Steve Witherden MP: speeches 2026

53 published records · newest first.

Speeches

15 Sept 2026 · Youth Offending · Hansard source
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Early intervention is key to tackling youth offending, and our Government’s commitment to new youth hubs is essential to support at-risk young people and steer them away from a life of crime. Constituents of mine in Cefn Mawr, Plas Madoc, Acrefair and Ruabon have reported a rise in antisocial behaviour among young people. Would my hon. Friend agree that a new youth hub in Plas Madoc would go a long way to addressing this problem?
15 Sept 2026 · Youth Offending · Hansard source
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14. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle youth offending.
9 Sept 2026 · Tackling Violence against Women and Girls · Hansard source
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10. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to halve levels of violence against women and girls.
9 Sept 2026 · Tackling Violence against Women and Girls · Hansard source
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On 30 June, the then Secretary of State for Justice made a very welcome and vital commitment in this Chamber to close the 10-year sentencing gap, ensuring that domestic homicides are treated with the same severity as other murders. Does the Minister agree that we must hear the same commitment from the current Secretary of State and see a clear timetable for implementation so that we can achieve our goal of halving violence against women and girls?
13 Jul 2026 · Immigration and Asylum Bill · Hansard source
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I recognise the need for reform of our immigration system, but many of the measures in this Bill require further scrutiny. Existing legislation has long served as an important safeguard, ensuring that powers are exercised properly. The Bill in its current form would make it significantly harder for families to claim the rights of a child who is British, or who has lived here for seven years. This will affect a large number of families. The Government’s own assessment suggests that around 11,700 people would be affected. We pride ourselves on the British value of decency, but this Bill risks moving the goalposts and separating loved ones, despite their long-established ties to the UK. I welcome the open approach and accessibility of the Department, but what I would appreciate even more is clarification from the Minister of how these changes can be reconciled with the UK’s obligations under international law. As we consider this Bill and the direction of immigration reform more widely, we must think about the enormous contribution that migrants make to our communities and public services. In NHS Wales, more than one in 10 members of staff are non-UK nationals. Across my constituency—in Newtown, Rhosllannerchrugog and the Dee valley—migrant workers play a vital role in our health and social care services. Their dedication and commitment deserve our gratitude, not policies that make life harder for them and their families. This Government should not allow anti-migrant rhetoric and division to shape policy. We should stand firmly on the side of the migrants, who are our neighbours, friends, vital contributors to our economy, and the people who help keep our essential public services running.
1 Jul 2026 · MPs’ Second Jobs: Prohibition · Hansard source
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It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Western. I commend my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds East (Richard Burgon) for the campaigning work he has done over many years on this important issue. As Members of Parliament, we are privileged to be here, but this is a demanding, full-time role. Our time, energy and focus should be dedicated to representing our constituents, and to that alone; but, as we have already heard, it is all too common for Members to have multiple jobs, often serving corporate interests despite the obvious potential for a conflict of interest. Every MP earns at least £98,599 a year, with Ministers and Select Committee Chairs earning even more. That is more than two and a half times the average wage, and almost 20 times the annual equivalent of the basic universal credit allowance. Before my election in 2024, my salary as a teacher, a head of curriculum area and a member of the extended senior leadership team at my school was less than half an MP’s salary. It is difficult to argue that Members need second, third or even 16th jobs while many of our constituents struggle to make basic ends meet. Members being hired as advisers or consultants, primarily because of their political connections and access, is not only wrong and out of touch; it poses a genuine risk to public confidence in our democracy and, as we saw from the Tory lobbying scandal during covid, a genuine risk to public health. The reality gap between claiming to represent ordinary working-class people and earning vast sums through private income streams is stark. It is best illustrated by, though by no means limited to, the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage)—I did contact him, Mr Western—who has declared more than £2 million in earnings since his election to this House in July 2024 from media contracts, paid Cameo appearances and serving as a brand ambassador for a gold dealer. That would be laughable if it were not so concerning. I support a ban on second jobs for Members of Parliament, with sensible exemptions where work is necessary to maintain professional qualifications and skills in the public interest—as teachers, doctors or nurses, for example. This is a necessary step towards restoring trust and integrity in our political system. The privilege of serving as a Member of Parliament should come with a singular commitment: serving the public, and serving them alone. Diolch yn fawr.
