Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Commons Chamber

Wednesday 29th April 2026

(began 1 hour, 13 minutes ago)

11:34

Q1. What assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of support available to survivors of sexual assault on the Isle of Wight. (908910)

Can Can I Can I just Can I just say Can I just say for Can I just say for the Can I just say for the Trainbearer, who's 40 today? You know, I just want to wish him well. Gary Barlow

11:34

Oral questions: Women and Equalities

here. You know, in the future, right? Order, order. We come to questions. Secretary of State for Quigley.

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Question number one, Mr. Speaker.

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Question number one, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No one, regardless of where they live, should ever experience such heinous crimes. And the government is crimes. And the government is absolutely committed to supporting all victims and survivors. My department, through the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner,

11:34

Q1. What assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of support available to survivors of sexual assault on the Isle of Wight. (908910)

provides the hon. Member's local area with core grant funding to support victims of all crime types, including sexual assault and in addition, we provide ring fenced funding for domestic and sexual abuse services.

11:34

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Richard Quigley thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for her answer. On the Isle of Wight, the absence of a sexual assault referral centre means that survivors of rape and sexual assault are often required to make a long ferry journey to Portsmouth or Southampton, sometimes in a very closed. They were assaulted in. In order to access the specialist support they need. Will the support they need. Will the Minister meet with me to discuss how we can finally address and overcome this injustice faced by Wight? Wight?

11:35

Richard Quigley MP (Isle of Wight West, Labour)

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Minister. girls and ensuring that victims receive the right and timely support, is central to this government's strategy to tackle these heinous crimes. Of course, I would be delighted to meet with my hon. Friend to discuss this. I will ensure we have a joined up approach ensure we have a joined up approach from the Department of Health and Social Care to better understand the experiences of women and girls the experiences of women and girls on the Isle of Wight who need help.

11:35

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Secretary of State. Mims Davies. the Isle of Wight and all across the United Kingdom, as the Minister says, must be heard. Virginia DEFRA took her life just one year ago.

11:35

Mims Davies MP (East Grinstead and Uckfield, Conservative)

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She'd shared her abuse by convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, the friend of Peter Epstein, the friend of Peter Mandelson. On the 16th of April, Lisa Phillips, another courageous survivor supported by Carly and Sam survivor supported by Carly and Sam from the Sexual Predator Accountability Institute, came to parliament seeking transparency parliament seeking transparency from lawmakers. Mr. speaker, the clear question for this government is when will it go from platitudes is when will it go from platitudes to victims to tackling trafficking and cover ups and delivering adequate support and justice for all women and girls?

11:36

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Minister? Shadow Secretary of State, and she will know that it is this government that is putting victims back at the heart of our criminal justice system by investing the justice system by investing the biggest ever settlement over half £1 billion into victim support services. For the next three years, I have had the privilege of meeting with the victims that she that she mentions at the despatch box. And of course, they remain at the forefront of my mind and this government's minds, which is why we are working with them and the National Police Chiefs Council to ensure a joined up approach to take their concerns seriously without prejudicing any prejudice issues that may come about.

11:36

Q2. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support people with autism into employment. (908911)

Alison Hume. >> Alison Hume. >> Question number two, Mr. speaker, Minister. >> Mr. speaker, we are committed to supporting autistic people into supporting autistic people into work. Our supported employment program, Connect to Work, will be open throughout England and Wales open throughout England and Wales by the summer and has, in its supported Employment Equality framework, a specialist pathway for neurodivergent people and those with a learning disability.

11:37

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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Alison Hume thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. I recently chaired an autism APPG employment roundtable where individuals with

11:37

Alison Hume MP (Scarborough and Whitby, Labour)

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lived experience highlighted that a significant barrier to employment is a fear factor amongst some employers. This stems from a concern about getting it wrong when recruiting or supporting autistic employees, which can result in employers opting out of recruiting them all together. Could the Minister outline what steps the government is taking to address this fear factor, and incentivise

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this fear factor, and incentivise employers to recruit people with autism? Well, Mr. Speaker, I commend my hon. Friend's important work as chair of the all party group and thank her for hosting me at the Round Table. But this year we

11:37

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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funded Acas to deliver masterclasses on recruiting masterclasses on recruiting neurodivergent people to 1800 small and medium sized enterprise representatives, addressing exactly the concerns that she raised, and my department has also set up the online support with Employer Health online support with Employer Health and Disability Service specifically to help employers on these issues, and we will be looking to see what more we can do.

