On Wednesday this week we received the tragic news of deaths in the Channel after a small boat carrying migrants to the UK got into difficulties. This follows a similar incident just over a year ago when 27 people drowned in just one day. I would like to thank the Coastguard, RNLI Lifeboats, the police, […]
This week the Online Safety Bill returned to parliament, for the first time since the government changes of the summer and autumn. As readers of this column will know this is an issue I have been campaigning on for years and was for a time also the responsible Minister for this Bill at the Department […]
Last week the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, presented his autumn statement to the House of Commons, setting out the difficult decisions we have to take over the next two years, to bring down inflation, ensure public spending is at sustainable levels, and support those who need it most. The problems we face are […]
This week the Home Secretary Suella Braverman has signed an agreement with her counterpart in France, Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin to increase efforts on the French coast to prevent small boats bringing migrants across the Channel to the UK. This will increase the number of French police patrolling along their coast to 300, and for the […]
There has been renewed focus this week on the growing crisis arising from the large numbers of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats. Let me say first that I want these crossings to stop. They are dangerous, have and will further lead to loss of life, create understandable fear and concern for the communities […]
I congratulate Rishi Sunak on his election as leader of the Conservative Party. It is important that as our Prime Minister he receives the united support of Conservatives in parliament, as we work together to restore stability to the economy and continue delivering the manifesto on which we were elected in 2019. I had supported […]
Few of us will ever forget watching the majestic and dignified scenes of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on 19th September. It was an occasion which united millions of Britons in prayer, thanksgiving and reflection, as well as capturing the attention of even greater audiences watching around the world. On the Saturday evening before […]
Every Member of Parliament knows that the question you are most often asked, and particularly when visiting primary schools, is ‘have you met The Queen.’ I am proud to be able to say that I did briefly on two occasions, when despite having hundreds of people presented to her, she still sparkled for each of […]
On 5 September the Conservative Party will announce the result of the election for its new leader, the person who will then become our new Prime Minister. For me, that has to be our Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss. I have known Liz since we were university undergraduates at Oxford, and we both entered the House […]
Last Sunday tens of millions of us watched the England Women’s Football team triumph in the final of the European Championships at Wembley Stadium. This was a great moment for English football as we secured our first senior tournament win since 1966. I would like to send my congratulations to the manager Sarina Wiegman, team […]