Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 04 Nov 2026 Poundland
"My Lords, private equity has devoured town centres for years. Can I urge the Government to do two things? First, can they abolish the tax relief on interest payments for corporations—a process begun with the Finance Act 2017 by the party opposite. Secondly, can they appoint worker-elected directors on the …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank the committee for its report, which is a response to the Government’s deregulation agenda. It lowers the guard-rails on public protection, and even protecting capitalists from themselves, in the chase for economic growth. This project is full of contradictions. The committee is right when it states …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank the committee for its timely and informative report. The fiscal rules have focused mechanically on selected macroeconomic issues but they have not been accompanied by social objectives, such as targeting a reduction in poverty or in NHS waiting lists. The rules are suspended to support corporate …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"I have been misrepresented and it will go in Hansard, but my reply will not if I respond privately. I at no point mentioned 300% debt—I do not know who the noble Lord was listening to. I reminded the Committee that debt was 270% when the NHS was founded …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"My Lords, do I have a moment of reply, since I have been accused? Indulge me, please, because I have been incorrectly represented...." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"My Lords, as a former accountant of a major international oil company, I am highly sceptical of the tax numbers floated in this debate and generally. What steps are the Government taking to ensure that profits from Jackdaw are not shifted from the UK to a low or no-tax jurisdiction …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take to disable business rates avoidance schemes and the industry promoting them...." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"My Lords, saying that questions need to be completed in 30 or 45 seconds is incredibly regressive. We have more Members, more Ministers, more ministries and more legislation than ever before, and to imagine that you can ask a detailed question in about 30 or 35 words is impossible. Somebody …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. After claiming empty property relief, some businesses place empty boxes in premises to give the appearance of occupation, subsequently removing them to trigger an additional period of relief. One scheme operated by Principled Offsite Logistics Ltd has deprived councils of £500 …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech
"My Lords, I support some of the committee’s suggestions but not others. I have never knowingly supported discrimination based on gender, race, religion, disability or age and will not support a mandatory retirement age of 80 for Members of this House. There are excellent Members of that age and above …..." Lord Sikka - View Speech