Oral Answers to Questions

Claire Hanna Excerpts

Wednesday 11th November 2026 Commons Chamber

The Prime Minister was asked—

[Claire Hanna (Belfast South and Mid Down) (SDLP)]

Q1. If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 11 November.

[The Prime Minister (Andy Burnham)]

As we have just done in the past hour, we remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. We honour the courage and bravery of all our armed forces. No one who has served our country should ever sleep rough on our streets. I have today written to all English councils, as part of our drive on rough sleeping, to ask that an offer of accommodation be made to all ex-forces ahead of the winter break. I hope that Members across the House will work with their councils to ensure that happens.

Over the weekend, a British national was sadly killed and another injured in the terrible shooting in Krakow. Our thoughts are with the families, who we will support in whatever way we can. Of course, the UK stands with the people of Poland, as I have assured Prime Minister Tusk.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall have further such meetings later today.

[Claire Hanna]

Humour me for a moment and imagine that one party in this Parliament could, if it did not like the way the political winds were blowing, refuse to take part and bring Westminster to a standstill. That would be unthinkable here, but in Stormont the abnormal has become routine. We have watched parties taking turns at collapsing government for years at a time. We have watched policies blocked not by the strength of an argument, but by vetoes that were designed for inclusion. It seems like dysfunction is easier than actually doing the work, and ordinary people are paying the price. Wherever you want to go constitutionally, the path is through making a fist of things and offering people a decent life. It is worth saying that every poll shows that more people are working towards a new Ireland. Stormont is in its dying days if urgent steps are not taken to make it more productive and stable. Will the Prime Minister commit to working with us and others on a politics for the common good to end the cycle of dysfunction and despair?

[The Prime Minister]

Can I say to my hon. Friend that I know exactly where she is coming from? We all want to see Stormont up and running and delivering for the people of Northern Ireland, particularly as we approach the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement. My right hon. Friend the Northern Ireland Secretary is working hard with colleagues across all parties in Northern Ireland to settle a budget for this year and to consider further ideas for reform of Stormont. We will continue to do whatever we can to bring the parties together. It is incumbent on us all to get Stormont up and running as soon as possible.