No. 10 North

Baroness Smith of Llanfaes Excerpts

Tuesday 8th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

It is quite clear that No. 10 just across the road does have the authority to make those decisions. As I said to noble Lords earlier, having the same conversations in the same place in the same room is not necessarily going to produce a different outcome. A number of Ministers have spent a considerable time in No. 10 North, and the Prime Minister is committed to working there on a regular basis. So far during his premiership, he has done so at least once a week.

[Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (PC)]

My Lords, I welcome the establishment of No. 10 in the north of England. If the Government agree that centralisation in London is a problem, should the answer not be to strengthen devolution across these islands, giving the Governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland the powers and resources to act in the best interests of their peoples, rather than simply relocating functions within England?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I am not sure how it would have gone down with the Governments in the devolved Administrations if we had suddenly popped up with a new central government office. It is clear that there is no way we will succeed in rewiring the state if we do not take into account the devolved nations and their needs. Collaboration with the devolved Governments will be required to ensure the benefits of regional empowerment and of doing things differently, so that people feel that growth in every area. We need to make sure that we work very closely together, and Ministers are looking forward to close collaboration with the devolved Administrations to succeed in this.

Telegraph Media Group: Ownership

Baroness Smith of Llanfaes Excerpts

Thursday 16th October 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

We have settled on 15% as the cumulative amount, and this House had the opportunity to debate it at some length in July. Whether that is one FSI, one state-owned investor or a number of state-owned investors, it will not exceed 15%. The Competition and Markets Authority has been clear that it does not consider that a material influence would be likely to occur below 25%, so 15% is well within that limit.

[Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (PC)]

My Lords, on the topic of media ownership, can the Government please clarify why the Senedd is not having a say on the appointment of the chair of S4C?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I will need to write to the noble Baroness on that matter, as it did not come up in the preparation for this Question and I do not want to give an incorrect answer.