On a point of order, Mr Speaker. May I put on the record the sad passing yesterday of Patrick O’Flynn, a political journalist who was well known to many hon. Members? He died after a short battle with cancer. He was a Lobby journalist for some 20 years, spending many days, weeks and months in the Press Gallery. He will be much missed and I pass on the condolences of all hon. Members to his wife, Carole Ann, and his two children.
I am grateful to the hon. Member for his point of order. Patrick was a long-serving and well-respected member of the Lobby. I am sure that the whole House will wish to join me in sending our condolences to his family, for somebody who was taken so young.
(5 months, 2 weeks ago)
Commons ChamberThank you, Mr Speaker—as the deputy leader of Reform UK.
Along with, I think, millions of other British citizens, I was shocked to read the exposé in The Times that Britain has become the “western capital” for the use of sharia courts. May we have a debate on this issue in the new year? In my view, the use of sharia courts to make unofficial rulings about marriages, divorces and family life has no place in the United Kingdom.
(7 months ago)
Commons ChamberAre the Minister, the Secretary of State and the Chancellor aware that so serious are the consequences of this policy that the heads of farming families in their 80s and 90s are seriously considering committing suicide before it comes into place? [Hon. Members: “Shame!”] Shame on you! [Interruption.]