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12,832 spoken contributions under 12 words (interjections such as “Will the hon. Member give way?”) are hidden. Show them

1. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Labour·Alex Sobel

   Israel and Palestine

   I am pleased that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary started by talking about our shared history of visiting our grandmothers in Israel. It gives him a clarity and authority on these matters that few else in the Chamber have. We would not accept goods from Russian-occupied Ukraine or Chinese-occupied Tibet, so why would we accept goods from Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory? I still have many Gazan students wishing to come to Leeds University, as do other colleagues to other universities, and not being able to get their visas. Can we look at a visa-lite or visa-free regime for those Gazan students?

   Hansard source
2. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Labour·Alex Sobel

   Artificial Superintelligence

   I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision to prohibit the development, deployment and operation of artificial superintelligence systems; to establish monitoring and control powers in respect of such systems; and for connected purposes. I am grateful for the opportunity to introduce this Bill alongside respected colleagues representing parties across the House. I also would like to thank ControlAI for its support with the Bill. This summer, artificial intelligence systems developed by OpenAI executed the first autonomous cyber-attack on a real company. The AI systems were being tested, and during this they escaped the testing environment, which should have been secure, and reached the open internet. From there, the AI systems conducted a cyber-attack on the AI company Hugging Face to steal the information that would help it cheat on the test that OpenAI had set it. To put it simply, the AI systems went rogue and launched an unprecedented attack just to cheat on a test. Meanwhile, our own AI Security Institute has had AI systems that it was testing engaged in sustained, potentially harmful activity directed at real people and organisations, including attempts at social engineering to trick humans into accepting malicious code. It is important to understand why this happens. The general-purpose AI systems used today are not coded line by line, like traditional software. Using vast amounts of data and compute, they are grown, not built. This results in systems that nobody fully understands or can reliably predict. In other words, no engineer programmed the rogue, deceptive behaviours that I earlier described, and no engineer can simply patch them out. This is the least powerful or autonomous that AI systems will ever be. Companies are spending billions to make superintelligent AI a reality. The chief executives at top AI companies themselves put the chance that it ends all human life between 10% and 25%. In the words of renowned British computer scientist Professor Stuart Russell of Berkeley, “For Governments to allow private entities to essentially play Russian roulette with every human being on earth is, in my view, a total dereliction of duty.” Despite the risks, top AI companies continue a reckless race towards superintelligent AI—AI that can fully replace and outmatch humans at any task. That is the reason why experts such as Geoffrey Hinton, Yoshua Bengio and other notable figures signed a statement saying that mitigating extinction risk from AI should be a global priority. The main vector of this risk is superintelligent AI, because no company, Government or individual knows how to keep superintelligent AI under human control. Honourable colleagues may remember that I proposed a kill switch amendment to the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill to protect our critical national infrastructure—a metaphorical big red button that the Government can press to cut off a catastrophic emergency caused by AI. This is a common-sense proposal—one that is being considered by US lawmakers—and I am pleased that the other place will be taking it forward in the autumn. It is a power that the Government should already have. But even kill switches will not be enough if the development of superintelligent AI continues. Let me be very clear: AI is the crucial technology of the 21st century, promising vast benefits for science, medicine and the UK’s prosperity, but superintelligent AI is different. It would not be a tool that we can leverage but an entity in its own right, capable of improving itself, replicating itself and resisting attempts to shut it down. It would be a force so uncontrollable that, if developed within the UK’s borders, it would put our security in jeopardy. It would amount to a rogue power stationed inside our data centres, under no one’s command, capable of seizing control of our critical infrastructure and running sophisticated influence operations. Colleagues, we need to take back control. If the UK is to be truly sovereign, we cannot allow a