Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 19th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Does the Leader have his with liquor?

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

I have absolutely no doubt that the Leader of the House will have joined all of us in celebrating St Patrick’s day on Tuesday 17 March. I thank you, Mr Speaker, for hosting a St Patrick’s day celebration in Speaker’s House. However, why are the Ulster banner and the cross of St Patrick not flown from the Houses of Parliament? It is right that flags are flown for Wales, Scotland and England on patron saint days, but no flag is flown for Northern Ireland, so can we rectify that for next year? Will the Leader of the House ensure that we have a St Patrick’s day debate in the Chamber, as we usually do? It is right that we discuss British-Irish relations, particularly the negative effect of the Windsor framework, which has divided our United Kingdom and is a democratic outrage.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 12th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As my hon. Friend points out, this is the second time this matter has been raised today, which underlines its importance. Should he seek a debate, I am sure that others would join him in raising these important matters. I will certainly look into the idea of a roundtable before the summit.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

Every year, for St George’s day, my local scouts in Romford have a parade and a service at a local church; in fact, there are two parades in Havering, as this also happens in Hornchurch. This year, however, the police have withdrawn support as they are not prepared to marshal the very short parade on the basis of cost. We pay in huge sums of money for the Metropolitan police and, as with any kind of event, I expect them to be there to look after the safety of the young people celebrating the patron saint of scouting. Will the Leader of the House allow time for a debate on the importance of celebrating St George’s day as part of our great English cultural heritage, as well as the failure of the Metropolitan police to ensure that the London borough of Havering is given the police cover that we deserve and pay for?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sure that this was not an easy decision for the police, but I can understand the distress that it might cause. Even now, I hope that a local solution can be found. The hon. Gentleman raises the question of whether there will be a debate to commemorate St George’s day—let me see what we can do in that regard. Such a debate would give him and others the opportunity to raise issues like this one.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 5th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Yes, I will.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

In 1986, when President Ronald Reagan contacted Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to ask that Royal Air Force bases in the UK be used to attack the Gaddafi regime in Libya, she said yes. This Prime Minister has said no to the same request from the current President, refusing the use of the Chagos islands. We know that Gibraltar is under threat as well, with the deal that is apparently being agreed, which could prevent the use of Gibraltar for future defence and security. What have this Government got against the British overseas territories, and is it not time we had a debate about the importance to defence and security of the British overseas territories’ contribution? Now we hear about the British bases on Cyprus. We need a debate on this, because they are vital to the defence and security of the United Kingdom and the entire free world.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sorry to say that the hon. Gentleman appears to be confused, because we have agreed that British bases can be used by the United States for limited and specific purposes of knocking out Iranian missile launches. This is defensive action—the purpose is to protect British lives in the region. This Prime Minister is absolutely committed to the defence of our allies in the region, and I would include other British overseas territories. When we talk about our national interests, we are talking about their interests, too.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 12th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend and constituency neighbour raises an important matter, and I will certainly ensure that her concerns are shared with the relevant Minister. Should she wish to have a meeting with the Minister, I will be happy to facilitate that. Because we share this issue as constituency neighbours, I would also be happy to come with her.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

Further to the question from the right hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Sir John Hayes), I know that the Leader of the House will fully appreciate that he is a member of His Majesty’s Government. In 2022, guidance issued under the last Conservative Administration established “UK Government” as an official corporate identity and a commonplace Government term, but he will know that any Government, including the current one, serve at His Majesty’s pleasure. The Prime Minister does not serve a corporate construct; he serves the Crown—the embodiment of our nation and her people. Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on the Floor of the House on the need to reinstate an understanding of, and deference to, our constitutional heritage, which is His Majesty’s Government and the King in Parliament?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I do not think there is a need for such a debate, because I am still—I am hesitating here—a member of His Majesty’s Government, as Ministers are members of His Majesty’s Government. That does not mean that, for outward-looking communication purposes, “UK Government” is not an appropriate term. I genuinely do not understand why this is such a difficult concept, but I will certainly bear the hon. Gentleman’s comments in mind.

While we are here, let me commend the hon. Gentleman for following his new leader’s advice on not working from home. It is a shame that many of his colleagues do not do the same—we rarely see them—but he is an assiduous attender of these sessions, and I thank him for that. I would have described him as a flag-bearer for Reform, but I know how excited he gets about flags.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 5th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Grassroots sport is vital to our communities and high-quality facilities are vital too—when they work well, they literally change people’s lives for the better. I join my hon. Friend in welcoming the funding announced for Scotland; we are ambitious for sport right across our country, and I hope the SNP Government are equally ambitious in what they do. This would make an excellent topic for a Westminster Hall debate and I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for one.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

Last week I visited Gina and Vincenzo, the owners of a fantastic local Italian restaurant in Hornchurch, whose much-loved business is struggling under the weight of extortionate business rates. They used to pay £2,200 a year, but are now having to pay around £6,800; however, according to the calculator on the Government website, they will have to pay an astonishing £19,000 in business rates in the future. The Leader of the House must know that pubs and restaurants across the UK are being ruined because of the Government’s anti-business policies, so will he at least make time for a debate on business rates reform? Can he really blame the owners of Umberto’s for banning Labour MPs from their premises?

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Judith Cummins)]

Order. The message about short questions does not seem to have got through. Can Members please shorten their questions, because we do not have much time?

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 29th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

This is a difficult situation for children, and indeed families and teachers, in Lichfield and the west midlands in general, so I will help to secure the meeting my hon. Friend asks for.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

The Leader of the House will be aware that, on Monday, I joined my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Fareham and Waterlooville (Suella Braverman) at a huge rally in support of our brave British veterans, a magnificent occasion organised by my hon. Friend the Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage). The message from veterans was clear: Labour’s plans to enable the perpetual persecution of soldiers who served in Northern Ireland is “diabolical”. Indeed, I would say it is a betrayal. Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate about how the United Kingdom has ended up with a policy of giving legal protection to the terrorists who killed British subjects, while the soldiers who protected civilians in Ulster face prosecution simply for doing the job of serving Queen and country?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman will know that the Government are replacing a system that, quite frankly, we found was not legal, could not be enforced and therefore did not give protection to our brave servicemen and women. He will have ample time to continue this debate as the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill continues its progress. Whether his new hon. Friend the Member for Clacton can be bothered to be in the Chamber to take part remains to be seen.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 22nd January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is right to champion the work of the YMCA centre in her constituency. I think we could echo that in every constituency where the YMCA has a presence; it does an absolutely fantastic job. We are committed to ending homelessness and have invested £3.5 billion over the next three years. I encourage her to apply for an Adjournment debate to highlight the important work the YMCA is doing, and the other measures necessary to support vulnerable young people to access safe, secure and affordable housing.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)]

The Leader of the House will remember that nearly a decade ago, on 17 November 2016, I asked a question on the subject of the resettlement and subsequent self-determination of the Chagos islanders. The then Minister, Sir Alan Duncan, shamefully said:

“we do not consider that the right of self-determination actually applies to the Chagossians.” —[Official Report, 17 November 2016; Vol. 617, c. 386.]

Given that that position was taken by the previous Conservative Government, and that the current Labour Government have gone further still by surrendering their home without consent, will the Leader of the House find time for a debate on the right of self-determination for the Chagossian people, and end the bipartisan failure and injustice that has left an entire people without a voice for 60 years?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I would gently point out that Alan Duncan was a Minister in the Government that the hon. Gentleman supported. On the Chagos deal and self-determination, the base is vital for our intelligence and defence. Our deal provides certainty going forward and is supported by allies. It is also going through this House, so there is a chance that it will come back for further discussion and debate, and I am sure the hon. Gentleman will be able to make his case when that happens.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend and others for raising the work of Sue and Dave Cook, and I join him in paying tribute to them. They may talk about the remarkable people who they look after, but they are truly remarkable people in the care that they give. We depend on foster carers providing an important role, because they literally change the lives of many children for the better. We want to ensure that carers can provide their vital services, which is why we are putting money behind that, with £44 million to support kinship and foster carers and £25 million to recruit more foster families and support carers. I hope that the calls of my hon. Friend have been heard outside this House and that more people will come forward to do what is such an important job.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

