Business of the House

Judith Cummins Excerpts

Thursday 11th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Judith Cummins)]

I want to get as many people in as possible, so could Members please help each other out by keeping questions short?

[Clive Jones (Wokingham) (LD)]

Loneliness and social isolation are sadly common problems among older people. In Wokingham, the Link Visiting Scheme has spent 27 years tackling this problem, matching volunteers with the elderly and running projects to build friendships. This year alone they have helped over 1,000 people. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating the Link Visiting Scheme on being awarded charity of the year at the Great British business and community awards?

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Judith Cummins)]

I call Elsie Blundell to ask the final question.

[Mrs Elsie Blundell (Heywood and Middleton North) (Lab)]

Since the implementation of the peace deal negotiated in the middle east in recent months, we have seen a concerning acceleration of illegal settlements in the west bank in flagrant violation of various United Nations resolutions on the subject. What steps are being taken by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to make clear the UK’s opposition to those settlements, and will the Leader of the House consider a debate in Government time on the region’s future—a topic that is undoubtedly of interest to many across the House?

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

I am sorry to those who did not get in at business questions today. I have made a note of who did not, so I will try to prioritise them at a later date.

[Adam Jogee (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Further to the question from my constituency neighbour, my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent North (David Williams), Staffordshire has been in the news this week not for the skills, smarts and successes of our wonderful people from Newcastle-under-Lyme to Tamworth and from Stafford to Stoke, but for the disgusting, disgraceful and deeply sickening social media posts of the now former Reform UK party leader of Staffordshire county council. Madam Deputy Speaker, what advice can you provide to me and my Staffordshire colleagues on how we can ensure our people and our county are not tarnished by the disgusting views of a fringe minority?

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for making his point. It is not a matter for the Chair, but he has made sure that his thoughts are on the record.