threat to our national security like superintelligent AI to be developed. My Bill is therefore not a verdict on AI as a whole; it is a targeted Bill that addresses a problem of unmatched severity. It strengthens the security of our country as a whole by specifically targeting the systems where the greatest risks are concentrated—superintelligent AI systems—by prohibiting their development. The Bill strikes a balance to address the grave security risks posed by superintelligent AI development while not undermining the UK’s AI ambitions, especially those relating to economic prosperity. Instead, it is acutely focused on mitigating the risks that superintelligent AI presents. Rather than betting on technical definitions that the technology will outgrow, it defines superintelligent AI by what it could do. Just as the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 defines toxic chemicals by the effect they have on living organisms rather than their technical characteristics, my Bill defines superintelligence by outcome: it is an AI system that can cause serious damage to the security of the United Kingdom because of its capabilities to neutralise, displace, circumvent, subvert or render ineffective relevant human authorities in the exercise of their functions. The development of the most advanced AI systems happens on a spectrum, so it matters where we draw the line. That line must recognise the capabilities of superintelligent AI. The clearest example of such a capability is recursive self-improvement—the full automation of AI development with no humans in the loop. That is the point where we lose control as development towards superintelligent AI proceeds too fast for humans to intervene and remain in control. My Bill would also empower the Government to monitor and, where necessary, restrict precursors to superintelligent AI. A challenge that we cannot overlook, however, is that if anyone builds superintelligent AI—wherever they build it—we are all in danger. Some talk of a race to develop superintelligent AI as if there could be a human winner. The only winner of that race would be superintelligent AI itself, and we would all be at its mercy. When a machine can outsmart our best engineers and resist shutdown, national borders offer no protection. Domestic legislation can protect us from the risk of superintelligent development at home, but it cannot by itself address the risks posed by superintelligent programs abroad. A global program necessitates a global solution. My Bill recommends that the Government work with other countries to secure an international agreement prohibiting superintelligence. Why should Britain lead this effort? Because we already have. AI’s foundational theoretical groundwork was laid by Alan Turing at Cambridge, Bletchley Park and Manchester. Google DeepMind was founded in London. Most importantly, Britain hosted the first global AI safety summit at Bletchley Park, which brought the US and China to the table to shape the future of AI. Britain established the world’s first AI security institute, building crucial expertise within Government. With AI policy now at the Cabinet table, Britain has an opportunity—and, I would argue, a responsibility—to leverage its state capacity and lead the next stage of international AI governance, especially when we have the next presidency of the G20. The Bill recognises that responsibility. With this Bill, the UK becomes the first G7 country in which legislation has been introduced to address the national security and extinction risk from super-intelligent AI by prohibiting its development. It is a watershed moment that lays the foundation for the UK to champion and work with others on a lean international agreement—a “trust but verify” regime—that does not need to wait on the slow machinery of traditional institutions. Key choke points in the AI supply chain would provide Governments with the ability to monitor and control the development of superintelligent AI. The most advanced AI systems depend on state-of-the-art chips. Such features make the supply chain inherently controllable and an international agreement eminently enforceable—for example, through the programming of chips. What is missing is not the technical ability to implement such a treaty, but a coalition of countries ready to tackle this national and global security threat. Britain can lead the way. I am proud to champion this Bill, but we are not alone in this effort. In June this year the United States Government suspended access to Anthropic’s Mythos model on national security grounds. If the Trump Administration, who are perceived as historically against AI regulation, can contemplate drawing a line on models that are too powerful and dangerous, it would be strange for us not to ask what our response should be. That is especially true given our legacy of being a first mover on AI security, with Bletchley Park and the world’s first AI security institute. A growing worldwide coalition of the willing is calling for decisive action. We should kick-start this effort at home. The clock is ticking.

