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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 13 Jan 2026
Northern Ireland Political Institutions: Reform

"Bluntly, my view is that the agreement is trying to salve, resolve and manage a centuries-old division—a society that has been divided into two tribes. It is not my belief that creating a third tribe is the solution to that, but I understand that it is important that all parties …..."
Claire Hanna - View Speech

View all Claire Hanna (SDLP - Belfast South and Mid Down) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Political Institutions: Reform
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 13 Jan 2026
Northern Ireland Political Institutions: Reform

"Clearly, we are a more pluralist society. I am unashamedly a new Irelander, and that is an important part of my identity. That is a factor in our politics, as is the legitimate position of Unionists, so we cannot wish it away. We cannot say, “I don’t see colour or …..."
Claire Hanna - View Speech

View all Claire Hanna (SDLP - Belfast South and Mid Down) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Political Institutions: Reform
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 13 Jan 2026
Northern Ireland Political Institutions: Reform

"The hon. Member is absolutely right. Those subsequent changes, particularly at St Andrews, have distorted the institutions away from a place of consensus and towards veto, brinkmanship and power struggle. There is a lot in the agreement that the SDLP would like to revisit—not least strand 2, which has shockingly …..."
Claire Hanna - View Speech

View all Claire Hanna (SDLP - Belfast South and Mid Down) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Political Institutions: Reform
Written Question
Brian Nelson
Monday 12th January 2026

Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she would publish the (a) dates and (b) names of the institutions in which Brian Nelson served his sentence after his conviction in 1974.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

This information is not held by the Home Office.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 07 Jan 2026
Oral Answers to Questions

"8. What recent engagement he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive. ..."
Claire Hanna - View Speech

View all Claire Hanna (SDLP - Belfast South and Mid Down) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 07 Jan 2026
Oral Answers to Questions

"The Minister will be aware that for a number of months, I have been raising concerns about the local growth fund and its impact in Northern Ireland. Just before Christmas, organisations got the devastating news of a large cut to the local growth fund, which will devastate a number of …..."
Claire Hanna - View Speech

View all Claire Hanna (SDLP - Belfast South and Mid Down) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 07 Jan 2026
Oral Answers to Questions

"Q7. Even its strongest advocates acknowledge that Northern Ireland is trapped in dysfunction—not because reform is not possible, but because the DUP and Sinn Féin have not allowed it. We have become a political “Hotel California”, where the past is always around but the future never arrives. There is growing …..."
Claire Hanna - View Speech

View all Claire Hanna (SDLP - Belfast South and Mid Down) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
TG4: Freeview Service
Wednesday 7th January 2026

Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on ensuring greater prominence of TG4 on Freeview.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Following representations made by TG4 and by Irish Ministers, we are considering whether to extend prominence for TG4 services broadcasting in Northern Ireland.

We are discussing the request with the Northern Ireland Office and other Cabinet colleagues and will make a statement on this early in the new year.

Written Question
Civil Service: Codes of Practice
Monday 5th January 2026

Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will outline the role of the Cabinet Secretary in relation to the civil service code.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

As set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, the Minister for the Civil Service (the Prime Minister) is responsible for the Civil Service Code. As Head of the Civil Service, the Cabinet Secretary is the Prime Minister’s most senior policy adviser, including in relation to the Civil Service Code.

Written Question
Visas: Families
Wednesday 17th December 2025

Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether people living in the UK on family visas will be exempt from the sustained economic contribution requirement under proposed changes to earned settlement.

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

The new earned settlement model is currently subject to an ongoing public consultation, due to conclude on 12 February 2026. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation.