← Back to House of Commons Debates
Middle East
13 April 2026
Lead MP
Keir Starmer
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
DefenceEconomyTaxationClimateForeign AffairsEnergy
Other Contributors: 32
At a Glance
Keir Starmer raised concerns about middle east 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:
Government Statement
The Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the Hous [4D [K House to update on his visit to the Gulf, discussing the evolving situation [9D [K situation in the Middle East and its implications for Britain’s security. H [1D [K He expressed determination to honour victims of Southport and thanked brave [5D [K brave individuals defending UK interests during the US-Iran conflict. Starm [5D [K Starmer met with leaders from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and [K Kuwait to deepen defence and economic engagement amid regional instability [K caused by Iran's indiscriminate attacks. The Prime Minister emphasised the [K need for a sustainable ceasefire, including Lebanon’s inclusion, while welc [4D [K welcoming diplomatic efforts and condemning Israel's strikes. He thanked Pa [2D [K Pakistan and other partners for their role in diplomacy. Starmer reiterated [10D [K reiterated Britain's commitment to freedom of navigation in the Strait of H [1D [K Hormuz, committing to convene an international summit with President Macron [6D [K Macron to establish a credible plan for reopening the strait. Addressing ec [2D [K economic impacts, he highlighted government investments such as £50 million [7D [K million for heating oil customers and freezing fuel duty until September. H [1D [K He called for a different response reflecting changing global dynamics, foc [3D [K focusing on economic security through closer ties with European allies, ene [3D [K energy independence, and strengthening defence alliances like NATO. Starmer [7D [K Starmer concluded by stating that Britain must rise to the volatile world c [1D [K calmly but strongly.
Kemi Badenoch
Con
Saffron Walden
Question
The shadow Foreign Secretary urged the Prime Minister to [2D [K to take decisive action on energy security by granting North Sea drilling l [1D [K licences and cancelling planned fuel duty hikes. She also called for a 3% G [1D [K GDP defence spending increase, urging the government to publish its investm [7D [K investment plan.
Minister reply
No specific ministerial response provided in the [K given text.
Question
The war in the middle east is having a real effect on my [2D [K my constituents. From fuel to fertiliser, prices are increasing, and action [6D [K action needs to be taken to alleviate the consequences. Although there are [K immediate steps that the Prime Minister and the Chancellor should be taking [6D [K taking, not least reversing the planned increase in fuel duty, the bigger p [1D [K picture involves reopening the strait of Hormuz. What thought has been give [4D [K given to the role that the UK can play in clearing the strait of mines? In [K particular, did the Prime Minister raise the potential deployment of our au [2D [K autonomous minesweeping capabilities, which are already in the region, duri [4D [K during his discussions?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is absolutely right about opening t [1D [K the strait and playing our part—there is the political and diplomatic eleme [5D [K element, but there is also the issue of military capability. What we are do [2D [K doing with the countries that we have brought together in a loose coalition [9D [K coalition, and will meet in person later this week, is to look across those [5D [K those capabilities and draw them together. We do have capabilities when it [K comes to minesweeping; I will not go into operational details, but the hon. [4D [K hon. Lady knows what they are.
Question
I welcome the Prime Minister’s leadership in supporting [K our regional partners and our national interests, particularly that of free [4D [K free navigation. However, that lies outwith our most immediate security pro [3D [K problem, which is defending Europe from Russian attack in all its forms. Do [2D [K Does the Prime Minister agree that we should recognise Russian-Iranian co-o [4D [K co-operation, and that we must not let that distract us from our urgent nee [3D [K need to rearm collectively and defend our country and the continent of Euro [4D [K Europe?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for drawing attention to t [1D [K the really important issue of the relationship between Russia and Iran, and [3D [K and the assistance that Russia has given to Iran in relation to the intelli [7D [K intelligence that is being used during the conflict. We must never lose sig [3D [K sight of the fact that we are facing a war on two fronts, and Russia is a h [1D [K huge threat to our continent and our country.
Question
Will the defence investment plan be signed before the lo [2D [K local elections on 7 May?
Minister reply
We are working to finalise the defence investment [10D [K investment plan. It is really important that we do not make the mistakes th [2D [K that the last Government made; we inherited plans that were unfunded and no [2D [K not deliverable, so it is really important that our plan is robust. We are [K finalising it, but it will be a robust plan that serves for the future defe [4D [K defence and protection of this country.