   Hansard source
3. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Labour·Alex McIntyre

   Regional Funding

   5. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to regional funding arrangements on the economies of local communities which either are not part of a combined authority or do not have a metro mayor.

   Hansard source
4. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Labour·Alex McIntyre

   Regional Funding

   I thank the Minister for her answer. I fully support the Government’s exciting agenda of devolution, which takes power out of Whitehall and puts it into the hands of residents and communities like mine. However, my constituency of Gloucester does not have a metro mayor, and we are not part of a combined authority. I am determined to ensure that Gloucester is not left behind and is included in these important plans going forward. Can the Minister confirm how we can work together to ensure that Gloucester feels the benefits and investment from the Government’s devolution agenda?

   Hansard source
5. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Labour·Alex McIntyre

   Israel and Palestine

   I thank the Foreign Secretary for his moral leadership today. Since I came into this House, hundreds of Gloucester residents have told me that the Government could and should be doing more in the light of the atrocities in Gaza and the west bank. That is a point I have made in this House and to Ministers directly, and I would like to thank my right hon. Friend for acknowledging those concerns today and for going further. Does he agree that this shows that the Government are not just going to show warm words in the light of these atrocities, and that they are going to take action to uphold the values that we hold dear?

   Hansard source
6. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Labour·Alex McIntyre

   Online Safety

   As a parent, I can understand the anxiety that Gloucester parents have about keeping their children safe online, so I thank the Secretary of State for today’s announcement. Given the financial resources that the tech companies have and the innovative, brilliant minds that they have working for them, will she reassure the House that she will not accept any argument that it is too expensive or too difficult to stop children being able to take nude images and send them to people?

   Hansard source
7. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Labour·Alex Ballinger

   Falkland Islands: Sovereignty

   President Milei has coupled his renewed sovereignty claim with an increase in defence spending and plans to expand the naval base at Tierra del Fuego. In the light of these developments, can the Minister tell us if we have updated our threat assessments, and if the Falkland Islands’ air, land and maritime defences are adequate to ensure the islands’ and the islanders’ security?

   Hansard source
8. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Labour·Alex Ballinger

   Israel and Palestine

   I strongly welcome the Government’s new sanctions, which are the right and moral approach to the crimes we have been seeing and continue to see in the west bank. The Foreign Secretary will have seen the comments from Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir that, in response to the sanctions, Israel should recognise Argentina’s claims on the Falkland Islands. Will the Foreign Secretary now make it clear that such threats will not stop the UK upholding international law and the right of people to self-determination, whether that is in the Falkland Islands or in the Occupied Palestinian Territories?

   Hansard source
9. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Labour·Afzal Khan

   Israel and Palestine

   The Foreign Secretary and the new Prime Minister have shown leadership and moral courage by introducing these sanctions. I strongly welcome the Foreign Secretary’s support for the International Criminal Court’s case on genocide in Gaza. What discussions will he have with allies to encourage more countries to support the ICJ’s judicial process to bring about justice for Palestine?

   Hansard source
10. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Labour·Adam Thompson

    Topical Questions

    T10. The Chancellor will no doubt be aware that this month marks the fourth anniversary of the disastrous Liz Truss mini-Budget, which risked my constituents’ pensions and locked thousands out of home ownership. Last week we saw Liz Truss’s Financial Secretary, the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Andrew Griffith), made shadow Chancellor. Does my right hon. Friend have any advice for the shadow Chancellor on how he might learn from his mistakes?

    Hansard source
11. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Labour·Adam Jogee

    Falkland Islands: Sovereignty

    The House speaks with one voice when it comes to the Falklands being British. Like colleagues across the House, I represent many veterans in Newcastle-under-Lyme who served in the Falklands, and I thank them for their service. I am grateful to the Minister for her answers to date, but can I suggest that a Minister of the Crown gets on a plane and goes down to the Falklands to stand in solidarity with the people there as the Union flag is flown—and the sooner the better?

    Hansard source
12. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Labour·Abtisam Mohamed

    Israel and Palestine

    In July I led a debate on settlement expansion. I argued for international law to be respected and for the status quo to end. For far too long, we were told that a trade ban was too difficult—even impossible. For far too long, Palestinian lives have not carried the same weight as Israeli lives in British foreign policy. Palestinians deserve to have the exact same freedoms as Israelis. They deserve to live free from checkpoints, free from settler violence, free from occupation, and free from oppression. I thank the Foreign Secretary for his words, his action and, more importantly, the change of direction, and for showing that Britain can lead with a clear moral compass once again. Today is one of those rare moments when foreign policy can genuinely make a difference. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that international law can and must mean something once again? Will he confirm that the ICC arrest warrants still stand and that Britain will respect that policy?

    Hansard source
13. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·SNP·Lara Bird

    Topical Questions

    Monifieth in my constituency is home to over 9,000 people and is the central connection point for a vast rural community across Angus. Despite an application in 2023, a banking hub was denied because the regulations are not fit for rural communities. Will the Minister commit to meet me to discuss how those regulations impact rural communities and see if we can finally get Monifieth the banking hub that it needs?

    Hansard source
14. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·SNP·Kirsty Blackman

    Online Safety

    I first raised the issue of self-generated images in Parliament more than four years ago. I have asked almost every single Culture, Media and Sport team about the issue of livestreaming. I am pleased to hear from the Secretary of State that action is being taken, and about the belt-and-braces approach that is coming in. Even though we will have a social media ban and there will be device-level protections, I would like to see children’s accounts banned from livestreaming, regardless of whether it involves nude images, because so much of that can be held over children for the purposes of blackmail or abuse. I would appreciate it if the Secretary of State reassured me that that action will be taken, as well as the other actions that are moving ahead.

