Commons Chamber

Thursday 9th July 2026

(began 2 months ago)

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None Portrait Q1. What steps she is taking to support the long-term financial sustainability of farm businesses. (900890)
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Minister and I published a new farming roadmap, which is the first ever long term strategy for farming. It sets out a vision for a more
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None Portrait Urgent question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs if she will make a statement on Iran’s violation of the ceasefire.
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Mr. speaker, we strongly condemn the outrageous Iranian attacks on
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Hamish Falconer Portrait Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)
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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. This is a serious escalation strikes into countries in the strikes into countries in the region and their waters are a clear violation of international law and violation of international law and must stop. I have been in touch with my counterparts from all mentioned countries to express our solidarity and condemn these attacks. Iran's attacks on civilian vessels were in Omani waters. The UK stands with Oman, with its sovereignty over its own territorial waters, and for the principle and the law of freedom of navigation, both in the strait and across the world.

We stand with our partners in calling for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy. We want a durable, negotiated peace and the Strait of Hormuz to fully reopen. The dangerous escalation over the past few days and continued attacks hurt everybody. The greatest impact is, of course, felt by the poorest and most vulnerable. Our priority now is ensuring unimpeded transit passage through the strait without the threat of violence, tolls, fees or conditions. The cease fire must deliver predictable access rather than ad hoc case by case transits.

We will continue to stand up for international law as reflected in our cloths for freedom of navigation, global navigation rights, seafarer safety and the consistent application of existing

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rules. Denby. Priti Patel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The terrorist regime in Tehran has once again violated the ceasefire, illegally attacking commercial shipping in the Straits of Hormuz, striking our allies in the region, including Bahrain and Kuwait. These new assaults in the Straits on at least three tankers were the most in a single day since April,
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Priti Patel Portrait Rt Hon Priti Patel MP (Witham, Conservative)
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according to the UN International Maritime Organisation. And earlier this week, the Iranian said it targeted Salman Port in Bahrain, where Britain and the US operate naval bases. What was the government doing when British assets were in danger, and our security friends and our allies were being attacked by Iran? What exactly is the government doing to help protect the thousands of British nationals in the region, once again finding themselves under rocket fire from Iran? Our security allies once looked at the UK to be a reliable and dependable partner, but their confidence is increasingly being shaken.

How is the government going to put this right? This is a time for action, not words. I've asked again and again, what is the British Government doing or has done to date to the CCP agreement to support Bahrain? The NATO general secretary said that the strikes by the US were absolutely necessary. Does this government agree? We've had very little substance from the government in recent days, other than the Foreign Secretary's remarks yesterday, saying she was very concerned by the Iranian strikes.

The US administration has announced its reimposing sanctions, oil sanctions on Iran oil, which of course funds their terrorism. So when will this government stop the UK's financial system being used to launder Iranian terrorist funds? What is the government's assessment about whether the cease fire framework and that 60 day period in the agreement, whether or not it remains? And let's be honest, Mr. Speaker, the fact that Iran continues to breach the ceasefire threatens our interests on a daily basis demonstrates that the government has failed to have a clear plan to get defence spending to 3% of GDP by the end of the decade, leaving our country exposed and our security at risk.

So while Ministers are putting their job security ahead of the defence of our interests of this country, this discredited Labour government has failed to offer solutions to the most serious and significant conflict the world has seen in decades, all be part of any negotiations. Mr. speaker, Britain has a huge stake in the future of the Middle East, but under Labour our interests have been neglected

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and our standing in the world is falling. Minister. Mr. speaker, I don't quite know

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Mr. speaker, I don't quite know what to do with that. It was obviously it was obviously not the case, as I'm sure the shadow case, as I'm sure the shadow Foreign Secretary will know. The shadow Foreign Secretary can look me in the eye and say it is me in the eye and say it is unlikely to be the debates around the defence investment plan that
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Hamish Falconer Portrait Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)
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Mr. speaker, as a former negotiator myself, I'm. I'm negotiator myself, I'm. I'm reluctant to criticise, fudges and creative language. Negotiators creative language. Negotiators often must reach for them, but there are many areas which cannot be fudged and where there is no be fudged and where there is no ambiguity. For example, the location of Oman's territorial rights waters and the rights that flow from that. These strikes conducted by Iran this week were not only against land targets, they were about against commercial shipping.