Yasmin Qureshi
Lab
Bolton South East
Question
We now know that an agreement was about to be reached on [2D [K on uranium enrichment by Iran. However, Israel decided to bomb Iran, as did [3D [K did the USA, engaging in an illegal, immoral and dangerous war of choice. E [1D [K Even during the ceasefire, which included Lebanon, Israel continues to bomb [4D [K bomb south Lebanon and Beirut, displacing millions of people. This is typic [5D [K typical of Israel: just before an agreement is reached, it kills negotiator [10D [K negotiators and bombs countries. This is not a faraway conflict; my constit [7D [K constituents are paying the price for it through higher fuel costs and risi [4D [K rising mortgages and household bills. What additional steps is the Prime Mi [2D [K Minister taking to help my constituents, as well as people across the count [5D [K country and the world, by bringing peace—unlike Members on the Conservative [12D [K Conservative Benches, who seem to be finding it very amusing?
Minister reply
That is precisely why we are working with other c [1D [K countries to de-escalate the situation and get the strait of Hormuz open. A [1D [K As I said in my statement, that will not be easy, but notwithstanding that [K challenge, we will continue to do that work.
Question
In the Prime Minister’s 17-page statement, there was not [3D [K not one word of condemnation for the actions of the US, despite the fact th [2D [K that it started this illegal war. Last week, Trump threatened to wipe out a [1D [K an entire civilisation. The Prime Minister rightly condemned the horrific I [1D [K Israeli attacks on Lebanon, but we all know that the war criminal Netanyahu [9D [K Netanyahu just ignores what we say, because there are no consequences. Will [4D [K Will the Prime Minister take action, put sanctions on Netanyahu and withdra [7D [K withdraw all permission for the US to use UK bases and UK airspace, to make [4D [K make clear that we will not be an accomplice to the rogue actions of Donald [6D [K Donald Trump, which endanger us all?
Minister reply
The US is using the bases to attack the Iranian c [1D [K capability to fire missiles into the region, including at our citizens and [K our nationals. Members will have seen the images—going into hotels and the [K bases where our military are based. Is the hon. Lady seriously suggesting t [1D [K that we should reduce protection for our people in the region and expose th [2D [K them to attacks that they would not otherwise be exposed to? That, to me, w [1D [K would be a dereliction of duty, and I will never do that.
Hayes and Harlington
Question
I think the House is at one with the Prime Minister on t [1D [K the inclusion of Lebanon in the ceasefire. The problem that we face is that [4D [K that today there have been more airstrikes against the Lebanese, and the Is [2D [K Israeli artillery is now shelling Lebanese cities and towns. Many of us fee [3D [K feel that it is because Netanyahu is out of control, and Donald Trump is no [2D [K not willing to exert that control or influence to bring him into line. In t [1D [K the Prime Minister’s next discussions with European leaders that he is succ [4D [K successfully convening, will he place on the agenda a comprehensive Europea [7D [K European sanctions strategy, so that we can exert some influence to prevent [7D [K prevent Netanyahu running out of control and creating problems for the glob [4D [K globe, and not just the middle east?
Minister reply
I thank my right hon. Friend for his question. Cl [2D [K Clearly, Lebanon should be included in the ceasefire. These attacks must st [2D [K stop, and we need to be really clear about that. We will work with our alli [4D [K allies on both those issues.
Question
We know that the defence investment plan was originally [K due to be published last year. As it is a 10-year plan, will it be a 10-yea [6D [K 10-year plan from publication in this financial year, 2026-27? Does that ch [2D [K change the cost envelope? Is it a 10-year plan or a nine-year plan in terms [5D [K terms of how it is being financed?
Minister reply
It is a 10-year plan, and it mirrors our strategi [8D [K strategic review. It sits alongside the defence spending commitments that w [1D [K we have made and are implementing with the 2.5%, and the commitments that I [1D [K I made at the NATO summit last year.
