Joe Morris MP: speeches

Speeches

• 24 Jun 2026 · Media Green Paper · Hansard source

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  The Secretary of State will be aware that terrestrial television is not just an entertainment platform but a resilient form of communication that reaches into communities where digital, broadband or mobile signal quite simply do not have the reach or the reliability. Does she share my concern that the switch-off of terrestrial TV in either 2034 or 2044 could cut off communities in my constituency from that resilient communication platform, and will she meet me to discuss my concerns?

• 3 Jun 2026 · Small Towns: Transport Links · Hansard source

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  As always, Sir Roger, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairship. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Andy MacNae) on securing such an important and timely debate. As the MP for the largest constituency in England, I spend a lot of time speaking about local transport, whether that is rail, road, walking or cycling. Over the recess, I was lucky to cycle a part of the proposed Haydon Bridge to Hexham cycle way. I look forward to working with the community group that is trying to get funding for that. I will spend a lot of my time focusing on a particular case: the ongoing campaign to bring rail back to the village of Gilsland, which sits half in my constituency and half in that of my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Ms Minns). Gilsland sits on the Northumberland-Cumbria border, at the heart of the Hadrian’s wall world heritage site. The village is a central point for visitors to the incredible features of historical interest in the border country. There was a train station at Gilsland from 1836 to 1967, when it closed because of the Beeching report, along with thousands of other stations across the country. There has been passionate community campaigning, spanning decades, by the Campaign to Open Gilsland Station and the Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership, which are dedicated to the cause of reconnecting local people to their rail network. They have been challenging outdated assumptions, securing reports showing clear evidence of the credible economic and social case for reopening the station, and submitting multiple bids to multiple Government pots of money. Almost 60 years after closure, there is still no operating station, despite the fact that locals have to see trains passing the station on the Newcastle-Carlisle line every day. That is a living example of a rural community being left behind. I am passionate about getting the station reopened. It would be fantastic not just for the economy of Gilsland, but for the economy of the whole of Northumberland. It would add to the county’s already magnificent tourism offer and would make it easier for people to come into my region and spend their money. Visit Northumberland, the tourism body, spends most of its time—as does the Conservative-run county council—promoting the coastal regions of the county, rather than promoting west Northumberland. I want to comment briefly on a subject that my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen touched on: road safety. There can be no good connectivity without road safety. On a summer tour last year, I held 80 surgeries in four weeks across my constituency; I will do it again this year. The No. 1 concern that comes up in almost every village is “Can we get a speed limit? Can we get a speed camera? Can we do something about road crossings?” It particularly affects those small villages where people have to cross the road to get the village hall or the shop. These are often communities where there is no available road crossing. I would like to see the Government doing far more to push local authorities to address what are often ticking time bombs. Those cases are often acted on only after there has been a tragedy. We need far more proactive action from local authorities.

• 14 Jan 2026 · Science and Discovery Centres · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. It is a shame that my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West (Dame Chi Onwurah) has departed, because I remember spending much of my time as a child in the Centre for Life, and to hear it was 25 years since it opened has made me realise that I have aged quite a bit in the meantime. I want to speak primarily about the Kielder Observatory, and I am delighted to see so many scientists observing our proceedings; but first I want to take a brief moment, as the hon. Member for Aberdeen North (Kirsty Blackman) did, to reflect on the worrying attacks on scientists, on the truth and on the concept of science itself that are taking place not just in this country but globally. I take note that no Reform MPs have come to discuss the importance of the sciences to our national life; I think that tells its own story quite powerfully. Kielder’s dark skies observatory is a world-leading facility. It marks the rural west of Northumberland as a real gem, not just for the amazing landscapes it offers and the fantastic contribution it makes to our national life through our hospitality and our tourism, but also for our ability to understand space and the stars and to see them. There is a moment of tranquility that you get when you go into Kielder forest and into the communities around it, and you see how special it is to be able to look up and see the darkness and the stars within it. I will not repeat the points that my more eloquent, better qualified colleagues have made about the importance of investment in the sciences, but I know the Minister is an incredibly capable and dynamic individual, and I hope that he will cut through the siloing that Whitehall sometimes brings and take responsibility for SDCs and ensure that Kielder receives some of the attention that it needs in order to continue its function. It provides an incredible function in opening up space to schoolchildren. It has reached about 10,000 pupils and engaged about 50 schools, while also getting 15,000 visitors. Those who have come to rural Northumberland know that it is not the easiest place to get around, often involving long drives. People who visit my constituency often get to the Tyne valley and then realise there is another significant drive up the smaller roads from the A69 to get to Kielder forest. I want to touch on the work that Kielder does with the tourism sector, which is a major employer in my constituency. It is not simply promoting the sciences; it is also promoting local establishments like the Twice Brewed inn and the Battlesteads hotel. If I can depart from the subject of the debate slightly, the tourism industry in Otterburn is also well supported by visitors to Kielder; I would like to thank the staff at Le Petit Château there for hosting my wedding reception on new year’s eve, which remains one of the greatest days of my life. I also want to speak about the importance of the wider science sector in the north-east. I am privileged to represent many scientists studying and working at both Newcastle and Northumbria universities, making incredible contributions not just to academia but to industry. When I meet them, a lot of it goes well above my head. I emphasise that I got a 2:1 in history, and therefore I can read the history of the subject without necessarily understanding the particulars of it. In my remaining time, I would like to echo a plea not only for those silos to be cut through, but for the infrastructure around the SDCs to be considered. I often joust with my local Conservative council, as Members would expect, but unfortunately, rural west Northumberland does not have world-leading infrastructure—it deserves it, but it does not have it. I would like the Minister to go away and make the case that access to these centres is incredibly important, and although it is not his Department’s responsibility, it is essential that the roads leading to these centres are properly repaired and that opportunities to access them are properly promoted. He is more than welcome to visit Kielder with me at any point, to sample some of the local hospitality that I praised and see the dark skies for himself.

