Yvette Cooper
MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Lab
1 May 1997 - Present
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Prime Minister's Questions
No PMQs questions found for this MP.
Will my right hon. Friend support this excellent idea and apply pressure on the Ministry of Justice to get it up and running as soon as possible?
Context
Several Conservative police and crime commissioners have proposed including the filling of potholes in community payback initiatives for offenders.
Chris Philp
My hon. Friend raises an excellent idea that has my enthusiastic support.
Session: Topical Questions
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Does the Minister believe it is time to review his previous resistance and work with us on any necessary legislation to address state-sponsored threats like those from the IRGC?
Context
The Iran International journalist Pouria Zeraati was attacked in London following repeated security threats related to Iran. Labour has proposed new security legislation for proscription-style restrictions on state-linked organisations.
James Cleverly
We have the National Security Act 2023 and a range of tools at our disposal. Defence against state threats is one of the Department's priorities, and my right hon. Friend the Security Minister leads on its practical implementation.
Session: Topical Questions
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If the Government took this seriously, they would not have ditched plans for a new hate crime strategy or left it nine years to update the countering extremism strategy. Does he agree?
Context
The Government ditched plans for a new hate crime strategy and left it nine years to update the countering extremism strategy.
Thomas Tugendhat (Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Safeguarding Victims, and Combating Hate Crime)
Anti-Muslim hatred is wrong. The Government work against it by proscribing Hizb ut-Tahrir, a tragic support to extremist communities.
Session: Topical Questions
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Anti-Muslim hate incidents have tripled. Following recent statements about the London Mayor, will any Home Office Minister now condemn those words as Islamophobic?
Context
Tell MAMA reported a trebling of anti-Muslim hate incidents following a statement by the former deputy chair of the Conservative party.
Thomas Tugendhat (Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Safeguarding Victims, and Combating Hate Crime)
Within 24 hours, the Prime Minister removed the Whip from that individual. Anti-Muslim hatred is wrong and this Government will work against it.
Session: Topical Questions
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Returns have dropped 50% since the last Labour Government. The Home Secretary is still not telling us where those missing people are. He appears to have lost thousands of people who may have no right to be in the country, and lost any grip at all. In the ongoing Tory asylum chaos, we have Cabinet Ministers, countless ex-Ministers and the deputy Tory chair all saying that they will oppose the Home Secretary's policy this week—a policy that we know he and the Prime Minister do not even believe in. If the deputy Tory chair this week votes against the Home Secretary's policy, will he be sacked, or is the Prime Minister so weak that he has lost control of asylum, lost control of our borders, and lost control of his own party, too?
Context
Returns have dropped 50% since the last Labour Government. The Home Secretary is questioned about his policy's effectiveness.
James Cleverly
Conservative Members of Parliament are absolutely united in our desire to get a grip of this issue. I am not the person who has held up a sign saying, “Refugees welcome”; I am not the person whose colleagues oppose each and every rhetorical flourish. Until the Labour party comes up with a credible plan, I will not take its criticism any more seriously than it deserves.
Session: Topical Questions
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We welcome the proscription of Hizb ut-Tahrir. Five more lives were tragically lost in the channel this weekend. As criminal gangs profit from those dangerous boat crossings, it shows how vital it is to stop them, but we need the Home Office to have a grip. The Home Secretary gave no answer earlier on the 4,000 people he has lost from the Rwanda list. Can he tell us if he has also lost the 35,000 people he has removed from the asylum backlog? How many of them are still in the country?
Context
Five more lives were tragically lost in the channel this weekend. The Home Secretary is questioned about losing people from the Rwanda list and the asylum backlog.
James Cleverly
I join the right hon. Lady in expressing sadness and condolences for those who lost their lives in the channel. That reinforces the importance of breaking the people-smuggling gangs. The fact is that we are driving down the numbers of people in the backlog: we are processing applications more quickly and ensuring that decisions are made so that those who should not be in this country can be removed either to their own country or a safe third country. That is why the Rwanda Bill is so important, and why we will continue working on these issues.
Session: Topical Questions
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Perhaps that mean an end to the magical thinking that the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor called for. We still have 10,000 more bed spaces than when the Prime Minister promised to end hotel use. The Home Secretary owes the House the facts. There is still no sign of anything on the failed Rwanda plan, because he knows it will not work, and nothing on the trebling of net migration to tackle the skills gaps that are driving work visas. The Government have been in power for 13 years and all we have is chaos and briefing wars. His Back Benchers are already calling him “Colonel Calamity”, and he has Corporal Chaos next to him on the Front Bench. Given the mess he has inherited and his penchant for profanity, does he accept that he is now up a certain kind of creek without a paddle?