Question
The House has repeatedly been told that the Government h [1D [K have permitted the US to use British military bases for defensive purposes [K only, but amid the widespread US targeting of civilian infrastructure in Ir [2D [K Iran, including schools, hospitals and bridges, we have not been told how t [1D [K those restrictions work in practice. Can the Prime Minister confirm whether [7D [K whether US military aircraft have taken off from RAF Fairford or Lakenheath [10D [K Lakenheath carrying heavy munition payloads? If they have, is there any US [K operational policy for action from our bases in place that has been approve [7D [K approved by this Government? If not, is it the case that the working defini [6D [K definition of defensive action is simply, “Don’t ask, don’t tell”?
Minister reply
Let me assure my hon. Friend and the House that t [1D [K that is not the position. The use is for defensive action only. I am partic [6D [K particularly concerned to make sure that we take every measure available to [2D [K to protect our nationals in the region, of whom there are very many. The us [2D [K use is for defensive action, and that is monitored. It has been monitored s [1D [K since the bases began being used.
Question
The Prime Minister is right to suggest that the tremors [K provoked by this conflict will reverberate long after the kinetic fighting [K has finished. There is perhaps no better example of that than Cyprus, where [5D [K where Government officials, all the way up to the level of the Prime Minist [6D [K Minister, have questioned Britain’s continuing sovereignty over our soverei [7D [K sovereign base areas there. May I ask the Prime Minister what he has done t [1D [K to reassure the Cypriots and the Cypriot Government that Britain is a trust [5D [K trusted and reliable neighbour and partner, and that our continuing soverei [7D [K sovereignty is immutable?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this matte [5D [K matter. I assure him that I have spoken to the President a number of times [K about the bases and about security in particular—which is, of course, a con [3D [K concern to him and to his public—and that those discussions are ongoing.
Question
This war, in which we are rightly playing no part, has m [1D [K my constituents fearing for the future, not least in relation to rising ene [3D [K energy and fuel costs. That underlines the crucial importance of bringing d [1D [K down the cost of energy and securing energy independence; but will the Prim [4D [K Prime Minister reassure my constituents that, while the Government are taki [4D [K taking the necessary steps to provide us with long-term energy security thr [3D [K through renewable energy and new nuclear, they will go further in the short [5D [K short term and tackle some of the profiteering that is happening, as well a [1D [K as directly supporting hard-pressed families and small businesses in my con [3D [K constituency in respect of the cost?
Minister reply
Yes. We will bear down on any profiteering, at th [2D [K the same time as pushing forward at speed for energy independence.
John Lamont
Conserv [8D [K (Conservative
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Question
May I ask the Prime Minister about one particular conseq [6D [K consequence of this war in the middle east, namely the rising cost of heati [5D [K heating oil, diesel and petrol? Everyone is struggling—I have spoken to man [3D [K many businesses and people who are really struggling to pay their bills—but [9D [K bills—but the support from the UK and Scottish Governments is only for peop [4D [K people claiming benefits. When will the UK Government reconsider that appro [5D [K approach and ensure that everyone, including working people and businesses, [11D [K businesses, is receiving enough support?
Minister reply
We will set out the plans as they develop. Some o [1D [K of the ways in which we protect and support have to be universal, and, in f [1D [K fact, the cut in energy bills until the end of June is universal, but we ar [2D [K are looking at the most appropriate support on a wider basis.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Question
Fresh from a weekend knocking on doors, I can confirm to [2D [K to the Prime Minister that on the streets of my constituency there is no ap [2D [K appetite for further involvement in this war. There are some—including, app [3D [K apparently, the Leader of the Opposition—who say that while they might not [K have chosen to start the war, now that the bombs are flying we have no choi [4D [K choice but to support our allies. Will the Prime Minister confirm that Pres [4D [K President Trump’s America is not a reliable ally, that Prime Minister Netan [5D [K Netanyahu’s Israel is not a reliable ally, and that we must work with our r [1D [K reliable allies in Europe to end the conflict and ensure that working peopl [5D [K people in this country do not pick up the bill?
Minister reply
We work with the Americans on a daily basis on de [2D [K defence, security and intelligence—it is important that I reiterate that po [2D [K position to the House—and, of course, we are working with them in relation [K to the use of our bases to take the action that is necessary to protect our [3D [K our civilians and our nationals. At the same time, we need to work more clo [3D [K closely with our European allies on defence security, on energy and on the [K economy.