    Hansard source
15. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·SNP·Graham Leadbitter

    Topical Questions

    T5. Following the summer, recovery will be at the forefront for communities in my constituency and others who have been impacted by devastating wildfires. Many businesses in these communities are in the hospitality sector, the pressures on which are well documented. A reduction in VAT would provide a much-needed boost, enable reinvestment by these businesses and support economic growth. Will the Chancellor therefore consider cutting VAT for hospitality?

    Hansard source
16. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·SNP·Brendan O'Hara

    Israel and Palestine

    We genuinely welcome this statement. The Foreign Secretary has hinted at this, but let me be clear: it is somewhere between heartbreaking and criminal that it has taken three years and 70,000 Palestinian deaths for the UK Government to finally arrive at this position. Already, however, we are hearing that elements within the FCDO are briefing that these sanctions are largely symbolic. Will the Foreign Secretary utterly refute that? Will he confirm that these sanctions are not fixed and that there can and will be further action, should Israel press ahead with this illegal expansion programme?

    Hansard source
17. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Reform·Robert Jenrick

    Economic Growth

    I welcome the right hon. Gentleman to his position. I have known him for a long time—I wish him well. He has a huge task ahead of him. Earlier in the summer, the Prime Minister said that walking the streets of Makerfield lodged in his mind that so many working people want to see the personal allowance raised. In Reform, we want to do that as well; in fact, we want to raise it to £15,000 a year and to make work pay. Is it still the Prime Minister’s and the Chancellor’s ambition to raise the personal allowance?

    Hansard source
18. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Reform·Robert Jenrick

    Falkland Islands: Sovereignty

    There is an air of total unreality hanging over this debate. Successive Governments have run down our Royal Navy to its present enfeebled state, they have conspired to surrender other British sovereign territory and we have a Government who procrastinate about signing off a new oil field in the North sea—let alone about one in the south Atlantic. Argentina senses total weakness. When will the Government step up and set out how they will rebuild our Royal Navy and meet the 3% of GDP target for our armed forces, so we can stand tall and defend ourselves and our sovereign interests once more?

    Hansard source
19. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Reform·Richard Tice

    Israel and Palestine

    I refer to my entry on the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. We all deplore settler violence, but the simple reality is that these sanctions are a grave mistake. Does the Foreign Secretary understand that so many people are concerned that all they will do is embolden the scourge of antisemitism against British Jews on British streets, endanger our relationship with the United States and our security, and lead to tit-for-tat sanctions from the Israeli Government?

    Hansard source
20. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Plaid Cymru·Liz Saville Roberts

    Israel and Palestine

    It is welcome that the UK is finally banning trade with illegal settlements in Palestine and it is right that we no longer condone economic tolerance for these settlements, which fly in the face of international law and the sovereignty of Palestine. But if the sanctions are to be truly more than symbolic, can the Secretary of State tell us how the ban will be enforced and how we will ensure that goods from illegal settlements are not simply re-labelled, or services concealed within contractual sleight of hand, to get round his proposals?

    Hansard source
21. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Plaid Cymru·Ann Davies

    Media Green Paper

    Diolch yn fawr, Gadeirydd; it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. I congratulate the right hon. Member for Maldon (Sir John Whittingdale) on securing this debate. Most people are turning to on-demand and streaming services to watch television and digest media content in Wales, but the shift is not universal: 22% of households in Wales still rely on digital terrestrial television to watch their TV. That reality of hybrid media consumption must therefore be reflected in the UK Government’s policy choices or we risk exclusion. We cannot forget that in Wales, a fifth of our population are older and therefore more affected by the barriers to home internet access. Those of us living in rural Wales know that a good and fast internet service is not always available, especially in Caerfyrddin, where the average download speeds are 40% slower than the UK average. Ofcom reports that more hard-to-reach households are turning to satellite connectivity; however, increased costs and limited availability means that this is not an option for everyone. Recent polling found that over half of Welsh adults are not confident that their area’s internet connection is good enough to get rid of Freeview. Improving digital inclusion and access should be a UK Government priority before decisions are made to switch off digital terrestrial television. Noting those issues does not mean ignoring the challenges facing our broadcasters. Those challenges are already playing out, with £9 million of cuts to BBC Cymru. The BBC, ITV and S4C are public service broadcasters. How can they continue to be a PSB while facing such enormous cuts? I therefore urge the Minister to consider S4C’s call for more medium-term funding through a multi-year funding settlement that allows for inflation and protection from outside cuts. The PSTN—public switched telephone network—switchover is a lesson in how people can be left behind when a process is rushed. I believe that the timeline for an eventual switch-off of digital TV should be context led and based on a workable plan. However, if the UK Government will only consider one of two dates as part of their media Green Paper, I urge Ministers to decide on the latter switch-off date of 2044, for the reasons that I have noted, and to support our broadcasters in the interim through long-term sustainable funding, so that the media content in Wales remains accessible and reflects our communities.