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more we can do. Josh Babarinde Mr. Speaker. Conservative run East Sussex County Council has shut down the class Plus service, which supports people with autism, towards independent futures, including into employment. With the elections for East Sussex County Council just East Sussex County Council just around the corner, does the Minister agree with me that we should be expanding services to support autistic people into work support autistic people into work and not shutting them down, as the Conservatives are doing?

11:38

Josh Babarinde MP (Eastbourne, Liberal Democrat)

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I'm very sorry to hear what's happened in his constituency. I very much agree with him. We've recently received the report of our expert academic panel on neurodiversity in the workplace that was set up last year, and we're now carefully considering its recommendations and will be acting in the way that he suggests. in the way that he suggests.

11:39

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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I hope no Jack Abbott question three. Mr. speaker. Yes, Minister.

11:39

Q3. What steps she is taking to ban conversion practices. (908912)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With permission, I'll be taking questions three and five together. questions three and five together. Mr. speaker, conversion practices tell people that their identity is wrong, that it can be changed, and that they should be subjected to physical and emotional abuse to change it. These acts are abusive, they are abhorrent, and this government will outlaw them as soon as possible. as possible.

11:39

Olivia Bailey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities) (Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister mentions, conversion therapy is dangerous, widely discredited and frankly, barbaric. And it's about time we got rid of it. Suffolk Prides Fringe festival starts next month with Pride Blooms, and I'd ask the Minister to make a powerful statement today and say this terrible practice will end this terrible practice will end under this Labour government.

11:39

Jack Abbott MP (Ipswich, Labour )

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Minister. Friend is right that conversion practices are dangerous, discredited and abusive, and I can commit to everyone taking part in Suffolk Pride that this Labour government will ban them. I am working on this legislation urgently. I know how important it urgently. I know how important it is for the community, and we will publish our draft legislation as soon as possible.

11:40

Olivia Bailey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities) (Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Labour)

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Mr. Taylor.

11:40

Rachel Taylor MP (North Warwickshire and Bedworth, Labour)

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Speaker, and I thank the Minister for her comments. So far, conversion practices have conversion practices have devastated the lives of LGBT people for many years, making them feel ashamed of who they are and leaving ashamed of who they are and leaving them with long term physical and mental harm. This upcoming King's Speech marks eight years since a ban on so-called conversion therapy was first promised. Can the Minister reassure me that a bill will come to this House early in the next session, and that we will not be waiting any longer for these cruel and inhumane practices to be outlawed for good here.

11:40

Olivia Bailey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities) (Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Labour)

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Minister. all, can I thank my hon. Friend for being such a fantastic champion for the LGBT+ community? This government will deliver our manifesto commitment to a trans inclusive ban on conversion practices. She is right to say that successive governments have promised to do this. This Labour government will be the one that actually does it.

11:41

Rebecca Paul MP (Reigate, Conservative)

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Yeah. Minister could confirm exactly what conversion practices she specifically plans to ban.

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specifically plans to ban. Minister thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I've been clear in my answers so far this afternoon, but answers so far this afternoon, but today I'm to be very clear, conversion practices tell people that they should be subjected to physical and emotional abuse to change their identity. I think that's unacceptable. This government thinks that's unacceptable and we will ban it.

11:41

Olivia Bailey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities) (Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Labour)

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Clive Jones thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. One school in my constituency is concerned about a year six pupil with significant support needs because of his progress. With the school's help, he has been assessed as not needing specialist provision at secondary school. This is felt to be wrong by his teachers. What will she do to ensure children are not punished for the success of their previous schools? When transitioning to another school?

11:42

Clive Jones MP (Wokingham, Liberal Democrat)

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She's not quite sure it's linked to the right question. Right. Let's move on.

11:42

Q6. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls. (908916)

Cat Smith. >> Mr. Speaker. With your permission, I will answer questions six and ten together today, our cross-Government Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, which was Women and Girls strategy, which was published on the 18th of December, sets out our strategic direction and concrete actions to prevent violence and abuse, pursue perpetrators and to support victims delivering our unprecedented commitment to halve the levels of commitment to halve the levels of violence against women and girls within a decade.

11:42

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Catherine Smith.

11:42

Cat Smith MP (Lancaster and Wyre, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. violence often take a long time to rebuild their lives, and I'm supporting a constituent at the moment whose perpetrator is about moment whose perpetrator is about to be released from prison but is receiving no support from Lancaster City Council, who is her housing provider, to relocate to another area so that the perpetrator is not released back into the same community? What advice can you give me and my constituent to support that housing move, so that her and Yeah.