Ben Lake
PC
Ceredigion
Question
The Prime Minister was right to mention the untold econo [5D [K economic damage that this crisis has already wrought on households and busi [4D [K businesses across the country owing to increased fuel costs, but does he sh [2D [K share my fear and that of the agricultural sector that the prolonged closur [6D [K closure of the strait of Hormuz may also feed through to higher food inflat [6D [K inflation? May I ask him what measures the Government are considering to he [2D [K help mitigate the potential consequences of a prolonged closure of the stra [4D [K strait?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for drawing attention [K to that issue. There will be consequential impacts beyond the immediate imp [3D [K impact on energy, which is why we are monitoring and keeping under review t [1D [K the steps that we can take. However, I return to my opening point: the abso [4D [K absolute focus must be on getting the strait reopened as quickly as possibl [7D [K possible, because all the time it is closed to free navigation the damage b [1D [K being done is being compounded, which is why it is so important that we wor [3D [K work with our allies to that end.
Justin Madders
Lab
Ellesmere Port and Neston
Question
Last week, President Trump was making the most outrageou [9D [K outrageous and dire threats in order to try to reopen the strait of Hormuz; [7D [K Hormuz; this week, he wants to keep it shut. Can the Prime Minister shed an [2D [K any light on the United States’s strategic objective behind this latest mov [3D [K move, what can be done to reopen the strait of Hormuz, and what more this G [1D [K Government can do to protect our people from the economic consequences of t [1D [K this mess?
Minister reply
Let me be clear: I want the strait open, not shut [4D [K shut. That is what we have been working on for the last few weeks, and we w [1D [K will continue to work on it. When I spoke to President Macron yesterday, we [2D [K we proposed pulling together a leaders-level summit later this year to cont [4D [K continue the work that we are already doing. To be very clear with my hon. [K Friend and the House, that is to get the strait fully open, because that is [2D [K is the single most effective way to limit the damage that is being done to [K all our economies.
Harriett Baldwin
Con
West Worcestershire
Question
When the Prime Minister was in the middle east, did the [K subject of the UK’s dependence on helium come up? It is an element that we [K do not produce in the UK, and it is vital for things such as MRI scans in t [1D [K the NHS.
Minister reply
We discussed a range of issues. I will not go int [3D [K into all the details, but we did agree that where we are working together a [1D [K already, we should double down and do even more in relation to resilience—w [12D [K resilience—which goes to the hon. Lady’s question—both economically and def [3D [K defensively. We will take forward that work.
Question
I welcome the Prime Minister’s continued clarity on the [K need for Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire, but Israel’s tactics in L [1D [K Lebanon—forced displacement, evacuation orders, 165 children killed and 87 [K medical workers killed—are straight out of its Gaza playbook. Does the Prim [4D [K Prime Minister agree that in Lebanon, as in Palestine, there must be proper [6D [K proper accountability for these war crimes, because this age of impunity pu [2D [K puts us all in greater danger?
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her question. [9D [K question. It absolutely shows why we must keep pushing for Lebanon to be in [2D [K included in the ceasefire. It is vital that we do so, and of course there m [1D [K must be accountability for all the actions that are taken, in any respect, [K in this conflict.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Question
I have been overwhelmed by the number of constituents wh [2D [K who have written to me over the past two weeks about the situation in the G [1D [K Gulf. They are of course concerned about their energy bills and the cost of [2D [K of living, but overwhelmingly they are outraged at the actions of all the a [1D [K actors in this conflict—Iran, Israel and the United States. What they want [K from their Government is more and stronger leadership on the international [K stage to open the strait of Hormuz. Will the Prime Minister consider going [K to the United Nations Security Council with an emergency motion to get that [4D [K that done and to condemn the actions in the middle east?
Minister reply
As the hon. Lady probably knows, we have been sup [3D [K supporting measures in the UN over the last two weeks, particularly some of [2D [K of those that were put forward by our Gulf allies, and I had the opportunit [10D [K opportunity to discuss those last week in the Gulf. We will continue to wor [3D [K work with them and others on building the necessary coalition to do all tha [3D [K that we can to get the strait open.
