Rachael Maskell MP: speeches

Speeches

• 15 Sept 2026 · Tourism: Overnight Visitor Levy · Hansard source

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  I recognise the pressure that people in the hospitality sector in York are under, but they are very clear that the levies raised in York must stay in York—not move into wider North Yorkshire. Will the Minister ensure that the levy is hypothecated to the place where it is raised, so it can be invested in the tourism industry and ensure that wider services are there to support hospitality and tourism, as opposed to in other locations?

• 14 Sept 2026 · Water Sector: Public Ownership · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mrs Barker. We have all seen the price of failure. “Dirty Business” hit us hard with the true cost—the human cost—and the scale of sewage and chemicals. Professor Alistair Boxall is drawing to our attention the pollutants that are destroying our river health and ecology and causing our rivers to die, but also the money and how it flows—the revolving doors and the completely unaccountable power within the water industry. Of course, when we see the revolving doors between regulators and companies, we know that we cannot trust the system. Our constituents cannot trust the system as they are fleeced to pay more for the profits of these companies—of these now millionaires who are allowing sewage to run through our cities. York has the second-worst polluted river, the River Ouse. We see floods and droughts in our city, and burst pipes that are unaddressed for days. We see the cost to our constituents. The Minister must bring water into public ownership, and must not prevaricate or look for a different route. Plain and simple—let’s just get on with it. We have heard how we can bring forward an SAR to bring those companies and contracts back into public hands. I also say to the Minister that I have looked at this issue over the summer, and it is vital that we look at how we hold public institutions to account, who makes decisions and how the public can have a say. As politicians, all we can often do is come to this place and plead, and use our campaigning platform to speak of the challenges we see, but we do not have power and leverage over systems. Setting up public ownership is important so that we and the public have leverage over the system. The public would have the ability, through a deliberative process and a citizens assembly, to hold water companies—public companies—to account so that they can get the answers that they deserve.

• 7 Sept 2026 · Economic Growth · Hansard source

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  Since 2020, Governments, Prime Ministers, Ministers, UK Research and Innovation and businesses have all supported the BioYorkshire project, which will address issues to do with the environment and the climate crisis, as well as providing good-quality jobs and a return for the Treasury. However, the Government have not been able to get money out of the door, so can the Minister say more about how she will invest and spend that money?

• 3 Sept 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Can we have a statement on the closure of post offices? When York’s Crown post office was closed after 138 years and moved into WH Smith, we were given assurances that it was a long-term solution. Now we have Modella Capital private equity buying out WH Smith, we have seen the closure of our WH Smith branch on the high street and of 150 branches across the country, meaning that we will lose our post office once again. Can we have a statement to ensure that we secure the jobs, but also the services for my residents and businesses? [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear!”]

• 2 Sept 2026 · EU Membership Referendum: Impact on the UK · Hansard source

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  Thank you for chairing the debate, Ms Butler, and I thank the hon. Member for Perth and Kinross-shire (Pete Wishart) for securing it. If you ask the wrong questions, do not be surprised by the consequences. Brexit was about the politics of the time in the Conservative party, not about the economic future of our country. Let us remember the history and the poor deal that Lord Cameron tried to secure ahead of going to the country with this referendum. Our country is now poorer and more fractious. Trade is more challenged, and we see queues at the border, horizons closing to our young people and increased migration levels. We have to ask the value of the deal that was struck after 2016. As a country, we are now significantly weaker on the global stage in a more unstable world where we should be taking the lead as we did in Europe. Locally, we know that the consequences are significant. Our constituents are £3,000 poorer as a result, and they are now faced with the cost of living challenge. We have to dig deep on where we go next and ask the questions that should have been asked in 2016. How can we have a stronger and safer economy? How do we have good trade? How do we best control migration, collaborate on a destabilised planet and ensure that our interactions abroad bring people here at home better job security, financial security and, of course, hope for the future? As we move forward, yes, we need pragmatism, but we need boldness too. As the Minister enters the fray of negotiations, I ask him to look at rebuilding an economic union with Europe that will be of value to our constituents by ensuring that trade brings good-quality jobs and powers the research that drives our economy forward. On immigration, I ask him to consider the asylum and migration management strategy that Europe has adopted and look at a risk-sharing approach so that we can rebuild balance in our system to ensure that we are supporting vulnerable people in the right way instead of pointing the finger at them. That will help our communities and our country. And ultimately, our leadership will help our world.

• 14 Jul 2026 · UK-Switzerland Enhanced Free Trade Agreement · Hansard source

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  I congratulate my hon. Friend, but I want to ask about pharma in the light of the US-UK pharma deal. When I met academics yesterday, they expressed a concern that if we were to change the terms of the deal with the US, because of mounting costs and the cost to lives which are foreseen under that deal, it could have an impact on the deal that he has now signed. Can he give this House an assurance that we would not have to go back and renegotiate the deal with Switzerland, if we were to renegotiate the deal with the US?

• 9 Jul 2026 · River Pollution · Hansard source

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  This weekend, I will be competing in York’s dragon boat race on the River Ouse, but with 3,779 sewage dumps last year, the river is the second worst for pollution. The clean water Bill gives us the opportunity to take control of our water, ending the cycle of profiteering from failure, leaving our rivers full of sewage and chemicals and inaccessible to swimmers, rowers and all who enjoy them. Will the Minister urgently review her plans and take water back under public ownership, so that we can clean up this dirty business?

• 9 Jul 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  SPARK is York’s frontline incubator for the next generation of food, drink and creative businesses; it supports young entrepreneurs to establish their businesses with strong values and good practice. It has identified that VAT is the problem, and it is calling for the Government to support a 10% cut in VAT to enable its hospitality businesses to flourish. Can we have a statement from the Treasury on the impact of that, and on how we will enable community interest companies, such as SPARK, to support start-ups, so that they thrive?