Business of the House

Charlie Dewhirst Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

These are issues that the Government take very seriously, and I will do everything I can to arrange the meeting that my hon. Friend seeks.

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

I am sure the Leader of the House shared my delight as Bridlington Town defeated Curzon Ashton on penalties in the first round of the FA trophy. This Saturday at 3 o’clock, they will welcome the mighty Macclesfield in the second round—a truly David versus Goliath clash. The good news, Madam Deputy Speaker, is that I have two tickets in my pocket, and I wonder whether the Leader of the House would like to make time on Saturday afternoon to join me at Brid Town and give himself a brief respite from watching Sunderland.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Not me?

Business of the House

Charlie Dewhirst Excerpts

Thursday 29th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sure that the whole House will join me in wishing Sandra a speedy recovery. I join my hon. Friend in encouraging his constituents to donate to the crowdfunder if it is appropriate and they can afford to do so. I will be happy to facilitate a meeting for him with the relevant Minister so that he can put his case directly to them.

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

I am sure both you, Mr Speaker, and the Leader of the House will share my delight at the news that the Seabirds pub in Bridlington has reopened following a £300,000 refurbishment. It coincides with my “Pub of the Year” competition in Bridlington and The Wolds, where we are delighted to be home to 114 pubs. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking every landlord and landlady across the country for all their hard work and everything that they do for local communities? After my competition has closed on Saturday, will the Leader of the House join me for a pint in the winning pub?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

It is extraordinarily tempting. I congratulate everybody involved in the refurbishment of the pub; pubs are at the heart of our local communities. I cannot guarantee that I will be there to celebrate with the hon. Gentleman, but I am sure that he will find many local residents who will be very pleased that it has happened. Perhaps when he is there sharing a pint with them he can talk about the support for hospitality that was in yesterday’s Budget.

Business of the House

Charlie Dewhirst Excerpts

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As we can hear, my hon. Friend is a staunch advocate for her constituency, and she is absolutely right to highlight the transformational investments that the Government are making in her communities and many others. Every penny of this funding should work hard for our constituents, and I absolutely agree with her that local leaders must use opportunities to their full potential. It is important that all parties locally, and indeed in this House, talk up the local communities where that work is being done.

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

On Saturday afternoon, Bridlington Town FC will take on Curzon Ashton in the FA trophy first round proper—the first time the club has reached that stage of the competition in 22 years. Will the Leader of the House join me in wishing Brid all the very best on Saturday afternoon in the FA trophy, and can we have a debate in Government time on the importance of sports clubs and local communities?

Business of the House

Charlie Dewhirst Excerpts

Thursday 15th October 2026 Commons Chamber

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

Madam Deputy Speaker, you will no doubt be aware that East Yorkshire is blessed with some of the most productive farmland in the country, yet the Humberhead solar project threatens to plaster 4,000 acres in solar panels. Even more concerning, Natural England appears to have amended the boundaries of the proposed Yorkshire Wolds area of outstanding natural beauty around the village of Londesborough to avoid coming into conflict with this solar farm project. May we have a debate in Government time on the proliferation and cumulative impact of solar farms, and their detrimental effect on domestic food security?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I advise the hon. Gentleman to seek an Adjournment debate or a Westminster Hall debate on these matters. He is right to raise the concerns of his local constituency, and the opportunity to put directly to Ministers, in an expanded way, the concerns he has raised with me today.

Business of the House

Charlie Dewhirst Excerpts

Thursday 16th July 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My message to the young people taking part in my hon. Friend’s summer school is to enjoy themselves—to enjoy what they might learn, but also to enjoy working together in what is a fantastic field. Taking part in public life is an honour and a privilege, and we should encourage everyone who aspires to public service to be able to follow that ambition.

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

Despite the recent successes of two new dental contracts in Bridlington and the decision to postpone the closure of the care unit at the hospital, I am sure the Leader of the House is aware of the challenges of optimising health services in coastal towns, particularly in Bridlington and Hornsea in my constituency. Can we have a debate on this issue in Government time? Can the Minister come to the House and update us on the implementation of the recommendations made by Chris Whitty in 2021 on health inequalities in coastal communities?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman raises two important matters that are very close to my heart. The first is making sure that people can access dental services wherever they are. The second is coastal communities, which are very important indeed—as he knows, I represent one. Of course, it has been a challenging time for dental services, but the Government are determined to put that right; we are taking action and investing. The hon. Gentleman has referred to the recommendations of the Whitty report; let me go back to the Minister responsible and get the hon. Gentleman an update.

Business of the House

Charlie Dewhirst Excerpts

Thursday 9th July 2026 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Judith Cummins)]

Order. I am aiming to finish business questions around 12.15 pm, so perhaps we could have very short questions and answers.

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

Without wishing to disappoint colleagues who have excellent local agricultural shows, the Driffield show is the biggest and best one-day show in the country, and this month it will celebrate its 150th edition. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking all those involved in the Driffield Agricultural Society, both now and in the past, and may we have a debate in Government time on food security and the importance of the rural economy?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly make a special case for the Driffield show and everybody involved, and 150 years is a remarkable achievement. As I have said, such shows are an important part of local communities. The Government take food security very seriously, and the hon. Gentleman will have the opportunity next Thursday to highlight the importance of not just Driffield Agricultural Society, but all the other agricultural societies in his constituency.

