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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 17 Mar 2026
Rural Roads

"I thank the hon. Member for South Shropshire (Stuart Anderson) for this debate.

One particularly frustrating problem is the way in which roadworks are planned and co-ordinated, especially in rural areas. I am sure that many Members will recognise the situation where multiple sets of roadworks are scheduled at the …..."
Brian Mathew - View Speech

View all Brian Mathew (LD - Melksham and Devizes) contributions to the debate on: Rural Roads
Written Question
Livestock Industry: Seasonal Workers
Tuesday 17th March 2026

Asked by: Brian Mathew (Liberal Democrat - Melksham and Devizes)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of the Seasonal Shearing Concession on a) ensuring adequate numbers of shearers during the summer season and b) sheep welfare, especially reduction of heat stress and flystrike.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

All Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession has been operating for 14 years and the sheep farming sector has made significant efforts to provide skills training within the domestic workforce.

To give sheep farmers two years to transition to new arrangements, and move away from using overseas shearers, the concession has been renewed for one more year. The concession will not be renewed in 2027 and will close for a final time on 30 June 2026.

Scheduled Event - 12 Mar 2026, 5 p.m. - Add to calendar
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Commons - Adjournment - Main Chamber
Fire station closures
MP: Brian Mathew
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 12 Mar 2026
Fire Station Closures

"I thank the right hon. Member for his comments; in fact, I will go into some details on that now. Members from all parties will recognise that rural fire services face different cost pressures compared with urban ones, and rurality is not adequately addressed in the current or previous funding …..."
Brian Mathew - View Speech

View all Brian Mathew (LD - Melksham and Devizes) contributions to the debate on: Fire Station Closures
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 12 Mar 2026
Fire Station Closures

"I am grateful for the opportunity to open this debate on fire station closures. I would like to begin by paying tribute to the bravery of firefighters across the country...."
Brian Mathew - View Speech

View all Brian Mathew (LD - Melksham and Devizes) contributions to the debate on: Fire Station Closures
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 12 Mar 2026
Fire Station Closures

"I thank the hon. Member for those points; he made them well, and I take them on. We should all think of what happened in Glasgow at the weekend.

Family members of firefighters from Wiltshire are in the Gallery, and I thank them for coming. I know of firefighters from …..."
Brian Mathew - View Speech

View all Brian Mathew (LD - Melksham and Devizes) contributions to the debate on: Fire Station Closures
Division Vote (Commons)
11 Mar 2026 - Finance (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Brian Mathew (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 52 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 175 Noes - 292
Division Vote (Commons)
11 Mar 2026 - Finance (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Brian Mathew (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 51 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 172 Noes - 283
Division Vote (Commons)
11 Mar 2026 - Finance (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Brian Mathew (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 52 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 292 Noes - 161
Division Vote (Commons)
11 Mar 2026 - Finance (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Brian Mathew (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 50 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 174 Noes - 292