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Prime Minister
09 June 2021
Lead MP
Gavin Newlands
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
NHSEmploymentScotlandLocal Government
Other Contributors: 27
At a Glance
Gavin Newlands raised concerns about prime minister in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Expressed concern about the lack of legislative response to fire and rehire practices, questioned the devolution of employment law to Holyrood, and criticised the Government for failing to protect workers.
Gavin Newlands
SNP
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Raised concerns about fire and rehire practices and asked if employment law could be devolved to Holyrood.
Ben Bradley
Con
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Asked the Prime Minister to meet him urgently regarding HS2 and its impact on job creation in the east midlands, specifically for the Toton hub project.
Keir Starmer
Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Congratulated the Prime Minister on his marriage to Carrie Symonds, expressed sympathy over a terror attack in Canada, criticised the Government's education catch-up plan as inadequate compared to international standards, questioned why Kevan Collins' recommendations were not fully funded.
Boris Johnson
Con
The Prime Minister highlighted the UK's role in distributing vaccines globally, particularly mentioning the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. He also defended the Government's decision to cut overseas aid and emphasised that the British people have supported these decisions.
Keir Starmer
Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Mr Starmer criticised the Prime Minister for cutting international aid, arguing that it is essential for global leadership on vaccine distribution and peace processes. He urged the Prime Minister to use the G7 summit to push for a renewed Middle East peace process.
Lindsay Hoyle
Lab
Chorley
The Speaker, Mr Lindsay Hoyle, made humorous remarks about Felicity Buchan and other MPs in his capacity as Chair of the debate.
Ms Buchan congratulated her Government on its environmental policies and praised the green grant for decarbonising social rented homes in her constituency, particularly the Lancaster West estate.
Ian Blackford
SNP
Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Mr Blackford criticised the Prime Minister's decision to cut international aid during a pandemic. He urged for a vote on the issue and highlighted the moral and legal responsibilities of the Government towards global health.
Ian Blackford
SNP
Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Mr Blackford continued to press the Prime Minister about his stance on international aid cuts during a pandemic. He emphasised that every Member of Parliament had committed to maintaining 0.7% of national income for overseas development assistance.
Scott Benton
Con
High Peak
Mr Benton welcomed the Education Secretary's plans to provide tutoring support to children who have fallen behind due to pandemic disruptions, asking the Prime Minister to confirm that this was part of a wider plan to ensure no child is left behind.
Colum Eastwood
SDLP
Foyle
Mr Eastwood questioned why the Government prioritised trade deals with Australia over reducing checks in the Irish Sea, which affects Northern Ireland's concerns about access to goods from the rest of the UK.
Kevin Hollinrake
Con
Thirsk and Malton
Mr Hollinrake suggested that the Prime Minister could turbocharge his First Homes policy by establishing a national land commission to facilitate more discounted home purchases for key workers and local first-time buyers.
Barry Sheerman
Lab
Huddersfield
Mr Sheerman questioned when the public would see genuine signs of 'levelling up' in the country, citing concerns over the complexity and feasibility of implementing such a strategy effectively.
Boris Johnson
Con
The Prime Minister responded to various questions, emphasising the government's £640 billion investment programme in roads, schools, hospitals and policing aimed at levelling up across the country. He also discussed the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which introduces a new criminal offence for unauthorised encampments causing significant damage or distress.
Bassetlaw
Clarke-Smith asked about measures to prevent illegal encampments and the subsequent clean-up costs borne by local taxpayers, as well as efforts to restore residents' sense of control over trespassing.
Fabian Hamilton
Lab
Leeds North East
Hamilton highlighted cases where elderly constituents with dementia were married off by individuals who then inherited their estates due to revoked wills, urging the Prime Minister to address this form of exploitation.
Jones supported Lord Frost's negotiating style regarding the Northern Ireland protocol and urged for a more pragmatic approach from the European Union.
Andrew Gwynne
Ind
Gorton and Denton
Gwynne questioned why the Prime Minister continues to experience resignations among his advisers, expressing concern over ethics, standards, international law compliance, and funding for children's education.
May called on the Prime Minister to urgently review the legal ramifications of a recent judgment concerning the Hillsborough disaster, highlighting ongoing injustice faced by victims' families.
Grant raised concerns over investment scams involving Blackmore Bond plc, which took £46 million from small investors and left them facing significant financial losses due to inadequate regulatory oversight.
Amess advocated for an apology regarding the historical practice of forced adoption during the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, which affected a million and a half ladies who were compelled to give up their babies.
Ian Lavery
Lab
Blyth and Ashington
Lavery criticised the Government's catch-up funding for being insufficient in addressing learning loss during the pandemic, particularly in regions like the north-east of England.
Richards thanked Giani Singh and his team at Sikh Helpline UK for their community support services and wished them success with an upcoming charity bike ride from Edinburgh to West Bromwich.
Edwards expressed concern that the UK's trade deal with Australia could negatively impact industries such as agriculture, steel manufacturing, and fishing, citing examples of previous betrayals following Brexit.
Claire Coutinho
Con
East Surrey
Coutinho sought clarification on traffic commissioner powers to balance local business growth with resident safety concerns regarding heavy goods vehicle movements in her constituency.
Emma Lewell
Lab
South Shields
The MP criticised the Prime Minister's lack of action in supporting South Tyneside District Hospital, despite his rhetoric about NHS funding. She presented a petition signed by over 40,000 constituents against proposed cuts and urged him to help save her hospital.
The MP celebrated the announcement of £25 million investment in Redcar town centre for new water sports facilities and an indoor activity centre. He invited the Prime Minister to visit Redcar, promising a lemon top treat, as part of efforts to level up his constituency.
Government Response
Defended the Government’s stance on fire and rehire practices, highlighted investment in educational funding including £14 billion for schools and a £3 billion catch-up plan. Rejected criticisms from Labour over insufficient support for education recovery. The Prime Minister acknowledged ongoing consultations on NHS changes and highlighted £92 billion in additional funding for the NHS. He also praised the announcement of a town deal for Redcar and confirmed willingness to visit the area.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.