Emma Lewell MP: speeches

Speeches

• 19 Jan 2026 · Public Office (Accountability) Bill · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for her statement, and my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool West Derby (Ian Byrne) for the leadership that he has shown on this. It is right that we have a pause, but the Minister will know how distressing this is for the families, and about the emotional and physical toll that going back and forth to and from Parliament for decades has had on them. They came so close to this Bill being passed, only to encounter further disappointments and setbacks. This is the only experience that my constituents whose children were killed in the Manchester arena attack have had of meetings in Parliament to date, so can she assure us that when the Bill comes back, every single part of it will have the full involvement and support of the campaigners and families, and that there will be no more short-notice, unexpected amendments from the Government?

• 19 Jan 2026 · Arctic Security · Hansard source

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  I welcome the Prime Minister’s calm diplomacy this morning. It is right that only adversaries stand to gain from the fracturing of NATO. The Government do not believe that the US President is serious about using military force to seize Greenland, but even in just the past hour he has refused to rule that out. My right hon. Friend will also know that the President spoke about wanting Greenland in his previous term in office; he has long been serious about it. As the UK is the lead nation in the joint expeditionary force, can she assure me that, alongside NATO-level discussions, we are engaging fully with our JEF partners?

• 15 Jan 2026 · Gambling Harms: Children and Young People · Hansard source

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  There will now be a five-minute limit on Back-Bench speeches.

• 15 Jan 2026 · End-of-life Ministry · Hansard source

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  Where assisted dying is being legalised with opt-outs for faith-based hospices, it is now being challenged in the courts. Opt-outs and faith-based conscientious objections are unworkable and will be subject to constant legal wrangling. That is just one of the very many serious concerns associated with assisted dying. Does my hon. Friend agree that the assisted dying Bill is dangerous and the other place is right to give it thorough scrutiny?

• 15 Jan 2026 · End-of-life Ministry · Hansard source

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  10. What assessment the Church of England has made of the potential impact of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on end-of-life ministry.

• 15 Jan 2026 · Digital ID · Hansard source

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  This is a mess. Increasing surveillance, Department for Work and Pensions powers to snoop on bank accounts, the removal of trials by jury, postponing elections and clamping down on peaceful protest—the public are starting to become very angry about these encroachments on our fundamental freedoms and creeping state control. It is all inherently un-British. I know that this is not my hon. Friend’s fault, but can he convey to whoever is behind this farce that they are doing this Government no favours at all? It is time to scrap this costly project altogether.

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

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  I am sure that the Leader of the House shares my concern that families, including my constituents who have been repeatedly failed by the state, had arranged time off work and booked travel and expensive accommodation to make the journey to London, only to be told that there will now be no debate tomorrow. It is, of course, welcome that the Government are listening, but please can my right hon. Friend use his good offices to ensure that the Government listen to MPs, their constituents and campaigners sooner—before we reach such critical points in legislation—in order to avoid such upheaval?

• 15 Dec 2025 · NATO Defence Expenditure Target · Hansard source

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  Allies rightly agreed that up to 1.5% of GDP would go towards civil preparedness and resilience measures, but public support for our current commitments—let alone for mobilisation in a crisis—does not meet Government assumptions. Will my right hon. Friend say how he plans to address that, so that we fully meet our article 3 obligations?

• 27 Nov 2025 · Business and Trade Committee · Hansard source

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  Order. This is just a reminder that the debate must end at 10 minutes to 2.

• 27 Nov 2025 · Business and Trade Committee · Hansard source

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  We begin with the Select Committee statement. Liam Byrne will speak on the publication of the 11th report of the Business and Trade Committee, “Toward a new doctrine for economic security”, HC835, for up to 10 minutes, during which no interventions may be taken. At the conclusion of his statement, I will call Members to put questions on the subject of the statement and then call Liam Byrne to respond to those in turn. Questions should be brief and Members may ask only one question each.

• 27 Nov 2025 · Packaging: Extended Producer Responsibility · Hansard source

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  Order. If Members can keep their speeches to five minutes, everyone should get in. I call Will Forster.

