Stephen Kinnock MP: speeches

Speeches

• 2 Sept 2026 · Cross-border Rail Links · Hansard source

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  I know about and welcome the right hon. Gentleman’s strong connections to Wales. I recognise the connectivity benefits that WSMR’s proposal could deliver, particularly for passengers in Wales and the west midlands. I am pleased that the Secretary of State for Transport has provided conditional support for the application, subject to the Office of Rail and Road and Network Rail being satisfied that services can be accommodated without compromising network performance or affecting the rights of other operators. I will certainly join him in making the case for that compelling project.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Cross-border Rail Links · Hansard source

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  I thank my right hon. Friend and pay tribute to her as the first female Labour Secretary of State for Wales. Wales is better off as a result of her work on rail, nuclear, steel and more. I recognise the central importance of the Cardiff Parkway project, which could unlock up to 6,000 jobs. I will do all that I can, working with the Welsh Government and private investors, to progress the delivery of that important project at pace.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Cross-border Rail Links · Hansard source

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  I recognise the connectivity benefits of transport. The overall cross-border connectivity that has been announced relates to the £14 billion that we are going to invest in rail in Wales, with £455 million secured at the spending review. This plan will transform connectivity across Wales, and between Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Strengthening the Union · Hansard source

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  I think it is fair to say that Plaid Cymru Ministers are still finding their feet. I am hugely proud of what our new Labour Prime Minister has achieved for Wales in his first six weeks—it really shows what a leader can do when they roll up their sleeves, listen to our people and communities, and deliver on their priorities. The Prime Minister’s visit to Wales and his commitment to reindustrialising our communities comes after a summer of announcements that will benefit communities across Wales—real action delivering for people right here and now.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Strengthening the Union · Hansard source

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  I thank the right hon. Lady for her question. Many of the ideas coming forward for devolving power right across our United Kingdom, beyond Cardiff Bay and Holyrood, are very exciting, and I look forward to exploring them with her. With regard to policing, the Prime Minister and I have been very clear that we will engage on the future of devolution, including deepening devolution into communities across all corners of Wales. On policing specifically, our focus has been, and will continue to be, on cutting crime. Our priority will always be ensuring the safety and security of the people of Wales. What matters is what works.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Strengthening the Union · Hansard source

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  I thank my right hon. Friend for his question. Like him, I pay tribute to all those involved in the collective and heroic response to the wildfires. I can confirm that the South Wales fire and rescue service submitted a military aid to the civil authorities request for consideration, which was immediately endorsed by both the Welsh Government and the Wales Office—by myself—and authorised by the Ministry of Defence. Although matters relating to agriculture and the fire and rescue services are devolved in Wales, we are committed to working with the Welsh Government to strengthen resilience against wildfires and to provide assistance to those affected.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Strengthening the Union · Hansard source

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  A stronger Wales in a stronger United Kingdom—that will be my driving principle as Secretary of State for Wales, building on the outstanding work of my right hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff East (Jo Stevens). Just last week, the Prime Minister and I saw the strength of our Union in action on a visit to Port Talbot, where the UK Government have invested nearly £700 million to secure the future of Welsh steel, protect jobs and re-industrialise Wales.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Strengthening the Union · Hansard source

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  Cross-border healthcare is a really important issue. We need to find a better way of working together in partnership with the Welsh Government. It is about drilling down into specific cases where people have not been given the treatment that they should get at the speed at which they should get it. It is also about clearing some of the red tape and bureaucracy that exists between the two Governments and doing the hard yards of Government working with the Welsh Health Ministers and ourselves to get this issue resolved.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Strengthening the Union · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Gentleman and agree with him that being part of our United Kingdom is of tremendous benefit to Wales. Just look at the investment that the UK Government have been putting in. I mentioned steel, but there has also been £2.5 billion for the Wylfa nuclear project and £500 million through the local growth fund—the list goes on and on. I absolutely agree with his assessment that it is about building a stronger Wales in a stronger United Kingdom.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Strengthening the Union · Hansard source

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  I wholeheartedly agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of learning lessons and seizing opportunities. Over the past six weeks, the Prime Minister has shown real leadership, introducing practical changes that will benefit people’s lives, such as the £2 bus cap in England. Of course, it will be up to the Welsh Government to come to a conclusion on whether they too might introduce such a measure, but I am hopeful that both Governments will learn from each other about how best to improve the lives of the people we serve.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Strengthening the Union · Hansard source

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  I thank the shadow Secretary of State for her kind words and look forward to our exchanges across the Dispatch Box. I am ready to engage with her on getting the maximum benefits for the people of Wales. We respect the devolution settlement; it is very important that we keep that at the forefront of our minds to ensure that decisions on health that affect the people of Wales are taken by the Welsh Government. As I said earlier, I think there are real opportunities for all Governments across the UK to learn from each other, and I hope that our colleagues in the Welsh Government will look at the success we are having in bringing down waiting lists and improving the performance and delivery of general practice in England, and will perhaps follow suit in Wales.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Strengthening the Union · Hansard source

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  I thank the right hon. Lady and look forward to working with her. My understanding is that there were challenges around the helicopter capability. Decisions were taken by Natural Resources Wales some time ago to change the way that the tendering for helicopter capability works. We certainly need to look at that. I hope that she welcomes the fact that when the Welsh Government and fire services put in a request for military aid to the civil authorities, I myself turned around that request within an hour. I think that shows “Team Wales”—the partnership between the Ministry of Defence and the Welsh authorities to get on top of these deeply troubling situations.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Strengthening the Union · Hansard source