There was no ambiguity whatsoever about the location of those vessels. Oman's waters, their rights. Unclose. These are not questions that were at the negotiating table in relation to

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the MOU. We will continue to stand for them here and in every place. Just might help of the Minister

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Just might help of the Minister can turn to me now and again during Democrats.

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Democrats. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Iran is continuing to hold the global economy to ransom through its reckless strikes in the Straits of reckless strikes in the Straits of Hormuz. We all agree on that. Meanwhile, Donald Trump's continuing tit for tat retaliations continuing tit for tat retaliations risk dragging the whole region back into a full blown conflict. This would threaten the lives of citizens across the Middle East,
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Hamish Falconer Portrait Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)
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Minister Mr. speaker, I will not get ahead of the process laid out get ahead of the process laid out in the legislation passed last night, but it is clearly an important step forward, providing the British government and Britain the British government and Britain as a whole, as another weapon in our armoury to tackle hostile state our armoury to tackle hostile state threats. I am pleased, Mr. Speaker, to update the House, since I have not had an opportunity since doing so, I summoned the Iranian chargé on Monday.

We will all have seen the judgement handed down in the case on Friday related to Iranian threats in this country against journalists. I reiterated in the strongest possible terms to the Iranian representatives the strength of feeling on these benches, the strength of feeling across the country, and the fact that we are taking concrete steps, including the ones he mentioned, in order to ensure that no agent of the Iranian regime can commit violence in this country. I am very much focussed, as he knows, on the

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case of the Foremans in Iran, for reasons of sensitivity. I don't wish to be drawn further into the case at this moment. Apsana Begum we are still

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Apsana Begum we are still waiting to learn the full extent of British military involvement in this conflict. The Minister must surely confirm whether the UK's surely confirm whether the UK's authorisation for the US to use British air bases continued as the ceasefire has collapsed, with 170 US airstrikes on Iran over the past two days. Is the UK undertaking
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Hamish Falconer Portrait Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)
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Mr. speaker, the reason I'm often not keen to be drawn in this chamber on specific cases is I've got to make a judgement, as indeed got to make a judgement, as indeed the whole government does, about what we can do in the best interests of British nationals detained overseas. I know she references arbitrary detention, which is not a concept which exists which is not a concept which exists in UK law. She's mentioned the ICJ as well. I think she's referring to a previous case that was withdrawn, and a view that is held by some that that would be a helpful thing to do in other cases.

Unfortunately, the responsibilities that fall to me mean that I do need to be careful publicly what I say about particular cases, particularly where those cases are about two named individuals who are under the jurisdiction at the moment of the Iranians, all of the responsibilities for the welfare. And Craig and Lindsay Foreman fall for now on the authorities in Tehran until they are released, which they should be immediately.

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Iran must take full care of our nationals under their control. Thank you. Can I join the

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Thank you. Can I join the Minister in condemning Iran's attacks in the region? But say to him, I think at some point very him, I think at some point very soon, the UK will need to review its own defensive posture vis a vis its own defensive posture vis a vis UK armed forces responses in the region. On Iran, its nuclear programme is diminished, not
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Hamish Falconer Portrait Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)
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The hon. Gentleman is right to point to the threats that the IRGC point to the threats that the IRGC has posed in the region and internationally. As I said in an earlier answer, there are domestic measures being introduced in relation to state threats, and I imagine that we will have more to say about the employment of that say about the employment of that new tool shortly. In relation to the international position, we've made a series of interventions, both internationally and in the region, to try and ensure that Iran's malign role in the region is reduced.

We've spent most of the session discussing what's happening in the Straits of Hormuz, but there are clearly Iranian militias right across the region continuing to threaten civilians, threaten stability and threaten the security of the region.

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That completes the urgent

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question. Frontbench changeover. Just before we start. Business questions.

