Baggy Shanker MP: speeches 2025

Speeches

• 10 Sept 2025 · Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian Access · Hansard source

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  As a parent, I cannot imagine the agony of seeing your children starve and not being able to do anything about it, but that is the daily experience of families in Palestine. Does my hon. Friend agree that Israel’s man-made catastrophe must be put to an end and that aid must be allowed into Gaza immediately?

• 8 Sept 2025 · Defence Industrial Strategy · Hansard source

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  We know that when we back British jobs, British industry and British innovators, communities across our country reap the rewards. What steps will the Minister take to ensure that our proudly home-grown small and medium-sized enterprises can be supportive in delivering this industrial strategy?

• 4 Sept 2025 · Household Water Bills · Hansard source

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  In Derby, the proposed water bill increases of about 50% will hit people really hard over the next five years. It is a bitter pill to swallow, because at the same time as hiking bills, shareholder dividends are being increased and water companies continue to pollute our waterways. What assurances can the Secretary of State give my constituents that our Government will tackle such hypocrisy head on and, crucially, protect our residents from the water bill increases?

• 4 Sept 2025 · Household Water Bills · Hansard source

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  3. What steps he is taking to protect households from significant water bill increases.

• 4 Sept 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  It was fantastic to see Derby buzzing over the summer when over three days 40,000 visitors were in the city visiting The Greatest Gathering as we brought together the world’s largest ever collection of historical and modern rolling stock. Will my right hon. Friend join me in acknowledging the huge effort made by volunteers not just from Derby but from all over the UK to pull off that spectacular event? Does she agree that, with the arrival of Great British Railways’ headquarters in Derby, we can build on this great heritage and look for a bright future in rail manufacturing?

• 2 Sept 2025 · Eating Disorders: Prevention of Deaths · Hansard source

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  That is the point that I was just about to make. It is absolutely vital that Government support be available, because the charity sector alone cannot be left to provide that support and fill the gap. We need a national response that matches the scale of the challenge that we face. I welcome the Government’s commitment to expanding community-based disorder services, but I urge the Minister to act swiftly. We know what works: early interventions, properly trained professionals and joined-up care that is close to home—a point that some hon. Members have made already. What we need now is urgency, because behind every delayed referral and every missed diagnosis is a life at risk.

• 2 Sept 2025 · Eating Disorders: Prevention of Deaths · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Desmond. I thank my hon. Friend and very good friend the Member for Isle of Wight West (Mr Quigley) for securing this important debate and for his tireless campaigning on the issue, which I know is close to his heart. It cannot be at all easy. According to Beat, one in 50 people in the UK are living with an eating disorder. Among 17 to 19-year-olds, the figure rises to a staggering one in eight. These are not just statistics. Behind every single number is a person struggling with what is often the most difficult moment in their life; behind them are families and friends who are heartbroken as they watch their loved one deteriorate. We hear about GPs who, through no fault of their own, have received minimal training on these disorders and have just 10 minutes with their patients to make life-altering decisions. We know the cost of delayed treatment: longer recoveries, deeper relapses and, in most cases, lost lives. That is why early support is so vital. In my constituency, Derby-based charity First Steps ED is leading the way, from delivering body image workshops in schools and across Derby and Derbyshire to its brilliant Scroll Safe campaign.

• 1 Sept 2025 · Poverty Reduction · Hansard source

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  Last year, a staggering one in four kids in Derby lived in poverty. Our local charities, such as the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance, do amazing work; last year, they handed out 20,000 food parcels. Will the Secretary of State ensure that the upcoming child poverty strategy addresses the root causes of child food poverty, so that parents are not left struggling to put tea on the table?

• 21 Jul 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T8. Meaningful work experience can be a life changer for our young children, cutting the risk of their being out of education, employment or training. The Derby Promise is hard at work linking schools with employers to raise the aspirations of our young people. Does the Minister agree with me, and does she recognise the valuable work that the Derby Promise delivers in opening doors for young people?

• 21 Jul 2025 · Independent Water Commission · Hansard source

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  The Derwent runs through the heart of Derby, but thanks to the polluting water companies and the Tories, its health is in serious doubt. Can the Secretary of State reassure my constituents that this Labour Government are committed to taking the robust action that is desperately needed to restore the river and preserve it for our communities to enjoy safely?

• 15 Jul 2025 · Afghanistan · Hansard source

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  I welcome the Government’s decision to support the lifting of the super-injunction today and bring this awful matter properly into the public domain. Does the Secretary of State agree that it is right and proper that this issue is now fully scrutinised by Parliament?

