Liz Jarvis MP: speeches

Speeches

• 24 Jun 2026 · Violence against Women and Girls · Hansard source

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  My constituent Paris Shears was subjected to domestic abuse, including coercive control, by her former partner. During his trial, he changed his plea to receive a shorter sentence. Paris’s parliamentary petition to change the law has received over 100,000 signatures. Does the Minister agree that victims of domestic abuse, including coercive control, deserve better?

• 2 Jun 2026 · Murder of Henry Nowak · Hansard source

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  My thoughts are with Henry Nowak’s family, friends and the local community. The prosecution said that the perpetrator had a “weapons obsession”. It should not have been so easy for somebody with a weapons obsession to amass an arsenal of knives. What is the Minister doing to reduce the availability of dangerous knives on our streets?

• 20 May 2026 · Draft Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority Regulations 2026 · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stuart. I recognise that the aim of the combined mayoral authority is to devolve more powers from central Government to a more local level. The Liberal Democrats believe that powers should be devolved to local bodies as far as possible, and the statutory instrument is a step in the right direction. We would like to see more powers devolved in this arrangement, such as the regulation of ferries, which are vital for thousands of residents across the Solent region, especially those on the Isle of Wight. It is equally important to ensure that councils have the resources they need to deliver on their statutory duties and on the additional services that they offer to make residents’ lives easier, better and more fulfilling. This is a missed opportunity to address the funding deficit faced by local councils, and to deliver greater value for money by encouraging more joined-up working across the local authorities that constitute the combined mayoral authority. In the context of local government reorganisation—a measure imposed on Hampshire councils by this Government as a condition of greater devolution—the mechanisms described in the regulations are unclear. The regulations refer only to the higher-tier authorities: Hampshire county council, Southampton and Portsmouth city councils, and Isle of Wight council. No role is defined for district councils, which are closest to residents. The regulations therefore disenfranchise district councils and the local voices they represent. Without clarity on future structures, there is a risk that the balance of representation, both politically and by population area, could be skewed, undermining fair and effective governance. The uncertainty around the implementation of LGR is compounded by the illogical introduction from April 2027 of a combined mayoral authority that will not have a mayor until 2028. Surely a combined mayoral authority should have an elected mayor in place from its inception, so that the new mayoralty and the new unitary structures begin together, and residents see a clearer and more coherent transition. Moreover, with the welcome announcement that police and crime commissioners will be abolished, who will oversee police in the local area before the mayor is elected? We are also concerned about how the combined mayoral authority will interact with local authorities from April 2027, while there are transitionary arrangements in place between the current councils and the future unitary councils. In particular, what formal role will those councils have in governance and decision making for the mayoral authority? That is especially important in the light of the section 24 notice expected later this year, which would require the successor councils to agree certain financial decisions involving land disposals and major contracts. The Minister may need to consider whether the regulations should provide a formal role for shadow authorities, or whether the section 24 arrangements themselves need to be adjusted. Of course, we must guard against placing too much power in the hands of one individual. Can the Minister assure me that the new unitary councils will be empowered to hold elected mayors to account and will have genuine decision-making powers to pursue the goals of their communities? We also need a commitment to return to a proportional voting system, so that regional mayors—and perhaps even the new unitary councils—are elected with a broader base of support. Finally, I commend the work of borough, town and parish councils in Eastleigh and across Hampshire. Despite the Government’s continued failure to recognise the important role played by parish and town councils, they do fantastic work on behalf of local residents, and, for many communities, they are the most visible and accessible part of local government. I urge the Minister and the Department to work closely with colleagues and offices across all tiers of local government in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to ensure that local voices are heard and that this transition delivers an accountable, transparent system that works in the best interests of all our residents.