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Business questions. I'd like. To thank. David Weir, the clerk of the table today, who is retiring from the House after 32 years here the House after 32 years here working in Hansard first and as a clerk. And I wish David all the best. He's is a man of many talents. He's a writer. He's a playwright, a He's a writer. He's a playwright, a director, a producer. So the strings of his bow will be played elsewhere rather than the rather elsewhere rather than the rather than the table today.

So can I say to David, thank you for all what you've done. I now come to the you've done. I now come to the shadow Leader of the House, Jesse Norman thank.
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None Portrait Business Statement: Business Questions to the Leader of the House
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The business for the week commencing the 13th of July will include Monday the 13th of July.
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Jesse Norman Portrait Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP (Hereford and South Herefordshire, Conservative)
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Jesse Norman. >> What a sporting. >> Week this has been. >> Mr. speaker, youth.

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Mr. speaker, youth. Vitality. Incredible physical stamina in the most testing of environments. And that's just the environments. And that's just the Leader of the House whose birthday it was yesterday. The leader has never begrudged me my own naivety and inexperience, and I know everyone present wish to join me in

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birthday. Yeah. In other news, the England football team decisively defeated football team decisively defeated Mexico at the Azteca, and we look forward with keen anticipation to their taking on Norway on Saturday their taking on Norway on Saturday evening. Mr. speaker, we send our congratulations and commiserations congratulations and commiserations to the United States of America. On the tragic wrong turn they took the tragic wrong turn they took towards independence 250 years ago. As Edmund Burke famously said in this character of the Americans, a love of freedom is the predominating feature.

Whatever temporary disagreements we may have. Let us never forget this deepest of shared commitments. And finally, Kim Jong UN himself would admire the North Korean precision of the Labour leadership vote, which has opened today with precisely one candidate on the ballot paper. How very different from the forthcoming by election in Clacton, which appears to be a choice between a novelty comedy act with no real policies and count Binface. Mr Speaker. It's a long time since we had a count in the House of Commons, and when the time comes, as it surely will, we will have to leave to you the delicate question of whether and how to suspend the rules on headgear in the chamber for the new member.

On a more serious note, the House has already expressed its great sorrow at the recent death of Sir George Howarth. But I would also like, if I may, to draw attention to the very sad death on Monday, at the age of 99, of James Mackay, Lord Mackay of Clashfern. He was a brave, energetic and imaginative reformer of the law as Lord advocate in Scotland and then as Lord Chancellor. It's hard to think of a man more widely respected in public life.

We send our very best to his wife, Bette, and their family. I have just one item of business today. It's related to the River Wye, which the House will know is not only a particular obsession of mine, but an issue of national importance. When the last government cancelled the actual plan for the Y, it also cancelled the accompanying commitment of £35 million in clean up funding and replaced it with a paltry £1 million supposedly aimed at research. But I was very distressed to receive the news this week that only £115,000 of that £1 million will actually be spent on research, and that even that tiny sum will be spent over three years, and that the balance of the £1 million will be consumed by administrative costs.

Could the leader instigate an immediate inquiry and ensure that Ministers clarify to me, my constituents and national campaigners on this issue, that the full £1 million will be kept intact and used for the purposes for which it was intended.
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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. can I thank the shadow leader for his remarks, particularly on wishing me a happy birthday for wishing me a happy birthday for yesterday? Can I just advise him and other members that as they approach the age themselves, the more birthdays the have you have, generally, the less you have to celebrate. But there we are, I do, I, I do, I do, I do thank him, I do thank him for his kind remarks. Can I also join you, Mr.

Speaker, and the shadow Leader of the House, in thanking David Weir for his service to the House over 33 years? And let me just say that I look forward to his play or book based on the his experiences in this House. The shadow leader mentions that the Labour leadership contest has started. He's. He's misread the rules, I'm afraid, because it's the opening of nominations today. Therefore, to be so presumptive is to say there'll only be one candidate. It rather depends on how the next few days play out.

That that that that that is that is simply a statement of fact. It's not a statement of anything else. Mr. speaker, can I also join him and thank him for his kind tribute to Sir George House, who Haworth, who recently passed away. George was a dedicated politician who served his constituency of Knowsley for 38 years, and I'm sure the House will join me in sending our condolences to his wife, Julie, and to his family and friends at this time.