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  We are tremendously proud of our Welsh language. I am certainly signing up to improve mine—from what I am embarrassed to admit is a relatively low base. I enjoy learning languages, so I will be doing that. Generally speaking, we need to ensure that the trend towards Welsh medium and Welsh language across our education system continues, and that those who are committed to the diversity of which the right hon. Gentleman speaks also commit to learning the Welsh language.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Strengthening the Union · Hansard source

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  Just to be clear, this is not about staying out of the issue; it is about respecting the devolution settlement, but being prepared to work constructively where we can in partnership with the Welsh Government. The hon. Lady will be aware that health is devolved and, as such, Welsh Government Ministers have powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 to initiate statutory inquiries into devolved areas. Given the clear lines of responsibility and accountability between the Welsh Government and the devolved health service in Wales, I do not feel it would be appropriate for the UK Government to intervene in this matter.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Strengthening the Union · Hansard source

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  Cardiff airport plays a crucial role in connecting our United Kingdom. We of course want the maximum number of flight routes between Cardiff and the rest of the UK. Loganair, as a commercial operator, makes decisions on the basis of the commercial realities it is facing. If the hon. Gentleman would like to write to me with any ideas he has about how we might get back to the table on the issue, I would be happy to engage on that basis.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Child Poverty · Hansard source

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  Tackling child poverty is an essential investment in the future of our children and our country. That is why we announced the child poverty strategy, including the removal of the two-child limit, which will benefit nearly 70,000 children in Wales. Alongside that, 320,000 families in Wales will see the first ever sustained real-terms increase in the universal credit standard allowance.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Child Poverty · Hansard source

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  I agree with my hon. Friend that co-operation between the UK and Welsh Governments is essential for addressing child poverty in Wales. The UK Government worked closely with the previous Welsh Labour Government on the design of the child poverty strategy, which will lift 550,000 children out of poverty across the UK by 2030, delivering the largest expected reduction in child poverty since records began.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Child Poverty · Hansard source

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  Frankly, I am staggered that the hon. Lady raises the issue of welfare, given the explosion of the welfare bill under the watch of the Conservative party. When it comes to working with the Plaid Cymru Government, I agree that there seem to be a lot of reviews, commissions, reports and committees. It is important that the Plaid Government now roll up their sleeves and get on with the job. We look forward to working constructively in partnership with them and delivering for the people and communities of Wales.

• 2 Sept 2026 · Child Poverty · Hansard source

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  I absolutely agree with the sentiment of the hon. Member’s question. Let us look at what the Welsh Labour Government delivered: breakfast clubs offering free, healthy breakfasts for children in primary schools; baby bundles; more than 50 million meals served since the introduction of universal primary free school meals; an expanded childcare offer; free prescriptions; and hospital parking to help with family finances. That is the difference a Labour Government make.

• 14 Jul 2026 · General Practice Partnership Model · Hansard source

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  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my previous answer. We remain absolutely committed to the partnership model, but we are also absolutely committed to quality and standards for patient outcomes. It is about delivering the outcomes that patients need. The way in which we do that is of secondary importance to the actual delivery of quality outputs and outcomes for patients.

• 14 Jul 2026 · General Practice Partnership Model · Hansard source

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  We remain absolutely committed to the GP partnership model, which supports continuity of care, efficiency and innovation. Where it is working well, it should of course continue, but what is important is that patients are getting the care they need, regardless of the model. The GP patient survey shows that 77% now rate their experience as good. Step by step, this Government are getting the front door of the NHS—general practice—back on its hinges.

• 14 Jul 2026 · General Practice Partnership Model · Hansard source

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  The Carr-Hill review is ongoing and will be published very soon. On access right across the country, we have invested an extra £1.6 billion in general practice, recruited over 2,000 more GPs and extended online services throughout core hours, helping deliver 12.7 million more appointments compared with last year. More than three quarters of people now say it is easy to contact their GP, up from a very disappointing—I am sure the hon. Member will agree—61% in July 2024. When we entered office, general practice was on its knees, but we are rebuilding it, and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the last two years.

• 14 Jul 2026 · General Practice Partnership Model · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is a tireless advocate for her constituents, and she is absolutely right that the outcome for patients is far more important than the model. GP practices are of course regulated by the Care Quality Commission, and we expect the local ICB to take action if services are not meeting the reasonable needs of patients. I am sure she will assiduously continue to ensure that those high standards are delivered.

• 14 Jul 2026 · General Practice Partnership Model · Hansard source

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  I thank the right hon. Gentleman. I am sorry to see him on those crutches, but I hope that he will make a speedy recovery and I am sure that, under this Government, he will be greatly helped to do so. I also pay tribute to Lynn and the team that the right hon. Gentleman mentioned. It sounds like they are doing absolutely sterling work. That is the vital role that the front door of the NHS plays. Our general practice is such an important part of our community, and he is assiduously championing its cause.

• 14 Jul 2026 · General Practice Partnership Model · Hansard source

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  I certainly join my hon. Friend in congratulating the team, and it sounds as though they are providing an absolutely outstanding service. He is right to point to primary care at scale as a way in which we can genuinely deliver the shifts from hospital to community and from sickness to prevention. That is the level of ambition we have in our 10-year plan, and it is thanks to teams such as the one he so brilliantly champions that we are going to deliver on what we said we would deliver in that plan.