11:43

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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But can I thank my hon. Friend for supporting her constituents so diligently and for raising this with me today in the chamber. The with me today in the chamber. The government is committed to ensuring that victims of domestic abuse can access the support that they need for safe accommodation to rebuild for safe accommodation to rebuild their lives, and to part four of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Local authorities in England are required to assess the need for and commission specialist support for victims and their children in safe accommodation.

To support this delivery, Mhclg has provided nearly £500 million over the next three years to provide domestic abuse victims who are homeless. Eligible accommodation and offenders released from prison are subject to licence requirements, conditions and she should be getting support from her victim liaison officer.

11:43

David Williams MP (Stoke-on-Trent North, Labour)

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Dave Williams. Thank you, Mr. >> Dave Williams. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There have been a number of deeply disturbing cases of women being targeted and attacked on being targeted and attacked on their base on the basis of their perceived religion, including two horrific cases in the Midlands. Can I please ask the Minister what steps are being taken across government to tackle this form of targeted violence against women and girls, and ensure that our communities are properly protected?

11:44

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Well, I thank my hon. Friend for raising this fundamentally important point in the chamber today. I, too, am horrified at the today. I, too, am horrified at the horrific, racially motivated sexual attacks that seem to be ever more increasing at the moment. This government is committed to tackling all forms of hate and hate crime, violence and abuse directed at women and girls because of their race is totally unacceptable and heinous. And where attacks are racially motivated, police can pursue them as racially aggravated offences which attract tougher and higher sentences.

These offences often include assault, harassment and criminal damage and I am proudly working with some brilliant organisations such as Southall, Black Sisters, karma, Nirvana and Hibiscus as part of our strategy to halve the levels of violence against women and girls.

11:45

Simon Hoare MP (North Dorset, Conservative)

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Simon Hoare Mr Speaker. >> Simon Hoare Mr Speaker. >> Violence against women and girls is often focussed on what women and girls can do to prevent or keep themselves safe, but the Minister will know and have sympathy with will know and have sympathy with the very pernicious attitude of toxic masculinity and the huge impact that that is having amongst on teenage boys, on young women and girls across government. What can the government do, preferably cross-party, to try to better message with those young men and young boys, how to deal with young women in school and elsewhere in order to preserve safety and dignity?

11:45

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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I welcome this really, really important question from the hon. Gentleman. He is right to address Gentleman. He is right to address this, and which is why prevention and tackling the issues that are proliferating online, pushing this proliferating online, pushing this narrative to our young men and boys is so harmful. This is part and core of our violence against women and girls strategy. Also, just last week, the Deputy Prime Minister and I hosted a roundtable across government with the Secretary of State for education present to look at how best we can support our men and boys in a positive way forward, to provide them with opportunities going forward so that they are not being pushed.

This message that they are to blame, that they are toxic, toxic masculinity. And I want to be very clear, Mr. Speaker, does not mean that men are toxic at all. And that is a really important point to make.

11:46

Rt Hon Esther McVey MP (Tatton, Conservative)

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Mr. Mike Perry. Taylor. Set up the organisation Families Fighting for justice, after her daughter, Chantelle after her daughter, Chantelle Taylor, was violently and savagely murdered. The murderer then desecrated and concealed her body, and Jean Taylor is wanting to make sure that this is a crime in its own right, and not just an aggravating factor, because not only could she not grieve her daughter or bury her daughter, and Chantal's three children couldn't either. But in hiding the body, serious evidence also was hidden.

The murderer is now out on the streets. Please, will the Minister meet with me and Jean Taylor to discuss a chantelle's law?

11:47

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Minister. raising this. I had hoped to drop in to the event she hosted yesterday in Parliament to meet Jean directly. However, ministerial responsibilities meant I was unable responsibilities meant I was unable to. But I will commit today to meeting with her and Jean to discuss this. She will know that the Law Commission are looking at specifically desecration of a body and that work is ongoing and that we as the government, when they report back, will look at that carefully to see what more we can do.

But I do know that this is an issue, and I will happily meet with her and Jean.

11:47

Sarah Owen MP (Luton North, Labour)

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Sir, I would share this. Equalities Select Committee work on music, misogyny in music, we are now looking at women's experience now looking at women's experience in comedy. In 2018, chortle found a quarter of female comedians had been sexually assaulted by a fellow comic, and 1 in 13 raped by another performer. Given recent high profile cases against male comedians, does the Minister think this sorry situation has improved, and what is the government doing to ensure that all self-employed women are protected in the future?