24 Jun 2026 · Farming: Financial Sustainability · Hansard source
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It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Turner. It was in this Chamber, on 28 January 2025, that I was the only Labour MP to speak out against the Government’s proposed changes to agricultural property relief. I did so in the knowledge that such changes would have been damaging to the livelihoods of huge swathes of my constituents. There is no industry more important than the food industry. The food sector employs 17% of Wales’s total workforce, and at the heart of that sector lie our farmers. A sustainable farming sector requires fairness and transparency throughout its supply chain. An industry built on long-term planning, fair returns and transparency will make for a more resilient industry in the face of current challenges than one based on short-term decision making. As most farmers do not sell directly to retailers, the NFU has long campaigned for the Government to extend the code to include more retailers, food service businesses and manufacturers in order to oversee the trading relationship between farmers and their intermediaries, ensuring that farmers get the best possible deal. We must also recognise the importance of trading with the European Union, on which Wales relies heavily for 75% of our food and drink exports. A commitment to strengthen our relationship with the EU would create valuable opportunities for Welsh producers and support growth across the sector.
10 Jun 2026 · Railways Bill · Hansard source
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The hon. Member serves a similarly large and rural constituency to mine. Getting stations open in such areas is incredibly important, and I urge him to work closely with community groups, as I am sure he is already doing, so that what I am trying to do in mid and north Wales might also be done in Cornwall. Great British Railways presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild our railways and create a service that works for the public good rather than for private profit. Workers must not be sidelined; jobs, pensions and trade union rights must be protected; and passengers must see genuine improvements in affordability and reliability.
10 Jun 2026 · Railways Bill · Hansard source
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The Bill is a necessary and long-overdue step towards bringing our railways back into public ownership. Great British Railways represents a real opportunity to build a railway that works in the interests of passengers and staff, rather than profiteering companies and distant shareholders. For railway workers, the transition to GBR must be an opportunity to strengthen good, secure and unionised jobs across the sector. Rail staff are the backbone of the network. Whether they work on trains, in stations, or on signalling, engineering or maintenance, they keep this country moving every single day. I also want to commend the work of campaign groups such as We Own It, alongside the rails unions the RMT, the TSSA and ASLEF, for their long-standing commitment to the renationalisation of our railways. Working constructively with the trade unions will be vital if GBR is to succeed. A publicly owned railway must also be a railway built on a partnership with its workforce. The transport unions have raised a number of concerns that the Government should address. Tens of thousands of rail workers still do not know exactly who their future employer will be under GBR, nor do they know what pension arrangements will apply. There are also real fears about potential job losses linked to the transition. Around 870 Network Rail staff are reportedly at risk of redundancy and are concerned at de-recognition of trade unions during the TUPE transfer from Network Rail into its wholly owned public subsidiary, Platform4. A fundamental principle of the transition from private to public ownership should be that every workplace within GBR recognises trade unions. My now-withdrawn new clause largely spoke to Beeching. The Beeching cuts, now widely recognised as a significant failure, saw the closure of up to 2,363 stations and approximately 5,000 miles of track. It severed vital links for many communities, causing lasting damage to local economies. That is felt all too acutely in Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, where we have a huge gap between Caersws and Machynlleth—the longest stretch of line without a station in the whole of Wales.
8 Jun 2026 · Cuba: Humanitarian Situation · Hansard source
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As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Cuba, I refer the House to the APPG register. In September in Machynlleth, the Cuban ambassador and a Cuban doctor working in Birmingham addressed my constituents in Montgomeryshire on the medical situation in Cuba. Since September, the situation has become worse, with nurses manually hand pumping ventilators so sick babies can breathe, and plastic carrier bags being used instead of colostomy bags. We have the aid needed here. Will we defy Trump’s monstrous blockade and get it into Cuba?
2 Jun 2026 · Clean Energy Transition: Supporting People in Work · Hansard source
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As we face the second fossil fuel shock in half a decade, it is right that the Government are scaling up clean, home-grown renewable energy through the energy independence Bill. However, clean energy jobs are not yet being created at the pace required to replace losses in oil and gas. How will the Government guarantee secure, well-paid jobs with strong trade union rights throughout the green transition?
2 Jun 2026 · Clean Energy Transition: Supporting People in Work · Hansard source
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3. What steps he is taking to ensure the clean energy transition supports people in work.
