PMQs

Question

The Royal Lancaster Infirmary, a 130-year-old crumbling hospital, was meant to be one of the Government's 40 new hospitals. However, the funding announcement has been delayed four times already. Can the Deputy Prime Minister reassure my constituents that this is not going to be another broken Tory promise?

Question

I have a serious matter affecting every constituency to bring to my right hon. Friend's attention. Amazon has been facilitating the sale of counterfeit postage stamps from China, which are virtually perfect except for the barcode. I have contacted the National Crime Agency and National Trading Standards, and I am afraid that I have received woeful responses. I have now sent my concerns to the Serious Fraud Office and the City of London police's economic crime unit. Amazon is patently facilitating remittances of illegally gotten cash, and I believe this is in contravention of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. Will he assist me in taking this further?

Question

It is a pleasure to welcome yet another Deputy Prime Minister to the Dispatch Box—the third deputy I have faced in three years. You know what they say: the third time's a charm. I am also pleased to note that the Prime Minister has a working-class friend—finally.<br/>I seem to remember that, after the loss of 300 Conservative seats at last year's local elections, the right hon. Gentleman resigned, saying “someone must take responsibility”. After 1,000 more Conservative councillors have been given the boot by voters, who does he think is responsible now?

Question

It is absolutely amazing that while the Labour party is preparing to govern with a Labour majority, the right hon. Gentleman's party is starting to prepare for Opposition. This week, at the National Conservative conference, the hon. Member for Devizes (Danny Kruger) blamed the country's problems on a “new religion”. He even hit out at the “dystopian fantasy of John Lennon”. The hon. Member for Penistone and Stocksbridge (Miriam Cates) identified falling birthing rates as the “overarching threat” to the UK. She criticised “woke” teaching for “destroying…children's souls”, causing self-harm and suicide among young people. And the right hon. Member for North East Somerset (Mr Rees-Mogg) really let the cat out of the bag when he said:<br/>“Parties that try and gerrymander end up finding their clever schemes come back to bite them, as dare I say we found when insisting on voter ID”.<br/>The Deputy Prime Minister, while working in No.10, said he had to listen to the radio every morning to find out what was really going on in the country. Apparently, he was “surprised” on a daily basis by what he learned and most of his time was spent on “day-to-day crisis management”. Eleven years on, nothing has changed.

Question

The reality is that after 13 years of Tory rule, they are still lurching from crisis to crisis and wallowing in their own mess. They cannot solve the crisis, because they are the crisis. The right hon. Member should take more note of what is happening at his conferences in his party before trying to make up what is happening in mine.<br/>The Prime Minister pledged that by March NHS waiting lists would fall. It is now May. Can the Deputy Prime Minister tell us whether, since the Prime Minister made that pledge, the number of people on waiting lists is higher or lower?

Question

Even before the pandemic waiting lists were going up, so it does not wash that this Government, after 13 years in power, are blaming everybody but themselves for what people are having to put up with. The right hon. Gentleman appears to be claiming that 11,000 patients waiting more than 18 months is an achievement. The last Labour Government reduced waiting times from 18 months to 18 weeks. He can come back to me when he has achieved that. The fact is that waiting lists are longer than when the Prime Minister made his pledge five months ago. The number of people in England waiting to start hospital treatment is the highest since records began—7.3 million patients left waiting.<br/>I know the Prime Minister has his own private GP, so maybe he does not appreciate the urgency, but he has left people like my constituent Carol waiting over a year for an urgent appointment, moved from waiting list to waiting list, with appointments cancelled again and again. If not now, when will waiting lists—

Question

I am concerned about the increase in child poverty under the Tories since they abolished the child poverty unit and target. Can he tell us what level of poverty he considers acceptable?

Question

After 13 years of Tory rule, the number of children living in poverty has increased. The Tories are focusing on vested interests and not addressing real problems. When will they stop blaming others and acknowledge their failures?

Question

I wish to convey condolences for Councillor Gillian Lemmon, who tragically passed away at age 52 during the election count, necessitating a voided election result. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that voting again on June 15 will honour her memory?

Question

The Deputy Prime Minister's blog in 2016 promised to provide all available facts regarding Brexit. However, today's reality shows negative impacts on food prices, employment, and the economy. Why is he ignoring these facts?

Question

Despite acknowledging the negative impacts of Brexit, even Nigel Farage admits its failure. Why can't the Deputy Prime Minister do the same?

Question

My constituency faces issues with illegal encampments that disrupt communities. The police either lack powers or fail to use them effectively. Will the Deputy Prime Minister ensure that Cheshire Police have sufficient powers and will they be used?