• 15 Apr 2026 · Police Federation · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. I congratulate the hon. Member for Pendle and Clitheroe (Jonathan Hinder) on securing this important debate. I was contacted by my constituent Dan, who is a serving police officer. He tells me that the current level of support from the Police Federation is, at times, woeful, and that the best alternative support available is often found in informal peer support networks run by volunteers. Dan wants to be represented by an effective body that better serves the interests of its members and provides meaningful support on the issues that affect officers. He has serious reservations about whether the federation is delivering on its core purpose. Dan wants fundamental change to ensure fairness, choice and genuine wellbeing for those who serve. As we have heard, the Police Federation currently holds a de facto monopoly on representation, leaving officers with little real choice and limited accountability. That situation has been made worse by recent scandals. Dan tells me that those controversies have seriously undermined confidence in the federation. As acknowledged in the policing White Paper, it is vital that police officers have confidence and faith in the institution that represents them. Officers deserve robust support. I reiterate that the mental health and wellbeing of officers are also major concerns. Police work long, demanding shifts, often with insufficient recovery time. That is not sustainable either for the individuals concerned or for the effectiveness of the service as a whole. There is a clear need for greater support to ensure that officers are able to rest adequately between shifts and for sufficient funding, so that local services can offer proactive mental health and wellbeing check-ups, for example, every six months. Prevention and early intervention are key to maintaining a healthy and resilient workforce. Police officers are stretched, and they are having to do so much for so little, so I urge the Minister to consider the views of hard-working police officers when considering any reforms. I am sure she will agree that it is imperative that they have an organisation that truly speaks for them, and one in which they can have the utmost confidence. I conclude by taking this opportunity to thank the police officers and support staff in Eastleigh for their dedication and commitment to our local communities. I am so pleased that, after several years of campaigning, our officers and support staff are going to get a centrally located police station at last. We must ensure that our police are properly resourced, fairly represented and fully supported to carry out their vital work.

• 17 Mar 2026 · Victims: Court Experience · Hansard source

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  4. What steps he is taking to help improve the experience of victims in court.

• 17 Mar 2026 · Victims: Court Experience · Hansard source

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  My constituent was appalled that character references were read out during the sentencing of a man found guilty of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The Minister will be aware that Queensland, in Australia, introduced reforms last year to restrict the use of character references in the sentencing of sex offenders. Does the Minister agree that all victims should be at the heart of sentencing, and will she review the admissibility and weight of character references in sexual offence cases?

• 8 Dec 2025 · Digital ID · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Furniss. I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate on behalf of the 4,000 people from my constituency who have signed the e-petition. They are deeply alarmed by the Government’s plans to introduce mandatory digital ID. They would rather see action on the issues that really matter: they want our NHS fixed, the cost of living crisis addressed and public services improved. At a time when GP waiting times are still sky-high, social care is in crisis and our NHS is stretched beyond breaking point, it is extraordinary that the Government are prioritising an enormous centralised database of everyone’s personal information. For decades, the British public has consistently rejected mandatory ID schemes, and with good reason. In an increasingly tech-driven world, the Government must work to empower individuals and give us more control over our own data and privacy, rather than empowering the state to gather, centralise and exploit ever more information. Handing over unprecedented volumes of personal data is a recipe for intrusion and future abuse. Criminal gangs and unscrupulous employers—those that the Government claim to be targeting—would continue to bypass the rules. It is simply naive to suggest that mandatory digital ID is the fix to tackle the shadow economy. As we know, 5% of the UK population does not have internet access and there is a real risk of digital exclusion, which will hit older people, disabled people and those on low incomes. I also have concerns about how a mandatory digital system could lead to profiling and the real risk of function creep. Although the Government may try to reassure us that this scheme is limited in scope, the technology could have the capacity to fundamentally change the relationship between the individual and the state. Last year, in his first speech to the British public, the Prime Minister promised that the Government would tread “lightly” on our lives. It is hard to think of a proposal that contradicts that promise more starkly than a mandatory digital ID scheme. I urge the Government to scrap this ill-judged plan and turn their attention to the reforms that will genuinely improve lives. Mandatory digital ID will not fix our public services, get our economy going again or address the real challenges facing the country.

