Patrick Spencer
MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
Ind
Conservative
-
4 Jul 2024 - 13 May 2025
Independent
-
13 May 2025 - Present
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Prime Minister's Questions
No PMQs questions found for this MP.
We heard about the financial crisis facing football earlier, but there is also one facing Rugby Football Union. No one likes the RFU, not least because of the whopping bonuses that it hands out. Can the Secretary of State please let me know what conversations she is having internally about the crisis facing English rugby in this country?
Context
The financial challenges facing the Rugby Football Union, with criticism over bonuses given out.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)
My hon. Friend the sports Minister has recently met representatives from the Rugby Football Union. We appreciate that there are serious challenges in this area and we are determined to grip them.
Session: Topical Questions 2025-02-27
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Policing in rural areas is increasingly complex, but rural constabularies receive much less funding than inner-city ones. I know the Minister will jump on this opportunity to complain about the last Government, but will she at least take a moment to commit to publishing the methodology behind the funding formula and open a conversation about fairer funding for rural police forces?
Context
Policing in rural areas is increasingly complex, but rural constabularies receive much less funding than inner-city ones. The current funding formula was introduced by the previous Government.
The Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention (Dame Diana Johnson)
I am going to say that the funding formula was introduced by the previous Government—I think in 2011. They had two goes at trying to update it, and they did not do anything about it. We have been in government for seven months now, and this is what we have inherited. In a lot of areas, we have inherited things that we would not necessarily have wanted to have inherited. As I have said before to the House, we will be looking at police reform going forward, and part of that conversation will be around financial issues.
Session: Rural Crime 2025-02-24
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My constituents in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich are decent, tolerant and thoughtful people, but they are left wondering how the Prime Minister has appointed an Attorney General who is a friend and a Labour party donor as well as someone who has represented Gerry Adams, Shamima Begum and Hamas and clearly has questions to answer regarding outside earnings. Does the Solicitor General think that the AG was an appropriate appointment?
Context
Concerns raised by constituents about the appointment of an Attorney General who is a friend and Labour party donor, with past clients including Gerry Adams, Shamima Begum, and Hamas.
The Solicitor General
Again, unfortunately the Opposition are falling into the trap of believing that barristers are their clients. That is a deliberate conflation of representation and endorsement. As the hon. Member will be fully aware, barristers are not their clients in the same way that surgeons are not their patients. That is a foundational principle of the British legal and judicial systems, and Opposition Members ought not to undermine that.
Session: Attorney General's Office Transparency and Conflicts of Interest 2025-02-06
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Essex and Suffolk Water has issued a moratorium on commercial businesses pulling water out of the ground, affecting Aspall cidery in my constituency with £10 million investment plans. If this Government are serious about growth, will he meet me to find a solution?
Context
Essex and Suffolk Water has imposed a moratorium on water extraction from the ground due to Environment Agency regulations. This affects Aspall cidery in Patrick Spencer's constituency, which is ready to invest £10 million but cannot do so without access to water.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Steve Reed)
The Minister is willing to ask the Minister for water, Emma Hardy, to meet the hon. Gentleman to address his concerns about the moratorium on commercial businesses pulling water out of the ground.
Session: Water Company Executives Accountability 2025-02-06
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There is no doubt that the cut to the winter fuel payment has hit Suffolk hard. NHS Suffolk reported that 97% of beds were occupied over the Christmas period due to a spike in cold, flu and pneumonia-like symptoms. Kesgrave community centre has set up warm rooms for impacted pensioners. The only good news is that the Suffolk Community Foundation has managed to raise £100,000 to support pensioners across our community who are impacted by the cut. Will the Minister join me in paying tribute to the Suffolk Community Foundation for being there for the most vulnerable people in our society when his Government were not?
Context
Suffolk has been hit hard by the cut to winter fuel payments, with NHS Suffolk reporting high bed occupancy due to cold-related illnesses. Community centers have set up warm rooms for affected pensioners.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Torsten Bell)
This Government and the important charity that the hon. Gentleman mentions are here for the most vulnerable pensioners. That is why we are targeting the winter fuel payment at those who need it most, and why we will uprate all the state pension elements by over 4% this April.
Session: Winter Fuel Payment Pensioner Poverty 2025-02-03
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Considering the urgent need to address flood risks, can the Secretary of State promise to ensure that future housing targets favour development in dense urban areas and hold developers accountable for flood-related damage?
Context
Suffolk is experiencing significant flooding issues exacerbated by overdevelopment on low-lying rural land.
Matthew Pennycook
We are prioritizing development on previously developed brownfield land wherever possible. We have updated the NPPF to clarify issues related to flood risk. If the hon. Gentleman writes, I will be happy to look into specific details for his area.
Session: Topical Questions 2025-01-20
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It is all very well spending 2.5% of GDP on defence, but we have to spend it on the right kit. Over the weekend I noted a story about our NATO allies being frustrated with Britain for not investing in appropriate missile defence systems. As the Secretary of State meets his 2.5% commitment, will he commit to investing in surface-to-air missiles, precision and hypersonic missile systems, DragonFire laser systems and counter-drone blocking technology to ensure that the British Army is the most advanced and able in the western world?
