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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 18 Dec 2025
Indices of Deprivation: England

"My hon. Friend is being very generous with his time. Not only do seven of the 10 most deprived areas appear to be in Blackpool, but all 10 of the top 10 are in coastal communities, as are 50% of the top 50. We who represent coastal communities do not …..."
Polly Billington - View Speech

View all Polly Billington (Lab - East Thanet) contributions to the debate on: Indices of Deprivation: England
Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 18 Dec 2025
Jane Austen

"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Efford. I rise to speak in this debate simply because I love Jane Austen and all her works. We commemorate her in this debate, as we did on the 250th anniversary of her birth on Tuesday. Today, there has been …..."
Polly Billington - View Speech

View all Polly Billington (Lab - East Thanet) contributions to the debate on: Jane Austen
Written Question
Energy: Standing Charges
Wednesday 17th December 2025

Asked by: Polly Billington (Labour - East Thanet)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with Ofgem about the balance between standing charges and unit rates for farmer and grower businesses.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ofgem on a range of issues.

Standing charges predominantly recover fixed costs that do not vary by energy use. This includes supplier’s operational costs and the cost of essential network maintenance and upgrades.

Levels of standing charges in the non-domestic market are a commercial decision for suppliers and are not subject to the Energy Price Cap, which only applies to the domestic market. We know that too much of the burden of the bill is placed on standing charges, and we are committed to ensuring that standing charges are fair to all consumers.

Division Vote (Commons)
17 Dec 2025 - National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill - View Vote Context
Polly Billington (Lab) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 300 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 312 Noes - 165
Division Vote (Commons)
16 Dec 2025 - Finance (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Polly Billington (Lab) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 329 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 341 Noes - 195
Division Vote (Commons)
16 Dec 2025 - Finance (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Polly Billington (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 333 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 118 Noes - 340
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 15 Dec 2025
NHS: Winter Preparedness

"Does my right hon. Friend share my concern that, in the run-up to Christmas, NHS staff will be having to change their Christmas plans to cover emergency shifts as a result of this ridiculous strike, and patients will have emergency operations, and indeed scheduled operations, cancelled?..."
Polly Billington - View Speech

View all Polly Billington (Lab - East Thanet) contributions to the debate on: NHS: Winter Preparedness
Division Vote (Commons)
15 Dec 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Polly Billington (Lab) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 304 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 311 Noes - 96
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 10 Dec 2025
Seasonal Work

"I am grateful to the Government for the fact that Ramsgate in particular is benefiting from the Pride in Place fund. More widely, on the matter of seasonal work, which is vital for coastal communities such as mine, can the Minister confirm that seasonal and hospitality workers will benefit from …..."
Polly Billington - View Speech

View all Polly Billington (Lab - East Thanet) contributions to the debate on: Seasonal Work
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 10 Dec 2025
Seasonal Work

"I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way. I was interested in him suggesting that it was Labour’s principles that are causing the problem. Which bit of our plan for small and medium-sized businesses, action to tackle late payments, reducing regulatory burdens and expanding access to finance does he disagree …..."
Polly Billington - View Speech

View all Polly Billington (Lab - East Thanet) contributions to the debate on: Seasonal Work