PMQs

Question

I associate myself with the Prime Minister's remarks on Bloody Sunday. Did the Prime Minister agree to the Chancellor of the Exchequer writing off £4.3 billion of fraud? That is £154 from every household in the country that went directly into the pockets of fraudsters.

Question

My local hospital, the George Eliot, has recently issued all of its staff, helpers and volunteers with a medal in recognition of the work that they have done and continue to do throughout the covid pandemic. Will the Prime Minister join me in thanking them all for the incredible work they have done, including the specialist teams such as palliative care, who have had to act as surrogate families for patients whose relatives have been unable to attend because of restrictions? Will he consider following their lead in issuing a national service medal for all our key workers, who have done such an outstanding job in keeping our country going throughout the pandemic?

Question

I join the Prime Minister in his comments in relation to Bloody Sunday. The ministerial code says that: “Ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation”. Does the Prime Minister believe that applies to him?

Question

I think the Prime Minister said yes, he agrees that the code does apply to him. Therefore, if he misled Parliament, he must resign. On 1 December, the Prime Minister told this House from the Dispatch Box, in relation to parties during lockdown, that “all guidance was followed completely in No. 10.”—[Official Report, 1 December 2021; Vol. 704, c. 909.] He looks quizzical, but he said it. On 8 December, the Prime Minister told this House that “I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party”.—[Official Report, 8 December 2021; Vol. 705, c. 372.] Since he acknowledges that the ministerial code applies to him, will he now resign?

Question

This is the guy who said that, in hindsight, he now appreciates it was a party. We have discovered the real Captain Hindsight, have we not? Let me spell out the significance of yesterday's developments. Sue Gray reported the matter to the police, having found evidence of behaviour that is potentially a criminal offence. Prime Minister, if you do not understand the significance of what happened yesterday, I really do despair. The police, having got that material from Sue Gray, subjected it to a test to decide whether to investigate. That test was whether it was the “most serious and flagrant” type of breach in the rules.

Question

This was the Prime Minister who went into hiding for five days because of these allegations. He should not talk to me about being around for the allegations—[Interruption.]

Question

We have a Prime Minister under police investigation, unable to lead the country. Throughout this scandal, the Tories have done immense damage to public trust. How much damage are you prepared to do to save his skin?

Question

We have a Prime Minister under police investigation, unable to lead the country when public expenses are soaring. Instead of getting on with their jobs, they are wheeled out to save his skin. Is this not a Government showing contempt for decency and honesty?

Question

Will the next phase of the levelling-up fund bring hope and prosperity to communities right across the United Kingdom?

Question

Every moment the Prime Minister stays in office drags out the agony for families who remind him of sacrifices made and further damages his party's reputation. How much longer will Tory MPs let this go on?

Question

Every moment the Prime Minister stays in office adds to a crisis caused by Tory cuts, Brexit, and soaring costs of living that have pushed millions into poverty. How much longer will Tory MPs let this go on?

Question

The River Wye is one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe but its ecosystem is being destroyed by phosphate and other pollutants. Will the PM press the Environment Agency, Natural England, and Natural Resources Wales, along with the Welsh Government, to develop an integrated long-term strategy for cleaning up the river? Additionally, will he consider establishing a new ringfenced national rivers recovery fund using fines from water companies?

Question

Families across the UK are struggling with increased living costs and energy prices. In Northern Ireland, this issue is compounded by the protocol, leading to a 27% increase in cost for goods from Great Britain and daily losses of £2.5 million, or nearly £1 billion annually. The Prime Minister's claims about uniting the nation and levelling up are undermined by these barriers.

Question

Has the Prime Minister seen the recent report by the Environmental Audit Committee advising on steps beyond the Environment Act 2021 to improve river health? Will he encourage his Secretary of State to give guidance to Ofwat to require more investment in water treatment?

Question

Given the PM's recent birthday celebrations with singing indoors when gatherings were illegal under pandemic rules, my constituents believe he lied to them. What can you say in response?

Question

Given past successes like getting Brexit done and building an effective vaccine programme to combat the pandemic, will my right hon. Friend continue delivering on priorities for constituents who voted for him in 2019?

Question

Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of my constituent Mike O'Leary's murder, where his body was desecrated to cover up the crime. Will the PM meet campaigners and me to discuss establishing new offences or sentencing guidelines to reflect extra suffering faced by families of murdered victims whose bodies were concealed or desecrated?

Question

Will the PM meet to discuss Hemel Hempstead's new hospital future? On another note, many children suffer from specific seizures treatable with medical cannabis prescribed by consultants. Currently only two children get it for free; the rest face financial hardship. Will the Prime Minister use his political will to push forward this matter so these children can receive their prescriptions?

Question

Threats and intimidation, bribery and blackmail, racism and Islamophobia: that is the character of the Prime Minister's Government. Every day, the Prime Minister lurches from scandal to scandal. Meanwhile, his Government have written off £4.3 billion to fraudsters. Instead of writing off loans to fraudsters, why will the Prime Minister not write his resignation letter to the Queen?

Question

The recruitment of 20,000 police officers is a fantastic commitment to law and order by this Government. Bedfordshire, in common with many other police forces, has lost out on about 95 officers as a result of the imposition of damping in 2004. So that we do not have to rely on one-off special grants to stay solvent, will the Prime Minister recommit to the reformation of the police funding formula in this Parliament?

Question

Twice in recent months, I have asked the Prime Minister about his and his Transport Secretary's commitment to delivering the Prime Minister's pledge to invest in UK-built ZEBs—zero-emission buses. I did not receive a clear answer. Worrying reports in the media of Treasury cuts to bus-buying plans highlight a conflict between the Prime Minister and his Chancellor. Is the current Chancellor denying the current Prime Minister the right to fulfil his pledge to buy 4,000 zero-emission buses?

Question

Securing extra health services at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup is a key priority for local residents, as it is for me, as the first home-grown MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup. Will the Prime Minister support me in delivering this extra investment for our local hospital and join me in thanking all the staff at Queen Mary's for their incredible efforts?

Question

A nurse who organised a small socially distanced demonstration against this Government's pay cuts was fined £10,000. People out there are sick to the back teeth of it being one rule for the Tories and another for everyone else. The Prime Minister, for once, needs to do the decent thing—for God's sake, resign!

Question

Alongside the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine there are real fears of China invading Taiwan. On Sunday, Beijing staged the largest incursion into Taiwan's airspace since October. Does my right hon. Friend agree that military aggression and threat of occupation are never acceptable anywhere in the world, and will he confirm that under this Conservative Government the UK will always be at the forefront of standing up forcefully for freedom and democracy, security and stability?