• 1 Dec 2025 · Iconic Trees and Nature Education · Hansard source

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  I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for a register of iconic trees; to make provision about the designation and protection of trees on that register; to require the Secretary of State to review the provision of nature education in England; and for connected purposes. It should hardly be surprising that, as the Member of Parliament for Hexham, I am often called the hon. Member for the Sycamore Gap. The summer of 1991 saw many landmarks: it was the summer I was born, “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” was released, and Bryan Adams introduced the Sycamore Gap to a transatlantic audience. It is a profound honour to represent a constituency whose identity is forever marked by the legacy of the Sycamore Gap: a reminder of our rich heritage, the strength of our community and our enduring hope. Planted in the late-1800s by the previous landowner John Clayton, that sycamore tree stood in an idyllic dip along Hadrian’s wall. It was not just visually iconic; it became a cultural symbol, popularised by numerous paintings, photographs and private moments, and that infamous 1991 film. As the film’s director, Kevin Reynolds, captured, the Sycamore Gap was “one of the most quintessentially idyllic spots in the world…I found it so special and I wanted to share with people how special it was.” He is most certainly right. That iconic tree touched the lives of so many, and not only in the north-east but right across the world. It was a picturesque destination for hikes, stargazing and family walks, and it was popular for sentimental moments, such as marriage proposals or the scattering of a loved one’s ashes. It provided an opportunity to connect with over 1,900 years of north-east heritage, with its situation along Hadrian’s wall. There really is, and was, no place quite like it. The legacy of the Sycamore Gap hardly needs recounting. Hon. Members across the House will agree that the Sycamore Gap tree was not just a landmark; it was a majestic symbol of resilience, of north-east identity and of belonging. It is difficult to put into words the events that took place on the evening of 27 September 2023. The felling of the Sycamore Gap tree sent shockwaves that not only went through the north-east but reverberated right across the world. For many, it felt like an attack, with a beloved landmark taken from us overnight and a piece of our shared identity toppled. Communities throughout my constituency and beyond mourn not just a tree, but the memories, the heritage and the sense of place that it embodied. It illustrated the true fragility of the natural and cultural treasures that we so often take for granted. In one night, a devastating and barbaric act of vandalism toppled a landmark that has symbolised north-east heritage for centuries. But if there is one thing to note about the north-east’s spirit, it is its resilience. Communities across Northumberland and the north-east—a region that is so often overlooked—have banded together in solidarity, facing hardship head-on and standing stronger as a result. While grieving for a landmark lost, that resilience has translated into lessons learned. I pay tribute to the outstanding work of the Northumberland national park and the National Trust, which have been working tirelessly alongside Historic England and the Hadrian’s Wall Partnership to ensure that a fitting legacy for both nature and people can flourish following that terrible act of vandalism. At The Sill—the national landscape discovery centre—the largest section of the felled tree is now on public display. I had the pleasure of visiting it during the unveiling of the exhibition, recognising the lasting connection that the display will offer for future generations. Just this week, saplings taken from the original Sycamore Gap tree are ready to be planted as part of the National Trust’s “tree of hope” initiative. Each sapling will carry a message of hope and resilience, with 49 saplings—each representing a foot in the height of the tree at the time of its felling—being distributed right across the country. Last week, a sapling was planted in the grounds of Hexham hospital, offering a symbol for those visiting loved ones. A sapling will soon be planted to commemorate the tragic murder of Holly Newton in my constituency and to recognise the phenomenal work of