Christine Jardine MP: speeches

Speeches

• 4 Feb 2026 · Engagements · Hansard source

  More

  Q13. I associate myself with the comments of my party leader about Lord Wallace, a man whom I was privileged to know. Conversations are taking place in the Chamber today and up and down the country about Peter Mandelson and his involvement with the paedophile who trafficked women. Given that millions of women, particularly in this country, will be triggered by that and given the establishment’s proximity to what happened, will the Prime Minister assure us that helplines will be set up and that we will support the direct victims as well as those women who indirectly will be triggered?

• 4 Feb 2026 · Fast-Track Visas: Skilled US Citizens · Hansard source

  More

  I beg to move, That this House has considered the potential merits of fast-track visas for skilled US citizens. It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Ms Lewell. I would like to share an email I recently received: “All I’m asking for is a direction to march in, as I am in fact a refugee seeking asylum from a tyrannical, fascist administration which is utterly destroying the nation I once loved and protected. The feeling of turning my back on the democracy I swore an oath to defend feels much more as though I’m ending a long relationship with someone I still love, but am unable to live with anymore. America has broken our hearts and reconciliation is more fantastic than a Rudyard Kipling book.” I was elected eight years ago, but sometimes I am still taken aback by a reaction to something we say or do in this place. This time, part of the shock comes from the fact that that email is not from someone in a third-world country or a warzone, but from a citizen of the United States who is living in the United States. In April last year, I put a proposal to my Scottish party conference to offer skilled US workers a visa route to enable them to live and work in the United Kingdom. The proposal was accepted and became party policy, and that news—again, somewhat surprisingly—made it across the Atlantic. I was then inundated with messages from those in America who no longer wished to live under a Trump presidency. They wanted to feel safe and to contribute to a country much more in line with their values than the country they were born into increasingly is. Those people felt that a lifeline had been offered. I cannot express how relieved the nearly 200 people who wrote to me were that another way might become possible for them. Some just wanted to thank me, as if no one had been thinking of them until that moment. Some laid out their CVs to prove they would be worthy of applying. Some told me they were visiting London and going to the US embassy to try to find more information. It was genuinely upsetting to tell those people that they could not apply, and that this is only an idea at the moment. There was such strength of feeling. For me, there was also the guilt that this is not entirely altruistic, because I firmly believe that those people have something vital that we need in our economy and that could be a benefit to our country.

• 4 Feb 2026 · Fast-Track Visas: Skilled US Citizens · Hansard source

  More

  I completely agree. There is a danger to our international reputation, as well as our economy, if we become somewhere people cannot trust that. If they make the life-changing decision to come here, invest in our country, work for our economy, and contribute through tax and national insurance, we should not turn around decades later and say, “Sorry, we have changed our minds.” That is vitally important. Some of the people who wrote to me told me of their visceral fears, and their worries for their children or for the LGBT community they are part of or work with. Some are terrified they will lose their jobs in the swingeing cuts of the Trump Administration. There are so many real-life stories from people in the United States. But there are also the people in this country. We can only be the best representatives we can be if we listen, and I want to highlight something I was told by someone who wrote to me in this country. Speaking of their trans partner, they said: “I have to say, I’m glad someone is speaking up about this. I see the genuine fear and anxiety he has about being sent back to the States. He told me recently that he has his suicide plan all ready and goodbye letters to family already written, as he’s ‘never going back’.” It terrifies me that people should be so afraid of going back to the world’s largest democracy because of what it has become. That person went on to say: “Thank you for maybe finding a solution that saves US LBGTQI+ lives in our current political upheaval. They and any non-white male here are in terrible danger.” That came from someone from the United States. People have told me that they fear for their family’s safety and for their children. We have to look at why this is happening, and how we can help people who are living in fear. The idea of fast-track visas was born of two issues. The first was the election of a President who does not represent my values or the values of so many in this place, and the consequences of that election for his own people. We have all seen the news and seen the unnecessary loss. For so many in the US, it is no longer the land of the free. According to official figures, there were more than 1,000 anti-LGBTQ incidents across 47 states and Washington DC in the past year—a 5% increase from the 984 incidents in 2024. Over half of those targeted transgender and non-conforming people specifically. The second point was our skills shortage, and the way this Government are getting immigration under control: it will be much more difficult for people to come and stay here, to make their lives here and to feel confident, as the hon. Member for Edinburgh South West (Dr Arthur) mentioned. They want to contribute to our economy, our public services and so many important sectors: space, education, oncology and science. So I thought, “Here’s an opportunity.” Those who know me would say that I am a solutions person, and I saw an opportunity. It is about not just saying there is a problem, but actually coming up with an idea that is beneficial to those people and to us—to both sides of the pond. For me, it is also about creating a positive case for immigration; it is about looking up and out, and saying that for our country to be successful, we might need to encourage people to travel here from beyond our shores. That is not because I am doing this country down, but because I believe in our future and I know that that is the reality of the current situation. We are better when we work together and learn from our different experiences. Why not offer sanctuary to those who want to flee, if they can make our country a better, more prosperous place for our people in the process? As I said, I am a solutions person. For many, the American dream is now a nightmare, but we could turn that around and offer them a fresh dream.