Context
The MP has questioned the Home Secretary's ability to manage migration policies.
James Cleverly
The right hon. Lady is someone I admire hugely, and one of the things I admire most is how she has managed to be at the Dispatch Box twice but has failed to ask anything resembling a sensible question about the issues we are discussing.
Session: Topical Questions
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The Home Secretary has been in post for two weeks, during which time he has used the same language to pick a fight with Stockton and show what he thinks of his own Rwanda policy, he has been attacked by his Back Benchers, and Downing Street has already been forced to confirm it still has full confidence in him. Twelve days ago he said the number of asylum hotel bed spaces are down, but four days ago Home Office figures showed they are up to a record 56,000—10,000 more than at the beginning of the year. Does he even know what is going on?
Context
The Home Secretary has faced criticism for his handling of the Rwanda policy and asylum accommodation.
James Cleverly
Yes, I do. Let me expand—that answer was a by-product of the right hon. Lady asking a closed question at the Dispatch Box. I have been in this job for 14 days, and I am conscious that my counterparts around Europe and the world are grappling with many of the same issues.
Session: Topical Questions
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Constituents and businesses are being impacted by illegal car racing and meets. The Labour council is dragging its heels on implementing a public spaces protection order and Kent police have been working hard but resources are precious. Will my right hon. and learned Friend look at how Kent police are funded?
Context
Illegal car racing meets impact constituents and businesses. Labour council is slow to implement PSPO, while Kent police face increasing burdens.
Chris Philp (Minister for Policing, Fire and Criminal Justice)
Kent has record police officer numbers at 4,261. We intend to review the police funding formula. I strongly urge Medway Council to get on with putting PSPO in place.
Session: Topical Questions
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What the Home Secretary said is total waffle. She has no answer on the inspector because she is afraid of scrutiny. There was no answer on her failure, just invented garbage about Labour. The only people removed are those needed to do the job. Since becoming Home Secretary, there has been a 40% increase in asylum hotels. When will she end their use? When will she deal with this shambles?
Context
The Home Secretary is accused of avoiding scrutiny by removing key officials.
Suella Braverman (Home Secretary)
The right hon. Lady talks about a shambles, but Labour's plan is delusional and not based in reality.
Session: Topical Questions
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The Home Secretary could not answer the question: does she support her own social care visas or not? She spent all weekend briefing that she agrees with her Back Benchers, but today she cannot even answer the basic question. Making up stuff about the Labour party will not help her when her party has been in power for 13 years and when work visas have doubled, exactly because the Government have failed to tackle skills shortages or issues in the labour market.
Context
There is criticism of the current immigration policies and their impact.
Suella Braverman
Thank you, Mr Speaker. We all know that only the Conservative party and this Prime Minister have a serious plan to stop the boats and stop illegal migration, and that Labour stands for only one thing: open borders and unlimited migration.
Session: Net Migration
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Will the Home Secretary wish the deputy chairman of the Conservative party, the hon. Member for Ashfield (Lee Anderson), a speedy recovery from the terrible bug that I understand has, this morning, prevented him from launching an entirely different Conservative immigration policy from the policy of the Conservative Home Secretary? Does she agree with him that social care visas should be cancelled—yes or no.
Context
There is uncertainty around the support of social care visas within the Conservative party.
Suella Braverman
The sorry fact of the matter is that Labour wants open borders and unlimited migration. There is a malaise descending upon the Labour party, and it does not even know what it thinks. Labour's Sadiq Khan has said that he wants more migration.
Session: Net Migration
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The Home Secretary will be aware of the documentary last week on the relationship between Boris Johnson and others, including former KGB officer Alexander Lebedev, and about the meeting in an Italian villa, the ignoring of security advice on Lords appointments, and the decision not to sanction Alexander Lebedev. Given the importance of national security, will she tell the House whether she has any concerns about those reports? Will she set up an independent investigation into what happened, who knew what, and how far the security risk spreads?
Context
A documentary reported on the relationship between Boris Johnson, Alexander Lebedev, and a meeting in an Italian villa. The decision not to sanction Alexander Lebedev raised security concerns.
Suella Braverman
At the Home Office, the Minister for Security and I take seriously the threats posed by hostile state actors. That is why the Minister for Security is chairing the Defending Democracy Taskforce, bringing together agencies and Departments in a cross-Whitehall approach to tackling the serious threats that we all face as parliamentarians and facing those in public office.