Holly’s mother, Micala Trussler, and her charity Holly’s Hope. I take the opportunity once again to put on record my thanks and admiration for her dedication and campaigning to secure a change in the law, which I fully support. As the closest school to the Sycamore Gap, Henshaw Church of England primary school will plant a sapling on its grounds, as will Northumberland national park in the new year. I look forward to visiting those sites throughout my constituency to pay tribute not just to the tree, but to the people and charities inspiring such hope and resilience. The legacy of the Sycamore Gap will not just be reserved for Northumberland and the north-east, however. Saplings are being planted in constituencies right across the country. A sapling is being planted in Staffordshire to commemorate the Minnie Pit mining disaster, in Berkshire to honour Greenham common, and in Leeds to recognise the Rob Burrow centre for motor neurone disease at Seacroft hospital. The Sycamore Gap tree’s legacy will prevail and so, too, will the lessons of environmental protection triumph. One of the defendants expressed his delusional disbelief, claiming that it was “just a tree”, but the tree was, and is, so much more than that. Trees are not “just trees”. Our planet is intrinsically dependent on them. They are vital to sustaining our planet, cleaning our air and supporting our biodiversity and ecosystems. They are homes to nature, wildlife, birds and insects. Without them, our planet would falter. There is also a reason that trees appear so often in our culture and literature: for their symbolic significance. In Greek mythology, the tale of King Erysichthon claimed that the felling of a tree represented a moral failure. In the final book of “The Chronicles of Narnia”, the destruction of trees in Lantern Waste alludes to the end of the world. Without trees, our heritage would flatline, our ecosystems would fail and our history would be forgotten. I am therefore calling for a register of iconic trees, from the Ankerwycke yew in Berkshire associated with the sealing of Magna Carta and the Major oak in Sherwood Forest, legendary home of Robin Hood, to the Fortingall yew in Perthshire and the Crowhurst yew in the churchyard of St George’s church—the list goes on. Such trees can and should be classified as iconic for holding widely recognised cultural, historical, ecological and symbolic significance. Alongside a register of iconic trees, a curriculum review can and should incorporate the value of understanding the legacy of trees and the role they play in local communities, and allow nature to be an educator for future generations. Teachers and schools have a unique role to play in facilitating children’s connections with nature so that they too can understand how to protect our local heritage and engage in climate protection. Tony Gates, chief executive officer of the Northumberland National Park Authority, has said: “The felling of the Sycamore Gap tree has shown just how much nature and landscape mean to people and to their very wellbeing… We are determined to honour the spirit of Sycamore Gap through opportunities to connect with the tree, and to create a legacy for both people and nature.” This Bill would not be possible without the outstanding work of Northumberland national park, the National Trust, and local organisations and individuals right across the Hexham constituency. I thank every single person for their dedicated commitment to honouring the legacy of the Sycamore Gap tree, and I hope that any Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Ministers on the Front Bench will note the contribution of the Northumberland national park and look favourably on a rethinking of the national parks funding formula. Though the Sycamore Gap tree has fallen, its legacy stands unshaken. It is our solemn responsibility to honour that legacy, to recognise the hope, endurance and unity that it inspired and to safeguard the iconic trees that shape our national landscape and ensure that they are cherished, protected and never consigned to memory alone. Question put and agreed to . Ordered, That Joe Morris, Michael Wheeler, James Naish, Laurence Turner, Leigh Ingham, David Smith, Dave Robertson, Markus Campbell-Savours, Feryal Clark and Sir Alec Shelbrooke present the Bill. Joe Morris accordingly presented the Bill. Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 16 January 2026, and to be printed (Bill 339).