• 4 Feb 2026 · Fast-Track Visas: Skilled US Citizens · Hansard source

  More

  I completely agree. We need a system that allows people to come here—not just from the United States, but more generally. People in the United States have the skills we need in the industries that so much of our economy will be dependent on: artificial intelligence, cancer research, pharmacology, science and the growing space sector. In Edinburgh, we are working hard to create that sort of environment, so I completely agree.

• 4 Feb 2026 · Teenagers’ Use of Social Media · Hansard source

  More

  In Australia, the Government are playing a game of whack-a-mole as they struggle to keep up with young people switching between social media sites and new apps that have just been brought on board. I have spoken to people in the industry here and to parents who say that a blanket ban is not working. Will the Government consider a more varied approach, along the lines that the Liberal Democrats have suggested, with a licensing scheme based on certification for cinema screens?

• 4 Feb 2026 · Teenagers’ Use of Social Media · Hansard source

  More

  2. What discussions she has had with stakeholders on teenagers’ use of social media.

• 2 Feb 2026 · US Department of Justice Release of Files · Hansard source

  More

  I echo the remarks made in the House this evening that it might be time for criminal proceedings to take place. When the Government have made such a totem of tackling violence against women and girls, it is important that they are seen to stand up for women and girls on this matter, and to encourage everyone mentioned in the files to co-operate with the American authorities and give any information they have to their inquiries.

• 29 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  It has been brought to my attention by an employer in my constituency —a vape manufacturer—that there are products on sale in this country by importers that are either circumventing or exploiting loopholes in the legislation. They are selling vapes that are big puffs and break the regulations. They are rechargeable but are being discarded because they are so cheap, creating a fire hazard. Will the Leader of the House enable me to speak to a Minister to see how we can address the issue?

• 29 Jan 2026 · Hospitality Sector · Hansard source

  More

  The Minister referred to there being hospitality businesses in every corner of this country. Unfortunately, the change in business rates does not help hospitality businesses in every corner of this country because business rates are devolved in Scotland and Wales, and the businesses in my constituency of Edinburgh West are struggling. Hospitality is absolutely vital to the Scottish economy, and so far the SNP Government have proved completely ineffectual at dealing with the issue. The Minister speaks about the strategy coming later in the year. In it, might it be useful for VAT to be reduced for businesses in this sector across the UK, so that every corner of the United Kingdom can benefit?

• 29 Jan 2026 · Hospitality Sector · Hansard source

  More

  10. What steps he is taking to support hospitality businesses.

• 27 Jan 2026 · Digital Exploitation of Women and Girls · Hansard source

  More

  Thank you very much, we managed to get everybody in. I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, Marie Goldman.

• 27 Jan 2026 · Digital Exploitation of Women and Girls · Hansard source

  More

  Order. I am sorry, but to get everyone in we will have to go down to two minutes each.

• 27 Jan 2026 · Digital Exploitation of Women and Girls · Hansard source

  More

  I remind Members to bob if they wish to be called to speak. I will call the Front Benchers at eight minutes past 5, so will Members please keep their speeches to about two and a half minutes each?

