This week in Westminster has been another busy one—with key debates on national security, local regeneration, and scrutiny of Government spending all featuring on the Order Paper.
The week began with an important statement from the Prime Minister on Monday regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine and our Government’s plan to boost defence spending to meet the challenges of an increasingly volatile age.
After confirming defence spending would rise to 3% of GDP last week, Sir Keir Starmer laid out practicalities in how this renewed focus on national and international security can help rebuild British industry. The Prime Minister confirmed that UK Export Finance will be used to supply Ukraine with 5,000 air defence missiles manufactured in Belfast—a perfect example of how defence can create high-value jobs here at home. This and subsequent moves will allow Britain to lead from the front, both in securing national security and in contributing to the stability of Europe.
Later on Monday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, took the Finance Bill through its final stages in the Commons. This Bill introduces crucial reforms that will help create a fairer and more sustainable tax system which strengthens public services decimated by Tory cuts and mismanagement over the past 14 years.
One important reform in this Bill is the abolition of the non-dom tax loophole, expected to raise £12.7 billion for the public purse over five years. This move, along with our removal of the tax exemption for private school fees, will raise vital funds that can be reinvested into our public services and help get them back on their feet.
I know that people in Stretford & Urmston have despaired over recent years as public services declined while taxes rose for working people—and I am proud to be a part of a Labour Government which is taking real action which helps deliver better public services for all.
On Tuesday, FCDO Minister Catherine West responded to an Urgent Question on the ongoing situation in Gaza, following Israel’s suspension of some goods entering the territory. I am glad that the Government has called upon Israel to resume the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza to ease the civilian catastrophe that has unfolded since the war began on October 7, 2023.
In subsequent days, I have also been deeply troubled by reports that Israel has also cut off electricity to Gaza, impeding healthcare and a desalination plant which provides vital drinking water to Gazan civilians. It is crucial that essential supplies reach Gaza to alleviate the suffering of its people—and while the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains fragile, humanitarian aid should never be used as a political tool. I urge the Israeli government to lift these inhumane restrictions immediately while negotiations over a permanent end to the war continue.
On Wednesday, the Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, made a statement on courts and tribunals which saw a £2.5 billion investment announced to bring about 4,000 extra sitting days in crown courts to tackle the backlog of cases. Justice delayed is justice denied—and I know from constituents about the misery that awaiting justice for months on end can cause – and I strongly support measures to tackle this issue.
Wednesday was an Estimates Day in Parliament: an important opportunity for all MPs to scrutinise Government spending and for departments to confirm their budgets for the next year. The debates saw key announcements that the Labour Government has made in its first months in office confirmed and gave backbench and opposition Members a chance to cast their eye over the plans.
During the session, the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, confirmed our £22.5 billion NHS funding boost to cut waiting times and improve care, the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, confirmed defence spending will rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, and the Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, confirmed £414 million in support for small businesses as well as £6 billion for Post Office Horizon scandal victims.
Another important debate took place on Thursday, as Jess Phillips, the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), led a debate on VAWG ahead of International Women’s Day. This important debate heard the Minister read out the names of the 95 women who have been killed by men in Britain within the last year—a stark reminder that a woman is killed by a man every three days on average in the UK. This brought home the importance of tackling VAWG—and the Government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls within a decade with key measures like embedding domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms and stronger protections for stalking victims already announced.
On Thursday, MHCLG Minister Rushanara Ali responded for the Government to a Backbench Business Debate on political finance laws. With declining turnout in elections and tangible scepticism towards politics throughout the country, it is vital that we take measures to protect our democracy and restore trust. I am proud to see the Minister confirm that the proposals for strengthening the Electoral Commission and tightening political donations rules will be published later this year—an important step to bringing faith in politics back from the current all-time low.
Back in the constituency on Friday, I was delighted to attend the fourth-annual Biggest Ever Football Session at Lostock College to support the #LetGirlsPlay campaign. It was brilliant to see so many fantastic and enthusiastic young footballers playing at the event. Women’s football has come a long way in a short period of time—and I am glad to see that this campaign to boost participation go from strength-to-strength. After the Prime Minister announced that Britain would bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035—I hope this campaign will help inspire the next generation of Lionesses to bring football home again.
On Saturday, I popped along to the Manchester Job Show at the Trafford Centre. It was heartening to see so many people and employers, including the Department for Education and the NHS, come together to try and fill vacancies and get people into good jobs. By filling roles across our region, we can drive both the local and national economy forward.
Andrew Western MP