Samantha Dixon MP: speeches

Speeches

• 15 Jun 2026 · Pre-candidacy Donations: Safeguards · Hansard source

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  We have introduced the Representation of the People Bill, which will close loopholes that could allow foreign money to enter UK politics and undermine trust. Alongside those measures, we are considering the Rycroft review’s recommendations, including on candidate donations, and we will set out our full response shortly.

• 15 Jun 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  Buildings between 11 and 18 metres may be able to enter the cladding safety scheme, but I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this matter further.

• 28 Apr 2026 · Fire and Rescue Services: Funding · Hansard source

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  Fire authorities, by and large, are locally elected representatives; they are accountable to their communities, they should serve their local communities, and they need to respond to what they hear from consultations. That is an important point for Members from Dorset and Wiltshire; they need to respond to what their local communities are doing in the way that the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has done in recent days.

• 28 Apr 2026 · Fire and Rescue Services: Funding · Hansard source

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  I am going to make some progress. The Government are committed not only to providing stable funding, but to continuing to work with the fire sector to make sure that the funding system remains fair and responsive. Funding allocations for fire and rescue authorities are determined through a national funding formula, which assesses relative need using factors such as population and other cost-and-demand drivers. The current fire funding formula was designed more than a decade ago. As part of the fair funding review and following a consultation, the Government updated the relative needs formula for fire and rescue, using the most up-to-date data available and changes in individual authority’s allocations so that they reflect updated data in the formula. Looking ahead—this is really important in relation to the point made by the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Vikki Slade)—we have committed to working with the fire sector on a comprehensive review of the formula ahead of the next spending review. As part of that engagement, every fire and rescue service in England has been invited to participate in sector engagement workshops, the first of which is taking place in Manchester today. It includes chief fire officers, heads of finances and relevant officers. It is an important opportunity to reform funding for the future.

• 16 Apr 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Ninth sitting) · Hansard source

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  Does the hon. Gentleman not agree that voting is an act of trust?

• 16 Apr 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Ninth sitting) · Hansard source

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  No. I simply stand by my previous comments.

• 16 Apr 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Ninth sitting) · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman highlights exactly why further consultation is needed. This is a complex issue, and it needs to be discussed with all the major and minor political parties to explore how candidates are encouraged to come forward and the ways in which we can support political parties to become more diverse. I hope he accepts that response. I turn to new clause 35. The Government really are committed to better representation, and we have taken a variety of actions to address that. As I have mentioned, section 106 is uncommenced, and we are committed to commencing it with careful consideration and at the appropriate time. I therefore ask the Committee to reject the new clauses, as that process is already in progress.

• 16 Apr 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Ninth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I will write to the hon. Lady and provide as much information as I can.

• 16 Apr 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source

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  However, had the hon. Gentleman come along, he would have had the opportunity to raise anything he wanted to discuss, as other Members did— I am always happy to meet the hon. Gentleman. Given the assurances I have provided, particularly that the Government intend to table an amendment on the moratorium period for cryptocurrencies, I hope the hon. Member for North Herefordshire will consider withdrawing her new clause.

• 14 Apr 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Desmond. I will be guided by you, but I do not intend to speak to new clauses 13, 32 and 52 at this stage. However, to respond to a number of points made during the debate, particularly by the hon. Member for North Herefordshire—

• 14 Apr 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  It is our intention to increase the maximum fine level in secondary legislation, as I stated earlier. Its level will be debated at that time. We will debate it in secondary legislation, but it needs to remain proportionate, and we need to move towards it in a considered way and debate it then.

• 14 Apr 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  As I understand it, we will be setting the maximum fine in secondary legislation, but I will confirm that, because I have almost lost the thread of what I was saying.

• 14 Apr 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  Opposition Members did ask about the level at which we would set the fine. I have now consulted my notes; we intend, through secondary legislation, to increase the limit to £500,000 per offence. That will be done through secondary legislation.

• 14 Apr 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I agree; we should remove all barriers to electors participating in elections. I thank the shadow Minister for describing how those barriers are in effect. Question put and agreed to. Clause 49 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clauses 50 and 51 ordered to stand part of the Bill . Clause 52 Effect of the death of the Sovereign on certain elections and referendums

• 14 Apr 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments; I understand the points he makes. There is a statutory duty for EROs to notify postal voters that their postal vote is due to expire at the end of January that year, and they will be contacting them. The Government’s view is that there needs to be a proportionate approach that does not add a burden in what is already a busy time for EROs. But I will write to the hon. Gentleman to set out current Government thinking in light of his remarks.