11:48

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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I thank the chair of the Select Committee for raising this this morning, and it is a horrific morning, and it is a horrific statistic that she quotes here, but sadly not uncommon across all professions, Mr. Speaker, whether professions, Mr. Speaker, whether that be comedy music anyway. And this is why our violence against women and girls strategy is holistic, to look at a whole society approach to tackling the issues that she raises, including changing the culture going forward. I've been pleased to work with the brilliant organisation called No Stage for abusers, which looks at this specifically, but I'd be happy to work with her and the Select Committee to see what more we can do to support self-employed women, specifically to tackle some of the harassment that they face in the workplace.

11:48

Caroline Voaden MP (South Devon, Liberal Democrat)

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Well. >> Mr. Speaker, a quarter of female teachers have been subject. >> To misogynistic abuse in the classroom in the last year. They report feeling humiliated and report feeling humiliated and violated by this. And we know that impressionable young boys are targeted on social media with targeted on social media with algorithms just pump misogynistic content to them. So will the Minister push the government to act as swiftly as possible? Please to restrict access to social media for young boys, so that we can educate them on how to treat women and girls.

Before the manosphere influencers get to them. First.

11:49

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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I thank the hon. Lady for >> I thank the hon. Lady for raising this question, which builds on another question I've previously answered. Look, we need to take a holistic approach to tackling violence against women and girls, which which means involving every government department. I'm really pleased that the Secretary of State pleased that the Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology was present at the Round Table hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister last week, looking at how best to support men and boys to look at precisely the issue she raises.

This is about us working with the regulator, Ofcom, to look at what more we can do to support the regulator, and preventing these algorithms from pushing this content to our men and boys. But this also involves supporting our teachers in their workplace to ensure that they feel safe and can escalate issues as they occur. spokesperson.

11:49

Marie Goldman MP (Chelmsford, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since I last raised the subject of suicides last raised the subject of suicides after domestic abuse, the Domestic Abuse Homicide Project has reported on the previous 12 months and seen on the previous 12 months and seen a significant rise in cases. This morning I held a roundtable with some of the organisations campaigning to ensure that suicides campaigning to ensure that suicides and cases of domestic abuse are investigated from the outset as homicides. They all agreed that action is needed now.

One small change that they said would make an important difference was requiring police officers to turn on their body worn cameras when attending sudden deaths in domestic settings and tagging it afterwards. This way, important evidence will be preserved. So will the government encourage the College of Policing to update its guidance to introduce such a requirement?

11:50

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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I thank the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for her question. I had the privilege of meeting with had the privilege of meeting with the Katy Trust last week to discuss this precise issue, and later today I'm meeting with advocacy after fatal domestic abuse and Doctor fatal domestic abuse and Doctor Alice Hopkins to look at Anna Hopkins to look at what more we can do here. She will know the Law Commission are reviewing the law of homicide. Look at precisely the issue she raises. That work is ongoing, and the government will examine the recommendations when they come forward.

11:50

Q4. What steps the Government is taking to support children with SEND at school. (908913)

Robbie Moore before, Mr. Speaker. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all know that the current system fails to many families. Our proposals will deliver a reformed system will deliver a reformed system backed by £4 billion of investment, so that every child can achieve and thrive. A three tier framework will provide targeted and specialist support, strengthened education, health and care plans, early intervention, access to specialist services and better outcomes for all of our children.

11:51

Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Minister for Women and Equalities (Houghton and Sunderland South, Labour)

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Robbie Moore thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I met with Alice Jones, the head teacher at Oxenhope Primary School, to talk about the funding challenges they are facing, supporting children with SEND and her deep concerns regarding the planned Send reforms under this

11:51

Robbie Moore MP (Keighley and Ilkley, Conservative)

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government, including shifting to individual support plans, therefore individual support plans, therefore limiting protection for each to only the most complex cases which will reduce the necessary financial will reduce the necessary financial support for children in mainstream schools. So what reassurance can the Secretary of State give to Mrs. the Secretary of State give to Mrs. Jones and the many other headteachers that have contacted me in my constituency who believe that the government send reforms, will

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the government send reforms, will not address the current challenges such. Mr. speaker, I do recognise the serious point that the hon. Gentleman sets out, and that is why we have launched a consultation so that we can hear directly from school leaders, from parents, from young people, about what we need to

11:52

Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Minister for Women and Equalities (Houghton and Sunderland South, Labour)

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do to make the system work better. I would encourage school leaders in his constituency to review that and to share their views. But I do want to be clear, Mr. Speaker, that this is about improving support earlier support, making sure that all support, making sure that all children are able to access what they need as quickly as possible. The current system is too The current system is too adversarial. It isn't working, and I've heard from too many parents that have been badly let down by

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the system that he and his party left behind. Alex Baker thank. You. Mr. Speaker. Can I welcome the government's commitment to making sure that every child in Gloucester with Sen gets the support they need at the earliest stage of their education? I'm welcoming the £4.6 million investment in the Experts at Hand service in Gloucestershire, coming for the next academic year. Can the Secretary of State update the House on discussions she's having with the Department for having with the Department for health on their workforce plans to make sure that we have the workers needed to deliver that support in Gloucester Secretary.