Session: Topical Questions
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The Home Secretary is failing to deliver for the British people, refusing to answer questions about seeking special treatment for a speeding ticket or clarifying statements made to civil servants. She has breached security protocols multiple times and seems above normal rules regarding penalties, appointments, and policy critiques. How can she enforce rules fairly if she thinks herself exempt?
Context
The Home Secretary has been accused of breaking the ministerial code in various instances. The issue concerns her adherence to rules and enforcement for all.
Suella Braverman
I have some gentle advice for the right hon. Lady. The person who needs to get a grip here is the shadow Home Secretary and the Labour party, as they have wholly failed to represent the priorities of the British people. When, Mr Speaker, will the Labour party apologise for campaigning to block the deportation of foreign national offenders?
Session: Topical Questions
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On this difficult anniversary, I pay tribute to those affected by terror attacks. However, when the Home Secretary received a speeding penalty last year, she reportedly sought special treatment through a private course and requested civil servants' assistance without disclosing what was asked of them. Will she confirm her actions with full transparency?
Context
The Home Secretary previously sought special treatment for a speeding ticket, which was revealed to the public. The issue has raised concerns about transparency and adherence to ministerial codes.
Suella Braverman
As I said earlier, in the summer of last year I was speeding. I regret that. I paid the fine and I accepted the points. At no time did I seek to avoid the sanction. What is serious here is the priorities of the British people. I am getting on with the job of delivering for the British people, with a record number of police officers and a plan to stop the boats, and by standing up to crime and for policing.
Session: Topical Questions
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The problem is that the Home Secretary's response is too little and too late. We should all back the commissioner to take urgently needed action in the Met, but confidence in the Met has dropped sharply and confidence has also dropped nationally. The system for national standards that the Home Secretary presides over is far too weak, with no proper regulations or requirements and no proper intervention when things go wrong.
Context
Confidence in the Metropolitan Police has dropped due to failures in policing standards.
Suella Braverman
I am proud of this Government's track record on reducing crime and increasing the number of police officers. Since 2010, violent crime is down, robbery is down, neighbourhood crime is down and burglary is down. When the right hon. Lady talks about the Met, what I would gently say is that London has a Labour Mayor—as well as a Labour police and crime commissioner—who has failed to hold the Met to account properly. I am afraid I must encourage her to speak to her Labour colleague and ask him to do a better job of holding the Met to account.
Session: Topical Questions
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The problem is that the Home Secretary's response is too little and too late. We should all back the commissioner to take urgently needed action in the Met, but confidence in the Met has dropped sharply and confidence has also dropped nationally. The system for national standards that the Home Secretary presides over is far too weak, with no proper regulations or requirements and no proper intervention when things go wrong.
Context
Failures in policing standards and vetting procedures identified. Home Secretary previously aware of issues.
Suella Braverman
I regret the tone that the shadow Home Secretary adopts when it comes to Rwanda. I encourage her to ditch her outdated and ignorant views on our friends in Rwanda. When it comes to the Casey report, which I have read, it is clear that there have been failings within the Met. That is why the commissioner is right to accept those past failings, and that is why he has my total backing in moving forward to turn around performance and standards in the Met, so that every citizen in London has total confidence in those who wear the badge.
Session: Topical Questions
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But nothing has changed in two years. Everything the Home Secretary has said is too little and too late, and far, far too weak. I have been contacted by a woman whose police officer partner was actually charged by his force with domestic abuse, but he still was not suspended and he is still a serving officer. This kind of thing is too unfair on victims and on police officers working hard. Labour will change the law to bring in compulsory standards for policing and to tackle abuse. Why won't the Home Secretary change the law?
Context
The question follows previous discussions on police disciplinary measures following cases of misconduct.
Suella Braverman (Home Secretary)
I think the right hon. Lady needs to keep up, because we have the College of Policing already strengthening the statutory code of practice for police vetting; we have tasked the Angiolini inquiry to look at the specifics of the Carrick case; and I have launched a review into the disciplinary process.
Session: Topical Questions
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Sentencing is under way today for David Carrick's truly appalling crimes. It is shocking that he was able to serve as an officer for so long, and we think of his victims. After Sarah Everard's murder, Ministers said “Never again”, but barely anything changed. Can the Home Secretary confirm that, if a police officer is under investigation for rape or domestic abuse, there is still no requirement for them even to be suspended, and that many, like Carrick, are not?
Context
The Home Secretary announced changes to the police disciplinary process following recent cases of misconduct.
Suella Braverman (Home Secretary)
We are going through an overhaul of our processes when it comes to disciplinary procedures applying to those officers who are under investigation. That is why I have announced a review and am looking into measures over the disciplinary process, so that we make it easier for chief constables to exclude those officers who have fallen short.
