Neil Shastri-Hurst MP: speeches

Speeches

• 25 Jun 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T2. Indeed—I am back by popular demand.Will the Minister set out what steps the Cabinet Office is taking to ensure that public appointments are made on merit alone and not based on political patronage or ideological principles?

• 17 Jun 2026 · Steel Tariffs · Hansard source

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  The Minister is right to point to the uncertainty that businesses are facing, and my constituents and local businesses repeat that message to me regularly. The Minister has indicated that there may be a chance that some of the tariffs or the categorisations will be changed. Will he undertake to come to the House and make a statement as soon as that is announced?

• 4 Jun 2026 · Jury Trials · Hansard source

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  4. What advice she has provided to the Government on the potential impact of restricting the right to jury trials on the rule of law.

• 19 May 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T8. I think it is fair to say that the Government and I do not see eye to eye when it comes to the policy of curtailing trial by jury. However, if the Government are determined to go down that route, their own impact assessment sets out that a significant number of magistrates need to be recruited—the MOJ has put it at 7,000 over three years. In order for the Government’s own plan to work, will they commit not to change any of the rules around trial by jury until they have recruited those magistrates?

• 20 Apr 2026 · Security Vetting · Hansard source

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  Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? As the Prime Minister will know, that means “Who guards the guards themselves?” With that in mind, and on the subject of holding those in power to account, can he explain why he took almost a week to come to this House, when the public will have been expecting answers much sooner?

• 25 Mar 2026 · Engagements · Hansard source

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  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On 21 November last year, Robert Clancy, a hugely valued and much loved member of my staff, took his own life. He was 29. While successive Governments have done a great deal to deal with the scourge of suicide in this country, there is much more that can be done. Will the Prime Minister personally commit to meeting me to discuss how we can prevent others from experiencing the unimaginable pain that Rob’s family and friends have endured?

• 19 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  8. Whether the Attorney General has advised the Lord Chancellor on the potential impact of the Courts and Tribunals Bill on the rule of law.

• 19 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  The contentious element of the Courts and Tribunals Bill relates to the proposed changes to jury trials. It has united the legal profession, the Opposition Benches and a significant number of Government MPs. To avoid the embarrassment of Government MPs coming out and defending the policy only to face a U-turn, can the Solicitor General give a categorical assurance to those on her own Benches that there will be no U-turn or watering down of this folly of a policy?

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  My right hon. Friend is right. There is a reason that judges wear a wig and barristers wear a wig and gown. It provides a shield between the arm of the law and the citizen. To dilute that would fundamentally upset the settlement that has been reached over hundreds and hundreds of years.

• 2 Mar 2026 · Middle East · Hansard source

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  The Prime Minister has set out the threats posed by Iran with some clarity. Taking that into account, does he not recognise that treating international law as a rigid instrument as opposed to a flexible one, as he appears to do, risks binding our hands when it comes to national security?

• 4 Feb 2026 · Lord Mandelson · Hansard source

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  There is a fourth point, which is that there is likely to be a sizeable volume of documents for the ISC to review. Will the Minister reassure this House that the ISC will be given the resources it needs to do its job?

• 3 Feb 2026 · Changes to Jury Trials · Hansard source

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  Sir Brian Leveson’s review did not contain any specific modelling to support his view that limiting jury trials would reduce by 20% the time taken for trials. If the Government’s own modelling does not support and validate Sir Brian’s assessment, will they U-turn on the policy?

• 15 Jan 2026 · Digital ID · Hansard source

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  Many of my constituents will be watching these proceedings agog, because this is just another example of the chaotic approach to policymaking by this Government. Given the contentious nature of this issue, why did the Government not consult before announcing the proposals, and why did they not consult before then reversing on the policy in the next instance?

• 12 Nov 2025 · Taxes · Hansard source

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  The hon. Member may have forgotten the covid pandemic that swept this country, which of course turned the tables, and difficult decisions had to be made.

• 20 Oct 2025 · Alleged Spying Case: Home Office Involvement · Hansard source

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  The Minister has repeatedly said that he is extremely disappointed that this case did not proceed to trial. That is thin gruel if all the steps necessary to ensure that it got to trial were not taken. With that in mind, can he set out whether the report in The Sunday Times over the weekend that the Prime Minister and other Ministers were aware of the imminent collapse on 12 September is correct? If that is correct, can he set out what steps the Home Secretary took to ensure that the CPS had the evidence it needed?

• 14 Oct 2025 · Northern Ireland Troubles · Hansard source

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  Will the Secretary of State set out how many of the proposed six protections for veterans will also be available to former paramilitaries?

• 15 Sept 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T9. When will levels of shoplifting finally reduce rather than rise, as they have under this Government?

• 8 Sept 2025 · Indefinite Leave to Remain · Hansard source

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  Like the hon. Gentleman, I have a significant Hongkonger population in my constituency of Solihull West and Shirley—there are about 4,500 across the borough. Does he agree that they had a legitimate expectation that the rules of the game would not be changed part way through, and that to do so would damage the social contract that we, as a state, have with these people?

• 7 Jul 2025 · Actions of Iranian Regime: UK Response · Hansard source

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  The Minister has set out a desire to get Iran back to the negotiating table. Can he say what steps he and his colleagues at the Foreign Office are taking to ensure that they get that outcome?