Alan Campbell MP: speeches

Speeches

• 12 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I certainly join my hon. Friend in recognising the vital role that trade unions play in improving lives of people across the country. The Government have worked very closely with trade unions and with businesses to deliver the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation through the landmark Employment Rights Act. The Act is a key pillar of the Government’s plan to make work pay, which will grow the economy, boost wages and reduce insecure work, and improve people’s lives.

• 12 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that in many regards, tradition does matter, but so does accuracy. For clarity, communications teams are advised to use “UK Government” rather than departmental names and logos for announcements, but that does not affect the use of the term “His Majesty’s Government”, which continues on all relevant official communications and records, as it should. The “UK Government” term has long been used in public-facing communications.

• 12 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  This issue often arises, and I understand the concern of residents. I, too, use a bank app, but other people do not; those people look for a presence on the high street, not just from the perspective of convenient banking but because of the importance of our high streets. I encourage my hon. Friend to seek a debate on this matter, perhaps in Westminster Hall, and I am sure he will find others who want to join him. For their part, the Government have set a target of 350 banking hubs. Most of those hubs have already been rolled out, but that is not the extent of our ambition—we want to go further. I know from the one in my constituency, in Whitley Bay, that those hubs are very popular.

• 12 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Yes, I can.

• 12 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman did not hear what I just said, or whether he had already written the question before I got up to do so. We can fence with words, rebrands and whatever, but it has always been the case that “His Majesty’s Government”, or “Her Majesty’s Government” as was, is used on official documents. It is always the case that there is an outward-looking version, and I have explained why. If the situation were as the hon. Gentleman describes, we would all be right to get upset about it, but it simply is not.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  There is a perennial problem with timely statements and the effect they have on the business of the House. The national cancer plan is of huge significance and is timely, and Sudan is an extraordinarily important matter. It is important that the House gets an update on these matters. There will be some pressure on time today, but I hope that Members, including my hon. Friend, are able to get their points across. If that is not the case, I will certainly consider what further time could be made available.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for her tireless campaigning efforts on regional transport, whether it is the metro, rail or, indeed, roundabouts in her constituency. I have to say, she has done better on Northumberland Park than the previous MP—that was me, in case anybody was wondering. [ Laughter. ] Connecting the country through public transport is vital to growth, and I welcome the investment that has been announced. I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for what I am sure will be a popular Westminster Hall debate.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  The issue the hon. Lady raises and has raised before is precisely why there is an investigation and an inquiry. There are various facets to that, but when the investigation is complete, I am sure the House will be given adequate time to discuss the outcome. It is precisely at that point that the principles she refers to will be central to the discussion.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this matter to the House and for his work as the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Romania. As he says, languages are a vital part of our curriculum and can open doors for young people across the country and, indeed, abroad. Decisions about which languages are offered at GCSE in England are matters for exam boards rather than central Government, but I am sure the boards will have heard his question, and I hope they give this matter their consideration.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is absolutely right that we should celebrate the work of our air ambulances when they do a fantastic job, but he is also right to raise the doubts that prevail about that service on behalf not just of his constituents but of his region. I will raise this matter with the relevant Department, but I hope that the Charity Commission has heard his comments.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I appreciate that this complex issue engages a range of policy areas across Government, because as the right hon. Gentleman says, technology moves on. The Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 clarifies that certain digital assets can be included as personal property, and some digital services have added a function to allow contacts to be nominated and have selected data sent to them. I will, however, ensure that his constituents’ case is heard by the appropriate Ministers, that they consider the issues carefully and that, should it be appropriate, they bring forward a statement or we find time for a debate on these matters.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is a doughty advocate for the businesses in her constituency. I will absolutely join her in congratulating those winners, whose awards are, I am sure, well deserved. We are committed to small businesses through our small business plan, which will help to save them time and money, and open up new opportunities. Out there in all our constituencies, businesses need our support. I am sure that they can go on to even better things.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  The Government are committed to wider reform of the House of Lords and the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill is the first step in that process. We remain committed to that. However, I gently say to the hon. Lady that, to some extent, this is more complex than many people think. There are many priorities for this Government, not least tackling the cost of living and the terrible situation that we found our public services in when we came into office. To spend a great deal of time, at this juncture, talking about House of Lords reform is timely, costly and an extraordinarily difficult thing to achieve—I know that from experience. That does not mean that the Government will not address what we promised in our manifesto and bring about House of Lords reform at some point in the future.