Baggy Shanker MP: speeches

Speeches

• 25 Jun 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  My constituents are fed up with getting fleeced by private parking operators, and this is an issue not just in Derby. The RAC expects a record 17 million fines from just the last year alone, costing drivers well over £100 million. This Government are right to stand up for drivers in Derby and across the country by introducing a new private parking code of practice, but does the Leader of the House agree that it is time to crack down on unfair private parking fines, and will he ensure that this House is promptly updated when the new code of practice is released?

• 22 Jun 2026 · East Midlands Railway Collision · Hansard source

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  Recently, I was proud to join EMR driver Ross and driver manager Peter in travelling from Derby to St Pancras. From the cab, I saw at first hand the skill, dedication and immense responsibility that every single journey requires of our dedicated train drivers. Friday’s crash has tragically demonstrated the scale of that responsibility. My thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of driver Shaun Burton, alongside everybody injured and affected. Will the Secretary of State join me in commending the brilliant work that our train drivers do day in, day out up and down the country?

• 17 Jun 2026 · High Street Shops: Illicit Activity · Hansard source

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  It is shocking that, in some hotspot areas, 50% of convenience stores or vape shops are linked to organised crime. My constituents in Derby South are really fed up with that, and so are legitimate business owners. Does my hon. Friend think it is time to crack down and shut down these dodgy shops once and for all?

• 15 Jun 2026 · Retirement Home Exit Fees · Hansard source

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  Unfair terms on retirement village leases are leaving grieving families in Derby trapped, facing huge exit fees while extortionate service charges rack up on their empty properties. Will the Minister support those families by addressing the unfair terms that they face when a parent or loved one passes away?

• 2 Jun 2026 · Cost of Energy: Support for Businesses · Hansard source

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  From Denby Pottery to Royal Crown Derby, soaring energy costs are hitting our ceramics industry hard, putting more skilled jobs at risk. I welcome the recently announced ceramics support package, which will help bring costs down, but can the Minister confirm that he will work with colleagues across Government to ensure that energy bill support reaches the ceramics manufacturers who need it the most?

• 19 May 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  Sexual assaults and harassment on trains have risen by more than a third over the past 10 years, yet too many trains and stations still lack adequate CCTV. That evidence gap lets criminals evade justice and fails victims. What steps are the Secretary of State and his colleagues taking to improve CCTV coverage across the whole rail network, so that perpetrators of violence against women and girls can be brought to justice?

• 18 May 2026 · Backing Business to Create Economic Growth · Hansard source

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  I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, specifically relating to Rolls-Royce. We in Derby are proud to be a manufacturing powerhouse. At Litchurch Lane, more Elizabeth line trains will be rolling off Alstom’s production line. At Rolls-Royce, thousands of employees are working to deliver the future of aerospace and nuclear. Our brilliant SME community is pioneering cutting-edge innovation day in, day out. As a city, we do not talk about growth—we power it. When we speak about backing British business, we are speaking about backing places like Derby. Time and again, this Labour Government have voted with confidence on what our city is capable of delivering. Last year we welcomed a massive £9 billion investment confirmed for the Unity contract with Rolls-Royce to deliver the next generation of AUKUS nuclear submarine reactors. We are cracking on with making Derby the home of Great British Railways, getting the headquarters set up in the heart of our city. However, for far too long, hard-working people in our city have not felt the benefit of our industry’s success in their own lives. Our city’s manufacturing sector is world class, but when it comes to health equality, transport investment and child poverty, Derby has been left lagging behind. Too often, the wealth and success created by industry has not translated into better living standards or stronger opportunities for the communities who helped to build that success in the first place. That is why whenever we talk about backing British business, we need to bring our communities with us. The King’s Speech is clear that supporting working people and backing British business goes hand in hand. Led by Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward, and backed by our brilliant Chancellor, who was also at the launch, with investment, confidence and stability, that is exactly what Team Derby is all about. Team Derby is about ensuring that every pound of investment flowing into our city delivers real change for residents, whether that is raising living standards, guaranteeing fair wages or delivering real opportunities for people to get on in life. It is about regenerating our city centre so that we can take pride in it. It is about investing in skills so that young people growing up in Alvaston, Sinfin or anywhere else in Derby can walk into high-quality apprenticeships and build a lifelong career. At its heart, it is about ensuring that when companies succeed in Derby, and across the country, communities also succeed, because backing British business means backing the people who power those businesses—our communities.

• 29 Apr 2026 · Engagements · Hansard source

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  Q9. Derby is a manufacturing powerhouse, but too many people in our city have not felt the benefit of that success. That is why tomorrow we are delighted to be launching Team Derby with our East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward. Does the Prime Minister agree that with our brilliant Chancellor and our Labour Government backing our city, Team Derby can ensure that every pound of investment in Derby delivers real change for our residents, so that everyone feels part of our success story?

• 16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Last month it was brilliant to see Derby, the home of rail, host the Community Rail Network awards, recognising the fantastic work people do on behalf of their communities and the railways, and welcoming over 600 people to our city. I saw that dedication at first hand when I went litter picking with volunteers at Peartree station. Will the Leader of the House join me in commending not only the work of those hard-working volunteers in Derby, but the invaluable contribution that volunteers make across the country?