Session: Topical Questions
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Since the Nationality and Borders Act came into force, dangerous boat crossings have reached a record high. The Prime Minister promised extra money for the NCA but details are unclear two days later. Can the Home Secretary tell us how much additional funding there will be for the NCA?
Context
The Home Office's handling of illegal migration since the introduction of the Nationality and Borders Act in 2022.
Suella Braverman
The announcement sets out a comprehensive approach to illegal migration, stopping boat crossings, dealing with asylum backlog, operationalising Rwanda agreement, and cracking down on smugglers. The shadow Home Secretary needs to reverse her opposition to our plan.
Session: Asylum System
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The Home Secretary had no response on prosecutions and has been in charge for 12 years. Ministers have made things worse with legislation that did not work. The Prime Minister promised money for the National Crime Agency, but two days later, the Home Office does not know how much it is or where it is coming from. Can the Home Secretary tell us how much additional funding there will be for the NCA?
Context
The Home Secretary's lack of response on prosecutions, failure to take action against criminal gangs, and the increase in dangerous boat crossings.
Suella Braverman
The Prime Minister's announcement set out a comprehensive approach to illegal migration and stopping boat crossings, dealing with asylum backlog, operationalising Rwanda agreement, and cracking down on smugglers. The shadow Home Secretary needs to reverse her opposition to our plan.
Session: Asylum System
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That is a totally nonsense answer. The Home Secretary obviously is not aware that former chief constables have warned that her Nationality and Borders Act 2022 makes it harder to prosecute people traffickers, and that in fact it is adding six-month delays to the asylum system and pushing up the costs.
Context
Former chief constables have warned that the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 makes it harder to prosecute people traffickers. It also adds six-month delays to the asylum system, increasing costs.
Suella Braverman
Of course we need to go further and faster in the fight against illegal migration. I am very disappointed and concerned by the unprecedented numbers of people arriving here illegally. We are taking steps to fix it. The reality is, as I said, that this year alone more than 30,000 attempts have been prevented by the French. I have come back today from securing a deal that will increase the number of French patrols on the French coastline, which will reinforce our collaboration and intelligence work and strengthen our joint fight.
Session: Illegal Cross-channel Movements Discussions with French Counterpart
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It is astonishing that the Home Secretary has not made an oral statement on this subject, given the number of people who want to ask questions. She is preventing full scrutiny of this deal. Could that be because her written statement admits that there have been only 140 smuggling-related convictions across all of Britain and France in 35 months? Can she confirm that that means there have been on average just four convictions a month for those dangerous crimes, even though last month alone nearly 7,000 people arrived in the UK as a result of organised criminals profiting from putting lives at risk? Why is the Government's action against criminal smuggler gangs so pitifully weak?
Context
The MP criticizes the lack of scrutiny on the deal and questions the Government's effectiveness in tackling organized crime.
Suella Braverman
Why is the Government's action so pitifully weak? We introduced legislation—an extensive Bill designed specifically to deal with the problem occurring on our shores—and on every occasion, what did Labour Members do? They voted against it. If they were really serious about solving this problem, they would be supporting our proposals, not carping from the sidelines.
Session: Illegal Cross-channel Movements Discussions with French Counterpart
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Under this Home Secretary since 2019, our police have removed over 50,000 knives and offensive weapons from our streets, keeping us all safe. But in Southend, knife crime, including this summer—
Context
Police have removed over 50,000 knives and offensive weapons from streets since the Home Secretary took office in 2019. Anna Firth acknowledges this but mentions issues with knife crime in Southend.
Priti Patel (Home Secretary)
I want to pay tribute to my hon. Friend because she has been very strong on this issue. She is right: there is a great deal of work taking place. I would like to thank Essex police in particular for dealing with this issue in her constituency.
Session: Topical Questions
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But the Conservatives have cut the funding for policing and they have brought in lots of legislation that has not worked. Stabbings are up by 60%, and over 90% of violent criminals now get away with it. That is way higher than it was just seven years ago. The National Police Chiefs' Council has said: 'Detection and charge rates for a range of crimes have fallen over the past five years. This has been impacted by austerity and the loss of thousands of police officers and staff—and backlogs in the court system.' That is a damning reflection on 12 years of Conservative policies on policing and crime. On her last day in the job, will she tell us whether she thinks that 43 police chiefs are wrong?
Context
There are concerns over the Conservatives' cutting of policing funding and introduction of ineffective legislation. Stabbings have increased by 60%, with a high percentage of violent criminals not being caught.