Stella Creasy
Lab
Walthamstow
Question
I welcome the Prime Minister’s tough stance in response [K to President Trump’s demands to get involved in this conflict, and his comm [4D [K commitment that Lebanon must be part of the ceasefire. Our constituents nee [3D [K need us to give them hope that they will not have to continue to live in a [K world that is driven by the uncertainty of when the White House takes to Tr [2D [K Truth Social. We can do things to de-escalate conflict, and one of those th [2D [K things is to support the two-state solution in Israel and Palestine, which [K the Prime Minister knows is at the heart of much uncertainty in the middle [K east. Given that the conduct of settlers on the west bank directly undermin [8D [K undermines the possibility of peace and the possibility of a Palestinian st [2D [K state, will he commit to including their conduct in his conversations about [5D [K about the ceasefire and how we can give hope to people in the middle east a [1D [K and peace to people around the world?
Minister reply
I reiterate to my hon. Friend and the House our s [1D [K support for the two-state solution, which is the only way to achieve a viab [4D [K viable long-term peace in the region. Of course, the settler violence is a [K threat to that. It is wrong in principle, and we will continue to bear down [4D [K down on it.
Question
For years, and well before this conflict took place, Mem [3D [K Members across the House have called on the Government of the day to proscr [6D [K proscribe the IRGC. Regardless of whether it has been the Prime Minister or [2D [K or other Ministers answering, there has always been a pivot to economic san [3D [K sanctions against the IRGC. We know that the Iranian regime has found ways, [5D [K ways, through cryptocurrency and fake corporate structures, to evade those [K sanctions. What assessment has the Prime Minister made of the effectiveness [13D [K effectiveness of UK sanctions against Tehran? On the presumption that those [5D [K those sanctions are failing, what precise action will he take to strengthen [10D [K strengthen them?
Minister reply
The IRGC has been sanctioned in its entirety. In [K relation to what more we can do, obviously we have been looking at state-ba [8D [K state-based threats, which will almost certainly require legislation—the ho [2D [K hon. Member will be familiar with the review in that regard. There are furt [4D [K further things that we can do, and hopefully we can work across the House o [1D [K on some of those issues.
Question
It is clear now that there was no plan behind this reckl [5D [K reckless war, and that the resulting energy crisis will have huge impacts b [1D [K both here in the UK and around the world. Can I thank the Prime Minister fo [2D [K for his cool-headed approach in the face of pressure from the leaders of Re [2D [K Reform and the Conservatives to follow the US blindly into this war? Does h [1D [K he agree that this demonstrates how important it is that we finally get off [3D [K off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and continue our record investment in gre [3D [K green energy?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend on both fronts. It was ver [3D [K very important that we made it clear from the start that we would not be pl [2D [K playing any part in this war, not least because of the consequences. What t [1D [K the war has flushed out is the need to get off the international market and [3D [K and have independence of energy bills in this country.
Question
British drones flew over Lebanon hours before and after [K the Israeli massacre that killed at least 18 people in a Bekaa valley city, [5D [K city, among 300 people across the region that day. We know that UK drones a [1D [K and surveillance flights have been used to feed operational information to [K the IDF during the genocide in Gaza, and it is deeply concerning that this [K may now be the case in Lebanon. Will the Prime Minister confirm whether the [3D [K these flights were co-ordinated with the Lebanese army? Was intelligence sh [2D [K shared with Israel or with the United States? What is our armed forces’ rol [3D [K role in this land grab and ethnic cleansing? Have any weapons supplied by t [1D [K the UK to Israel been used in Lebanon?
Minister reply
I have been clear throughout, and I will be clear [5D [K clear with the hon. Gentleman: this Government are guided by the principle [K that any action we take, anywhere in the world, must have a lawful basis. T [1D [K That is the principle that I have applied throughout this conflict and thro [4D [K throughout the time this Government have been in power.
Matt Western
Lab
Warwick and Leamington
Question
I commend the Prime Minister—and also the leadership fro [3D [K from the Foreign Secretary and the National Security Adviser, I am sure—for [8D [K sure—for the work that is being done. I welcome the news about trying to re [2D [K resolve the issues in the strait of Hormuz, but I share the concerns that h [1D [K have been voiced across the Chamber about the situation in Lebanon and the [K west bank. Closer to home, the Resolution Foundation has stated that median [6D [K median working-age households will be hit by a £480 additional cost this ye [2D [K year, which in my constituency is being described as the cost of Trump. Wil [3D [K Will the Prime Minister explain more about what can be done to assist house [5D [K households here in the UK?