And can I echo his words about the death of Lord Mackay? And also, Mr. Speaker, I'm sorry to say that that this matter, having been raised with me reasonably recently at business questions, I'm also very sad to learn today of the death of Bonnie Tyler, and I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Neath and Swansea East for giving us the opportunity at that point to wish her well, and I'm sure her family and friends are devastated by the loss, and we send them our very best wishes indeed.

Also, Mr. Speaker, this year marks 21 years since the London seven over seven bombings, which killed 52 people and injured many more. I know that the thoughts of the whole house were with those whose lives were changed on that terrible day, and recall the bravery and commitment of our emergency services, including particularly the NHS, who continue to show such exemplary service. It's also since our last business questions, we've celebrated the last the two years second anniversary of the election of this Labour government, which saw which saw a huge intake of new and talented MPs on both sides of this House.

And we thank them for the contribution that they have made thus far. And since that election, we've taken action as a government to fix the foundations of our country and deliver the long term change that Britain needs. That means cutting waiting lists, cutting net migration and asylum. The asylum backlog, half a million children lifted out of poverty, and we have the fastest growing economy in the G7. We are also, Mr. Speaker, and I just need to update the House in the reference to what the Deputy Prime Minister said yesterday.

Through the Hillsborough law, we are changing the balance of power in Britain, ensuring that the state can never hide from the people that it is supposed to serve. And as my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister outlined yesterday, significant progress has been made to bring the Bill back to a. Has been made, and I hope that we can bring back the bill to the House soon. Turning to other matters, an issue that's been raised with me during these sessions on a number of occasions.

On the veterinary sector, pets are part of the family, but for too many households, the cost of caring for them has become a real worry. So today we're setting out the biggest reforms that the vet sector in half a century, which helps owners avoid unexpected bills, compares prices more easily and get the best value for care for their pets. And I know that's something that you take a keen interest in, Mr. Speaker, in terms of the Wye Valley, the. I will raise this matter with Defra, but I understand that I haven't seen the response of the Minister, but I understand that the matter was raised in DEFRA questions before earlier today, but I will take that back to Defra colleagues and on the matter which he also raises on the question of the by election in Clacton.

This is a by election that should not be taking place. Let me make clear that from the Dispatch Box, when we stand for election in this place, which is an honour to do so, we give an undertaking that the highest standards should be kept, including openness and transparency in terms of political donations. And that, Mr. Speaker, is the issue here, and that will be the the issue in this unnecessary by election. Nigel unnecessary by election. Nigel Farage has serious questions to answer, and he cannot run away from them.
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Wendy Chamberlain Portrait Wendy Chamberlain MP (North East Fife, Liberal Democrat)
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Wendy Chamberlain Liberal Democrat spokesperson. >> Very much. >> Mr. Speaker. And may I start by associate myself with your remarks on both the leader and shadow Leader of the House is both remarks of congratulations and condolences, and in relation to the business that the Leader of the House has given, I do have to say that I am very disappointed that it means that the Deputy Prime Minister's remarks to my friend the hon. Member for St Albans yesterday were not accurate in relation to the Hillsborough Bill, and I hope that we will be seeing it return after the summer recess in relation to the World Cup.

All I will say is that, like fellow Scots, I am probably looking out my Viking helmet at the moment, but we all know that the former member for Clacton's resignation is nothing but a stunt designed to distract the country from the raft of allegations facing him, and it appears increasingly his colleagues. Such allegations must be fully investigated so that voters have all the facts about the candidates they are voting for, whether that be a bin or a politician who sees being a member of Parliament as a part time job.

And now that the writ has been moved, does the Leader of the House share my regret that the Standards Commissioner investigation into the former member for Clacton must pause? And does he agree that in circumstances where the nature of an allegation is sufficiently serious that there is merit to continue it, even if the member is no longer an MP, does he agree that it should and could continue regardless? And obviously the Liberal Democrat benches wish Count Binface well. But moving on, Mr. Speaker, it was interesting to read overnight that the right hon.

