Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 2nd July 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend raises a very important point indeed, which I know is a concern to many of our constituents. The homelessness code of guidance sets out the framework that local authorities must follow in carrying out their homelessness duties. It is not always possible, but the Secretary of State recommends that authorities give careful consideration to those who rely on pets for companionship when making provision for them. I will ensure that Ministers have heard my hon. Friend’s concerns; if they have further proposals to bring forward, I am sure that they will do so.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

I am sure that the Leader of the House will want to join the people of the Isle of Man this weekend, as they prepare to celebrate Tynwald Day on Monday. Thank you, Mr Speaker, for hosting the Tynwald day reception in Speaker’s House last night with the Chief Minister, the President of Tynwald and the Speaker of the House of Keys.

For several years, I have received correspondence from former constituents who have moved to countries such as Australia and Canada after a lifetime of paying tax in the UK. Nearly half a million British pensioners abroad have their state pensions frozen, while those in the EU and the United States receive annual increases. That is even the case for those who retire to the British overseas territories of Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, St Helena, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos. How can it be right that British nationals are treated differently depending on where they live? Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on this long-standing injustice?

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 25th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is right to point to the importance of towns and communities, such as Rossendale and Darwen. They have a vital role to play in Britain’s economic future, as do our rural and urban areas. The Government’s industrial strategy is focused on driving investment and creating well-paid jobs in every part of the country. Our efforts have helped to secure £360 billion in private investment to date, which will support over 120,000 jobs. I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for a Westminster Hall debate or an Adjournment debate, so that he can put his concerns about the importance of towns directly to a Minister.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

I feel sure that the Leader of the House will want to join me in celebrating with the people of Romford. We have a double celebration this week: Armed Forces Day, when there is a magnificent parade through the town centre with the Royal British Legion Band & Corps of Drums, ex-servicemen, cadets, and many others joining to salute our brave servicemen and women; and the 10-year anniversary of 70% of my constituents voting to leave the European Union and take back control of their country.

I want to make one serious point about the closure of schools across the country. Will the relevant Minister come to the House today to say, “No. We have learnt the lessons from covid. Closing schools because of a heatwave is the wrong decision to make”? Taking children out of the classroom is absolutely wrong, so will the Minister make a statement condemning it?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly join the hon. Gentleman in praise of Armed Forces Day and give the events in Romford our best wishes. It is important that the community can celebrate our armed forces. I imagine that the hon. Gentleman’s area, like mine, has been a recruiting area in the past. I am not going to join him, however, in celebrating the 10th anniversary of leaving the EU. I am tempted to ask the hon. Gentleman: how is that going, then?

I am not going to condemn schools for making decisions. They must do what is right in the circumstances. I understand the concerns, because I remember the impact the covid years had on education, but the safety of children, staff and other workers is important. As I said earlier, there was a Cobra meeting earlier this week, and the Government are looking to see what further advice or action is needed. If anything further needs to happen, the Government will take that action.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 11th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

There are important developments in this matter. The Met police are working with the mobile phone companies, because they are absolutely crucial in supporting the delivery of this endeavour, and I am sure they want to make it less worthwhile for people to steal phones. I will raise the matter with the relevant Minister and see if we can get an update for the House on what the plan is, and on what further measures we can introduce.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

As the Leader of the House is only too well aware, there has been a big political change in Havering, with a new Reform council and 23 Reform councillors elected in my constituency. Despite that, outer Greater London boroughs are still subject to the Labour mayor’s plan, which mandates boroughs such as mine pursuing astronomical building targets that necessitate huge high-rise buildings that do not fit in a town like Romford. Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on the Floor of the House on these disproportionate plans, so that local people in areas like mine have the autonomy and a stronger voice, enabling them to defend their way of life and the character of our town and country borough?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As the hon. Gentleman showed last week, he is very keen—I understand his keenness—to say what happened at the local elections in his patch and to mention the Reform victory. But as I pointed out to him, he should get his campaigning shoes out, because Reform councillors sometimes discover that they do not want to be councillors or that their local authority decides that they are ineligible to be councillors. Collectively across the country, they usually underperform and let people down. I congratulate Reform on its success in the local elections, but I advise the party to prepare for by-elections, as we are seeing elsewhere in the country, particularly when local residents find out what it has done.