Context
The UK aims to increase its defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, a target previously met by the Labour government in 2010.
The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)
The UK has for many years been one of the highest spenders on defence in NATO. We continue to hold that proud record. Increasing spending this year will mean that Britain continues to be one of the highest spenders in NATO. I remind the hon. Gentleman that the last time this country spent 2.5% on defence was in 2010 under the previous Labour Government—a level of defence spending that was not matched once during the 14 years in which his party was in government.
Session: Defence Spending 2.5% of GDP 2025-01-06
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I welcome what this Government are doing to increase prison capacity, but what will the Secretary of State do on tougher sentencing? If she goes to my constituency of Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, she will be met with a tough, gruff East Anglian accent that says, “What's the point of building prison places if you are not going to use them?”
Context
The question arises from the need to address prison overcrowding despite increased prison capacity.
Shabana Mahmood
I am sure the hon. Member's constituents will also recognise that, even with the new supply that we are building, we will still run out of prison places, as the demand in the system is much greater than the building planned. We simply cannot build our way out of this problem, so to make sure that there is always a prison place for the people who need to be locked up and that we never run out of prison places again, we need an independent review of sentencing.
Session: Prison Capacity 2024-12-10
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Will the Secretary of State reconfirm her commitment to academies and to the policy of academisation?
Context
Inquiry into the benefits and drawbacks of school academisation.
Bridget Phillipson
We want all schools to do well for our children and to drive high and rising standards regardless of the name above the door.
Session: Topical Questions 2024-12-09
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I communicated my concerns about the Norwich to Tilbury line with National Grid yesterday, and they mentioned that the Government are dragging their feet. Can the Minister update on when guidance will be brought forward?
Context
Concern over National Grid's lack of progress in defining community benefit schemes.
Michael Shanks
In four months we have moved quickly as possible on defining community benefit schemes for network infrastructure and generation projects; the previous Government had 14 years to implement a scheme but did not.
Session: Topical Questions 2024-11-12
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Child poverty is a scourge in British society, and I am grateful that the Secretary of State is bringing forward a child poverty strategy. Has she decided how to measure child poverty? May I warn her against using the much discredited relative measure, which, as we know, shows poverty decreasing during times of economic decline and increasing during times of economic growth? I implore her to use an absolute measure, which has a much better record of showing deprivation and long-term increases and improvements in living standards.
Context
The MP questions the chosen measures for assessing child poverty, suggesting an absolute measure.
Liz Kendall
I am afraid I will disappoint the hon. Gentleman: we will look at relative poverty after housing costs, but we will go further and look to alleviate the very deepest poverty. It is appalling that hundreds of thousands of families are forced to rely on food banks—something that I know only too well from my time chairing Feeding Leicester. We will look at relative poverty, deep poverty and what it will take to give every child the very best start in life, by bringing together support from public services, charities and other groups.
Session: Child Poverty 2024-11-11
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I think we will have to agree to disagree with the Minister about the record of the last Government on driving up apprenticeships, and in particular the work done by our colleague Robert Halfon. Looking ahead, by how much does the Minister expect the number of full apprenticeships to grow over the course of this Parliament? Will she publish the Department's assessment of the move to the growth and skills levy and what that does to the number of people starting apprenticeships?
Context
The MP discussed the achievements of the previous government in driving up apprenticeships, particularly mentioning work done by Robert Halfon. The MP asked about future growth expectations for full apprenticeships.
Catherine McKinnell
Our reformed growth and skills levy will deliver greater flexibility for learners and employers and align with our industrial strategy. It aims to create routes into good skilled jobs in growing industries, such as construction, digital and green skills, with a focus on high-quality entry pathways for young people.
Session: School Curriculum Workplace Skills 2024-11-04
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Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss how we can expedite plans to expand primary care in north Ipswich and the surrounding villages?
Context
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB announced plans to scrap the super-surgery in north Essex, causing significant distress among residents.
Stephen Kinnock
I thank the hon. Gentleman for setting out a list of all the failures of the past 14 years. He is dealing with that mess thanks to Members on the Benches he sits on. I strongly encourage his constituents to get actively involved in the 10-year plan that we will launch.
Session: Access to Primary Care 2024-10-15
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May I ask what consideration the Secretary of State and her Department have given to the much-needed expansion of electric vehicle charging networks in rural communities, specifically those in central Suffolk, to support the roll-out of the electric fleet?
Context
While welcoming the Government's plan to deliver 1,200 UK-made zero-emission buses to help local authorities with transport ambitions, there is a need for expansion of electric vehicle charging networks specifically in central Suffolk to support the roll-out of the electric fleet.
Simon Lightwood
We will be making an announcement soon on that expansion.
Session: Rural Transport Links 2024-10-10
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What steps her Department is taking to improve transport links in rural areas. The Government will introduce a new buses Bill to put power over local services back into the hands of local leaders across England, ensuring networks can meet community needs, including those in rural areas like Suffolk.
