Jodie Gosling MP: speeches

Speeches

• 23 Apr 2026 · Public Sector Insourcing · Hansard source

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  Mr Speaker, I wish you a happy Warwickshire day and a happy St George’s day. Nuneaton residents are concerned about the performance of Capita since it took over the civil service pensions. I know these concerns are shared across the House, as we have just heard some of the horror stories coming into many inboxes. Those residents will therefore be surprised to see that the Government have recently agreed a £900 million, 10-year deal for the same company to take over the civil service payroll contract under the Synergy programme. Does my hon. Friend agree with me that maintaining current insourcing is the only way to ensure value for taxpayers’ money and a decent level of service for residents?

• 26 Mar 2026 · Gurkha Veterans · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Cameron Thomas) for securing this debate and the Backbench Business Committee for allowing it. I would also like to recognise the work of my hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot (Alex Baker). I know that hon. Friend would be here today, were it not for other duties. As the MP for Nuneaton, I am incredibly fortunate and proud to represent a large Gurkha population. Their contribution to our town is valued and woven into the fabric of Nuneaton, from the Gurkha Corner Bar to the Crossed Khukris and its amazing curries, which I highly recommend to every Member of the House—I am sure that we can arrange a wonderful visit. Support and advocacy are provided through the British Gurkha Veterans Association, and the Gurkha monument —the first of its kind—is in Riversley Park in the centre of Nuneaton. Nuneaton is deeply proud of its long-standing connections with Gurkha veterans and serving soldiers, with the Queen’s Gurkha Signals based in Gamecock barracks in neighbouring Rugby. The British Gurkha Veterans Association provides so much support in our community. It offers English language classes and support for families to better engage with their neighbours and community. It arranges for health checks and organises visits around the country—including one to Parliament, where I had the honour of hosting over 50 Gurkha families for a tour. I know that it is excited by the opportunities presented by Op Valour, which is greatly welcomed in our community, to build on that work. The recent elections in Nepal provide an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between Nepal and the UK. My community recognises the importance of that relationship and has faith that the UK Government will be able to engage in talks to end the historical injustices against the Gurkha population. I thank the Minister for the work he has done in this area to support our Gurkha communities and strengthen that partnership. I urge him to engage positively with the talks as they progress, and with the Nepal APPG, chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot. We have heard many accounts of how Gurkha soldiers have served our nation for generations. They have fought alongside British troops with their renowned ferocity and bravery, and they have paid a heavy cost. We owe them, and all our service personnel, a great debt, and yet long-standing concerns about pensions and access to services for veterans, their wives and widows have failed to be resolved for too long. While I understand the challenge of retroactively addressing pension issues, much more needs to be done to ensure that those who have served—especially those who have paid in national insurance contributions and not seen the returns—have access to healthcare and financial support. I also echo what the hon. Member for Tewkesbury said about pre-1997 veterans who were injured in service and do not qualify for a medical pension or compensation. I had the pleasure of meeting Andrew Limbu, and the absolute privilege of hosting him in Nuneaton. Like many of the veterans, he is quite a character. His passion, enthusiasm and dedication to the fight were a pleasure to see. His visit was only made more memorable by his party trick of popping out his eye at inappropriate moments. As is the case for so many, his life has changed irreversibly as a consequence of his bravery and service in the Falklands. Decisions on a resolution have been deferred for too long. This is a debt that needs to be settled with more than just platitudes. Through my involvement with the armed forces parliamentary scheme, I have heard about the wider impact of Gurkha soldiers. It is very welcome that, while we struggle to recruit in other areas, Gurkha regiments are already oversubscribed. I wish to pay homage to a few of the veterans in my community, including Om Gurung and Padam Bahadur Gurung, who are freemen of my borough, and our mayor, Bhim Saru, who still serves our community. It is practically impossible to find a support service in Nuneaton that has not in one way or another been touched by the work and generosity of our Gurkha veterans, who continue to serve after their duties are done. It is more important than ever for the Government to continue to work at pace to show respect for and truly honour the Gurkha veterans who have made such a sacrifice for our country.

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

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Dowd. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Derby South (Baggy Shanker) for securing this debate. Nuneaton town centre, like many of our town centres, used to be a source of pride. Our vibrant markets stretched all the way through town, down Queens Road, through market square and back down Abbey Street. Every shop was full, bustling with shoppers. Over the past decade, like many of our town centres, it has taken a hammering and has suffered significant decline. Shops have been boarded up, and the market has been reduced to an echo of its former self. Crime—shoplifting, serious organised crime, drugs and antisocial behaviour—has become commonplace. A few years ago, my teenager—like many parents’ teenagers—was in town on a Saturday, and a Facebook post popped up showing police cordons around the town centre, with a flippant comment, “Nunny got a bit stabby”. It culminated in the tragic and fatal stabbing of one of our local lads, a gentle giant, Tom Ellis, in June 2024. Since my election, I have been driven to change the future of Nuneaton town centre, alongside the ambitious Labour council, and we are progressing rapidly with transformation work. The market is growing back, and in March our transformation project, Grayson Place, will be completed. We await the opening of food halls, college campuses, event spaces and the first championship padel centre. I have made it my priority to meet senior officers from our local safer neighbourhoods team, walk the town, and talk to businesses, market stall traders and shoppers. I welcome the return of our designated town centre officer. I also welcome the investment of £1.5 million from the Government’s Pride in Place impact fund for our town centre, alongside £1.4 million in neighbourhood funding. We are working together with organisations such as the police, the business improvement district, our town centre wardens and our brilliant councillors, such as Councillor Nicky King, to co-ordinate the approach and rescue our town centre.