The hon. Gentleman made his point about Greater London last week, and nothing has changed between then and this week. His area is still part of Greater London. If he wishes to campaign, that is a fair thing to do—I know he did so when he sat on the Conservative Benches. He has campaigned in order to get an independent voice, and I know that he will always be an independent voice for his area, but it is still part of the same set-up.

The wider point is that it is very tempting to go down the route of the politics of division, but it is not very helpful. I would urge caution.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 4th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly join my hon. Friend in thanking Blackheath rugby club, and congratulating it on its promotion and its work, not just on the field but, I am sure, in the wider community. He will know that rugby clubs and other local sporting clubs are at the beating heart of our communities. Should he get a Westminster Hall debate on these matters, he could make the case for Blackheath, and others could make the case for clubs in their area.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

The Leader of the House will be aware that the local elections across Greater London brought seismic change to the political landscape. In my constituency, every single council seat—all 23—was won by Reform UK, and Havering council is now a Reform UK London borough. Does he accept that the political divide between inner-city London and areas that orbit the capital, such as my town and the county borough of Havering, can no longer be ignored after these results? Will he make time for a debate on reform of regional and local government around the capital, so that boroughs like Havering can regain our independence from the bureaucracy and control of City Hall and the Mayor of London—just as Margaret Thatcher, when she abolished the Greater London Council in 1986, gave real power back to local people in local boroughs?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman raised the point about the election results in his patch with the Prime Minister yesterday. It would be wrong of me to say anything other than that the electorate in his area spoke very firmly indeed. I gently point out to him that given that so many Reform councillors were elected, he should prepare himself to campaign in by-elections, because if things go true to form, a number of those councillors will be surprised that they were elected—or surprised that their position involves any work. A number of them may well end up in court, but all of them collectively will be a disappointment to the people of his area.

As for the relationship between the hon. Gentleman’s area and London, he can raise that matter; he raised it before he decided to go off to another party. He is a fierce advocate for his area, but I am not sure that the politics of division is the way forward.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 26th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

This week, I was shocked to hear about the unacceptable living conditions that my constituents are enduring at Haynes Park Court in Hornchurch. Leaseholders and tenants paying substantial service charges report rat infestations, black mould, damp and water leaks, alongside concerns about antisocial behaviour throughout the estate. Despite repeated attempts to engage with the managing company, London and Quadrant, about these issues, residents feel ignored, neglected and completely let down. Does the Leader of the House agree that housing associations like L&Q must be held to account? Will he make time for a debate on improving living conditions for my constituents and others who are facing similarly appalling conditions at the hands of housing associations that are failing in their duty to local residents?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Housing associations are required to deliver on the regulatory standards set out by the social housing regulator. Referrals can be made to the regulator where there are concerns that registered providers are not delivering on the proper standards, but I will make sure that the relevant Minister hears the hon. Member’s concerns.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 19th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Does the Leader have his with liquor?

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

I have absolutely no doubt that the Leader of the House will have joined all of us in celebrating St Patrick’s day on Tuesday 17 March. I thank you, Mr Speaker, for hosting a St Patrick’s day celebration in Speaker’s House. However, why are the Ulster banner and the cross of St Patrick not flown from the Houses of Parliament? It is right that flags are flown for Wales, Scotland and England on patron saint days, but no flag is flown for Northern Ireland, so can we rectify that for next year? Will the Leader of the House ensure that we have a St Patrick’s day debate in the Chamber, as we usually do? It is right that we discuss British-Irish relations, particularly the negative effect of the Windsor framework, which has divided our United Kingdom and is a democratic outrage.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 12th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As my hon. Friend points out, this is the second time this matter has been raised today, which underlines its importance. Should he seek a debate, I am sure that others would join him in raising these important matters. I will certainly look into the idea of a roundtable before the summit.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

