Anneliese Dodds

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Parliament's party history for this member: Labour (8 Jun 2017 – present).

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1. 28 Oct 2026·Parliament·Anneliese Dodds

   The Global Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Sanctions Regulations 2026

   Often in these Delegated Legislation Committees, we think we are just going to be talking about technical issues and maybe not covering matters of groundbreaking importance, but I have to say that I feel a bit of the weight of history on my shoulders today. I think I am the only Member here who was on the Public Bill Committee for the original Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill—the SAML Bill, as it was referred to previously. Obviously, that was being worked on at the end of 2017, into 2018. Back then, the Opposition were trying to persuade the Government of the time to take on Magnitsky sanctions, as they were known then. For a long time we did not get very far, but I am very pleased that Baron Benyon, as he now is—who had possibly been put on the Bill Committee by mistake—came to our rescue. He managed to get us there, and I am very pleased that the Conservative party—the then Government, now the Opposition—took that on. I must pay tribute to them, because they did try to make a success of that regime, but I am really proud that it is now being expanded. It is so important that it is, and I am very proud that that is happening under a Labour Government. We should take a moment to remember the people who pushed for Magnitsky sanctions in the first place—not least Bill Browder—in memory of Sergei Magnitsky and his truly disgusting treatment by the Russian regime. We need change, so I am very pleased with what the Minister said. I was pleased to see the round of sanctions that he mentioned earlier this week on the one-year anniversary of the fall of El Fasher, particularly the focus on conflict-related sexual violence; that is not common in sanctions regimes, but it is absolutely right that the UK is taking a stance on that. The Minister has obviously provided a great example of the direct consequences of sanctions, but we also saw with the previous round of Sudan-focused sanctions that one of the worst perpetrators of truly horrific violence in the Sudan conflict, who was sanctioned by the UK and named and shamed, then appeared to be removed from the command structure of one of the warring parties. These measures have a direct impact, and I am really pleased that their scope will be expanded. We see in so many contexts, as others have talked about, the manipulation of life-saving aid as a weapon of war, over and over again. Sadly, that has only become more common, so it is right that we are taking this action now. I hope the Government will keep this under review in relation to Sudan. I hope they will also be focused on the fact that we see many external actors involved in Sudan. We have seen that through the UN’s fact-finding mission report, in relation to the United Arab Emirates in particular, but also other countries. <span id="11" class="column-number" data-column-number="11"></span>I was pleased that the Government reaffirmed their commitment to that report in the House yesterday, and I hope they will bear that in mind in everything they do: sanctions, but also their actions at the UN. I should also mention that some representatives from South Sudan were in the House this week. They said that they thought it was important that our sanctions regime should notice the connections between what is happening in Sudan and South Sudan, particularly given that the US, for example, has used visa bans on South Sudanese individuals who have been responsible for violations of human rights. I also associate myself with the remarks of my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth (Debbie Abrahams) when it comes to the west bank and Gaza and IHL. This legislation really represents our values as a country. The UK supports international humanitarian law, and we have done since the end of the second world war. We should be really proud of our principles, not just in rhetoric but through hard action that hits the perpetrators of violations where it hurts.

   Hansard source
2. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Anneliese Dodds

   Topical Questions

   I am grateful to the Government for their additional round of sanctions one year on from the massacre at El Fasher, but outside actors, including the United Arab Emirates, continue to fuel that war, as the UN’s fact-finding mission has shown. Will the Government confirm that it remains their position, as articulated by our representative to the UN, that we welcome that report and do not contest it?

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3. 22 Oct 2026·Parliament·Anneliese Dodds

   Digital Government

   I very much appreciated this excellent report from the Select Committee. Does my hon. Friend feel that we can learn lessons from other European nations? I understand that the French Government have eschewed Palantir for their intelligence services, at least partly because of concerns about digital sovereignty. Does she agree that the UK Government should be working with our European allies on these questions of sovereignty?