Member for Makerfield has plans for changing the culture and narrative of the Labour Party. I am sure that those in the government benches are looking forward to that new found freedom. But for all the talk of collaboration, modernisation, we still do not know anything about the legislation that the new Labour government is planning to bring to this House. We know more about the right hon. Member's love of guitar and rugby league than we do about his plans for fixing the problems facing the country, so we, the Lib Dems, would welcome detail on his plans to fix social care, to tackle the crisis, and support the small businesses bearing the brunt of the government jobs taxes.

So will the Leader of the House commit to doubling the length of PMQs next week, and give the Prime Minister in waiting the opportunity to answer questions and outline his views on the issues that really matter.
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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. I just gently say to the hon. Lady that I sat on the bench yesterday and I don't believe that the Deputy Prime Minister did say something which was inaccurate, because, as I have said in my opening remarks, we are doing all we can to get the Hillsborough bill across the line. And if that means that we can bring it sooner rather than later, then that will be our intention. I agree with her, absolutely, and I stand by what I said to the right hon.

Gentleman, the shadow Leader of the House, about this unnecessary by election. There are serious questions to answer, and Nigel Farage cannot run away from those questions. She talks about the standards investigation and she's right to do so. The commissioner's investigation is independent of the government and indeed of the House, and it is important. Mr. Speaker, I want to emphasise this. It is important that all members of the House respect the House's. The House's standards procedures. Members do not and should not interfere with live investigations or do anything to prejudice them.

And she talks about what happens if a member is no longer a member and an investigation has begun. The procedural protocol in respect of the Code of Conduct sets out what happens to an ongoing commissioner inquiry if a member ceases to be a member of the House. And that is what I would expect to happen in this instance. She talks about the the manifesto of. If the hon. Member, right hon. Member for Makerfield, is successful in becoming the Prime Minister, what his manifesto will be.

Let me just say this, that there is a Labour government with a legislative programme which we have set out. There will be continuity of that Labour government. Even if the administration changes, this will remain a Labour government, and I would expect that to be the case. In terms of PMQs being extended next week by any stretch of the imagination, I cannot see a situation where the Member for Makerfield will be the Prime Minister by the time of next Wednesday.
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Bob Blackman Portrait Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)
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continue as leader or someone else will replace him. And I would ask on behalf of the backbench Business Committee that we get early warning of what we're going to receive in of what we're going to receive in terms of time, when we return after the summer recess. It has been the leader's suggestion at times that leader's suggestion at times that the backbench Business Committee would get the first day we'd return, and if that does happen, we already and if that does happen, we already have potential offers out to bidders for both the Tuesday and the Thursday when we return the business in Westminster Hall.

Mr. speaker, next week, on the 14th of July, we'll have a debate on isolation and deprivation in coastal communities. On Thursday the 16th, a debate on the impact of National Policy Planning policy framework changes, followed by a debate on capital funding for changes, changing places, toilets. On Tuesday the 1st of September. When we return, we will have debate on provision of face to face banking services in rural areas. And on Thursday, a debate on vaccination rates in England, followed by a further debate to be confirmed on Tuesday the 8th of September.

There'll be a debate on the safety of the Jewish community, and on Thursday, the 10th debate on reform of vascular sector, followed by a debate on the contribution of fathers and positive male role male role models to families and society. And finally, Tuesday, the 15th of September, a debate on building safety remediation of residential buildings. So, as you can tell, Madam Deputy Speaker, we are getting on with the job of allocating the time that we have available to us.

Now, Mr. Speaker, Madam Deputy Speaker, the leader will probably be aware that there is a current scandal going on where both local authority, social rented properties and potentially housing association properties are being let on A, B and B. The reality is I've been a strong campaigner for more social housing to be built in this country, but it's clearly important that the people who have those tenancies actually live in those properties and use them, and if they don't use them, then they should be vacated and used for those people that desperately need them on the waiting list.

So could the leader arrange for a Minister to come and give a statement in the House next week, what the government's going to do to not only expose this scandal, but ensure that the tenants that are due to be in these properties are actually living there, and that if they're not living there, the properties can be released for those that desperately need them.
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None Portrait Ministerial statement: NATO Summit
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