18 May 2026 · Backing Business to Create Economic Growth · Hansard source
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Since the last King’s Speech, we have seen great steps forward under this Labour Government in their first parliamentary Session: the Employment Rights Act 2025, the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation; the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024, establishing Great British Rail to improve services and keep fares down; the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, providing security and dignity by ending no-fault evictions; and the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026, lifting 450,000 children out of poverty. So it is welcome that in this King’s Speech further steps are being taken to support our country, at a time when so many are struggling with the cost of living, when our ties with Europe desperately need strengthening, and when global uncertainty weighs heavily on us all. I particularly welcome the measures to strengthen economic security, namely the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill and the European partnership Bill. British Steel is an industry that supports 37,000 direct jobs, and supports many thousands more through its supply chains. It is vital to our economic resilience and our industrial future, but for decades it has been in private hands. I welcome the Government’s willingness to bring in new legislation to renationalise British Steel, and our commitment of up to £2.5 billion to modernise and decarbonise the sector in the face of the climate crisis. However, I do wish to press the Government on a key point: the public interest test in the steel industry Bill. While it is right that such powers are exercised responsibly, I urge Ministers to ensure that the test is applied in a way that genuinely puts the public before private profit, rather than being constrained by a desire to reassure investors above all else. Furthermore, if we accept the principle that steel is too important to fail, why should we stop there? Across the country, people see the consequences of privatisation every day: sewage in our rivers, spiralling energy bills, and unreliable postal services. Let us bring all essential services back into public ownership and ensure that the wealth they generate benefits the public, not private shareholders. I very much welcome the European partnership Bill, which seeks to strengthen our trade and investment relationship with the European Union, building on the important work begun last May when the Government and the EU held their first joint summit since we left. The EU is, of course, not without its flaws, but given the uncertain and unstable times that we face, particularly as Trump continues to prove himself unpredictable and unreliable over and over again, partnership with our closest neighbours will provide security. This is essential for farmers in my constituency of Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr. Some 75% of Welsh food and drink exports go directly to the European Union and the livelihoods of many of my constituents depend on reliable access to those markets. It is for that reason that the proposed food and drink agreement is so vital. It is a deal that could add up to £5.1 billion a year to our economy, boost agricultural exports to the EU by 16%, and reduce delays at the border. This was a manifesto commitment, and fulfilling it will provide much-needed certainty for our farming and wider communities. If we are serious about tackling the cost of living crisis and supporting long-term economic growth, a key part of this will be deepening our relationship with Europe—strengthening trade, enhancing collective security, and building a future based on reliable partnerships. I also welcome the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, commonly known as the Hillsborough law. My hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool West Derby (Ian Byrne) has worked tirelessly on this legislation. It is essential that it is passed in full as one of the first Acts of the new parliamentary Session, with the proposed duty of candour applying to all public authorities, including the intelligence and security services. The bereaved families and survivors affected by state failure and cover-ups deserve nothing less. Finally, I welcome the commitment to ending new coal licences in the coal licences Bill. While Wales’s coalfield communities can rightly be proud of their heritage, it is vital that we now protect them from the environmental and social harms of further extraction. That is essential for those living near the Bersham colliery spoil tip in Rhostyllen, in my constituency. Given that private companies are now seeking to mine coal tips, which would inflict the same issues on communities, this type of extraction should also be prohibited.
22 Apr 2026 · Cost of Living · Hansard source
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3. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce the cost of living in Wales.
22 Apr 2026 · Cost of Living · Hansard source
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This month, the UK Labour Government formally lifted the two-child limit, benefiting nearly 70,000 children in Wales and 2,270 children in my constituency. I am enormously proud that Labour is lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty, while the other parties in Wales promise spending cuts and tax rises on working families. Will the Secretary of State update the House on what this policy means for the future of Wales?
21 Apr 2026 · Gulf Conflict · Hansard source
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16. What steps her Department is taking with international counterparts to help achieve a lasting resolution to the conflict in the Gulf.
21 Apr 2026 · Gulf Conflict · Hansard source
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While energy giants and Wall Street banks cash in on the war, ordinary people pay the price. In the first month of the US-led war with Iran alone, the world’s 100 largest oil and gas companies made more than $30 million an hour in unearned profit. What discussions has the Minister had with the Chancellor on the merits of introducing windfall taxes to directly fund a cost of living support package, making life more affordable for people and businesses across the UK?