Question

I am concerned about Unionists' worries regarding our capacity to trade freely within the UK, given the continued application of EU law on manufacturing goods in Northern Ireland. There are proposals for a future border operating model that could create further barriers to trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Will you assure me that the Government will legislate to protect Northern Ireland's ability to trade freely within and with the rest of the United Kingdom?

Question

I pay tribute to the volunteers who work every weekend under all weather conditions. However, it is a disgrace that the Liberal Democrat-run council closed town centre toilets, putting young women at risk when seeking secluded areas for safety reasons due to lack of single-sex spaces. Will my right hon. Friend join me in calling for immediate reopening of these facilities?

Question

My constituents struggle with bills and food costs due to high inflation rates across various goods including food and utilities, as well as the threat of economic loss from car manufacturing moving out of the country. The Office for Budget Responsibility says that £100 billion has been lost permanently from the economy. Wages are falling behind basic living expenses. Does the Deputy Prime Minister believe his Government's Brexit approach benefits people?

Question

In 2016 we received over £300 million for A&E services modernisation in Shropshire. Six years later, the money hasn't been spent and no construction began. This leads to serious concern about our local NHS trust managers' quality. What can my right hon. Friend do to ensure this £312 million is finally used to improve A&E services?

Question

Leaseholders are trapped in an outdated and unfair system. Despite promises from the Government to maintain commitment and bring forward legislation soon, they scrapped plans to end this system. Why did the Government break their promise?

Question

What would be a justification for including settled EU citizens as potential voters with an electorate equivalent to Wales?

Question

I was concerned when I read that the Prime Minister had to be flown to a Southampton pharmacy. Several weeks earlier he flew from Lancashire to Yorkshire by private jet. Meanwhile, angry rail commuters suffer from service reductions and longer journey times due to operator cuts. The public thinks the PM is out of touch; they are right?

Question

I am concerned about the shameful attempt by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough to smear the amazing Teesworks project. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that it was always an integral part of the business case that the private sector should co-invest alongside Government and that the Teesworks arrangements have been checked and approved by the Government? Can he reconfirm his full support for the Teesworks project, reassure investors, and join me in calling for the Labour party to apologise?

Question

I am concerned about the shameful increase in food bank usage from 61,000 in 2011 to almost 3 million in 2022-23 under Conservative leadership. Is this a record that the Deputy Prime Minister proudly defends?

Question

It is truly excellent news that England is now the highest performer in the western world for reading. This progress will only be sustained if children are regularly attending school and able to learn. Can I commend the ten-minute rule Bill by my hon. Friend the Member for Meon Valley, which has cross-party support and delivers on key recommendations of the Education Committee and Children's Commissioner?

Question

It is an open secret that many in the Conservative party would wish to roll back the democratic gains of devolution, either partially or completely. Given recent comments from a former Minister and architect of the Brexit agreement advocating for a review and rollback of some currently devolved powers, does the Deputy Prime Minister agree with this approach?

Question

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on a brilliant first performance at Prime Minister's questions. Will he keep the Government laser-focused on issues that matter to people, such as the cost of living and the NHS? Also, will he focus on issues of the future, such as artificial intelligence which needs regulatory attention? And can he ignore reactionary voices from any part?

Question

I am concerned about half of children in Newcastle growing up in poverty, increased use of food parcels, 50% rise in child homelessness, and £1,000 drop in parent wages with a five-month wait for mental health treatment. Why are his Government making it so hard for our kids?

Question

I am concerned about residents suffering because of cowboy waste disposal companies such as Staffordshire Waste. Can I get support to hold these people accountable and ensure their retrospective planning application for an already used site is rejected by Stoke-on-Trent City Council?

Question

Crisis mental health services are in crisis, and patients and families are being gaslit and put at risk. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, but there is no Government awareness to ensure that my constituents are safe, and that funding and workforce needs are met. Why are the right hon. Gentleman's Government sitting on their hands? A devastating report is sitting on the Health Secretary's desk while patients in York and across the NHS are being failed. Can the trust and I have an urgent meeting?

Question

This week is Wales Tourism Week, an opportunity to celebrate one of Wales's most important sectors, which represents 10% of all jobs, supports Welsh farmers and food producers, and generates £6 billion of economic activity each year. Will the Deputy Prime Minister join me in thanking all those who work in the Welsh tourism sector? Does he agree that the UK Government's Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 demonstrates their commitment to supporting the tourism sector, unlike Labour's proposed tourism tax in Cardiff, which will undermine visits and jobs?