    Hansard source
22. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Zöe Franklin

    Safety of the Jewish Community

    It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Christopher. I thank the hon. Member for Hornsey and Friern Barnet (Catherine West) for securing this important debate. It has been a powerful morning in this Chamber, in terms of both the challenges but also the stories of hope on this difficult issue. I want to start by expressing my solidarity with Jewish communities across the country and with everyone who is experiencing antisemitic abuse, intimidation or violence.

    Hansard source
23. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Zöe Franklin

    Safety of the Jewish Community

    The latest Home Office figures show that there were 106 religious hate crimes targeting Jewish people per 10,000 of the Jewish population—by far the highest rate, sadly, for any religious group. Behind these shocking figures are people who are changing the way they live, as we have heard in this morning’s debate, because they are frightened—frightened of being attacked, abused or intimidated simply for practising their faith. I see that in my own constituency of Guildford, which has a relatively small but growing Jewish community of around 450 residents, which rises to 600 during university term time. Members of the community have told me clearly that since the horrific attacks of 7 October, the tone has noticeably shifted in the community. Our local rabbi has received death threats and has even been physically assaulted in public. Jewish residents have faced verbal abuse, a swastika has been drawn at a local golf course, and a single Jewish mother had a rotten chicken thrown through her open window while she was with her five-year-old child, and those are not isolated incidents. What has stayed with me the most, though, is hearing that some local Jewish families have moved their mezuzah from the outside of their front door to the inside because they are frightened of being identified as Jewish. That is an extraordinary thing for anyone to feel they must do in Britain in 2026 to keep their family safe. It is why I believe our response must be about much more than simply reacting when another terrible thing happens. We need to step up, as community leaders and as Parliament. We need to ensure that Jewish communities are protected now, but we also need to tackle the hatred that makes that protection necessary in the first place. I welcome the Government’s additional £25 million for security following the attacks in Golders Green, bringing the total available to £58 million. I have seen how much that investment matters. The Guildford synagogue has had to spend thousands of pounds upgrading security, and our rabbi has had to spend money improving his own personal security. I refuse to accept that this is simply the way society is turning—that violence and intimidation is now being normalised. Will the Minister explain what long-term certainty the Government will provide for the Community Security Trust and for the security funding relied upon by synagogues, Jewish schools and community organisations? Protecting buildings is necessary, but it is not enough. We also have to ensure that our police and prosecutors can identify antisemitism and act when the law is broken. I want to be really clear on protest. The right to peaceful protest is fundamental in a liberal democracy, but there is no right to intimidate Jewish people, to glorify terrorism or to use protest as a cover for antisemitic hatred or incitement to violence. It should not be a difficult distinction for us to make as a society. We Liberal Democrats have called for mandatory antisemitism training for police officers policing demonstrations, as part of a statutory code for the policing of protests. That would also include stronger protections around places of worship, and place responsibilities on protest organisers to take reasonable steps to prevent harassment and intimidation. I really do think that those are practical steps that the Government should take seriously. Will the Minister consider introducing consistent antisemitism training for officers policing protests across the country? Will the Government also consider again how we protect synagogues and other places of worship from intimidating protests immediately outside them? The same applies when cases reach the justice system. I could go on, and I know that colleagues across this Chamber have raised a number of issues in relation to that point. I also want to note the gap between the official statistics and what Jewish residents say that they experience. I hear it in my own constituency of Guilford, and I am sure that colleagues hear the same. Many incidents are never reported to the police. Others happen in schools, universities and workplaces and are dealt with internally, which means that they simply disappear from the national picture. If we do not understand the scale of antisemitism, we cannot properly respond to it. We have talked this morning about the crucial issue of educating people to understand what is and what is not acceptable in our language. We have also heard about Sir David Bell’s review of antisemitism in schools. I have, sadly, heard too many stories in my own constituency and in neighbouring ones of children and young people facing antisemitism within their education setting. I am glad that Sir David Bell’s review is coming. Will the Minister commit to responding quickly to the review and its recommendations when it comes out? I want to end by sharing something positive, as many colleagues have done at the end of their speeches, too. I want to share the genuinely positive work happening in Guildford. I am glad that Surrey police have developed a stronger liaison relationship with our Jewish community. Guildford and Waverley councils, Surrey police, Jewish residents and local faith leaders have worked together on a hate-crime pledge. We have growing relationships between the Jewish community, the Reform Jewish community in Weybridge, and Woking mosque. Those relationships are crucial. They show that even at times of terrible conflict and division internationally, Jewish and Muslim communities here can continue to talk to one another, support one another and refuse to allow events overseas to divide neighbours at home. I was proud to stand with local faith leaders and civic leaders with the Guildford declaration of freedom of religion and belief. That work is crucial, and it brings me to the issue of inter-faith initiatives. Sadly, inter-faith funding has largely disappeared. Will the Government consider reinstating the crucial grassroots inter-faith funding, which is at the core of enabling positive cross-faith work? Ultimately, I do not want the measure of success for how the Jewish community is being protected to be about how many security guards we have funded or how many hate crimes have been recorded. I want Jewish families to feel comfortable putting their mezuzah back outside their front door. I want Jewish children to be able to talk about their faith openly, without worrying how other pupils will react. I want the Jewish community in my constituency of Guildford to be able to light the menorah on the high street without the need for armed police to make that possible. That requires proper security funding now, but it also requires better policing, better education, stronger enforcement online and investment in relationships that prevent hatred from growing in the first place. I think that everyone in this Chamber agrees that antisemitism has no place in our society. We should not accept Jewish people having to change how visibly Jewish they are in order to feel safe. I hope that the Minister will use this opportunity to set out more on the practical steps that the Government will take to help ensure that that is the reality.