Gloucester Secretary.

11:53

Alex McIntyre MP (Gloucester, Labour)

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I'm grateful to my hon. Friend, and he is a true champion for children and young people and families right across his community. He raises an important point, and that's why the consultation that we've brought forward is a joint

11:53

Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Minister for Women and Equalities (Houghton and Sunderland South, Labour)

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document that we share with the Department for Health and Social Care, because we know that this is about having a system that better responds to children's education needs when they're in school, but also those wider health needs, too. And that's why our Experts at Hand initiative will make sure that there is better targeted, specialist support for all children specialist support for all children who need it. Avoiding the lengthy waits, the arduous process and the adversarial system that too many

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adversarial system that too many parents at this minute have to endure. Vaughan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following the question. Number one.

11:53

Topical questions: Women and Equalities

Thank you. Mr. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From this month, employers can publish new voluntary action plans to tackle the gender pay gap and support women in the workplace support women in the workplace going through the menopause, a vital step forward in improving workplace equality. We are working with employers and encouraging them to take meaningful actions that we know can work with our Women's Health Strategy, landmark Health Strategy, landmark Employment Rights Act and stronger protections around maternity and for pregnant women and expanded for pregnant women and expanded childcare.

This government is supporting women to thrive at work.

11:54

Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Minister for Women and Equalities (Houghton and Sunderland South, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following the Supreme Court's ruling in the For Women Scotland case, I met with several constituents who raised concerns about the Ehrc's draft code of practice and guidance, and I thank Focus and Bookshop for hosting those meetings. But as the government lays the updated guidance, what assurances can she give that businesses and groups can confidently be trans inclusive and confidently be trans inclusive and that it will be clear how everyone can be protected from harassment and discrimination? and discrimination?

11:54

Tony Vaughan KC MP (Folkestone and Hythe, Labour)

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Secretary of State. and trans people feel safe and are protected from harassment, and we will treat everyone with the dignity and respect that they

11:54

Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Minister for Women and Equalities (Houghton and Sunderland South, Labour)

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deserve, because those are our values and that is made clear in the Equality Act. We have also been clear that we expect duty bearers clear that we expect duty bearers to follow the Supreme Court ruling and to seek legal advice where necessary. And, Mr. Speaker, I did necessary. And, Mr. Speaker, I did recently receive an updated code of practice from the HRC. I am grateful to them for their work. My grateful to them for their work. My intention is to lay that draft code in May as soon as possible after the election period.

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the election period. Josh Babarinde Claire Coutinho. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Nurses have. Been hounded and harassed by the NHS for simply stating that biological sex is real. The Secretary of State recently met with some of them at my request. I

11:55

Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP (East Surrey, Conservative)

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am grateful for that. But that was months ago. So my question is what has happened since? Has she got an answer from the Nursery and Midwifery Council about how many more nurses are facing these witch more nurses are facing these witch hunts? Has she got a date from the Health Secretary for when the NHS will ensure single sex changing will ensure single sex changing rooms for staff? In short, what can she say to these hardworking nurses whose lives have been ruined by senior people in the NHS?

11:56

Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Minister for Women and Equalities (Houghton and Sunderland South, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, my message to nurses, to anyone working in our NHS is that they deserve dignity at NHS is that they deserve dignity at work. They deserve to be treated with respect and they should not face abuse, intimidation or harassment. And we have seen some shocking cases and that is completely unacceptable. The right hon. Lady will appreciate that the regulator is independent of government. It is independent for a reason and that is the right approach. She will also know, Mr. Speaker, that the code of practice that I intend to lay does not apply to employment, but employers should be following the law.

11:56

Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP (East Surrey, Conservative)

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Claire Coutinho well, I thank the Secretary of State, but this is the classic problem. She is not on top of her brief. She is absolutely top of her brief. She is absolutely allowed to write to these regulators and ask whether they are breaking the law. So let me try another question. The Muslim vote campaign is telling people how to vote depending on what God they pray to. This is divisive, sectarian, and it has no place in Britain. Last time I asked the Secretary of State to condemn this, she said she was not aware of what I was describing.