Minister reply
The single most important thing is to de-escalate [11D [K de-escalate and get the strait of Hormuz open. That is why we are working s [1D [K so hard with other countries to do so, because the impact that it is undoub [6D [K undoubtedly having on our economy is affected by how long the strait remain [6D [K remains closed. That is why we have to focus on that.
Peter Swallow
Con
Bracknell
Question
My constituents feel the impact of rising fuel prices ev [2D [K every time they fill up their cars, with Bracknell fuel being between 2p an [2D [K and 10p more expensive than neighbouring towns. What conversations have the [3D [K the Government had with the Competition and Markets Authority to clamp down [4D [K down on this unfairness?
Minister reply
We are working on a number of fronts to ensure th [2D [K there is no profiteering from the price discrepancies, and we aim to de-esc [6D [K de-escalate the situation by getting the strait of Hormuz open.
Jim Allister
DUP
Upper Bann
Question
Given that rising fuel prices have swelled Government co [2D [K coffers through extra VAT tax take, would it be unreasonable to expect a so [2D [K socialist Government to redistribute wealth by reducing fuel duty?
Minister reply
We are considering all contingencies and will con [3D [K continue to do so while focusing on de-escalation and opening the strait of [2D [K of Hormuz.
Jim Dickson
Con
Dartford
Question
Would the Government consider additional measures to sup [3D [K support those most vulnerable with the cost of living, given the impact of [K the war?
Minister reply
Yes, we are considering further support while foc [3D [K focusing on de-escalation and getting the strait of Hormuz open.
Batley and Spen
Question
The Prime Minister stated that energy bills had gone dow [3D [K down from April, but for constituents reliant on kerosene and LPG, this is [K not true. Will he correct the record and tell us when he will do something [K to help these households?
Minister reply
We have brought household energy bills down by £1 [2D [K £100 from April until June, and we also announced support for those using o [1D [K oil to heat their homes.
Ayoub Khan
Lab
Poplar and Limehouse
Question
When will the Prime Minister state that the attack on Ir [2D [K Iran is illegal under international law?
Minister reply
We are working with a coalition to de-escalate th [2D [K the situation and get the strait of Hormuz open.
Andrew George
Lib Dem
St Ives
Question
What more can be done to ensure that no UK arms componen [8D [K components end up in the hands of Netanyahu's Government or that there is n [1D [K no trade with illegal settlements?
Minister reply
We have taken measures on both fronts within the [K framework of law.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Given fuel protests in Ireland and concerns from Norther [7D [K Northern Irish farmers, HGV users, and fishing sectors about rising prices, [7D [K prices, will the Prime Minister do something similar for us?
Minister reply
We are looking at what support can be put in plac [4D [K place across the board but de-escalation of the situation is crucial.
Adnan Hussain
Lab
Bradford West
Question
What assessment has been made of the breakdown in US-Ira [6D [K US-Iran talks, Israel’s role in it, and ongoing strikes in Lebanon? Will he [2D [K he condemn continued hostility?
Minister reply
We have spoken to Pakistan about finding a way fo [2D [K forward through diplomacy and de-escalation.
Shadow Comment
Kemi Badenoch
Shadow Comment
The shadow Foreign Secretary Kemi Badenoch praised th [2D [K the Prime Minister for his statement and paid tribute to UK servicemen and [K women. She emphasised Britain's vulnerability due to the Middle East confli [6D [K conflict, urging decisive action to protect British citizens' interests. Ba [2D [K Badenoch advocated for rapid energy security measures beyond July and criti [5D [K criticised Labour’s policy on oil and gas production in the North Sea. She [K called for immediate granting of drilling licences and scrapping planned fu [2D [K fuel duty hikes. Regarding defence readiness, she highlighted a more danger [6D [K dangerous world than a decade ago, demanding a 3% GDP defence spending incr [4D [K increase by Parliament's end. Badenoch urged putting party interests aside [K to develop a joint plan, identifying necessary spending cuts to fund increa [6D [K increased defence investment.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
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.