• 14 Apr 2026 · Knife Crime · Hansard source

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  In Derby and Derbyshire, 71% of habitual knife carriers are aged 25 or under. Does the Minister agree that, in Derby and throughout the country, we need to provide a tailored support package so that we can break the cycle of young people’s involvement in knife crime and keep our communities safe?

• 17 Mar 2026 · Immigration Reforms · Hansard source

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  On the point of fairness, constituents in Derby tell me that they are working hard to make a living and put their kids through school, but they are worried by retrospective changes to ILR. Does my hon. Friend agree that, to make the system completely fair, changes to ILR should not be retrospective?

• 17 Mar 2026 · Productivity and Economic Growth: East Midlands · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Huq. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (James Naish) for securing this important debate. I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests with respect to Rolls-Royce. I have said it before, and I will say it again: in Derby we are a proud city of makers. We have more Elizabeth line trains on the production line at Alstom. We have Rolls-Royce aerospace and nuclear powering today, and our next generation, in the skies and at sea. We have a brilliant community of over 6,000 small and medium-sized enterprises such as Huub and Mercian Cycles, which I joined yesterday in supporting Greg James as he passed through Derby on Radio 1’s “Longest Ride”. Our local economy is full steam ahead, powering our region, our nation and, indeed, the world. With Derbyshire having more than double the national average number of people employed in advanced manufacturing, the talent in our city and region keeps our country moving and safeguards our national security. In recent years, the Government have committed to backing the city’s capabilities. Last year, the Ministry of Defence confirmed £9 billion of funding for Rolls-Royce through the Unity contract to deliver the next generation of AUKUS nuclear submarines, creating up to 1,000 jobs and safeguarding 4,000 more. Recently, I welcomed the Railways Bill, which will let us crack on with making Derby the home of Great British Railways and setting up its headquarters in the heart of our city centre. Whether it is trains, planes or reactors for advanced nuclear submarines, we are proud of what we make in Derby, but for far too long our residents have not felt that benefit in the home of UK manufacturing. Our city is powering advanced manufacturing, but at the same time the majority of kids in Arboretum—where I was born—are growing up in poverty. We build the trains that keep our country moving, but our region has consistently had the lowest transport investment of any nation or region. When industry in our city grows, residents rightly expect to share the benefits of that growth. That is why, backed by this Government and our brilliant mayor, Claire Ward, we are cracking on with setting up Team Derby. That is also thanks to the enormous help of the Minister here today. Through Team Derby, we will ensure that every single pound of investment flowing into our city works as hard as possible to deliver for the people of our city.

• 9 Mar 2026 · Middle East: Economic Update · Hansard source

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  My constituents in Derby will be worried about the devastation that they see across the middle east, and they will agree that de-escalation must remain a priority. They are also worried, though, about the impact on their weekly shopping bills, petrol prices and energy bills. Does the Chancellor agree that stability for our businesses and local people is vital, given the volatility we are seeing internationally?

• 3 Mar 2026 · Spring Forecast · Hansard source

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  I thank my right hon. Friend for her statement. Whether by delivering a record-breaking fair funding settlement for our council or backing Team Derby, this Government are definitely turning the page on years of brutal Tory austerity. However, many in our city still feel left out and left behind because of the depth of those austerity cuts. Will the Chancellor work to give every neighbourhood the tools that it needs, so that every place is decent to live in?

• 3 Mar 2026 · Community Cohesion · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for securing this really important debate. Will he join me in recognising the work that brilliant charities such as the Derby County Community Trust do to bring communities together, whether through the Harrison’s Hub, where it provides meals for those across communities, or its provision of mental health support to men who need it? The work it does in integrating our communities is vital.

• 24 Feb 2026 · Gaza Healthcare System · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for securing the debate. I have read that Gaza is now home to the largest number of child amputees but, according to Save the Children, the prosthetic centres there are not functioning. Does my hon. Friend agree that Israel needs to lift all restrictions on aid getting into Gaza, so that young people can get the vital prosthetic limbs they need for day-to-day life?

• 23 Feb 2026 · High Streets · Hansard source

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  In Derby, we have heard concerns about the impact of food delivery drivers on our high streets and the city centre, particularly on St Peter’s Street. Will the Minister work across Departments to ensure that food delivery companies are operating safely on our high streets and in our city centres?

