Alex Burghart
Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar
5,980 (12.4%) majority - 2024 General ElectionFirst elected: 8th June 2017
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
(since July 2024)Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
(since November 2024)2 APPG Memberships
Autism, Boxing5 Former APPG Officer Positions
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Assistive Technology, Boxing, Children, Looked After Children and Care LeaversDivision Voting information
Debates during the 2024 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Department Debates
(155 debate contributions)
(108 debate contributions)
(8 debate contributions)
(7 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(5,728 words contributed)
(4,386 words contributed)
(1,829 words contributed)
(335 words contributed)
Brentwood and Ongar Petitions
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
of 25,823 signatures (1.46%)
of 52,826 signatures (0.87%)
of 154,366 signatures (0.35%)
of 149,303 signatures (0.34%)
of 154,548 signatures (0.32%)
of 154,366 signatures (0.35%)
of 149,303 signatures (0.34%)
of 154,548 signatures (0.32%)
of 197,411 signatures (0.25%)
of 52,826 signatures (0.87%)
Latest EDMs signed by Alex Burghart
Attendance of the Attorney General at the Bar of the House on the Chinese espionage case
Tabled by: Robert Jenrick (Reform UK - Newark)That this House regrets the collapse of the prosecution of two alleged Chinese spies and is alarmed that the Attorney General, the Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC, was reportedly informed in August 2024 that the prosecution was at risk, yet has not publicly explained what actions he took to support …
(Most recent: 27 Oct 2025)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 20
Reform UK: 2
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
Independent: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Conduct of Lord Mandelson
Tabled by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge)That this House notes the concerning revelations regarding Lord Mandelson’s close friendship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein; expresses its concern at his lack of transparency regarding this relationship; requests for parliamentary time to be made available to debate this urgent matter; and calls for Lord Mandelson to resign as …
(Most recent: 13 Oct 2025)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 18
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Restore Britain: 1
Reform UK: 1
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
Independent: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Alex Burghart, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
6 Urgent Questions tabled by Alex Burghart
Alex Burghart has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Alex Burghart has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
1 Bill co-sponsored by Alex Burghart
Gambling (Industry Levy Review and Protections for Vulnerable People) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Richard Graham (Con)
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)6 Other Department Questions
The Electoral Commission’s guidance for regulated donees sets out the requirements on members associations regarding the declaration of political donations.
Members associations are required to report all permissible donations received for their use or benefit in connection with any of their political activities with a value of over £11,180, and all impermissible donations over £500. The political activities of a members association include promoting or developing policies for adoption by a party or promoting candidates for internal office within the party.
Certain payments and services are not treated as donations, and are exempt from the reporting requirements. A full list of exemptions is available on page 16 of the Commission’s guidance; for example, any donation worth £500 or less, and the provision by an individual of their services voluntarily and in their own time.
The Commission also provides ongoing advice to members associations on whether their activities fall within the definition of political activities.
All vacancies for OEO are advertised via Civil Service Jobs, ensuring the recruitment process is appropriately followed.
Recruitment is by exception where there is a clear business critical need or specialism that can not be found within the Department.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The Commission's guidance for political parties and regulated donees outlines how donations and loans from the same source must be grouped. Donations made in the same calendar year by the same source must be reported when the aggregate amount is above the reporting threshold.
It is a principle of company law that companies have a seperate legal personality from the people who own or operate them. As such, donations from individuals and from companies are considered seperate for the purposes of reporting.
There is no list of genders, sexual orientations or gender identities formally recognised by the Office for Equality and Opportunity.
The Government is committed to commencing the socio-economic duty in the Equality Act 2010. The duty will require public bodies, when making strategic decisions, to actively consider how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage. To ensure effective implementation, we will certainly give due regard to the equality impacts of commencement.
While the outcome in this case is of course very disappointing, I am also confident that the National Security Act 2023, which was not in force at the time of the conduct concerned, now provides us with enhanced powers that properly reflect the modern-day threats we face.
There is now a wealth of material and evidence, including from the Attorney General, which has been provided to the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy’s inquiry into these matters and which cover the requests for evidence and responses provided.
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Law Officers are aware of the possibility of a private prosecution, but have not engaged in discussions on its potential merits with any representative of the House of Commons.
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) provides a range of independent vetting services designed to identify potential personnel security risks. However, the employing department ultimately owns the risk of any appointment decision. Senior officials with responsibility for personnel security within their department evaluate vetting outcomes alongside the specific requirements of a post and the organisation's risk appetite.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The work undertaken by the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards is set out in his advice to the Prime Minister of 27th February 2026 and published on gov.uk.
Information on the work undertaken by the Cabinet Office can be found in the Government’s response to the Urgent Question granted on 23 February (Official Report, Column 29).
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. This will provide a valuable form of cultural exchange for young Brits and EU citizens with the opportunity to travel, work, study and experience other cultures.
We have agreed that any scheme will be capped, subject to a visa requirement, as well as time-limited. We have been clear that the scheme should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes, such as Australia and New Zealand, but the exact parameters are subject to ongoing negotiation. This will not include financial contributions to the European Union - that is not how youth mobility schemes operate.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Departments and agencies have authority to determine promotion and lateral transfer arrangements for their own staff, in addition to the personal review arrangements for their own staff outside the Senior Civil Service.
A condition of this authority is that promotion within the Civil Service must follow a decision as to the fitness of individuals, on merit, to undertake the duties concerned.
The Civil Service uses the Success Profiles framework to attract and retain talent. This framework covers the expected levels for different grades, helping people understand suitability requirements for promotion or level transfer.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister's responsibilities are available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/people/darren-jones
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and the Oral Statement on the 23rd February, in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, which set out an update on the Government's process and that Departments have been instructed to retain material that may be relevant to the motion.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Ministers providing temporary leave cover, whilst a minister takes maternity leave under the provisions of the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Act 2021, are asked to waive their entitlement to a severance payment.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The People’s Panel for Digital ID is selected via civic lottery to ensure a representative sample of the public. Invitations are not sent to named individuals. Only one person from each household can be selected.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. TAll government departments, ministers and relevant individuals have been instructed to retain and provide to the Cabinet Office all information they hold that falls in scope of the Humble Address motion.
The Government does not comment on ongoing police investigations but stands ready to support the police in whatever way it can.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Roll of the Peerage is an officially compiled and maintained list, intended to contain the names of all living peers. If a title has been removed from the Roll of the Peerage, it can no longer be used in official documents. Removal would not affect an individual’s membership of the House of Lords, where relevant, and an individual would still be entitled to receive a writ of summons if already eligible.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Staff from across the Cabinet Office including but not limited to the Public Inquiry Response Unit and the Propriety and Constitution Group are involved in compliance with the Humble Address motion as necessary.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The term “overlay advice” is not in general use, so no such guidance has been issued.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) is independent of the government. The EIC has set out further information about the review, including a call for evidence, on its website at the following link: https://eic.independent-commission.uk/what-we-do/reports-and-reviews/ It can be contacted at contact@eic.independent.gov.uk
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Universal Basic Services is not a government policy and is not being explored by the Cabinet Office.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government is taking the necessary steps to allow Cabinet Ministers to make donations to the Library.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As per the statement from the Metropolitan Police on 4th February 2026, they are asking us to refrain from publishing any relevant documents that could prejudice their investigation. We do not comment on ongoing police investigations. The Government stands ready to support the police in whatever way it can.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We need to make sure digital ID works for everyone, and that’s why we’re establishing a People’s Panel on digital ID, which brings together a diverse group of people - selected to be broadly representative of the population of the UK - to consider different perspectives and debate trade-offs.
The People’s Panel will cost approximately £630,000 This will be covered under a pre-existing contract with Ipsos, which is the primary vendor, signed in March 2024. The vendor is a significant long-term government contractor, including under the last administration.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Participants will be recruited through a process called sortition. This is a random postcode lottery. It is a way of selecting individuals to take part in deliberative processes, where everyone is given an equal chance to be invited. No individual can buy their way in or simply turn up at the event. All participants must be 18 or over to join the People’s Panel.
Participants are paid in line with industry standards. Payment recognises the time that people are giving up to take part and ensures that a diverse range of participants (e.g. including those on low-incomes, unemployed, with caring responsibilities, etc.) can participate. Payments are aligned to each workshop they attend, so may vary depending on attendance.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS) to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.
The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery.
For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication to ensure members receive the support they deserve. While the immediate focus remains on stabilising the service through this intensive recovery plan, we are committed to ensuring all staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.
Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Furthermore, any service failures attract penalties which reduce the overall cost of the contract. While the specific financial values of commercial transactions remain confidential, the Cabinet Office has already withheld significant transition milestone payments due to missed deliverables and continues to apply the full mechanism of service credits for performance failures. Capita also remains responsible for any additional expenses incited. The Cabinet Office will continue to use all available commercial levers to hold Capita to account and ensure they deliver the contractual service levels.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As set out in the Recruitment Principles, temporary promotions are an exception to the requirement for fair and open competition.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer you to the Oral Statement on the 23rd February and the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
The Government continues to work with the Intelligence and Security Committee and is grateful for its assistance on this matter.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Appointments of existing civil servants on temporary promotion are internal moves and permissible within fair and open recruitment. Paragraph 17 of the Civil Service Recruitment Framework relates to permanent redeployment moves.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The new digital ID system will help to personalise and join up public services. The UK has a strong set of data protection laws that will apply to this system, and robust enforcement of those laws. We won't be watering them down for this system and there are no circumstances in which the Government will sell the public’s digital ID data to private companies.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Normally covering a role at a higher grade should not exceed 6 months and be reviewed every 3 months, exceptions would be in line with “lifecycle events” for example maternity leave cover.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Sir Ian Horobin’s life peerage was announced on 29th March 1962 and he subsequently withdrew his acceptance voluntarily before Letters Patent were sealed and dated. His peerage was therefore never created nor subsequently removed. There is no established precedent of the Government withdrawing a peerage nomination after it has been announced.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office