Priti Patel (Home Secretary)
It is this Government who have delivered over 13,000 additional police officers. That is 69% of the 20,000 target that we have set to meet by March 2023. Not only that, but it is our Government who have been committed from day one to reducing serious violence by putting an end to tragedies. We have invested over £130 million in tackling serious violence, including £64 million for violence reduction units.
Session: Topical Questions
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I know that in the past few weeks there have been significant improvements in dealing with passport applications, but I am still dealing with a few outstanding cases where constituents are waiting beyond the 10-week period, so will the Minister provide further reassurance to me and to my constituents that we will be able to deal with their cases and get them completed as soon as possible?
Context
There have been improvements in dealing with passport applications, but some constituents are still waiting beyond the 10-week period.
Kevin Foster
We have already recruited another 650 staff and are in the process of recruiting another 550. Obviously, where people have been waiting over 10 weeks and have travel booked, we will look to expedite their application for free.
Session: Topical Questions
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I am glad that burglaries fell in lockdown but they are now going back up, and overall crime is 18% higher and prosecutions are 18% lower on this Home Secretary's watch. This is the first time in 25 years that any Home Secretary has presided over both such a big rise in crime and a big drop in the charge rate. So how does it feel to be responsible for the weakest Government performance on crime in a quarter of a century?
Context
Overall crime is 18% higher while prosecutions are 18% lower compared to the previous period. This marks a quarter-century low point for government performance on crime.
Priti Patel
For the education and information of the right hon. Lady, may I restate to the House that burglary is down by 24%, neighbourhood crime is down by 33% and vehicle offences are down by 28%? [Interruption.] I appreciate that she does not want to hear the facts and that she struggles with listening to facts and grappling with factual information and data. This is why the Government's beating crime plan will go even further, so that, force by force, the Government can absolutely ensure that every single police force is held to account, which the Labour party should welcome, along with many of the resources that this Government have put into beating crime.
Session: Topical Questions
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Since Putin's invasion, Poland has provided refuge to over 2 million Ukrainians. Recently, the British Group of the IPU met with Polish counterparts who proposed setting up mayor-to-mayor twinning links between towns in Britain and Poland. Does the Home Secretary welcome this initiative?
Context
Poland has welcomed over 2 million people displaced by the war in Ukraine. The British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union suggested setting up mayor-to-mayor twinning links.
Priti Patel
I commend my hon. Friend on the initiative that she has shown through this twinning arrangement. It is incredibly important, and the House should pay tribute to our friends in Poland, and the Polish Government in particular, for everything that they have been doing to support Ukrainians.
Session: Topical Questions
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Overall crime is up by 14%, arrests and prosecutions have sharply declined. Since 2015, arrests are down by a third, charge rates are down by nearly two-thirds, and cautions and community penalties have dropped more than half. Despite rhetoric, the reality is that hundreds of thousands more criminals are getting away with their crimes.
Context
Crime in England and Wales has increased by 14% overall. Arrests are down by a third since 2015, charge rates have dropped by nearly two-thirds, and cautions and community penalties have halved.
Priti Patel
When it comes to backing the police and sorting out the criminal justice system, if the right hon. Lady's party was at all serious she would back the Bill, back the police and the back reforms to the criminal justice system.
Session: Topical Questions
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To return to the Home Secretary's answers to my right hon. Friend the shadow Home Secretary, in September 2020, she said that she would “call the police” if she saw her neighbours having a party in their garden. Is she confident that the Chancellor was aware of that advice?
Context
The Prime Minister admitted breaking the rules while the Home Secretary had previously advised calling the police if one saw a neighbour having a party.
Priti Patel
If I may say so to the hon. Lady, I repeat the comments that I made earlier. I appreciate that she may be trying to demonstrate some humour, but the Prime Minister has apologised. At the same time, it is right that the police, who are operationally independent, get on and do their job in the right and proper way, as they have been doing.
Session: Topical Questions
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In the run-up to Christmas, hare coursing caused a huge problem across Leicestershire, no more so than in Bosworth. Hare coursing brings with it damage to property and crops, and the intimidation of farmers and residents, so it must stop. The National Farmers Union and local farmers came together with our new rural crime unit in Leicestershire to try to deal with it, but what more can the Government do to ensure that we clamp down on hare coursing in Leicestershire?
Context
Hare coursing caused significant problems in Leicestershire, particularly in Bosworth.
Kit Malthouse
Like my hon. Friend, I have seen a rise in that kind of offence in my constituency. As the crops are cut and those animals become more apparent, it obviously becomes more of a problem. In the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, we are introducing a range of offences to deal with that crime which will attract a prison sentence of up to six months.
