of whipping, I'm delighted to say that whipping is a matter for the Chief Whip.

No longer for me in terms of. Being better led and more stable. It's not in our gift alone to decide that, because that was decided by the country. Mr. speaker, at the last general election, when they were very clear that they voted for a stable, well led government. And that is what we are delivering. And in terms of when the King's Speech will be, we have said that it will be spring 2024. That will obviously depend somewhat on 26, rather dependent on progress of business.

And finally, he raises the issue of hospitality. The Prime Minister has been absolutely clear on this, too, that we are listening and that is actively we are actively looking at further measures to help pubs in the hospitality industry, whether these are in rural areas or in urban areas. But I have to say, Mr. Speaker, we're not going to take any lessons from the party opposite, because during 14 years there were a record number of pub closures. They did nothing to help the situation, which is why we've got a it.
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Bobby Dean Portrait Bobby Dean MP (Carshalton and Wallington, Liberal Democrat)
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and happy New Year to you and everybody in the House. And if I could just in the House. And if I could just respond briefly to the conservative shadow leader, I sincerely hope Arsenal don't win the league over Christmas. Some people have had the unfortunate experience of finding themselves in their local hospital, and they would have been met by a packed emergency department and possibly treated in the corridor. New statistics from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine this week said that over 1.5 million people had to wait longer than 12 hours in emergency departments last year, and over 16,000 excess deaths have been as a result of those long waits.

And at my local hospital in Saint Helier, the situation is worse than the national average, and over 80% that's the vast majority are remaining in the emergency department for longer than is deemed medically necessary. Now this is of course down to a multitude of reasons, one of which being the inadequacy of social care, one to do with bed capacity in hospitals, which we know in the UK is worse than other comparable economies, and also the condition of the estate. And with the new hospitals programme having many delays in it, that means my local hospital is having to close wards and do repairs and maintenance programmes, further exacerbating the problem.

Now, Mr. Speaker, when Corridor Care first came up in my inbox, I was shocked by it. I understood how tragic the situation was and how undignified it was for patients and families, but I had hoped there would be a temporary, urgent measure that would resolve itself in time. But that is not proving to be the case. So I wonder if the House can ask the Secretary of State to make a statement on the matter of corridor care, and how we can hasten its end immediately.
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Bob Blackman Portrait Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)
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Bob Blackman chair of the Backbench Committee. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and happy New Year. And this time of year, of course, very sadly, often we have to report on deaths and the we have to report on deaths and the fact that Martin Chivers, Terry Yorath and indeed Kevin Keegan, who's facing a fight against stomach cancer and I'm sure the whole House will wish their families the long life. And indeed, Kevin Keegan, a swift recovery. In addition to the business that the leader has announced, there will be a statement next Thursday from the Justice Committee on the Drugs in prison and what action needs to be taken.

I note that the leader didn't announce whether we will be getting the 22nd of January as a day, so we haven't allocated any business for that day as yet. But if we're given Thursday, the 29th of January, there'll be debate. There'll be the full day's debate on Holocaust Memorial Day in Westminster Hall next week. On Tuesday, there'll be a debate on the statutory duty of care for universities. On Thursday, a debate on the impact of food inflation on cost of living, followed by a debate on the impact of gambling harms on children and young people.

On Tuesday, the 20th of January in Westminster Hall, there'll be a debate on the role of NHS in preventing homicides and domestic violence. And on Thursday the 22nd, a debate on transport connectivity in Midlands and North Wales, followed by a debate on the International Day of Education. Now, Mr. Speaker, the whole House will be well aware of the outrageous crimes of David Carrick and Cliff Mitchell this morning. A report has been published by about the Metropolitan Police. The way they've recruited police officers and staff during the period of 2018 to 2023 because of the need to recruit more police officers.

The normal vetting procedures were completely ignored. 5073 individuals were recruited without vetting, 4528 had no Special Branch approval, 431 had no Ministry of Defence approval, and even more scandalously than that 114 who were actually vetted and refused, were granted on appeal to actually join the Metropolitan Police. The estimate is that 1200 officers and staff who would have been refused were recruited to the Metropolitan Police. Now the vast majority, the overwhelming majority of police officers, do a brilliant job on our behalf and keep us safe.

However, this is a clear scandal where vetting was not carried out and creates a crisis of confidence in the police and indeed cast doubt on the police themselves, who want to see the bad apples removed and indeed prevented from coming into the police force in the first place. However, there is concern now that this may have happened in other police forces across the country. So could we have a statement from the Home Secretary? I know she's condemned the position, but will she come and give a statement to the House on what action is going happening?
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Alan Campbell Portrait Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour)
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I first of all, join him in sending first of all, join him in sending our condolences to the friends and family of Martin Chivers and also our best wishes to Kevin Keegan for what we hope is a swift recovery. Let me thank him for his work and the work of the Backbench Business Committee, and for updating the House on what that looks like going forward. I didn't write, I didn't announce the business for the 22nd of January.

I've listened to what he said, and I will do everything that I can to make sure that we find time for what I was disappointed from Monday that a debate has been postponed, and therefore we'll see if we can accommodate that. In terms of the very serious matter which is raised around the Met Police recruitment, the Home Secretary has launched an investigation into the Met's recruitment and vetting processes, which will be led by the police watchdog, His Majesty's Inspector of Chief Inspector of Constabulary, abandoning vetting checks on police officers was a dereliction of the Met's duty to keep London safe and the public the public rightly expect officers to undergo robust checks so that the brightest and best, not the criminals, are the ones who are policing our streets.

In terms of updating the house and what action needs to be taken, and also whether or not this is an issue which which is beyond the Metropolitan Police. There is an investigation, and I'm sure when the Home Secretary has the findings of that investigation, she will, of course, want to update the House.
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