    Hansard source
24. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Wera Hobhouse

    Business Rates: Hospitality Sector

    The 20% rate cut for music venues and pubs is of course very welcome, but what my high street in Bath really needs is an overhaul of the business rates system, which the Labour Government promised. Rather than accuse us of not having ideas, will the Minister do the bold thing, which is to get rid of business rates and replace them with a commercial landowner levy?

    Hansard source
25. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Vikki Slade

    Israel and Palestine

    I join the thanks to the Government for these actions, but am deeply concerned about the fear that the shadow Foreign Secretary’s comments may have caused. The Foreign Secretary made it clear that this is action against the settlements; he confirmed the continued trade within green-line Israel. Will he assure our constituents that life-saving drugs made in Israel—mainly around the Tel Aviv central area and not in illegal settlements—are not at threat, and that the supply chains for medications will not be affected by this very welcome action?

    Hansard source
26. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Vikki Slade

    Online Safety

    I welcome these actions on child online safety, and the Minister’s comment that there is a role for the Government in shaping technology and not being neutral on online harm. She may have seen, in the last 24 hours, some very disturbing posts on Meta and X in which the identities of brave rescuers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution have been revealed. In response, charities such as the RNLI are now having to ask people to take real action on their personal safety and their privacy. What more can the Government do to hold tech companies to account and take down posts that put the safety of children and adults at risk through doxxing?

    Hansard source
27. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Tom Morrison

