Business of the House

Charlie Dewhirst Excerpts

Thursday 12th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to champion the Sikh community. The Christmas hamper programme represents a bright example of their valuable contribution to our communities. She is right to raise that example today, and I am sure she will go on looking for further opportunities to do so.

[Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds) (Con)]

In response to the question from my right hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Sir John Hayes), the Leader of the House seemed to suggest that the Government are not undergoing a rebrand from “His Majesty’s Government” to “UK Government”. However, in response to a written question tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire (Mike Wood), the Paymaster General clearly stated:

“A strategic decision has been made to adopt ‘UK Government’ as the primary identity for all public-facing communications.”

This is a clear slight on the monarch, so can I ask once again for a debate on the Floor of the House about the Government’s decision to downgrade the King?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman did not hear what I just said, or whether he had already written the question before I got up to do so. We can fence with words, rebrands and whatever, but it has always been the case that “His Majesty’s Government”, or “Her Majesty’s Government” as was, is used on official documents. It is always the case that there is an outward-looking version, and I have explained why. If the situation were as the hon. Gentleman describes, we would all be right to get upset about it, but it simply is not.