• 8 Jul 2025 · Football Governance Bill [Lords] · Hansard source

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  Absolutely, the faces of Opposition Members say it all. I will talk a little more about the content of the shadow Minister’s speech in a second. The EFL has needed this Bill, and it wants this Bill. It will establish the independent football regulator, introduce proper financial oversight and finally require clubs to engage seriously with the fans who give the clubs their life. We do not need to look far to see that the problems are ongoing. They are happening in front of our eyes. My own chief of staff is a devoted Sheffield Wednesday fan and is deeply troubled by the instability and uncertainty surrounding her club. Like so many fans, she sees an owner who clearly does not have the resources required to run the club appropriately. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts) for the work he has done and continues to do to stand up for fans and the future of their beloved Sheffield Wednesday. This Bill is not just a policy proposal, but a vital step towards a fairer and more sustainable future for our national game. Clubs in the EFL will lose around £450 million this season alone. The level of instability is not just damaging, but dangerous. We have already seen what happens when things go wrong, from Bury to Bolton to Reading. The pattern is clear and it cannot be allowed to continue. The EFL wants this Bill. Most clubs across the English leagues support this Bill. Most importantly, fans want this Bill. I genuinely ask why the Conservatives do not. What makes it even more frustrating is the political opportunism we are seeing. When in government, the Conservative party brought forward an almost identical Bill to the one we are debating today. Now in opposition, they seem prepared to vote against the Bill not because the policy has changed, but because the politics have changed. That is not leadership; that is putting party before the future of our clubs and the communities that they serve. The truth is that there is more than enough money in English football to sustain the entire pyramid. The problem is how that money is distributed. Last year, 25 clubs received 92% of the game’s revenue, while 67 other clubs were left to fight over the remaining 8%. The new regulator will have the tools to help fix that and to ensure that clubs are run properly, sustainably and in the best interests of the people they represent. This Bill is a chance to safeguard the heritage, the future and the very soul of English football. I support it proudly on behalf of Derby, and I urge colleagues across the House to do the same. Let us protect the game before it is too late.

• 8 Jul 2025 · Football Governance Bill [Lords] · Hansard source

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  As someone born and raised in Derby, I know how deeply our football club runs through the heart of our city. Derby County is more than just a team; it represents our identity, our pride and the strength of our community. However, like so many in this House, I also know what it feels like when that identity is put at risk. In 2021, Derby County entered administration. The confusion and lack of transparency that followed made it much harder for everybody involved, including those of us working behind the scenes to help secure the club’s future. It was only thanks to the extraordinary actions of local man and lifelong fan, David Clowes, that the club was saved. One example that highlights the need for stronger oversight is the attempted takeover of Derby County by Chris Kirchner. Despite initial approval, it became clear that Kirchner was not a fit and proper person to run the club. His financial shortcomings and failure to meet deadlines led to the takeover attempt collapsing. Later, Kirchner was convicted of fraud-related charges in the US over his business dealings and sentenced to 20 years in prison. That is why I welcome the Football Governance Bill, which offers the protections that Derby County and so many other clubs across the EFL need.

• 11 Jun 2025 · Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill · Hansard source

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  I refer the House to my business interests in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. As a proud advocate of UK aviation, I am pleased to speak in support of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill, and I add my thanks to the Aviation Minister for his determination in support of UK aviation and to the Secretary of State for her leadership. By backing industry with a revenue certainty mechanism, the Bill will turbocharge the production of UK SAF, reducing reliance on imports and generating jobs up and down the country. As one of the most carbon-intensive and hardest-to-decarbonise forms of transport, aviation is vital to get right. Alternative and sustainable aviation fuels will help us to safeguard the future of our planet, because without a decarbonised aviation sector, there will be no net zero. Decarbonising will ensure that future generations can enjoy the opportunities that air travel brings without compromising the health of our planet. It will ensure that our regional economies continue to benefit from the growth that the aviation sector can offer, such as the whopping 6,000 jobs that East Midlands airport supports. In Derby, we are already making bold strides towards our net zero future. I am proud that Rolls-Royce moved quickly to confirm the compatibility of its long-haul aircraft engines, in both the wide body and business jet sector, with 100% SAF usage. The Derby factories will continue to play a significant role in shaping the future of aviation decarbonisation for years to come. We recognise that decarbonisation will not be without its challenges. Sustainable aviation fuels offer a practical and innovative solution to those challenges, with SAF made from waste emitting a staggering 89% less carbon than burning conventional jet fuel. This is what the SAF Bill recognises. It is a bold and necessary step forwards to secure a sustainable net zero future for aviation. I am proud to support it.

