Esther McVey MP: speeches

Speeches

• 18 Jun 2025 · HS2 Reset · Hansard source

  More

  The previous Government cancelled phase 2 of HS2, and from what the Secretary of State has said today, my understanding is that it remains cancelled and that phase 2 will not be reinstated. That being the case, can she let me know when the HS2’s safeguarding of land, particularly in the mid-Cheshire section, will be lifted?

• 16 Jun 2025 · Child Sexual Exploitation: Casey Report · Hansard source

  More

  This Government have been dragged kicking and screaming to deliver a national inquiry, having dismissed the pleas of the nation as jumping on a far-right bandwagon. That reluctance is why my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Rupert Lowe) will continue his inquiry and why I will be supporting him it. Will the Government’s inquiry investigate the political motivations behind the cover-ups, including the role of the Labour party, or will that continue to be swept under the carpet?

• 3 Jun 2025 · Violent Offenders: Early Release · Hansard source

  More

  14. What discussions she has had with victims groups on the early release of violent offenders.

• 22 May 2025 · EU-UK Summit · Hansard source

  More

  I remind Members that they should bob if they want to be called to speak, and that I will call the Front-Bench spokespeople just before 4 pm to allow Stella Creasy time to make a wind-up speech.

• 22 May 2025 · EU-UK Summit · Hansard source

  More

  I did not put a time limit on speeches at the start of the debate, but we have had so many interventions and feisty exchanges that have eaten into the time available. I suggest that speeches should take a maximum of eight minutes.

• 22 May 2025 · EU-UK Summit · Hansard source

  More

  That is for you to say.

• 22 May 2025 · EU-UK Summit · Hansard source

  More

  Order. I remind Members that an intervention is an intervention and not a small speech. Others have put in to speak, so can we get to the question please?

• 22 May 2025 · EU-UK Summit · Hansard source

  More

  Order. We must have just one person speaking at a time.

• 20 May 2025 · UK-EU Summit · Hansard source

  More

  With youth unemployment higher in Europe—in countries such as France, Spain, Portugal and Sweden—I can see why the EU pushed for a youth mobility scheme: to help get its youth unemployment figures down. Can the Prime Minister tell the House what impact assessment he has done of his youth scheme? What effect will it have on youth unemployment among young Brits, particularly white working-class boys, who suffer the most? Can he also tell the House today what cap he has put on the number of people coming to the UK? If he cannot, this is a bitter betrayal of British youth.

• 29 Apr 2025 · Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill · Hansard source

  More

  Have all the details and all the information from the only pilot schemes that the Government are prepared to run been published in their entirety?

• 23 Apr 2025 · Intellectual Property: Artificial Intelligence · Hansard source

  More

  To fit in the last couple of speakers, we will go down to two minutes per speech, but I will get everybody in.

• 23 Apr 2025 · Intellectual Property: Artificial Intelligence · Hansard source

  More

  I thank Members for keeping so keenly to the time limit, which has allowed us to get everybody in.

• 23 Apr 2025 · Intellectual Property: Artificial Intelligence · Hansard source

  More

  Order. This is a well-attended debate, but I hope to get everybody in. I have spoken to the Front Benchers: the Minister will have 10 minutes, and the Opposition spokespeople have agreed to go down to five minutes, so there will be a limit of three minutes per speech for Back Benchers. I hope that all hon. Members will be suitably aware of their fellow Members who want to speak, and I ask that interventions be interventions and not speeches, or I will stop you.

• 23 Apr 2025 · Hair and Beauty Sector: Government Policy · Hansard source

  More

  Order. I remind Members to bob if they wish to speak in this debate; it seems that quite a few Members want to. We will come to the Front Benchers at 5.10 pm. Although I will not set a hard deadline, speeches should be about three minutes.

• 23 Apr 2025 · Hair and Beauty Sector: Government Policy · Hansard source

  More

  You sweet-talking devil.

• 2 Apr 2025 · Digital Landlines: Rural Communities · Hansard source

  More

  Has the Minister got facts?

• 2 Apr 2025 · Digital Landlines: Rural Communities · Hansard source

  More

  rose —

• 2 Apr 2025 · Digital Landlines: Rural Communities · Hansard source

  More

  The reality is that in rural and semi-rural areas such as Tatton, broadband is unreliable, poor and intermittent; when coupled with power cuts, there is no broadband whatsoever. We have heard about the needs of vulnerable people with medical devices. Does my right hon. Friend agree that there are rural businesses that need connection to the internet to pay for things online, and that they use a landline to dial for that automation?

• 2 Apr 2025 · Digital Landlines: Rural Communities · Hansard source

  More

  Come on—it’s his debate.

• 2 Apr 2025 · Digital Landlines: Rural Communities · Hansard source

  More

  The explanation that has been given is that the switchover is happening because of the poor condition of the copper, but has the Minister sought reassurances? Has there been a full investigation? I find it hard to believe that the copper is so bad that the switchover cannot be delayed. Will he go back and get assurances that it needs to be done?

• 6 Feb 2025 · Low-income Countries: Debt Cancellation · Hansard source

  More

  Order. I remind hon. Members that this debate is about debt cancellation for low-income countries.

• 6 Feb 2025 · Low-income Countries: Debt Cancellation · Hansard source

  More

  I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to be called.

• 30 Jan 2025 · Medicinal Cannabis · Hansard source

  More

  I remind Members that they need to bob if they wish to be called. I also remind Members that, if they wish to speak, they need to be here for both the opening and closing speeches.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency · Hansard source

  More

  The number of people who have taken their lives after coming off SSRIs shows that it is not a one-off or rare. There are many people, including one of my constituents, aged only 25, who took her life. I congratulate my hon. Friend on raising this issue. What more can we do to raise awareness of the effects of withdrawal from these antidepressants?

• 8 Jan 2025 · Heat Batteries: Decarbonising Homes · Hansard source

  More

  Order. Before the hon. Gentleman intervenes, may I remind Members that interventions should be concise and should not be speeches?