But in these local elections, the Muslim vote has once again endorsed the Green Party and Plaid Cymru. So I will give her another chance. Can she condemn this group and the divisive sectarian role it is playing in British politics?

11:57

Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Minister for Women and Equalities (Houghton and Sunderland South, Labour)

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So. pressure or undue influence to around their voting behaviour. Let me be absolutely clear on this me be absolutely clear on this point, but let me also be clear to the House, Mr. Speaker, that I am fed up to the back teeth of opposition politicians coming here time and time again to sow division across our country. I am proud of the tolerant, compassionate and respectful nation that we are. And the Shadow Justice Secretary should have been sacked for his shocking and shameful, racist comments against Muslims in our country.

11:57

Rachel Taylor MP (North Warwickshire and Bedworth, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Leaked guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission suggested that it would be lawful for transgender and gender non-conforming people to be non-conforming people to be excluded from changing facilities, based on a perception that their appearance did not correspond with societal gender norms, irrespective of their actual sex. Can the Secretary of State. Can the Secretary of State reassure this House that such an obvious licence for bigotry and discrimination will not be included in the final guidance when she publishes it next month? Yeah.

11:58

Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Minister for Women and Equalities (Houghton and Sunderland South, Labour)

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Mr. Speaker, I. Mr. speaker, I >> Mr. Speaker, I. Mr. speaker, I thank the hon. Member for her important question. She. She will appreciate, I'm sure, that I cannot comment on the draft code of practice, but I want to reassure this House that trans people will continue to be protected from discrimination in the Equality Act. We will not treat this issue as a political football, as many others have done in the past. And as I set out in earlier answers, I intend to lay the draft code as soon as possible once we are through the election period.

11:59

Rupert Lowe MP (Great Yarmouth, Restore Britain)

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Rupert Lowe thank you. >> Rupert Lowe thank you. >> Mr. Speaker. Women all over Britain, including in my constituency of Great Yarmouth, constituency of Great Yarmouth, primarily on King Street, feel intimidated, harassed and abused in intimidated, harassed and abused in their own town centres. Disproportionately, this unacceptable behaviour is committed by young foreign men imported from cultures and religions that treat women like dirt on the bottom of their shoe. Will the Minister today commit to a national audit of street harassment, intimidation and sexual offending by nationality and immigration status so the British people can finally see the scale of the problem?

12:00

Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Minister for Women and Equalities (Houghton and Sunderland South, Labour)

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So here we go again. Mr. speaker, I note that an investigation by a I note that an investigation by a KC into the hon. Member. Hon. Member's conduct concluded that there was credible evidence that he there was credible evidence that he had mistreated two female members in a way that and I quote. Mr. speaker, in a way that seemed to amount to harassment. I don't want to hear anything from him about violence against women and girls or harassment.

12:00

Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)

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We now come to Prime Minister's Questions. Gurinder Singh Josan. >> Prime Minister. >> Mr. speaker, the state visit by His Majesty the King is a powerful His Majesty the King is a powerful reminder of the deep and special relationship we have with the United States. Mr. speaker, in this session of Parliament, this Labour government has delivered the biggest upgrade in workers rights in a generation. The biggest improvement in renters rights in a generation, and more action than any other government to tackle child poverty.

That the King's Speech. I look forward to setting out what more we will do to change our country for the better. Mr. speaker, this morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I shall have further such meetings later today.

12:01

Gurinder Singh Josan MP (Smethwick, Labour)

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Birender Singh Josh Dean. firstly thank you for meeting with me recently to view a thousand paper cranes folded by residents in Burwood as a recognition of the diversity in which neighbours and communities just get on with each other, Mr. speaker, residents in my constituency and across Sandwell benefit from the lowest council tax in the West Midlands. Investment in new leisure centres, parks and all our libraries kept open was the third best in the country for fixing potholes, expanded breakfast clubs, free school meals and cheaper school uniform for our children.

Does the Prime Minister agree that this is all down to well-run labour, Sandwell Council and the changes brought about by this government, this Labour government opposed at every opportunity by the Tories and Reform.

12:02

Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)

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Prime Minister can I thank him >> Prime Minister can I thank him for his work to give every child the best start in life in his constituency? And I'm very glad that this government has done more that this government has done more than any other government to lift children out of poverty. Mr. speaker, thanks to our work this session, on this side of the House, we have passed laws needed to deliver more rights at work, build new homes, save British Steel, clean up waterways, secure our borders and record funding of our NHS and so much more.