15 Apr 2026 · Cost of Heating Oil · Hansard source
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It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Allin-Khan. I thank the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Steff Aquarone) for securing this essential debate. The escalation of conflict arising from Donald Trump’s war on Iran and the consequential disruption to the strait of Hormuz has sent shockwaves through international fossil fuel markets. This has left many households across the country, including a significant number of my constituents, facing sudden and severe increases to their energy bills. I have been contacted by people who are switching off their heating entirely or worried about preserving what supply they have. This is particularly concerning for elderly people or those with health conditions who need to stay warm. The average price of UK heating oil increased by 100% in just three days, and prices have remained over 120p per litre ever since. Across the UK, around 1.5 million homes rely on heating oil systems, with a particularly high concentration in rural areas. Around a quarter of households in my constituency use oil central heating, compared with 5% nationally. Households that are dependent on oil-heated systems are not protected by Ofgem regulation or the energy price cap, and are therefore more exposed to immediate energy price increases.
15 Apr 2026 · Cost of Heating Oil · Hansard source
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It will not surprise my hon. Friend that I agree wholeheartedly. With heating oil prices reaching levels similar to those in 2022 following the Ukraine war, our Government have been far quicker to react than the previous Conservative Government were. Less than two weeks after the price surge, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announced a £53 million support package aimed at protecting the most vulnerable households that rely on heating oil—particularly low-income households in rural communities. Wales was allocated £3.8 million, which the Welsh Government delivered through one-off £200 payments to eligible households on the council tax reduction scheme that use heating oil or liquefied petroleum gas. They also made enhancements to the value and frequency of the discretionary assistance fund for those in severe financial hardship. This response to protect households’ immediate needs in the face of crisis was very welcome. However, if high prices persist, support will need to evolve. What plans do the Government have to ensure continued and expanded support for vulnerable households should this crisis continue? Diolch yn fawr.
14 Apr 2026 · Crime and Policing Bill · Hansard source
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I shall keep my remarks brief. I welcome the vast majority of this Bill, but given the serious implications for our fundamental rights, Lords amendment 312 on cumulative disruption should be given adequate time to be properly scrutinised and debated. This amendment could be used by future far-right Governments to in effect stamp out protests and even trade union pickets altogether. As we all know, Reform UK would repeal the Employment Rights Act 2025, but I doubt it would repeal what Lords amendment 312 will allow. I strongly support my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East (Andy McDonald) in his motion to disagree with the Lords amendment. Sustained peaceful protest is central to the achievement of democratic change.
26 Mar 2026 · Passenger Rail Services · Hansard source
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In January, I was delighted to get confirmation that Ruabon station had progressed to the next stage of the Access for All programme. It is an absolute disgrace that disabled people and young mothers with prams can access the northbound platform only by climbing the steps and crossing the footbridge at the second busiest of Wrexham’s five stations. Will the Minister provide an update on progress in delivering a ramp at the station?
23 Mar 2026 · Rail Connections to London: Rural Towns · Hansard source
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I thank my hon. Friend for giving way when she is making such an excellent and passionate speech. I hope the WSMR bid will succeed, as it would benefit my constituents in Powys and in Wrexham. Does she agree with me that the proposal would be improved by an extra stop at one of the two Glyndŵr stations, Chirk or Ruabon, as Wrexham’s second-busiest of five stations?
18 Mar 2026 · Engagements · Hansard source
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Q10. I spent 20 years as a secondary school teacher in Wales. We worked hard. Labour has given them the biggest upgrade of rights in a generation—rights that millions of us fought hard to win—but the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage) wants to chuck it all in the bin. Does the Prime Minister stand by these fundamental workers’ rights and agree that only a vote for Labour in May will enshrine them?
17 Mar 2026 · Right to Protest · Hansard source
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Proposals to restrict the right to protest based on “cumulative disruption” are causing great concern. It is absurd that a march by an anti-racist group one week could be blocked because an anti-abortion march occurred the week before, and that this power could be extended across large parts of a city. Such a significant change demands proper scrutiny. This House must have adequate time to debate and vote on this issue. Can my hon. Friend the Minister guarantee that?
17 Mar 2026 · Right to Protest · Hansard source
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5. What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on protecting the right to protest.

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