    Safety of the Jewish Community

    It is an honour to serve under your chairship, Sir Christopher. There can be no doubt in anyone’s mind that our Jewish communities are under threat from a persistent and toxic hatred that has the worst possible outcome. Innocent people have been murdered simply because of who they are and the faith they practise. That cannot continue. Everything possible must be done to ensure that our Jewish communities are no longer threatened. Prejudice and hatred must be tackled at their root, and the casual othering of minority groups such as the Jewish community must be called out and stopped. When institutions fail to act against hatred, prejudice simply becomes policy. History shows us the dark path that follows if that is allowed to happen. Two weeks ago, I was honoured to join the congregation at Heaton Park synagogue for a memorial service commemorating the victims of the terror attack that occurred on Yom Kippur last year. It was heartbreaking to hear the stepdaughter of Melvin Cravitz talk about her experiences of that day and the days and nights that followed. She described with such warmth the man Melvin was and the profound impact that he had on her life and that of her mother. She told us how the community stood together after Melvin’s murder and supported her family through their darkest hours, but she also talked about how she became the target for malicious and vile trolls who would send her antisemitic abuse about the death of her stepdad. Those trolls would claim that Jewish people were to blame for the murders of Adrian Daulby and her stepfather. That is a vile and disturbing distortion. Its purpose is not only to dismiss the horrendous experiences of a grieving daughter, but to paint the Jewish community as somehow deserving of the fate they receive. Sadly, that sentiment is not uncommon. The latest Home Office statistics show that a higher rate of religious hate crime is targeted towards Jewish people over any other faith group. Both online and in person, British Jews experience a very real threat while living their everyday lives. The Yeshurun Hebrew congregation sits proudly in my constituency and does so much for the wider community, but I know from speaking to the leaders at the synagogue that keeping the congregation safe is becoming ever more difficult, despite their best efforts. They told me about the lengths to which they must go to protect their community, including increasing wall heights, as it was assessed that someone could get over the existing wall in just 10 seconds; looking at additional CCTV provision to ensure that every single corner is covered; and keeping children from playing outside in the car park in case an attack happens and they cannot get inside. I was told that people often question whether they should attend their synagogue because of the potential for harm. We must be clear: no one should have to consider those things to practise their faith, and it should make us angry that that is the case. Things need to change. We need solutions, conscious action and resolve. The CST must be properly funded. I was lucky enough to visit its headquarters, so I could see the vital work it is doing to keep people safe and secure, and I thank it for everything it does. We must see an increase in police presence and patrols. Greater Manchester police do an incredible job in working with our Jewish community, but their resources are becoming ever more stretched. They need more capacity to ensure that they can deliver proper neighbourhood policing. The Government must act on their community cohesion strategy without delay. When people feel connected and invested in common values, they are better able to work together to address division and tackle hatred. We cannot rest until our Jewish friends and neighbours no longer need to build high walls, install more cameras and stop their children playing outside. I urge the Minister to do everything in her power to ensure that the Jewish community is safe, and I urge all Members not to rely merely on the words spoken in this Chamber, but to turn those words into action. Through positive action, challenging antisemitism wherever it appears and standing with our Jewish communities when they need support, we will surely ensure that our country is a safe place for Jews.

    Hansard source
28. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Tom Morrison

    Business Rates: Hospitality Sector

    I recently visited the Station House in Cheadle Hulme, one of the Almond family’s five pubs in Stockport, and spoke to the owner, Doug, about how hard it was for him to run his business. Like many pub owners across the country, the Almonds welcome the 20% cut in business rates, but they are contending with a system that penalises hospitality. The Minister dodged the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse), so may I ask him to commit himself now? Will the Government overhaul the business rates system so that community pubs such as the Station House can help our high streets to thrive?

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29. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Tom Gordon

    Retirement Property Management Companies: Regulation

    The situation that the hon. Gentleman describes is somewhat analogous to what we see with park homes, for which there is a requirement for a fit and proper person test, with regulation from the local authority. Might that suit the situation he outlines?

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30. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Tom Gordon

    Retirement Property Management Companies: Regulation

    I mentioned earlier in response to the hon. Member for North Dorset (Simon Hoare) that this was in some sense analogous to the issues that park home residents face. While there is a fit and proper person test in that instance, it is often lacking and not the tightening regulation that people had hoped for. What measures will the Minister bring forward, having learned from those experiences, to ensure that we get proper regulation that has teeth and that will work?

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31. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Tim Farron

    Health Bill

    I am extremely grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the excellent points he is making. Let me add that in Lancashire and south Cumbria, only 29% of cancer patients get access to radiotherapy. He will be aware the Government’s target is that 85% of people diagnosed with cancer should be treated within 62 days, but only 41% of patients who are recommended radiotherapy get treated in those 62 days. He will also know that for every four weeks of delay in cancer treatment, there is a 10% lower chance of survival. Should the Government not accept new clause 114 to make it mandatory for people to be treated within two months so that they get the best chance of survival?