Change delivered by Labour, opposed by the Tories and reform.

12:02

Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex, Conservative)

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We come to the Leader of the Opposition. Kemi Badenoch. Opposition. Kemi Badenoch. >> Thank you. >> It's the end of the session and what a contrast with the beginning, what a contrast with the beginning, Mr. Speaker, back in July 2024, those benches were full of those benches were full of sycophantic questions from adoring new MPs. Yesterday, the Prime Minister was reduced to begging

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those same MPs to save his own skin. Yes. Mr. Speaker, he's broken his

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Mr. Speaker, he's broken his promise to grow the economy. The only thing that's grown is the welfare bill. The only thing that's welfare bill. The only thing that's grown is the welfare bill. So can the Prime Minister tell us, can the Prime Minister tell us how many more people are out of work and claiming Universal Credit since he

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took office. Prime Minister? Mr. speaker, she talks about what we've done in Tessa Munt to raising people out of work. We have the Youth Guarantee that we put in place for young people. We've raised the national minimum wage thanks to our Chancellor, we've helped young people into work by cutting NHS waiting lists. Thanks to the work of the Health Secretary, we put more police on the streets we put more police on the streets thanks to the work of the Home Secretary, and we cut energy bills for young people thanks to the work of the energy.

I am very proud of of the energy. I am very proud of what this Labour government has delivered in the first session of this Parliament. this Parliament.

12:03

Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, the Prime Minister doesn't want to say how many people, how many more people, in fact, are out of work and claiming Universal Credit since he took office? Perhaps he doesn't know. So let me

12:04

Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex, Conservative)

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tell him. The number is 1.5 million people. That is the entire population of Leeds, Cardiff and Edinburgh put together. Hard working people are being taxed more and more to pay for a ballooning and more to pay for a ballooning benefits bill. So can the Prime Minister tell us why? On his watch, Minister tell us why? On his watch, for the first time ever, we are now spending more on welfare than we earn in income tax.

12:04

Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)

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Yes, Prime Minister. she complains of is the one they put in place, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. put in place, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, we are reforming it to improve it. And what did they do when we put that forward? They voted to keep the same broken welfare system.

12:05

Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex, Conservative)

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Kemi Badenoch Mr. Speaker, that answer was as honest as his reason for sacking Olly Robbins. Perhaps he'd like to apologise for that he'd like to apologise for that right now. Let me tell him. Let me tell him why we're spending more on welfare than we're earning in tax. welfare than we're earning in tax. It's because of him and his terrible policies. This is all under him. We are spending so much on welfare. We cannot afford to defend the country. And if he won't listen to me, Mr.

Speaker, perhaps he'll listen to the former Labour defence Secretary, Lord Robertson, who is saying, and I quote, we cannot defend Britain with an ever expanding welfare Budget. I agree with Lord Robertson. Why doesn't he?

12:05

Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, this is the Labour government that increased defence spending, the highest sustained spend since the Cold War. What did they do, Mr. Speaker, when they they do, Mr. Speaker, when they came into power? Defence spending was 2.5%, and when they left power, it was 2.3%. And even their own Secretary of State admitted they hollowed out our armed forces. So we'll take no lectures from them on defence.

12:06

Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex, Conservative)

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Mr. speaker, talking about more defence spending is not the same as giving more money for defence. He giving more money for defence. He has been in office for nearly two years, Mr. Speaker, what he does have, he's got a welfare plan until 2031, but he's not produced a defence investment plan. We have gone backwards on defence under him because we are borrowing. We are borrowing to pay for welfare. Yesterday we learned that the cost of government borrowing is now the highest in two decades.

That's under him. Instead of getting a grip on the economy, the Chancellor is briefing out rent controls to curry favour. Curry favour with left wing backbenchers. This is not a serious way to run the economy. It is time the Prime Minister gives her an easier job. So will he listen to businesses, listen to the country and reshuffle the Chancellor?

12:07

Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, the Spring statement the Chancellor was very proud to say inflation was down to proud to say inflation was down to 3% and falling six interest rates in a cut. We've seen the growth figures for the early part of this figures for the early part of this year. And she says, well, the cost of borrowing has gone up. Yes, because there's a conflict in Iran. And what did she want to do? What did she want to do when when I said we wouldn't be dragged into that war because I thought through the consequences, including the economic consequences, what did she do? She said we should jump in with both feet without regard to the consequences.

She can't complain now about the implications.