Every year, for St George’s day, my local scouts in Romford have a parade and a service at a local church; in fact, there are two parades in Havering, as this also happens in Hornchurch. This year, however, the police have withdrawn support as they are not prepared to marshal the very short parade on the basis of cost. We pay in huge sums of money for the Metropolitan police and, as with any kind of event, I expect them to be there to look after the safety of the young people celebrating the patron saint of scouting. Will the Leader of the House allow time for a debate on the importance of celebrating St George’s day as part of our great English cultural heritage, as well as the failure of the Metropolitan police to ensure that the London borough of Havering is given the police cover that we deserve and pay for?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sure that this was not an easy decision for the police, but I can understand the distress that it might cause. Even now, I hope that a local solution can be found. The hon. Gentleman raises the question of whether there will be a debate to commemorate St George’s day—let me see what we can do in that regard. Such a debate would give him and others the opportunity to raise issues like this one.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 5th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Yes, I will.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

In 1986, when President Ronald Reagan contacted Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to ask that Royal Air Force bases in the UK be used to attack the Gaddafi regime in Libya, she said yes. This Prime Minister has said no to the same request from the current President, refusing the use of the Chagos islands. We know that Gibraltar is under threat as well, with the deal that is apparently being agreed, which could prevent the use of Gibraltar for future defence and security. What have this Government got against the British overseas territories, and is it not time we had a debate about the importance to defence and security of the British overseas territories’ contribution? Now we hear about the British bases on Cyprus. We need a debate on this, because they are vital to the defence and security of the United Kingdom and the entire free world.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sorry to say that the hon. Gentleman appears to be confused, because we have agreed that British bases can be used by the United States for limited and specific purposes of knocking out Iranian missile launches. This is defensive action—the purpose is to protect British lives in the region. This Prime Minister is absolutely committed to the defence of our allies in the region, and I would include other British overseas territories. When we talk about our national interests, we are talking about their interests, too.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 12th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend and constituency neighbour raises an important matter, and I will certainly ensure that her concerns are shared with the relevant Minister. Should she wish to have a meeting with the Minister, I will be happy to facilitate that. Because we share this issue as constituency neighbours, I would also be happy to come with her.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

Further to the question from the right hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Sir John Hayes), I know that the Leader of the House will fully appreciate that he is a member of His Majesty’s Government. In 2022, guidance issued under the last Conservative Administration established “UK Government” as an official corporate identity and a commonplace Government term, but he will know that any Government, including the current one, serve at His Majesty’s pleasure. The Prime Minister does not serve a corporate construct; he serves the Crown—the embodiment of our nation and her people. Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on the Floor of the House on the need to reinstate an understanding of, and deference to, our constitutional heritage, which is His Majesty’s Government and the King in Parliament?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I do not think there is a need for such a debate, because I am still—I am hesitating here—a member of His Majesty’s Government, as Ministers are members of His Majesty’s Government. That does not mean that, for outward-looking communication purposes, “UK Government” is not an appropriate term. I genuinely do not understand why this is such a difficult concept, but I will certainly bear the hon. Gentleman’s comments in mind.

While we are here, let me commend the hon. Gentleman for following his new leader’s advice on not working from home. It is a shame that many of his colleagues do not do the same—we rarely see them—but he is an assiduous attender of these sessions, and I thank him for that. I would have described him as a flag-bearer for Reform, but I know how excited he gets about flags.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 5th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Grassroots sport is vital to our communities and high-quality facilities are vital too—when they work well, they literally change people’s lives for the better. I join my hon. Friend in welcoming the funding announced for Scotland; we are ambitious for sport right across our country, and I hope the SNP Government are equally ambitious in what they do. This would make an excellent topic for a Westminster Hall debate and I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for one.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

Last week I visited Gina and Vincenzo, the owners of a fantastic local Italian restaurant in Hornchurch, whose much-loved business is struggling under the weight of extortionate business rates. They used to pay £2,200 a year, but are now having to pay around £6,800; however, according to the calculator on the Government website, they will have to pay an astonishing £19,000 in business rates in the future. The Leader of the House must know that pubs and restaurants across the UK are being ruined because of the Government’s anti-business policies, so will he at least make time for a debate on business rates reform? Can he really blame the owners of Umberto’s for banning Labour MPs from their premises?

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Judith Cummins)]

Order. The message about short questions does not seem to have got through. Can Members please shorten their questions, because we do not have much time?