• 27 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Since July, I have been assisting my constituent who is the victim of stalking by a foreign national. After correspondence, proposed legislative amendments and a ministerial meeting, we were promised some support. The situation has recently deteriorated, placing her in danger. Despite numerous attempts to seek help via the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office, nothing has changed. Will my right hon. Friend please use his good offices to intervene and help us?

• 24 Nov 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

• 24 Nov 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  The hospitality industry in South Shields has really struggled over the last year. There are now deep concerns, which I share, about the imposition of a tourism tax. Can my right hon. Friend explain what assessment he has made of such a tax’s impact on beautiful little coastal tourist towns, like mine?

• 24 Nov 2025 · Social and Affordable Housing: South Shields · Hansard source

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  After a long campaign from myself and constituents, South Tyneside council has eventually agreed to curtail any new houses in multiple occupation, but we remain saturated with them. My right hon. Friend knows that they are no substitute for good social housing, so does he have any plans to strengthen the licensing regime, to close down badly managed HMOs and to deliver better housing?

• 24 Nov 2025 · Social and Affordable Housing: South Shields · Hansard source

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  1. What steps he is taking to build more social and affordable homes in the South Shields constituency.

• 17 Nov 2025 · Parkinson’s Disease · Hansard source

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  Order. I call Gregory Stafford. My apologies; we were having issues with the clock. It should be okay now.

• 17 Nov 2025 · Parkinson’s Disease · Hansard source

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  I am terribly sorry; we are not able to take any more Back-Bench speeches. I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

• 17 Nov 2025 · Parkinson’s Disease · Hansard source

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  Order. I call Graeme Downie.

• 17 Nov 2025 · Parkinson’s Disease · Hansard source

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  I will need to put a two-minute time limit on Back-Bench speeches.

• 3 Nov 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  North-east industry has always supported our nation’s defence, yet we now have the lowest MOD spend out of every single region, leaving our potential untapped. Will my hon. Friend meet me and the North East Regional Defence and Security Cluster to redress that?

• 3 Nov 2025 · Regulation of houses in multiple occupation · Hansard source

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  I rise to present a petition on behalf of my constituents regarding the uncontrolled growth and lack of monitoring of houses in multiple occupation across South Shields. HMOs are having a detrimental impact on our community, increasing antisocial behaviour and contributing to the erosion of family housing. Everyone deserves to have a place to call home, and everyone deserves to feel safe in that home. HMOs should not be allowed to be used as a substitute for good-quality, affordable housing. The petitioners therefore request that: “the House of Commons urge the Government to introduce new legislation to regulate and lessen the proliferation of houses in multiple occupation; and to ask that each local authority publishes their strategy and policies on HMOs. And the petitioners remain, etc.” Following is the full text of the petition: [The petition of residents of the constituency of South Shields Declares that the uncontrolled growth of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) within the constituency is having a detrimental impact on communities, leading to overcrowding, crime, anti-social behaviour, parking pressures, and the erosion of family housing availability; notes that HMOs are subject to different licensing regimes under housing law, including mandatory licensing, additional licensing, and selective licensing; further declares that while these licensing schemes provide oversight of management and safety, the planning system remains the main safeguard against over-concentration; and further declares that without strengthened legislation, HMOs can proliferate unchecked. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to introduce new legislation to regulate and lessen the proliferation of houses in multiple occupation; and to ask that each local authority publishes their strategy and policies on HMOs. And the petitioners remain, etc.] [P003124]

• 27 Oct 2025 · Holidays During School Term Time · Hansard source

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  Order. Will Members please keep their contributions to five minutes, so that everyone can get in? I the Chair of the Education Committee.

• 27 Oct 2025 · Employment: People with Health Conditions · Hansard source

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  23. What steps he is taking to support people with health conditions into work.

• 27 Oct 2025 · Employment: People with Health Conditions · Hansard source

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  The Motability scheme provides a lifeline to people with disabilities, allowing them to get to health appointments, study, maintain employment and so much more. Cuts to the scheme risk increased health needs and increased unemployment, which are likely to cost much more than any short-term savings. Does my right hon. Friend agree that before any proposed cuts are implemented, it is vital to carry out a proper impact assessment?