• 27 Jan 2026 · Digital Exploitation of Women and Girls · Hansard source

  More

  I call Sir Mark Hendrick to wind up the debate extremely briefly—in about 5 seconds.

• 27 Jan 2026 · Regional Funding · Hansard source

  More

  According to a report this morning from the Jobs Foundation, the energy sector in north-east Scotland is on a cliff edge, with Robert Gordon University estimating that 400 jobs will be lost every two weeks. Given the importance of that sector not just to Aberdeen or Edinburgh West but to the Scottish and UK economies, will the Chancellor think about providing the regional development support that the Scottish Government are failing to provide?

• 27 Jan 2026 · Women’s Safety: Walking, Wheeling, Cycling and Running · Hansard source

  More

  I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to be called in the debate. At the moment, I advise that there should be an informal time limit of five minutes.

• 27 Jan 2026 · Women’s Safety: Walking, Wheeling, Cycling and Running · Hansard source

  More

  Before I call the final Back-Bench speaker, I should say that I would like to call the first Front-Bench spokesperson at 28 minutes past 3.

• 27 Jan 2026 · Women’s Safety: Walking, Wheeling, Cycling and Running · Hansard source

  More

  I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

• 27 Jan 2026 · Consumer Energy Bills: Government Support · Hansard source

  More

  I will call Luke Taylor to move the motion, and then I will call the Minister to respond. I remind other Members that they may make a speech only with prior permission from the Member in charge of the debate and from the Minister. As is the convention for 30-minute debates, there will be no opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  A number of businesses, particularly care homes, in my constituency have approached me with concerns about the salary limit for migrants. Migrants already in this country, who have trained and qualified here, are finding it difficult to reach those standards to remain. Is it possible to have a meeting with a Minister from the Treasury team to discuss the impact that that is having not just on those sectors but on the economy?

• 20 Jan 2026 · UK Citizens Detained Abroad · Hansard source

  More

  Sadly, Jagtar Singh Johal’s case is not the only instance in the world of human rights violations against British citizens, and one of our biggest allies has just said that peace is no longer a priority for it. Given that the world is such a dangerous place, and given the threat to the human rights of British citizens abroad, does the Minister agree that the time has come to make consular assistance a legal right for British citizens across the globe?

• 19 Jan 2026 · Business Rates: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure · Hansard source

  More

  Business rates in Scotland are, of course, devolved, but businesses, particularly in the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors, are not immune to the impact of these measures as they spread across the United Kingdom and undermine the economy. Has there been any effort to sit down with Scottish Government Ministers to discuss a national strategy on how we can help businesses throughout the United Kingdom?

• 19 Jan 2026 · Sale of Fireworks · Hansard source

  More

  Thank you. If contributors could please keep to the informal time limit, it would be a huge help. After Ruth Jones, I will call Rachael Maskell and then Tom Hayes.

• 15 Jan 2026 · Digital ID · Hansard source

  More

  I wanted to come here today and say that I was delighted to hear that this scheme will now be voluntary, not mandatory. Frankly, I am completely confused by the farce that we have got here today. The scheme will not be free, because we know it will cost the taxpayer. I do not think we should be saying it is free. We are told it will now be voluntary, but the Prime Minister said at Prime Minister’s questions that we will have a mandatory digital scheme. May I just point out to the Minister that no constituent has ever come to me and said, “Our public services are poor quality; it would be so much better if we had a mandatory digital scheme that would improve them”? Can he please make it clear? The Prime Minister says that digital checks will be mandatory. While the digital scheme might be voluntary, if the checks are mandatory, is that not just a mandatory scheme by the back door?

• 13 Jan 2026 · Chinese Embassy · Hansard source

  More

  The Minister is very artfully avoiding answering the question that my constituents and Hongkongers, Chinese, Muslims and Tibetans all over this country want to know the answer to, and it is not about the planning process. They are concerned about their safety and security, and they are concerned that the redacted photographs show just how close a foreign country is to critical communications cables. That is their concern; they want to know that they are safe and that this Government are taking that into account. That is the question we want to ask, so please do not tell me about the planning process.