Session: Topical Questions
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Domestic abuse victims often cannot report abuse immediately. The unfair six-month time limit means they are denied justice and perpetrators are let off. I tabled an amendment to lift the limit, debated in the House of Lords today. Will the Home Secretary now accept that amendment?
Context
A six-month time limit on prosecuting common assault of domestic abuse is causing justice issues.
Priti Patel
We have always been clear about support for domestic abuse victims. The right hon. Lady will recognise that in the landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the work done in both Houses during its passage and our response to everyone who has been a victim of domestic abuse.
Session: Topical Questions
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NHS dentistry is facing a capacity crisis. There is a huge backlog of urgent care and treatment, which is leaving many dentists overwhelmed. Patients, including those in Pontefract and in towns across the country, are now unable to get routine check-ups, which is making the urgent care crisis worse and creating a vicious spiral. Will the Health Secretary ask his Ministers to meet dentist groups and patient groups in Yorkshire to hear about the urgent crisis they are facing and set out an urgent plan to deal with the huge capacity crisis in NHS dentistry?
Context
The MP questioned the government's approach to addressing the crisis in NHS dentistry.
Sajid Javid
The right hon. Lady is right to raise the issue of access to dentistry for her constituents and those across England. Dentists have done a fantastic job faced with the challenges of the pandemic. We all knew that those were very real for dentists, who, of course, could not see their patients in the normal way, and they have done everything they can to help on that.
Session: NHS Capacity
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Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Bukayo Saka faced significant racial abuse after the match. This has been visible to their fans for over 15 hours. I have contacted Instagram urging stronger action. Has the Home Secretary done so with other social media companies and will she now do it?
Context
Yvette Cooper inquires about Home Secretary's actions regarding vile racist abuse on social media platforms following a Euro final.
Priti Patel
I confirm everything related to racism is unacceptable. Legislation is being considered, but we need determined effort from everyone involved including social media companies. We are taking action on this matter.
Session: Topical Questions
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Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. When I asked the Home Secretary in February whether she followed public health advice when putting people in large dormitories in Napier barracks in the middle of a pandemic, she told our Committee that it was all based on Public Health England advice and that they have been following guidance in every single way. Last week however, a damning court judgment said: 'The bottom line is that the arrangements at the Barracks were contrary to the advice of PHE… The precautions which were taken were completely inadequate to prevent the spread of Covid'. It stated that the outbreak was inevitable. Will the Home Secretary now correct the record and explain why she did not follow public health advice in the middle of a pandemic, thus putting people's health and lives at risk?
Context
In February, the Home Secretary told a Committee that her actions were based on Public Health England advice. However, last week, a court judgment stated that arrangements at Napier barracks were contrary to PHE advice and precautions were inadequate.
Priti Patel
First let me be very clear to this House that at every single stage I have been clear about the need to protect public health and to stop the spread of the virus, and that is in relation to Napier barracks. Of course we will study the judgment and, in the light of that, look at various measures we may need to bring in. However, the Department did work fully with Public Health England—I have maintained that, and I still maintain that point.
Session: Topical Questions
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I join the Home Secretary and shadow Home Secretary in paying tribute to PC Keith Palmer, who lost his life keeping us safe four years ago, and in sending support to the Avon and Somerset officers injured in the unacceptable violence in Bristol yesterday. Scientists estimate that there are now up to 2,000 new cases of the South African variant a day in France. Can the Home Secretary tell us how many of the 15,000 people arriving in the UK each day are travelling here from France, and does she intend to put France on the red list?
Context
Concerns about the South African variant's high prevalence in France are leading to questions on whether new travel restrictions should be implemented.
Priti Patel
The right hon. Lady will know that red-listing countries is a matter for my colleagues in the Department for Transport and the Department of Health and Social Care. She is absolutely right to point to the prevalence of the South African variant in France. That is why we have effective measures in place at the border, with compliance checks and upstream checks for people who are travelling to the United Kingdom, alongside measures to test road hauliers, which, as she will be aware, we have been doing in Kent.
Session: Topical Questions
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Following my recent correspondence with the Home Secretary, I want to confirm whether her proposed future plans for managing travel risks will ensure comprehensive compliance measures or leave significant gaps in coverage. Specifically, will most passengers still not be subject to hotel quarantine and follow-up testing?
Context
The Home Secretary is questioned about the effectiveness of current hotel quarantine requirements and follow-up checks for international arrivals amid concerns over new virus variants.