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32. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Tessa Munt

    Retirement Property Management Companies: Regulation

    I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way. I just wanted to highlight a case of exactly that. I have a constituent whose property has been on the market since 2022. The landlord chooses who the new owner will be. The adult members of the family, who are struggling to get on to the property ladder, cannot move in because they are not over 55, and the landlord will not allow the property to be rented out, even though it rents its properties out on the same site. They are absolutely banjaxed. There is an exit fee as well. It is catastrophic. I wonder whether the hon. Gentleman agrees that this is just opportunistic profiteering at the expense of people who are vulnerable, and actually, when people have died, the families really are catastrophically affected.

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33. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Tessa Munt

    Retirement Property Management Companies: Regulation

    When the Minister says managing agents, does she mean management companies, a bit like FirstPort, which provide a lamentable service? One of the retirement buildings in my patch has just been offered the repainting of its windows for £240,000. I think that works out at over £5,000 per flat. This is just for the birds. It is absolutely bonkers. I want to be sure that they will be captured within the legislation that she is proposing.

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34. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Susan Murray

    Israel and Palestine

    I thank the Foreign Secretary for his statement. On behalf of my constituents, I am asking him not to overlook the Palestinian healthcare workers, including Dr Abu Safiya, who are being held in Israeli prisons, and for him to work to secure their release.

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35. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Steff Aquarone

    Topical Questions

    If the Treasury wants a quick trick to increase tax receipts from new employment, may I suggest that the Chancellor takes steps to boost rural bus connectivity? North Norfolk has independent operators such as Central Connect which, in spite of challenges facing the sector, has managed to double its bus frequency in Stalham and Hoveton. It wants to go further. Can he tell us how he will work with the Department for Transport to ensure barriers are lifted and support is provided to bring more buses to my constituents?

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36. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Sarah Olney

    World Suicide Prevention Day

    Like everybody else, I thank the hon. Lady for her incredibly important work in this field. Alongside my constituent Philip Pirie, I have been calling on the Government to launch a public health campaign to tackle the stigma around suicide. Former Health Secretaries have actively supported the call, alongside the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the hon. Lady herself. Does she agree that the Prime Minister needs to prioritise breaking down the barriers and the stigma, and work in a cross-party way with Members of this House to support my campaign?

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37. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Sarah Olney

    Economic Growth

    The former Chancellor invested a significant amount of political capital into driving forward the white elephant project of building a third runway at Heathrow on the basis that it would deliver economic growth, but the Government’s appraisal report states that the net present value of expansion is between minus £23.4 billion and minus £62.5 billion. Will this Chancellor put an end to this absurd proposal?

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38. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Olly Glover

    Retirement Property Management Companies: Regulation

    The hon. Gentleman is setting out a compelling case for how providers of retirement homes and accommodation are letting people down, and the absence of redress that a lot of residents have. Does he agree that this is an area in which we desperately need more regulation and oversight, and that the Government need to take action to that effect?

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39. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Munira Wilson

    Safety of the Jewish Community

    I agree with the comment from my hon. Friend the Member for Esher and Walton (Monica Harding), although members of the Jewish community say to me that they do not want to build ever-higher walls. My hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park (Sarah Olney) and I had a harrowing meeting with children and young people who attend Richmond synagogue in my borough. They told us about their terrible experiences of bullying, both physical and verbal, at school and university. They are all having to hide their faith. Does the hon. Member agree that nobody should have to hide their faith? Sir David Bell, who is doing a review for the Government on antisemitism in schools, says that headteachers tell him that, for Jewish faith schools, security comes ahead of education. That cannot be right, can it?

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40. 8 Sep 2026·Parliament·Lib Dem·Munira Wilson

    Safety of the Jewish Community

    In my previous intervention, I mentioned that my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park (Sarah Olney) and I had met children, young people and their parents at Richmond synagogue to talk about their experience in schools, colleges and universities. On the hon. Gentleman’s point about people hiding their identity and partly withdrawing from public life, one of the students from —I will name the university, because I went there—the University of Cambridge said that antisemitism was rife in some colleges and was not dealt with. They hid where the Jewish society would meet. One student said she had done Hebrew teaching as part of her extracurricular activities, but is keeping that off her CV because she is worried she will be discriminated against. Folk in that room said to us, “We’re tired of advocating for ourselves; we need others to advocate for us.” It is incumbent on us all to come together and say that enough is enough.

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