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4. 21 Oct 2026·Parliament·Anneliese Dodds

   E-scooters and E-bikes: Regulation

   It is a pleasure to speak in this debate, Mr Stringer. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Helen Maguire) for securing the debate, and in particular for underlining the potential impact of catastrophic injuries from such illegal vehicles. I will add a couple of other problems resulting from the lack of regulation in this area. There has been a reduction in sales of legal e-bikes—surely not something that we want—because of the proliferation of illegal ones. Unfortunately, we are also seeing links with exploitation in the gig economy and with criminality. There has been a catastrophic drop in the sales of L1 category motorbikes too. This problem is symbolic of people’s sense of a lack of control over their local area. It is exactly the kind of thing that the Prime Minister is getting a grip on right now, and it is important that we show leadership. My questions are all about solutions. First, when will the Department for Transport release its research into illegal e-bikes and food delivery? I believe it is due in the spring. Will the Department push for parliamentary time to talk about that? Secondly, what progress has there been on the national work-related road safety charter? Can we see some details of that? Thirdly, we need more control over the supply chain and sales of illegal e-bikes, e-scooters and conversion kits. We need oversight and enforcement. One mechanism for that would be through the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025—a number of Members have been pushing for that. It has been three months since the consultation on that; when are we going to see some outcomes?

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5. 21 Oct 2026·Parliament·Anneliese Dodds

   E-scooters and E-bikes: Regulation

   I am sorry, but I will not, because I want to be fair to everybody else.<span id="388WH" class="column-number" data-column-number="388WH"></span> Finally, can we please have a commitment from the Department for Transport to convene other Departments on this issue? I know that the Minister cares passionately about local people having control over their area, as he has shown in every role he has undertaken. With his Department, will he take the initiative to bring together all the Departments concerned about this problem, and will he do so before Christmas and make a big splash about it, so that people hear about it in the media and do not buy their kids these dangerous products and kits for Christmas, leading to the kinds of injuries that we have heard about?

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6. 21 Oct 2026·Parliament·Anneliese Dodds

   Royal Mail: Performance

   It is a real pleasure to speak in this debate. I am very grateful, above all, to the hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Sorcha Eastwood) for securing this debate. This is not the first debate that we have had on this subject, even in this Chamber. Some of us have spoken on this matter many times. In fact, very sadly, it feels like some of the rest of the country is now catching up with some of the issues that we have had in Oxford East over many years. As the hon. Member for Lagan Valley mentioned, those issues have been highlighted by the Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee. They were also indicated by the meeting that a number of us had recently with Ofcom and the CWU, organised by my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield (Dave Robertson). In my area, the root of the challenge relates to recruitment and retention—I very much agree with comments that have been made—and over time there has been increased transparency. After a certain amount of denial that there was a problem, there is now better communication, at least with my regional Royal Mail, and sometimes with national Royal Mail as well. However, there is a huge challenge. I am concerned to hear that the model that was developed in Oxford for the prioritisation of NHS mail does not seem to be operating everywhere; perhaps the Minister can look into that. That model was devised by Oxford posties to pull out that NHS mail. Again, the approaches to mail prioritisation and rotation that are sadly having to be <span id="421WH" class="column-number" data-column-number="421WH"></span>used in Oxford because of the number of absences, and failures in recruitment and retention, do not seem to be being used everywhere.

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7. 21 Oct 2026·Parliament·Anneliese Dodds

   Royal Mail: Performance

   I certainly agree. Many of us have been very frustrated that we often get stock letters back about the problems being experienced, that our constituents have to go to sorting offices and that we are not seeing the change we urgently need. Given the challenges with recruitment and retention, I have been trying to promote vacancies myself as a local MP. Three things need to happen. First, we need the national management to listen to the local posties and the CWU, because they have ideas about how to deal with this. Secondly, we need to get a grip on the unlevel playing field, especially when it comes to parcels. We all know that the volume of letters is going down, not just in the UK, but right across Europe and other industrialised countries. The parcel trade is therefore really important, but we have a farcical situation where 98% of Royal Mail workers are employees on permanent contracts, yet they do effectively exactly the same job as people who are not employed—people who are under terrible terms and conditions and are treated as if they are self-employed. We all know that is bogus. That needs to be dealt with, because it is leading to an unlevel playing field. Given the Minister’s great experience of working rights legislation, will she ensure that the consultation on bogus self-employment going on at the moment leads to the change that is needed? Finally, I urge the Minister and the Government to focus on the potential of Royal Mail. We are talking about the challenges and representing our constituents’ concerns now, but we have an amazing network in the UK, from the most northerly to the most southerly point. It proved its worth during covid. We should be doing everything we can to recognise and build on that potential. I ask them to please listen to the CWU’s proposals on that in particular.