• 13 Apr 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I am so sorry to hear about that terrible incident. I will, of course, meet my hon. Friend. The local resilience forum in Derbyshire has worked really hard to respond to the event; I will work with her and with others across the country on resilience and recovery.

• 13 Apr 2026 · Family Voting · Hansard source

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  We will continue to work through the Representation of the People Bill in Committee, through line-by-line scrutiny. I look forward to continuing that work with the hon. Gentleman, and we will discuss that then.

• 26 Mar 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Fifth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I beg to move amendment 10, in clause 47, page 60, line 18, at end insert— “, and (iii) shows when the card expires (see also paragraph (1NA)).” This amendment and Amendment 11 provide that a payment or cash withdrawal card can only be used as voter identification if the card shows when it expires and has not expired.

• 26 Mar 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Fifth sitting) · Hansard source

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  To respond to the question’s from the hon. Member for Hamble Valley, we are currently finalising the details of the proposals, to make sure we strike the right balance between security and accessibility, and we will set more details out soon. We anticipate that the candidate ID check will be different from the voter ID check. Voters show ID once, at the ballot box; candidates are in the public eye for weeks. If somebody attempts to mislead the public, there should be multiple opportunities for scrutiny, but the new checks will add an early safeguard that does not currently exist. Later today, we will discuss our views around identification for those coming to the ballot box, but this important step forward for the nomination process will prevent people from disrupting our democratic process. Question put and agreed to. Clause 41 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 42 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 43 Withdrawal of certificates authorising candidate descriptions Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• 26 Mar 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Fifth sitting) · Hansard source

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  The purpose of the clause is to enable political parties to withdraw support for candidates prior to the close of nominations, which is not currently possible. Parties will be able to take appropriate action when concerns about a candidate arise during the nomination period. Under the clause, at UK parliamentary elections and local elections in Northern Ireland, the registered nominating officer of a political party will be able to revoke their authorisation for a candidate to use the party’s description in their nomination papers up to 48 hours before the close of nominations. Upon such a request being made, the candidate’s nomination would be cancelled, and their name would not appear on the ballot paper for that party. The clause will only allow such requests to be made up to 48 hours before the close of nominations. We have decided that to ensure that the candidate would still have time to resubmit nomination papers to stand for another party or as an independent candidate by the close of nominations. The party would also be able to nominate a new candidate to stand in place of the original candidate. We believe that making this change is right in order to ensure that, when concerns arise about a candidate during the nomination period, political parties will be able to withdraw their support and nominate a new candidate.

• 26 Mar 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Fifth sitting) · Hansard source

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  Clause 46 removes the unnecessary and outdated requirement for polling station staff to call out the name and elector number of a voter when delivering a ballot paper. This change will bring Northern Ireland in line with practice in Great Britain. This practice can be intimidatory and unwelcome for voters, and its removal is in line with the Government’s wider commitments to tackle harassment and intimidation in the democratic process. Calling out is also unnecessary given the requirement to produce photo ID at polling stations in Northern Ireland. This change will apply to all elections in Northern Ireland. The clause will also make some technical amendments to ensure that legislative references to the corresponding number list are correct. I commend the clause to the Committee. Question put and agreed to. Clause 46 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 47 Voter identification requirements

• 24 Mar 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Fourth sitting) · Hansard source

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  The Government’s view is that such a report would be partial; it would only cover the work that the Government are doing and we could not speak to other organisations and their work in this arena.

• 24 Mar 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Fourth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I will write to the hon. Gentleman on those points at a later date, if I may. However, the First Minister and officers attended one of our evidence sessions, and I have engaged with colleagues who attended drop-ins as a result of this legislation coming forward.

• 24 Mar 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Fourth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I was going to come to the points the hon. Gentleman had raised.

• 24 Mar 2026 · Representation of the People Bill (Fourth sitting) · Hansard source

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  The Government are committed to ensuring that everyone who is entitled to vote should be able, encouraged and supported to do so. Different authorities will have different approaches that will arise in different circumstances. Our provisions allow local authorities to take the most suitable approach when assisting people to get on the register. To address the concerns raised by the hon. Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, while the guidance will be national, the application will be appropriate to local circumstances.