The Leader of the House needs to be aware that London Councils is considering scrapping the older persons’ freedom pass, which has left my constituents shocked, angry and dismayed. The freedom pass is a lifeline for many, providing access to free transport and enabling older people to live active lives. He will be aware that I recently presented the Transport for London (Extension of Concessions) Bill to the House, which would protect the freedom pass for all areas served by Transport for London, including Havering and beyond. That is clearly more important than ever. Will the Leader of the House provide Government time for the Second Reading of my Bill, so that we can protect, defend and extend the freedom pass for our senior citizens across the entire Transport for London region?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am not able to offer more time. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that there is quite a queue for time for any private Members’ Bills that we need to take forward. We have had the 13 sitting Fridays, and we are not in a situation to provide more Government time. I am reliably informed that what he claims is the case is not necessarily true. I am also informed that it is Labour councillors across London who have risen to this challenge, and that the decision is not going ahead. I am sorry if that is not an accurate account, but it is the latest account that I have. If that is the case, it is good news for the hon. Gentleman, who has also put forward a petition on these matters. I am sure that gives him ample opportunity to claim credit for this, if what I have said is the correct analysis.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 8th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will ensure that the Home Secretary has heard my hon. Friend’s remarks about the extent of the investigation and I will see whether her concerns can be addressed. As I have already said, once that investigation is concluded, I am sure that the Home Secretary will want to find time to update the House and, if necessary, have a debate on the subject.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

Happy new year to you, Mr Speaker, and to all of your staff in the Speaker’s Office.

I would like the Leader of the House to know that I am very concerned to hear that several police and community support officers, who are currently under transport policing command in the Metropolitan police, are being forcefully redeployed to a private contractor within Transport for London. That has caused a tremendous amount of upset for those concerned, including one of my constituents whose only other option is to resign. Will the Leader of the House consider having a broader debate on the structure of the Metropolitan police and its relationship with outside, private organisations?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Should those issues arise from the investigation that we have just been talking about, I am sure that there will be an opportunity for the hon. Gentleman to raise those concerns. However, the way that resources are deployed is a matter for the Mayor of London and I am sure that he is doing everything that he can to ensure that officers are deployed where they are most needed. It is an unsettling time for the people who are in that situation, but deployment is fundamentally a matter for the Mayor of London.

Business of the House

Andrew Rosindell Excerpts

Thursday 18th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising such an important case. We are committed to improving the lives of those who, like Sam, have rare diseases. Integrated care boards have a responsibility to commission services to meet the needs of those in their care, so I will refer the case to the Department of Health and Social Care, and will ensure that my hon. Friend gets a meeting, if she wants one, to see what progress can be made on these matters.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

Madam Deputy Speaker, may I wish you and all the staff in the Speaker’s Office a very merry Christmas, and may I thank you for all your kindness and courtesy throughout the past year? However, I must say to the Leader of the House that this Christmas, my constituents in Romford are increasingly afraid to walk through the town centre; reports of violent crime and street robbery are becoming a regular occurrence. Despite the huge precept that we pay to the Mayor of London—it is an average of £500 a year, per household—we simply do not get the police we pay for. Inner London always takes priority. Indeed, the whole Greater London region has become plagued with petty theft, shoplifting and violent crime, especially on Transport for London services. Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on these pressing issues, which affect the daily life of my tax-paying, law-abiding constituents in Romford?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman will know that the Government take this important matter seriously, and through the safer streets summer initiative, we applied additional resources. We are doing so in the winter as well, particularly for town centres, so there should be no excuse for inactivity on these matters, in the run-up to Christmas or beyond. Our commitment is absolutely to ensure increased numbers of police officers, because, quite frankly, we inherited a system that was chronically underfunded. We are bringing forward the police grant, which will be debated in the new year, and I encourage the hon. Gentleman to make his strong case during that debate.