• 10 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting) · Hansard source

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  Will the Minister say whether a good licensing regime and, if necessary, revocation of licences would prevent clubs from going into full administration—as in the example of Derby County that my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak described—and the knock-on effect of that on supporters, suppliers and the local community? A licensing regime should prevent full administration and be able to deal with problem clubs at a much earlier stage.

• 10 Jun 2025 · Nuclear Power: Investment · Hansard source

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  I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I also wish you a happy birthday, Mr Speaker. What a wonderful day today is proving to be. As a proud Derby MP, I am delighted to welcome the selection of Rolls-Royce to deliver the first of the UK’s small modular reactors. We know that the Secretary of State, his ministerial team and the Mayor of the East Midlands are champions of clean energy jobs. Does the Secretary of State agree that today’s decision is good news for the country and for Derby? Also, in backing home-grown SMRs, what will the benefit be for UK workers and those in the east midlands region?

• 9 Jun 2025 · Social Housing Supply · Hansard source

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  Having access to a safe and secure home is a basic human need, but the Tories absolutely ignored this when they cut Government funding by £4.8 billion in just five years, and Derby has suffered the consequences. Last year, waiting lists for social housing in our city reached record highs. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to lift people stuck on these waiting lists out of limbo and into good social housing?

• 9 Jun 2025 · Social Housing Supply · Hansard source

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  10. What steps she is taking to build more social and affordable homes.

• 20 May 2025 · Economic Growth: South Yorkshire and Derby · Hansard source

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  18. What steps she has taken to help increase economic growth in Derby.

• 20 May 2025 · Economic Growth: South Yorkshire and Derby · Hansard source

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  Shockingly, in Derby South 62% of adults in the community are financially vulnerable, which is far above the national average of 38%. To lift people out of this vicious cycle, we need a growing economy, but for those who are worried about how they will make it to the next payday, dreading an unexpected bill or struggling to feed their family, the benefits of growth can feel miles out of reach. Will the Chancellor outline how her plan for growth will put money in people’s pockets and deliver change for those in our struggling communities?

• 19 May 2025 · Defence Procurement: SMEs · Hansard source

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  19. What steps he is taking to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises are able to participate in defence procurement contracts.

• 19 May 2025 · Defence Procurement: SMEs · Hansard source

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  Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of hosting a roundtable and listening to businesses in Derby—small and medium-sized businesses in engineering and manufacturing, including the vital defence sector. With nearly 70% of Government defence spending directed towards businesses outside of London and the south-east, we know how every pound spent with UK defence businesses has the power to create jobs and employment for local people. Will the Secretary of State therefore outline how the Department will ensure that as many SMEs as possible are aware of Government procurement opportunities, so that they can deliver jobs in areas such as Derby?

• 15 May 2025 · Youth Services · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The austerity cuts have affected so many groups in Derby that either no longer exist or have had to scale back their services, and it is truly shocking. The Derby County Community Trust does fantastic work. Safe and Sound also does excellent work in our city. The Derby promise, which we recently launched, works so hard to offer aspirational experiences to young people in our communities but could do so much more if properly funded. We know that investing in the future starts with investing in our young people—charities such as the ones my hon. Friend the Member for Derby North (Catherine Atkinson) and I have mentioned in Derby do exactly that—but the Tories ignored this. They decimated funding for youth services, as we have heard from speaker after speaker this afternoon. Derby is no different, with youth service spending falling by a staggering 81% since 2010. Does my hon. Friend the Minister agree that longer-term funding for youth services is crucial, so that we can enable every young person in Derby and across the UK to thrive?

• 15 May 2025 · Youth Services · Hansard source

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  I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon East (Natasha Irons) on securing this debate. In Derby, there are so many organisations that work really hard with our fantastic young people, whether that is Children First Derby, which provides mentoring services and support for vulnerable young children and their families, or Community Action Derby, which, through its Derby Youth Alliance, brings together partners to support vulnerable young people in our community.

• 15 May 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  It was fantastic to attend Primary Engineer events in Derby earlier this month, supported by the amazing Jemma Smalls and the wider Rail Forum. Pupils from local schools showcased model trains that they had designed and made themselves. We are proud in Derby of our rail heritage, and we know that through investing in our young people we can ensure that there is a bright future ahead. Will the Leader of the House join me in recognising the outstanding creativity, teamwork and problem solving that the young people showed?