Context
The loss of thousands of vital bus services under the previous government has left many rural areas with poor transport links, particularly in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.
Simon Lightwood
The Government will be introducing a new buses Bill to put power over local services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, ensuring networks can meet the needs of communities that rely on them, including in Suffolk and other rural areas in England.
Session: Rural Transport Links 2024-10-10
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Can she give a 100% guarantee that multiplication times tables will not be removed from the national curriculum, given our success in PISA ratings?
Context
There were reports that the Secretary of State took meetings with teaching unions about removing times tables from the national curriculum.
Bridget Phillipson
I would caution about believing everything read in the press. Times tables are important part of the system. We will drive high and rising standards from Government, working in partnership with teachers to deliver better life chances for all children.
Session: Topical Questions 2024-09-09
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Public Finances Borrowing Costs 2025-01-09
09 January 2025
Urgent Question
Contributed to this debate
Will the Chancellor confirm that the growing pressure of borrowing costs on the public finances is a cause for concern, given recent high levels and the impact on mortgage costs and lending across the...
Security Industry Act - New clause 2, Amendments 25-28
09 December 2024
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
The new clause would require the Secretary of State to develop and implement a training plan in respect of qualifying premises and events before Parts 1 and 2 of the Act are commenced. The amendments ...
Finance Bill 2019-20 - Clause on National Insurance Contributions
03 December 2024
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
The amendment aims to address the fiscal challenges inherited from the previous government. It doubles the employment allowance, ensuring small businesses and charities can employ up to four people wi...
Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill
25 November 2024
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
Rural Affairs
11 November 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The debate concerns the impact of the Budget on rural communities, focusing particularly on farming. The speaker emphasises that food security is a national priority and highlights significant investm...
Winter Fuel Payment
10 September 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The decision to remove winter fuel payments has come as a shock to millions of pensioners, particularly those on low incomes. The Government's invocation of the urgency exemption and bypassing of the ...
Code of Conduct and Modernisation Committee
25 July 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Called the Leader of the House to move the first motion on code of conduct and guide to the rules, corrected a small error in paragraph 2(a) of chapter 4 of the guide to the rules. Also introduced ame...
Attendance
95.5%
21 of 22 votes
Aye Votes
12
54.5% of votes
No Votes
9
40.9% of votes
Abstentions
1
4.5% of votes
03 Feb 2026
VOTED NO
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Second Reading
Ayes: 458
Noes: 104
Passed
28 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Opposition Day: British Indian Ocean Territory
Ayes: 103
Noes: 284
Failed
28 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Opposition Day: Youth unemployment
Ayes: 91
Noes: 287
Failed
27 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Amendment 9
Ayes: 91
Noes: 378
Failed
27 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Amendment 1
Ayes: 88
Noes: 310
Failed
27 Jan 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Amendment 2
Ayes: 61
Noes: 311
Failed
21 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill Commi...
Ayes: 195
Noes: 317
Failed
21 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial...
Ayes: 373
Noes: 106
Passed
21 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: Thir...
Ayes: 316
Noes: 194
Passed
21 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill Commi...
Ayes: 191
Noes: 326
Failed
20 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill: motion to...
Ayes: 347
Noes: 184
Passed
20 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Sentencing Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 7
Ayes: 319
Noes: 127
Passed
20 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill: motion to...
Ayes: 344
Noes: 182
Passed
20 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill: motion to...
Ayes: 347
Noes: 185
Passed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: Clause 63 Stand part
Ayes: 348
Noes: 167
Passed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 26
Ayes: 172
Noes: 334
Failed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 9
Ayes: 181
Noes: 335
Failed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: Clause 86 stand part
Ayes: 344
Noes: 173
Passed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 25
Ayes: 187
Noes: 351
Failed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 24
Ayes: 184
Noes: 331
Failed
12 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 7
Ayes: 188
Noes: 341
Failed
12 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: Amendment 3
Ayes: 185
Noes: 344
Failed
0
PMQs Asked
16
Ministerial Questions Asked
7
House of Commons Debates Involved
0
Westminster Hall Debates Led
0
Statements / Bills
0
Petitions Presented
22
Voting Record
Activity Compared to Peers
How does this MP's parliamentary activity compare to the national average across 649 MPs?
Prime Minister's Questions
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
1.9
Ministerial Questions
+102% above average
This MP:
16
Average:
7.9
Westminster Hall Debates Led
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
1.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+196% above average
This MP:
7
Average:
2.4
Statements / Bills Proposed
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
5.1
Petitions Presented
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.2
Voting Attendance Rate (%)
+26% above average
This MP:
95.5
Average:
75.6
Important Context
- - Ministers answer questions rather than asking them, so have different activity patterns
- - Activity quantity doesn't measure quality or effectiveness of representation
- - Some MPs focus more on constituency work than parliamentary questions
- - Newly elected MPs will have less parliamentary history
About This Page
This page tracks Patrick Spencer's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.