12:08

Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex, Conservative)

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Mr. speaker, I didn't hear him say he's not reshuffling the Chancellor. It sounds like she's toast. Meanwhile, the former deputy Prime Minister is on manoeuvres. Prime Minister is on manoeuvres. This government is like a bad episode of Game of Thrones. His own people have turned against him, and all the while, the Prime Minister is holed up in his castle, wetting himself about a visit from the King in the North yesterday. Mr. speaker, yesterday one Labour MP actually said that his days are numbered.

That's one of them. I wonder who it was because they're all looking guilty as hell. Isn't the real reason, Mr. Speaker, isn't the real reason, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, isn't the real reason the Prime Minister can't cut welfare, that he squandered all his political capital, saving his own skin?

12:08

Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, she talks about political games. That's what she political games. That's what she was doing yesterday. This House considered our motion, rejected it decisively because everyone saw it decisively because everyone saw it for what it was a desperate, baseless political stunt ahead of the May elections. Mr. Speaker, whilst she and they were playing games here, I was chairing a meeting in Cobra, going through the contingencies and managing our war in the Middle East, Mr. speaker, they think little game is more important than managing the implications of the war in the Middle East, which will affect every single one of their constituents, and none of them ask any questions about it.

None of them want to debate it. They just want to debate silly political stunts. Mr. speaker, even though we didn't join the war, no thanks to her. My duty is to protect the British public from the consequences, and nothing is going to distract me from what matters to the British public.

12:09

Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex, Conservative)

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Mr. speaker, I think the whole country is sick of this man's tone country is sick of this man's tone deaf, pompous moralising. Last week, deaf, pompous moralising. Last week, last week, last week. Last week, we

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all saw him punch the speaker's chair. This is not a man who is in control. Yes. Since the last King's speech,

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Since the last King's speech, it's been one disaster after another. Cronyism, jobs for friends another. Cronyism, jobs for friends of convicted paedophiles, peerages for other friends of convicted for other friends of convicted paedophiles, broken promises on taxes, U-turn after U-turn after U-turn. He's lost a deputy Prime Minister, two chiefs of staff, two Cabinet secretaries, the support of his backbenchers and all his credibility. Yes, yes they can. Mr. speaker, they can jeer as much as they like.

They're going to have to go to their constituencies and explain to all those people why they did what they did last night. The fact is, the Prime Minister was reduced to whipping his MPs to save him and pleading with a tax dodger to rejoin his Cabinet. How much longer do we all have to put up with his shambles?

12:11

Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, I changed my party. >> Mr. speaker, I changed my party. I won a general election. She's changed her party, Mr. Speaker, because when I became leader of my party, their party was three times party, their party was three times the size it is now. She's changed it. It's now even smaller than when she started at leader, because half of them are up there. But Mr. Speaker, the stunt they played yesterday because they don't like what we're delivering more rights at work, more security for renters, lifting half a million children out of poverty.

That's our mandate. That's our mission. And nothing's going to hold us back.

12:11

Rt Hon Emily Thornberry MP (Islington South and Finsbury, Labour)

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It was 18 months ago. in the. >> Up there, beaming down at the Prime Minister because he had just announced the government's scheme announced the government's scheme to give compensation to those who had been wrongly sacked from the armed forces for simply being gay. Yeah, but I have a constituent, Mr. Mr Speaker, who lost his job in MI6 in the 1980s for his sexuality, and he's got no compensation. The security service has also put their lives on the risk on the line for their country.

It's just not fair. Would the Prime Minister find the time to sit down with my constituent and me, so that we can work out together the way in which we can extend Terry's scheme, so that the so that the security services can also get justice.

12:12

Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)

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The Prime Minister. >> The Prime Minister. >> Can I thank her for her dedicated work on this. I am very proud of the work we've done to proud of the work we've done to recognise LGBT veterans, Mr. speaker. On top of that, people in our security service are some of our security service are some of the bravest and most talented professionals who served our country, that some of them lost their jobs because of their sexuality is a historic wrong. And I can confirm today the security Minister is assessing this closely, and I'll make sure that she's updated and has the meeting she's asked for.

12:13

Rt Hon Ed Davey MP (Kingston and Surbiton, Liberal Democrat)

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Said David, leader of the Liberal Democrats. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> Yesterday we. >> Heard Christian. >> Turner. >> Peter Mandelson's replacement. >> As US. >> Ambassador.

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Ambassador. Say that the only country Trump has a special relationship with is Israel. But the Prime minister's Israel. But the Prime minister's job is in danger after next week's elections and that in the US, Jeffrey Epstein's associates have evaded responsibility for their actions. The Prime Minister has to has had to fire one US ambassador for lying. Does he fear he'll now

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