Business of the House

Charlie Dewhirst Excerpts

Thursday 23rd April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly join my hon. Friend and all those in this House in remembering the life and achievements of Tony Worthington. I knew Tony briefly, and I was certainly aware of the extraordinary campaigning he undertook and his success, not least on asbestos. It is not every MP who at the end of their career can claim success in the way that Tony Worthington could. I share the House’s sympathy and send our condolences to Tony’s family at this time. We remember his life, which was a life well lived.

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

I wish you and the whole House a very happy St George’s day, Madam Deputy Speaker. Following the launch of the local media action plan, will the Leader of the House join me in celebrating local newspapers in my constituency such as the Bridlington Echo, the Bridlington Free Press, the Driffield & Wolds Weekly and the Holderness & Hornsea Gazette, and local radio stations including Bridlington Gold Radio, Great Driffield Radio and This is the Coast? Can we have a debate in Government time on the funding for local radio and for local newspapers, to ensure that that £12 million effectively reaches those brilliant independent outlets, so that they can innovate and attract high-quality journalism?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The Government are certainly keen to see local newspapers and local radio continue, because they are so important to the lives of our communities. I will draw the hon. Gentleman’s remarks to the attention of the relevant Minister; if he wants to hear from the Minister directly about what more we can do with the fund, then he might seek an Adjournment debate.

Business of the House

Charlie Dewhirst Excerpts

Thursday 16th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter and for championing the work of Tale of 2 Cities. Local charities are the golden thread that runs through our communities, and they do a fantastic job. The Government are keen to support them, not least because we are taking action on child poverty, scrapping the two-child limit and focusing on the cost of living. I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for a Westminster Hall debate, so that she can ask the Minister who responds what the next steps in the Government’s plan are.

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

I am sure the Leader of the House will share my delight at the news of two new dental contracts, worth £6 million, in Bridlington, which will double NHS dental provision in the town. However, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. I am extremely frustrated by the news that the local NHS trust has announced the proposed closure of the care unit at Bridlington hospital this summer. Will he join me in thanking the 1,200 residents who have already signed my petition against the closure, and can we have a debate in Government time on the provision of health services in coastal communities?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman will know that I am very keen— not least because I have a coastal constituency—to ensure that coastal communities get the support that they need. The reality is that the Government are putting a great deal more resource into the NHS. There are still difficult decisions to be made, and I encourage people to make their voices heard. I am sure that as the NHS deliberates on the best way forward for his hospital, those voices will be heard.

Business of the House

Charlie Dewhirst Excerpts

Thursday 26th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Bob Blackman]

I don’t think I have submitted a request for a UQ for a very long time, Mr Speaker.

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

Next week.

[Bob Blackman]

I might do next week.

The business in Westminster Hall on Tuesday will be a debate on strengthening community cohesion, which might be quite appropriate after today’s by-election. On Thursday 5 March, there will be a debate on the importance of local museums, followed by one on World Book Day. On Tuesday 10 March, there will be a debate on the import and sale of fur and fur-related products. On Thursday 12 March, the Liaison Committee has a debate on Northern Ireland, followed by a debate on Government support for carnivals. On Tuesday 17 March, there will be a debate on productivity and economic growth in the east midlands.

Unfair service charges implemented by companies across the UK are frequently raised at business questions, but I think I have one that tops the lot. In my constituency, we have a development called Stanmore Place, which has a mixture of housing association-managed property and 798 private leased properties. It is managed by St Edward Homes, with a managing agent called Rendall & Rittner.

Due to its incompetence, R&R has failed to deliver the costs of heating for the shared services for the past 10 years. It has now decided to re-invoice individuals, who have paid their bills, saying—generously—that it will not invoice them from 2015 to 2021, but that it will invoice them from 2021 to 2026. Ofgem is apparently changing the rules so that this will not be allowed in future; companies will be able to go back only 12 months, which is reasonable. However, Ofgem is not making the change until 2027, meaning that in this particular case, and across the UK, we have a wild west show in back billing.

I know that the Government are looking at leasehold reform and service charges in particular. Could the Leader of the House therefore encourage Ministers to ensure that this practice is outlawed immediately?

--- Later in debate ---

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I absolutely join my hon. Friend in celebrating the incredible anniversary that she describes. Local councillors are vital to the work of local government and to supporting our constituents on all manner of issues, and I thank them for their work, not just in her area but across the country. However, let me just say that I am disappointed that we do not have a representative from Reform here today, because I would like to have heard from them what their party leader refused to say yesterday: whether or not there would be condemnation and the sacking of the deputy council leader in Lancashire for disgraceful comments about my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Natalie Fleet).

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

I am sure you are aware, Mr Speaker, that the armed forces parliamentary scheme provides Members of this House and the other place with the unique opportunity to get a better insight into the military so that we are better informed in debates and decision making. Yesterday, Wing Commander Greg Smith finally retired from the RAF after not only 10 years of running the armed forces parliamentary scheme for that service but a very distinguished active service with the RAF fast jets in the cold war, the middle east and the Balkans, before taking on multinational operational roles with NATO. He then took on the most challenging role of all, which is, of course, herding Members of Parliament to bases in the UK and abroad. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking Wing Commander Smith for his extraordinarily distinguished service and wishing him all the very best in his retirement?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I pay tribute to everyone involved in the armed forces parliamentary scheme. I know that it has had a profound effect on colleagues over the years, and it is so important in informing Members of this House and ensuring that we are able to debate all armed forces matters with even greater knowledge. I am happy to wish Wing Commander Smith all the very best for the future, and I thank him for everything that he has done.

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.