• 4 Nov 2025 · Supporting High Streets · Hansard source

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  Britain’s high streets are the beating hearts of our communities. They serve as social hubs, cultural landmarks and vital sources of jobs and prosperity. Yet in my constituency, as in the rest of the country, our high streets are under immense pressure. Local residents are concerned when they see empty shopfronts in the town centre and in our local shopping centre. As we know, the growth of online shopping has changed the culture of retail, and that trend has only worsened as a result of the pandemic. According to Eastleigh business improvement district, footfall in Eastleigh town centre is 56% below pre-pandemic figures, which shows the depth of the decline that our high street has faced. Cuts to local bus services by Conservative-controlled Hampshire county council have left many residents without bus services. The impact on our high streets has been an afterthought for the county council, and our local businesses are starting to feel it. It is not just declining footfall hurting our local businesses; there is also the growing threat of retail crime. According to the Office for National Statistics, shoplifting increased by 13% in the year ending June 2025. I recently met a local retailer who had been the victim of shoplifting and lost thousands of pounds-worth of stock. We have all heard stories of staff members at retail shops being subjected to verbal abuse. The Government must tackle that issue head-on and with more urgency. We need a return to proper community policing to deal with that type of crime, which is why I have long campaigned for the reopening of Eastleigh police station. Pubs—of which there are 32 in my constituency—are perhaps the greatest symbol of our high streets. They are vital social gathering hubs for people to come together and feel part of their community. According to the British Beer and Pub Association, increases in costs after last year’s Budget mean that pubs now face a 9p loss per pint unless they raise prices by 21p. If the Government continue on this path, we risk losing the very pubs that enrich our high streets.

• 16 Sept 2025 · Support for Victims of Rape and Sexual Violence · Hansard source

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  My constituent waited 18 months to face her abuser in court, only to be told the day before the trial was supposed to begin that it had been postponed until May 2026. How are victims of domestic abuse supposed to get redress and closure when they face such intolerable delays?

• 15 Sept 2025 · Children with SEND: Assessments and Support · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Allin-Khan. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on behalf of parents from Eastleigh. I frequently hear from constituents who are exhausted emotionally, financially and physically by a system that too often feels like an adversarial battle. Alex, who is a police officer, told me: “Just managing our child’s medical appointments, EHCP paperwork, medication and occupational therapy exercises is enough work for one person…somehow I squeeze it all in around my busy day job. But the trauma caused by dealing with this in your own home is beyond anything I have witnessed at work. Unpaid carers all over the country are drowning. Don’t we deserve more than this?” They do deserve more. In Eastleigh, 12.5% of students receive SEN support. However, there are critical delays in securing an EHCP assessment, which significantly impacts the wellbeing of children while their parents battle with the system. According to the latest figures, 59% of EHCPs in Hampshire take between 20 weeks and a year to be issued. Hampshire county council has declined assessments for 23% of EHCP applications. My constituent Justine had to deal with considerable back and forth with Hampshire county council over getting transport to school for her son. She said that the uncertainty was “making his anxiety worse. The lack of routine and structure is frankly cruel.” Routes have been changed without notice and drivers swapped at the last minute, and some families have been refused transport all together. The result has been distressing for children and young people who understandably rely on routine and predictability, some of whom have been left so anxious by the confusion that they refuse to travel. Families who are already stretched to breaking point should not have to face this level of disruption on top of everything else. It is welcome that the Government recognise the need for reforms, but families desperately need and deserve clarity about what the plans look like. All children deserve a fair system that recognises their needs and gives them a chance to thrive.

• 7 Jul 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I associate myself with the Home Secretary’s remarks. Eastleigh police station was closed in 2019 after 95 years of service. In 2023, the Hampshire police and crime commissioner promised that a new station would be opening within 12 months, but we still do not have one. Does the Secretary of State agree that my constituents deserve a new police station?