Commons Chamber

Thursday 23rd April 2026

(began 1 hour, 37 minutes ago)

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None Portrait Q2. What steps he is taking to improve transparency in public procurement. (908806)
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Neil Duncan-Jordan question to Mr Speaker Minister. Speaker, I will answer questions two, three, ten and 13 together.
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John Lamont Portrait John Lamont MP (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, Conservative)
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John Lamont thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I start by Speaker. Can I start by congratulating the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington on the birth of his daughter, Baby Lyla? I birth of his daughter, Baby Lyla? I am sure the whole house will join me in wishing him and his family well. Last weekend I met with friends and family of Jamie Tweedy as they walked the Saint Saint Cuthbert's Way from Melrose to Holy Island, raising over £25,000 for the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence.

Jamie was a local farmer in the borders who tragically lost his life to a brain tumour just under a year ago. I know their efforts will help advance treatments of this devastating disease. Mr Speaker. We are all watching the development of peace talks between the US and Iran for the good of our economy, and in the interests of bringing energy bills down for households and businesses, we all hope to see a swift end to this conflict. Turning to domestic politics after weeks of chaos, this may be the lowest point yet for this government.

A Prime Minister putting his own interests above the national interest. He has already had four chiefs of staff, five directors of communications, three Cabinet secretaries and four principal private secretaries. So does the Leader of the House not agree that perhaps the problem lies with the Prime Minister himself? On Tuesday, the Foreign Affairs Committee heard extraordinary evidence from Ollie Robinson, the former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office. He described a dismissive attitude in Downing Street towards vetting and constant pressure to appoint Peter Mandelson to the most senior diplomatic role.

He also told MPs that he was asked to give the Prime Minister's then director of communications a senior diplomatic post, without informing the Foreign Secretary it would seem Mr Speaker. The Foreign Office is not a redeployment pool for failed political advisers. So can the Leader of the House tell us, was it appropriate for number ten to apply such pressure over Mandelson's vetting, or does he accept that due process was not followed? Does he believe the Prime Minister inadvertently misled this House? Does the leader accept the Prime.

The Prime Minister continues to make statements that are hard to reconcile with reality. Can the leader explain why Olly Robbins was sacked, and was it right and fair to sack Olly Robbins? Mr. speaker, the Prime Minister has never looked weaker. The Prime Minister is so weak that he has brought forward the moment of prorogation to avoid another bruising Prime Minister's questions. He has also lost the confidence of the entire country. So when will Labour MPs finally stand up for their constituents and join us in removing this dreadful Prime Minister? While the Prime Minister is consumed by internal chaos, the issues that matter to our constituents are being ignored.

Energy bills are soaring, particularly for those in rural communities relying on heating oil. People are struggling to find work. Decisions on funding our national defence are being delayed despite global threats. At the same time, government backbenchers and Cabinet members brief against each other, plotting over the Prime Minister's future as this parliamentary session draws to a close. I doubt it will be remembered fondly by those on the government benches. Mr. speaker, in two weeks time, voters will go to the polls in important elections across England and in parliamentary elections in Scotland and in Wales.

In Scotland, Labour's campaign has descended into confusion, illustrated by the remarkable sight of the Prime Minister visiting the nuclear base at Faslane whilst avoiding any contact with his own party leader in Scotland, Anas Sarwar. It seemed the Prime Minister needed the protection of the nuclear deterrent from his own Scottish Labour colleagues. This government has found it easier to locate secret Russian submarines in the North Atlantic than it has finding the Scottish Labour leader in the south side of Glasgow.

Across Scotland. Voters are clear they are tired of an SNP government distracted from delivery and focussed on independence. The people are not powerless. The peach coloured regional ballot paper gives voters the opportunity to prevent another SNP majority, as they did in 2016 and 2021. The results of another SNP majority in Scotland would be similar to the current Labour majority in this House. More broken promises, more chaos, more division. So does the Leader of the House agree that, whether at Westminster or Holyrood, governments deserve to be judged harshly if they do not stick to their promises and inflict chaos on our country?
10:41
Alan Campbell Portrait Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour)
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and certainly join the hon. Gentleman certainly join the hon. Gentleman in welcoming the birth of Lyla and wish her and her parents all the very best indeed. Mr. speaker, today is Saint George's Day. I want to wish everybody a happy Saint George's Day. This week, during this week, Mr. Speaker, we have celebrated the centenary of the birth of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, and it has been announced that a trust will be established in honour of the life of the late Queen.

The trust will focus on restoring shared spaces in communities, reflecting the late Queen's commitment to public service. Inspired by the belief that everyone is our neighbour and that Mr Speaker is a lesson that we should all seek to live by. As I said, Mr. Speaker, last week, the government has made clear its commitment to tackling antisemitic attacks following the incident. This week, I want to restate our position that attacks on British Jews are an attack on all of us. We will do whatever it takes to stop those who seek to intimidate, who seek to intimidate our Jewish communities.

Mr. speaker, we are approaching the end of the session and at its conclusion, this parliamentary session will see the delivery of more than 50 government bills, and we will continue to build on this in the next parliamentary session. I want to say something about Mr. Speaker, and a statement was made to this House, which provided an update on capita and Civil Service pensions, and I know that members across the House will welcome the update, and I want to assure members that the issues that they raised with me in this forum are heard by the government and where we can.

The government acts. And before I turn to the remarks of the hon. Gentleman, can I also, Mr. Speaker, wish everyone, including all members of this House, who are taking part in the London Marathon this Sunday, the very best of luck. Let me turn to the remarks of the hon. Gentleman and join him in saying how saddened we are to learn of the death of Jamie Tweedy. It is far too soon. But let us remember him for the way in which his friends and family are making sure that he is not forgotten, and that his untimely death leaves a legacy of which they should be proud.

The hon. Gentleman mentioned the peace talks, and I want to join him, of course, in hoping that the peace talks are successful. We want the ceasefire to continue. We want to ensure that the Straits of Hormuz are Hormuz are open because, as he points out, if not, then it will prolong the expected economic damage, not just to our economy, but to others too. But I just want to put on record, Mr. Speaker, what has unfolded in that part of the world demonstrates that the PM's judgement on not joining the war in the first place was absolutely correct, and he has spent his time, Mr.

speaker, with diplomatic efforts to make sure working with others to make sure that the Straits of Hormuz are open at the earliest opportunity. Let me now turn to the remarks of the hon. Gentleman around domestic politics, and he's perfectly entitled to make his case, Mr. Speaker, but just let me remind the House that the Prime Minister came here at the earliest opportunity on Monday and faced questions for two faced questions on Monday, faced questions for 2.5 hours. It was followed by an emergency debate for three hours on Tuesday, in which members, in which members had an opportunity to make their case and ask their questions.

The Prime Minister faced Prime Minister's questions for about 45 minutes yesterday, in which he was questioned extensively on this. The Foreign Affairs Select Committee is doing its job in holding decision makers to account, and there have been numerous opportunities, Mr.
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