International Update

Debate between Andy Burnham and Lincoln Jopp

Monday 12th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

One can only imagine the frustration of the businesses that are trying to get that produce released. The Minister for Europe just said to me, “We get calls like this all the time.” Why was there such indifference on the other side of the House to this situation? Why are we not working towards a pragmatic solution to get British goods flowing to market? I do not think the other side’s position is sustainable, and the example my hon. Friend has just given, speaking up for businesses in her constituency, is one that the vast majority of people would say, “Right, get that fixed” and we will.

[Lincoln Jopp (Spelthorne) (Con)]

I thank the Prime Minister for his statement, to which I listened carefully. In it, he said,

“our resolve to defend…ourselves is absolute”.

However, at that Dispatch Box on another occasion, he said that national security

“cannot come at the expense of social security.”—[Official Report, 9 September 2026; Vol. 790, c. 1036.]

Bearing in mind that our allies and our enemies are listening to our proceedings, could he make it crystal clear to the world that he has no higher priority than the national security of the United Kingdom?

[The Prime Minister]

I can make it abundantly clear that national security is my highest priority and the Government’s highest priority, and we will set out how we will meet our NATO commitments in due course. But resilience builds from the community level up, and we also have to have an eye to the resilience of our communities in a very changing world, so I was talking about social security in the broadest sense. They go together. I want a resilient and strong Britain in the 21st century.

Direction of Government

Debate between Andy Burnham and Lincoln Jopp

Tuesday 1st September 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I assure my hon. Friend that I am giving close consideration to that very suggestion.

[Lincoln Jopp (Spelthorne) (Con)]

I wish you, Madam Deputy Speaker, many happy returns.

I welcome the Prime Minister to his place, and I welcome his words. In an answer to someone else, he said that he will always demand the highest level of recognition for those who put themselves at risk to keep us safe. I am sure that after six weeks of being Prime Minister he includes in that our amazing armed forces, yet our Northern Ireland veterans face a never-ending process of prosecution, absent any new or compelling evidence. Does he think that our Northern Ireland veterans need more protection? If he does, what will he do about it?

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Before the Prime Minister responds, let me say that questions need to be super short. Let us keep the responses tight as well, Prime Minister.