• 18 Nov 2025 · UNESCO: 80th Anniversary · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Dowd—there is always a sense of history when you are in it. I want to speak about the contribution of Hexham and the broader north-east to UNESCO. We have a proud industrial heritage in the north-east, and I am proud to have the birthplace of George Stephenson in my constituency. At a recent panel event in Wylam, I was asked whether George Stephenson was to blame for the climate catastrophe, which was a challenging question to be asked at a community event, and slightly deeper than I had planned on going. We also have one of the most iconic UNESCO heritages sites, Hadrian’s wall, which symbolises the fantastic history of our nation and islands. Whether walking through Sycamore gap—which was a tragic loss—or more far-flung areas of Hadrian’s wall, we can get a sense of the scale of an incredible engineering achievement that left such a mark on the landscape. With my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Ms Minns), I recently attended a parish council meeting in Gilsland, a village we both represent. I bumped into my year 3 teacher and we discussed the urgent need for investment in transport infrastructure in rural Northumberland. That includes the long-term goal of getting rail services into the village to open a key element of Hadrian’s wall back up to the public, allowing them to experience the world heritage site. I have a few points for the Minister to take away and share with colleagues, particularly the funding for national parks. Northumberland national park covers one of the largest geographic areas of any such park, but it is slightly disadvantaged by the current funding formula, which favours larger parks in the south and allows them to invest more, even though Northumberland national park does incredible work at facilities such as the Sill. However, Hadrian’s wall does not bring just a tourism offer; it gives a deep sense of pride and, crucially, jobs and employment opportunities. Those opportunities are also not just in Haltwhistle and not just in the tourism sector, so it underpins whole sections of the regional economy and our transport infrastructure. One point needs to be borne in mind: we are not simply a region defined by Hadrian’s wall or opportunities of the past. We have a rich cultural offer. I would like to take this opportunity to put on record my support for the ongoing petition for the redevelopment of Hexham’s old fire station by Sir Antony Gormley. I also ask the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East (Joe Robertson), to pass on my distaste for how the Conservative cabinet of Northumberland county council has rammed through the rejection of that proposal. The Conservatives have a duty to enhance the lives of everyone in Northumberland, not merely those in their favoured areas. Unfortunately, the council cabinet in Northumberland is a specialist in failure when it comes to my constituency.

• 18 Nov 2025 · UNESCO: 80th Anniversary · Hansard source

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  We need significantly more than 80 years to unearth all the secrets that Hadrian’s wall yet has. I have been deeply concerned to read about some of the damage that climate change is doing to potential unfound objects at Vindolanda, where certain changes in the soil acidity may be wreaking havoc on things that we do not yet understand. Although its largest structure might be in my hon. Friend’s constituency, I think that mine contains the largest contiguous body of Hadrian’s wall—just to do a little bit of neighbourly point scoring. As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of UNESCO, I note that Hadrian’s wall is not just an incredibly large structure that binds together the west coast and east coast of England; it is a really powerful message about the importance of our shared history and culture. Borders really can define large elements of where we see ourselves—there are large parts of my constituency that are built with stones from Hadrian’s wall. As history evolves, we must look at how we can preserve and celebrate it for the future. I commend my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Derbyshire for securing this debate, and for the manner in which he spoke about the achievements of UNESCO and the importance of marking and remembering our shared history.

• 11 Nov 2025 · BBC Leadership · Hansard source

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  I echo the solidarity with BBC journalists that has been expressed across the House. Can the Secretary of State assure me and other Members that measures will be taken in the forthcoming charter review to ensure that all political appointments to the BBC board are made with full public scrutiny, and that such appointees will not be involved in any editorial capacity in future, in order to protect the integrity, credibility and independence of the most important bastion of public service broadcasting in Britain and beyond?

• 4 Sept 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Next Saturday, Kielder is hosting the 75th annual leek show in the Kielder Tavern. We are all familiar with leaks in this place, but will the Leader of the House join me in recognising the stellar effort of the Kielder community, and can we have a debate in Government time on community initiatives—particularly in rural areas—which contribute so much to the culture of Northumberland and other rural counties?

• 14 Jul 2025 · State of Climate and Nature · Hansard source

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  I was privileged to host a net zero roundtable in my constituency involving many people from a wide variety of backgrounds, who were all appalled to see net zero becoming a political football and part of an ongoing culture war on the right. Will the Secretary of State join me in recognising the important work of organisations such as Humshaugh Net Zero and the North Tyne climate action group in bringing together widespread support for net zero, bringing it into our communities and embedding it across the body politic?