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8. 19 Oct 2026·Parliament·Anneliese Dodds

   Glasgow School of Art: Mackintosh Building

   Does my hon. Friend agree that the building is of international importance, when we look at the significance of Charles Rennie Mackintosh in the history of design? He always married function with form, and that is nowhere more clear than in that building.

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9. 14 Oct 2026·Parliament·Anneliese Dodds

   Nepal: UK Government Support

   It is a real honour to speak in this important debate, and I am grateful for the opportunity to do so. I am also grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading Central (Matt Rodda), and particularly pleased to follow such powerful speeches setting out the proud relationship between our countries, the UK and Nepal, which has existed for such a long time: the steadfast contribution of gallant Gurkhas over many decades, right to the present day; the interpersonal links between our countries, which are incredibly strong; and the contribution made today by Nepali-British people to our public services, economy and culture. I am very proud of Oxford’s Nepalese community, who contribute so much to my city. That community—our neighbours, friends and workmates—are now grieving the loss of many family members and friends. Of course, their loss happened in such shocking circumstances, and speakers have referred to the images we saw, which looked like they were out of some horrendous feature film, not like events that were really taking place and affecting people in circumstances that had been so peaceful—people on pilgrimage, for example, in one of the most beautiful places on Earth and people in their homes and workplaces. We in the UK and in my city now have a window on to the sharpest end of the climate crisis. Many Nepalese people live on the Rose Hill council estate, where I live. Oxford’s Nepalese people have made a huge contribution to our city. Many retired Gurkhas live in Oxford, and we are always moved to see that reflected in our remembrance service every November. However, many Nepalese people also serve in academia; healthcare, as in Reading; childcare; businesses, such as the many Nepalese restaurants we are very pleased to have in our city; and many forms of public service, including by volunteering to support the community, with the Nepalese contribution to OxClean being particularly notable. There is a long and strong history of us working together over so many decades—indeed, centuries—and we have to intensify that now. I recently had the privilege of meeting Mr Tulasi Paudel, from Help for Nepal and the Nepalese community in Oxfordshire. I am very grateful for that group’s work and for that of the Gurkha Nepalese Society Oxfordshire. Retired Captain Paudel explained the human impact of the devastating recent events my colleagues and friends have just talked about. As others have done, I express my sincere condolences to all those affected and the many thousands who still do not know what has happened to their families. As has been mentioned, we still see damaged roads and bridges, which have cut off entire communities. Survivors are still in need, often of shelter, despite the best efforts of those who have come to their aid. Clean drinking water is still a huge problem, as are medical <span id="138WH" class="column-number" data-column-number="138WH"></span>supplies and food. The UK’s £5 million package of humanitarian assistance to support those affected was most welcome. The UK has historically provided support to strengthen Nepal’s resilience to climate-related disasters, but Mr Paudel and I believe that more can and must be done. Yes, of course this relates to humanitarian support, and we have heard helpful comments on that subject from other speakers in the debate. That assistance will be particularly important as people seek to rebuild their lives after such a horrendous set of circumstances—losing everything. But we have to work together politically and multilaterally as well. During the UN General Assembly session that has just ended, I, along with Mr Paudel, wrote to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, calling on him to work with the Nepalese Government on their calls for practical global action to tackle climate change and for climate justice. We also pushed for our countries—the UK and Nepal—to work together in the run-up to the COP in Antalya and at every international event at which climate action is discussed. The Himalayas are a vital water source for a large part of Asia. What happens to the Himalayan cryosphere has consequences far beyond Nepal. The people living beneath the Himalayas should not have to pay the greatest price for a climate crisis that they contributed so little to creating. The UK has an important opportunity to stand alongside countries such as Nepal, given the strong historical and present relationship. Nepalese people have given our country so much. Now we have to stand alongside them. We must help to ensure that the voices of vulnerable Himalayan communities calling for climate action are heard and acted on, so I call on my hon. Friend the Minister and our Government to seek out every opportunity to develop common positions on climate action with Nepalese counterparts and to use their voice to amplify that of our Nepalese friends.

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10. 12 Oct 2026·Parliament·Anneliese Dodds

    International Update

    I also was pleased to hear what the Prime Minister had to say about AI, both in New York and this afternoon in the Chamber. Can he confirm that it remains his view that decisions about global principles and standards for AI should be taken by democratically elected Governments representing working people and not by industry alone?

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