Priti Patel (Home Secretary)
My plans do not confirm that the majority of passengers will escape strict quarantine measures. Compliance checks are ongoing, including airport screenings and pre-departure testing. The Government reviews all policies to protect public health.
Session: Topical Questions
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We have been told that the Government want to use Interpol databases as an alternative to the SIS II database after 1 January. Will the Home Secretary tell the House how many EU27 countries have agreed to upload all their information on wanted criminals, missing persons, and other crucial information on the SIS II database, onto the Interpol databases? How far will they have completed that task by 1 January? Can the Home Secretary guarantee the House that the police and Border Force will still be able to get access to that crucial criminal information?
Context
The UK's SIS II system for exchanging information on persons of interest with EU countries will end after 1 January.
James Brokenshire
In the absence of SIS II we will use Interpol channels to exchange information with EU member states on persons of interest. All incoming Interpol circulations, notices and diffusions are uploaded to UK border and policing systems.
Session: Topical Questions
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I join the tributes to Sergeant Matt Ratana. No one should ever underestimate the bravery of police officers and the risks they take to keep us all safe. Last week, the Select Committee heard evidence from the counter-extremism commissioner and the national counter-terror chief on the way in which extremists have exploited the covid crisis, and they called for new, co-ordinated action against extremism to be set up through a taskforce led by the Home Secretary. That is something that was first recommended over a year ago. Does the Home Secretary agree that we need this co-ordinated action as part of the vital work to protect our national security, and if so, why has the taskforce not yet been set up? Why has it not yet met?
Context
The Select Committee heard evidence from the counter-extremism commissioner and the national counter-terror chief on how extremists have exploited the COVID crisis. They called for a new co-ordinated action against extremism.
Priti Patel
I met Sara Khan last week and had a very constructive discussion with her about ways of working—not just the work of the taskforce but the entire field of counter-extremism, the work that is associated, and the lessons to be learned from the past. Obviously we are using the expertise of the Committee itself to look at learnings and how we can address the threat spectrum across the board. We have many experienced practitioners in this field and I am working with Sara Khan and others to develop learnings and look at the approach that we are going to take.
Session: Topical Questions
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On Friday the deputy chair of the local Conservative association was jailed for nine weeks for menacing communications, including these threats against me: “I am already organising her to be hurt. Amazing what crackheads will do for £100. I'm gonna get her beat up.” The chair of the local association wrote to me today expressing regrets and apologies for what he describes as the grave and unacceptable actions of its member, who has since been expelled. I welcome that letter and that support, but it concerns me that, thus far, no similar condemnation or sense of regret has been expressed by the national party. The national chair's letter to me in response to the issue said nothing stronger than intimidating behaviour has no place in our politics. May I therefore ask the Home Secretary to condemn these threats in the strongest terms, to look into her party's response, and also to show leadership by urging all political parties to come together and draw up a new joint code of conduct against intimidation? Violent threats must have no place in politics in all parties.
Context
Concern about violent threats directed at the questioner and lack of condemnation by national political parties.
Priti Patel
I thank the right hon. Lady for presenting to the House the horrors of what she has endured, and for making the case, very strongly and robustly, that there is no place for threats and intimidation in society or in public life. Let me say now, on the Floor of the House, that that is categorically unacceptable and wrong. There is no place at all for intimidation in public life. As for the national party's response, the right hon. Lady can take it from me, right now, that I am hugely apologetic for what she has had to put up with. It is simply unacceptable, and that is also something of which we should all be mindful, as representatives of major political parties. None of this should be tolerated.
Session: Topical Questions
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Summer Health and Resilience
09 September 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Health and Care Bill - Schedule 12 - Minor and consequential amendments
08 September 2026
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. This amendment aims to make minor and consequential changes to ensure the smooth implementation of the Health and Care Bill. These changes are nec...
Falkland Islands: Sovereignty
08 September 2026
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
NATO Summit
09 July 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Middle East
09 June 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
International Development
19 March 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Middle East
17 March 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Arctic Security 2026-01-19
19 January 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Iran 2026-01-13
13 January 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Venezuela 2026-01-05
05 January 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Attendance
31.6%
31 of 98 votes
Aye Votes
14
14.3% of votes
No Votes
17
17.3% of votes
Abstentions
67
68.4% of votes
11 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Closure motion
Ayes: 293
Noes: 218
Passed
11 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Second Reading
Ayes: 270
Noes: 286
Failed
10 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Social Housing Bill [Lords]: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading
Ayes: 77
Noes: 292
Failed
09 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Plant Health, Seeds, Seed Potatoes and Plant Propagating Material (Ame...