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  This is not just a matter of concern locally for the hon. Gentleman; the Prime Minister is very committed to the future of the steel industry, and to the workers in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency and the surrounding constituencies. I am not sure why he did not get a direct answer to his question, but I will make sure that he gets a readout from the Prime Minister’s visit, so that he can see what took place and what assurances the Prime Minister was able to get. The Prime Minister is absolutely committed to the workforce.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I absolutely join the hon. Gentleman in congratulating all the finalists in his constituency; they are so important in making community work in his part of the world. The Government are committed to supporting small and rural businesses through our small business plan, saving them time and money, boosting their access to finance and opening new opportunities. There are some fantastic businesses across his constituency and they deserve to be recognised, so I wish them all well.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I join my hon. Friend in welcoming the arrival of the national cancer plan, and in sending our best wishes to Alfred, Wendy and their family and friends. We have made progress in improving the lives of patients with terminal illnesses, with 230,000 more diagnoses arriving in time and £70 million invested in cutting-edge radiotherapy. However, as my hon. Friend points out, there is a lot more to do. There will be a statement on the national cancer plan later. Should she wish to meet Ministers to make a specific case, I will ensure that she gets a meeting.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise these matters; she is a doughty campaigner for her constituents. We are very aware of the challenges facing dentistry, particularly—but not exclusively—in rural areas, which is why we are rolling out 700,000 more urgent dental appointments from April. I encourage my hon. Friend to attend the Adjournment debate on NHS dentistry later; perhaps those concerns can be addressed there. If she wishes, I will get her a meeting with the relevant Minister to see what further can be done for her constituency.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman is right to raise concerns, but as I said, there is an inquiry into the whole influence of the former Lord Mandelson. I assume and hope that all these matters will be considered. The House will then get an opportunity to see the outcome of the inquiry, and I am sure at that point the House will want to debate the matter.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  The business for the week commencing 9 February will include: Monday 9 February—General debate on the UK-India free trade agreement, followed by debate on a motion on increasing survival rates of brain tumours. The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee. Tuesday 10 February—Debate on motions to approve the draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2026 and the draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026, followed by debate on motions to approve the draft Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2026 and the draft Social Security (Contributions) (Rates, Limits and Thresholds Amendments, National Insurance Funds Payments and Extension of Veteran’s Relief) Regulations 2026. Wednesday 11 February—Motions relating to the police grant and local government finance reports. Thursday 12 February—General debate on LGBT+ History Month, followed by debate on a motion on mobile connectivity in rural areas. The subjects for these debates were determined by the Backbench Business Committee. The House of Commons will rise for the February recess at the conclusion of business on Thursday 12 February and return on Monday 23 February. The provisional business for the week commencing 23 February includes: Monday 23 February—Committee of the whole House and remaining stages of the Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill, followed by Committee of the whole House and remaining stages of the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill. Tuesday 24 February—Opposition day (18th allotted day). Debate on a motion in the name of the Liberal Democrats. Subject to be announced. For the convenience of the House, the debates on estimates are expected to take place in the week commencing 2 March.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I join my hon. Friend in praising the work of Coopers bar. As I have said before, bars and live music venues are cornerstones of our local communities. Our creative industries sector plan includes a £30 million music growth package to support small venues. If he were able to secure an Adjournment debate on this topic, I am sure that it would be a popular one.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Grassroots sport is vital to our communities and high-quality facilities are vital too—when they work well, they literally change people’s lives for the better. I join my hon. Friend in welcoming the funding announced for Scotland; we are ambitious for sport right across our country, and I hope the SNP Government are equally ambitious in what they do. This would make an excellent topic for a Westminster Hall debate and I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for one.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I wish the hon. Gentleman well in running the London marathon, and indeed everyone who is involved in that and in raising money for such an important cause. I praise mental health charities, wherever they are—in his constituency and others; they are so important to our local communities.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is right to celebrate those local Huddersfield volunteers. I am sure that the whole House will join me in praising their efforts, which remind us of the deep relationship between the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. We have committed up to £2.5 million to support the humanitarian response to devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. I encourage my hon. Friend to participate in Foreign Office oral questions at the beginning of next month to discuss how we can better support the volunteers going forward.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I gently remind the hon. Gentleman that when he sat on the Conservative Benches rather than with Reform, 7,000 pubs were closed. This Government are committed to supporting pubs, which is why we have announced 15% off their new business rates bills. That does not underestimate the challenge that some still face. It is important that they get support from Government, and that is precisely what they are getting.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I have said from the Dispatch Box on a number of occasions just how important churches are to local communities, and historic churches, whether in rural or urban areas, have a particular role to play in communities and in our proud history. I will get an update for my hon. Friend from the relevant Department about the future of that programme, because I know it is of importance to many churches and Church organisations across the country.