• 3 Feb 2026 · Town and City Centre Safety · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. We need clean, vibrant, buzzing city centres, and organisations must work in partnership with the police—it is everyone’s responsibility. At home in Derby, I have worked to drive practical action on crime and antisocial behaviour. I have teamed up with local partners and my neighbour, my hon. Friend the Member for Derby North, to hold regular city centre summits. I pay tribute to the organisations that have got round the table with us, including Safe and Sound, the Derbyshire constabulary and the Derby City Youth Alliance. The work they do day to day to support our city centre and ensure it is a place that our community can enjoy is absolutely vital. There is still much more to do, but we are taking steps in the right direction. Constituents regularly tell me that when police are not visible, they feel more worried about their safety in the city centre. On a recent walkabout with local police, I was pleased to see at first hand how work to recruit and deploy more police officers and public protection officers is helping residents to feel safe and supported when they are out and about in Derby. We also know that action at a local level needs backing with investment, resources and the visible, responsive police presence our communities want to see.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Town and City Centre Safety · Hansard source

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  I beg to move, That this House has considered town and city centre safety. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Dowd. I declare my interest as a city councillor in Derby and former council leader, but most importantly as a proud Derby-born resident since 1972—yes, the year we won the league. In Derby, as in towns and cities up and down the country, there is so much to be proud of. We have a community that rolls up its sleeves and cracks on. From Alvaston to Sinfin, our Derby Parks Volunteers are out come rain or shine, working to keep our parks looking their best. Just before Christmas, volunteers from across the city—from the Salvation Army, the Pakistan Community Centre and the gurdwaras—pulled together to support 200 Pear Tree families evacuated from their homes. It is those examples of community, and many more, that make us proud to call our city home. The city is brimming with what it has to offer our residents and visitors. People can grab a pint at the Hairy Dog, and head on to a gig at Vaillant Live, which opened its doors last year. They will see that the city is buzzing. And there is an exciting future ahead, with regeneration efforts breathing new life into the cultural heart of our city. Demolishing the Assembly Rooms, which could not come a moment too soon in my view, will completely transform our marketplace, creating a multipurpose community venue, a four-star hotel and grade A office space for the fantastic businesses across our city. That is not all. From the redevelopment of the derelict Friar Gate Goods Yard, to the Guildhall theatre, regeneration is going full steam ahead. In our city, we are committed to creating positive change that our community can feel.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Town and City Centre Safety · Hansard source

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  It is critical to have the right funding and a sense of partnership working to tackle the problem together. Young people often tell me they want to take in everything our wonderful city centre has to offer but knife crime, and the perception of knife crime, makes them worry for their safety when they are out and about. Constituents, such as Tirath, tell me the lack of visible policing heightens their concern, so that they feel unsafe in the city centre.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Town and City Centre Safety · Hansard source

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  Thank you, Mr Dowd. I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for Derby North (Catherine Atkinson)—my fantastic MP—for her intervention. She is absolutely right: it is a partnership of investment, but people need to feel safe in our city centre. As my constituent John told me, we can see how much effort and investment are being put into our city, from building housing to breathing new life into the shops and spaces in our city centre. I want every single resident and visitor to be able to take their family out for the day, meet up with friends and enjoy what the city centre has to offer, but the long-term success of regeneration depends on the community feeling safe to enjoy our city centre. As John also told me, he has real concerns about the safety of his family when they are out and about in Derby. Seeing drug users loitering on St Peter’s Street and on paths by the River Derwent has put him off popping to the shops and has stopped his wife going out running in our city centre altogether.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Town and City Centre Safety · Hansard source

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  It is great to speak under your chairship again, Mr Dowd. I thank all Members for their contributions and interventions. I remind the Lib Dem spokesperson that the UK extends beyond London’s boundaries, and I remind the shadow Minister that the debate was about town and city centre safety—maybe he picked up the wrong notes. Collectively, we have managed to highlight the serious issues that constituents across the UK want Ministers to hear. I put on the record my thanks to the Minister for meeting the family of Gurvinder Singh Johal, as she did recently, and for her reassurance that the Government have already increased policing numbers by 2,400. I look forward to getting that number to 13,000 during this Parliament, as she says.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Town and City Centre Safety · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend makes a valid point. The police need to work with local authorities to tackle these issues sensitively.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Town and City Centre Safety · Hansard source

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  It is simple: if they are illegal, they should be banned. Unfortunately, John and his family are not alone. I hear those concerns reflected at my surgeries and in my inbox time and again. Families such as John’s tell me that they are worried about the drug and alcohol abuse they see on our streets.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Town and City Centre Safety · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is absolutely right: such shops do not help other businesses and residents, and do not make our city centres a safe environment, so more measures are needed to tackle that. Last year, there was another really difficult day for our city. Gurvinder Singh Johal, also known as Danny, was tragically murdered as he was going about his business in a Lloyds Bank branch on a Tuesday afternoon. It was utterly devastating for his family. When crimes like that happen in plain sight, in places that we use regularly and consider to be safe, it is not surprising that public confidence is shaken. Communities are left wondering whether the towns and cities they know and love really are the places that they see in front of them. Public safety is not just about law enforcement; as my constituent Tirath puts it, it is also about preserving the character of the places we call home. Constituents up and down the country, in towns and cities from Stoke-on-Trent to Somerset, share the same feelings. We are here today because we want to take our constituents’ concerns seriously. We are here because when they tell us that more needs to be done for them to feel like crime is being taken seriously and tackled, we want to listen. Most importantly, we are here because although austerity damaged our towns and cities, it did not break them. We want to crack on and make changes so that everyone can enjoy our town and city centres as the brilliant and buzzing places that we know they can be. That is why I want to talk about what comes next. We know that keeping our communities safe is not about warm words; it is about action. That means working hand in hand with the police and our partners to ensure that people feel welcome and secure spending time in our towns and cities.