Desmond Swayne MP: speeches

326 published records · newest first.

Speeches

24 Feb 2026 · EU Membership Referendum: Impact on the UK · Hansard source
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There is now a one-minute limit.
24 Feb 2026 · EU Membership Referendum: Impact on the UK · Hansard source
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Order.
24 Feb 2026 · EU Membership Referendum: Impact on the UK · Hansard source
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Order. There will be a two-minute limit on Back-Bench speeches. I will begin calling Front Benchers for the wind-ups at quarter-past 5.
12 Feb 2026 · Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate · Hansard source
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1. Whether she plans to retain the zero emission vehicle mandate.
12 Feb 2026 · Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate · Hansard source
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Even the UK gigafactory commission, chaired by a former Labour Secretary of State, says that the ZEV mandate is disincentivising investment in UK motor manufacturing. We all know that U-turns are a sign of open-mindedness and strength. Can we please have another?
11 Feb 2026 · Local Government Finance · Hansard source
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That is nothing new. In every one of the last 29 years, people who are lucky enough to have a modest property in the New Forest and a mansion in the city have come to me to complain about how much more their modest property in the forest costs them in council tax. I have told them that the one is subsidising the other, but people who are not in that fortunate position—young families in my parliamentary constituency with only one property—are subsidising the north and the cities, and they cannot afford it.
11 Feb 2026 · Local Government Finance · Hansard source
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No, no. The one thing that the Secretary of State got right when he was wagging his finger to my left was his implication about the Liberal Democrats. I was at the heart of that Administration. Danny Alexander was Chief Secretary to the Treasury and had to be restrained by George Osborne, so gung-ho was he about making greater cuts. Personally, I would have given him his head, but don’t let them escape!
11 Feb 2026 · Local Government Finance · Hansard source
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May I tell the hon. Gentleman about austerity?
10 Feb 2026 · Household Energy Bills · Hansard source
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1. What steps his Department is taking to reduce household energy bills.
10 Feb 2026 · Household Energy Bills · Hansard source
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We were promised a reduction in bills of £300, but they have actually gone up by just shy of £200. The impact assessment of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026, which we passed last week, states: “we estimate that cost-pass through for most sectors could feasibly be at 80-90%”. That is a euphemism for even higher bills, isn’t it?
9 Feb 2026 · Jimmy Lai: Prison Sentence · Hansard source
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I say to the hon. Member for North Northumberland (David Smith) and to the Minister that this is not party political—the last Government were as bad, if not worse. The Minister spoke about condemnation in the strongest terms. That is a complete waste of breath; the Chinese Government understand one thing, which is that there has to be a cost. Will the Minister sanction those responsible?
3 Feb 2026 · Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill · Hansard source
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rose—
3 Feb 2026 · Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill · Hansard source
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rose—
3 Feb 2026 · Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill · Hansard source
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I have a question too.
3 Feb 2026 · Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill · Hansard source
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We now hear shouts of “cruelty” and “the rape clause”, but I see only one of the seven who were suspended sitting on the Labour Benches. The rest of them kept their heads down and voted to perpetuate what they now call cruelty and the rape clause. How do they sleep at night?
3 Feb 2026 · Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill · Hansard source
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It appears that those 300,000 were in poverty a year ago, but the Secretary of State has allowed that to persist till now. What has changed? It is not the fiscal situation, and it is not any room in the benefits budget. This is the Labour equivalent of Project Save Big Dog, is it not?
28 Jan 2026 · Youth Unemployment · Hansard source
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Can I tempt my hon. Friend with another very simple belief, which is that unemployment is like any other commodity: the more one pays for it, the more one will have of it?
27 Jan 2026 · Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026 · Hansard source
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I call the shadow Secretary of State.
21 Jan 2026 · Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and Reconciliation · Hansard source
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I just ask the Secretary of State to acknowledge that the Committee’s opinion was not unanimous.
21 Jan 2026 · Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and Reconciliation · Hansard source
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Will the Secretary of State give way?
21 Jan 2026 · Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and Reconciliation · Hansard source
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The Human Rights Act 1998 does not require the Government to take any action as a consequence of the decisions that were made in the courts; it is entirely a matter for this House. The Government have made a choice. They had a choice to pursue the change through primary legislation or through this remedial order. They made a choice, notwithstanding the fact that they have a Bill coming down the line. Frankly, I think that was a ridiculous decision by my Committee, but there it is. [ Laughter. ]
20 Jan 2026 · Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill · Hansard source
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Oh, stop giving him extra time! He is not going to trouble the scorer, is he?
20 Jan 2026 · Chinese Embassy · Hansard source
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China is notoriously transactional in its international relations, so what do we get in return?
19 Jan 2026 · Proposed Chinese Embassy · Hansard source
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The urgent question secured by the hon. Member for Rotherham (Sarah Champion), which Mr Speaker granted, explicitly refers to our Five Eyes partners. The first thing that the Minister said when she got to her feet was that she could not answer any questions about the Five Eyes partners, because that was a Home Office responsibility. Why did she come? Did she argue with those who sent her? Did she say, “Bagsy not me; I can’t answer that question”? The fact that she came, willingly or unwillingly, is an insult to this House.
13 Jan 2026 · Chinese Embassy · Hansard source
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The sentencing hearings of Jimmy Lai, a British subject, are taking place. China has abrogated every agreement that it made with us over Hong Kong. What outrage would China have to commit for us to deny any demand that it made? The Minister says that he could not distil our relationship with China down to one word, but oh yes we can. It is a very big word; it is no.

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