Ayes: 371
Noes: 100
Passed
08 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 140
Ayes: 79
Noes: 300
Failed
08 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 142
Ayes: 108
Noes: 357
Failed
08 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 143
Ayes: 106
Noes: 302
Failed
08 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Health Bill: Report Stage: Amendment 1
Ayes: 162
Noes: 297
Failed
07 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 6
Ayes: 77
Noes: 317
Failed
07 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 145
Ayes: 170
Noes: 316
Failed
04 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Motion to sit in private
Ayes: 1
Noes: 79
Failed
02 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Representation of the People Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 65
Ayes: 166
Noes: 346
Failed
02 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Representation of the People Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 67
Ayes: 105
Noes: 410
Failed
02 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Representation of the People Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 88
Ayes: 85
Noes: 427
Failed
02 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Representation of the People Bill: Third Reading
Ayes: 411
Noes: 102
Passed
01 Jul 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Employment Tribunal (Extension of Time Limits) (Miscellaneous Amendments and...
Ayes: 322
Noes: 107
Passed
01 Jul 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Employment Tribunals Extension of Jurisdiction (England and Wales) (Amendment...
Ayes: 318
Noes: 107
Passed
01 Jul 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 2
Ayes: 80
Noes: 281
Failed
01 Jul 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 4
Ayes: 173
Noes: 282
Failed
01 Jul 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 5
Ayes: 177
Noes: 308
Failed
24 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Customs (Tariff and Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2026
Ayes: 323
Noes: 160
Passed
24 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Draft Carbon Budget Order 2026
Ayes: 332
Noes: 94
Passed
24 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (International Aviation and International Shipp...
Ayes: 329
Noes: 94
Passed
24 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2026
Ayes: 330
Noes: 93
Passed
23 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Opposition day: Defence spending and readiness
Ayes: 108
Noes: 307
Failed
23 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Opposition Day Motion: Defence spending and readiness - Prime Minister's Amen...
Ayes: 294
Noes: 110
Passed
23 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Opposition Day: Puberty blockers
Ayes: 112
Noes: 283
Failed
22 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: New Clause 4
Ayes: 164
Noes: 311
Failed
22 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: New Clause 11
Ayes: 104
Noes: 391
Failed
22 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: New Clause 22
Ayes: 74
Noes: 323
Failed
22 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: Amendment 11
Ayes: 171
Noes: 322
Failed
17 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
National Security (State Threats) Bill: Allocation of Time motion
Ayes: 233
Noes: 94
Passed
17 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: Amendment 3
Ayes: 85
Noes: 317
Failed
17 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: Amendment 8
Ayes: 143
Noes: 249
Failed
17 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: Amendment 13
Ayes: 135
Noes: 258
Failed
17 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
Ayes: 144
Noes: 244
Failed
16 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Remainin...
Ayes: 77
Noes: 255
Failed
16 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Remainin...
Ayes: 151
Noes: 258
Failed
16 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Remainin...
Ayes: 162
Noes: 246
Failed
16 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Draft Clean Air Zones Central Services (Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulatio...
Ayes: 262
Noes: 86
Passed
24 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Opposition Day: Protections for children from online harms
Ayes: 69
Noes: 279
Failed
23 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: Amendment 1
Ayes: 161
Noes: 272
Failed
23 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: New Clause 2
Ayes: 156
Noes: 273
Failed
23 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
Ayes: 77
Noes: 280
Failed
23 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
Ayes: 73
Noes: 256
Failed
23 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Third Reading
Ayes: 361
Noes: 84
Passed
11 Feb 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Marit...
Ayes: 362
Noes: 107
Passed
11 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Local Government Finance Report (England) 2026-27
Ayes: 277
Noes: 143
Passed
11 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) (England) Report 2...
Ayes: 279
Noes: 90
Passed
04 Feb 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026
Ayes: 392
Noes: 116
Passed
0
PMQs Asked
41
Ministerial Questions Asked
202
House of Commons Debates Involved
0
Westminster Hall Debates Led
28
Statements / Bills
0
Petitions Presented
98
Voting Record
Activity Compared to Peers
How does this MP's parliamentary activity compare to the national average across 1370 MPs?
Prime Minister's Questions
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
+206% above average
This MP:
41
Average:
13.4
Westminster Hall Debates Led
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+4056% above average
This MP:
202
Average:
4.9
Statements / Bills Proposed
+196% above average
This MP:
28
Average:
9.5
Petitions Presented
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.5
Voting Attendance Rate (%)
-54% below average
This MP:
31.6
Average:
69.2
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 Yvette Cooper's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.