Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ian Byrne and Keir Starmer

Wednesday 15th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

In addition to the Leader of the Opposition saying that her position is that we should just say to the Americans, “Get in there”, she insulted our armed forces, saying that they were just “hanging around”. These are pilots who within two hours of this conflict starting were up, risking their lives, taking missiles out of the sky. She insulted them and she has never apologised for that. She said a few weeks ago:

“Serious times call for serious people.”

She is not one of them.

[Ian Byrne (Liverpool West Derby) (Lab)]

Q3. As the Prime Minister said, 37 years ago today, 97 innocent children, women and men went to a football match and were unlawfully killed at the hands of a corrupt state. I was at Hillsborough, and I was one of the lucky ones who survived and walked away.As parliamentary lead for the Hillsborough law campaign, I stand here with a huge sense of obligation to the 97, all the families—including my constituent Debbie Matthews—every survivor and every victim of this state cover-up, who are all part of this collective campaign. There are signs of progress after last night’s Government concessions, but we have heard this before. Prime Minister, this is your responsibility. It is within your power to take control of this process and make good on your promise to deliver this legislation. Will you commit today to ruling out any carve-out for the security services and finally delivering a full Hillsborough law worthy of the name, or will they be failed by the state once again?

[The Prime Minister]

I know that—as my hon. Friend has just said—he himself was at Hillsborough, and I thank him for his decades of campaigning for justice. I am personally committed to working with the families to get this Bill right. It is integral that their views are heard. We are discussing this precise issue with them, and I will ensure that my hon. Friend is fully updated. I reaffirm my commitment to delivering the legislation, and to ensuring that the duty of candour applies to all public servants.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ian Byrne and Keir Starmer

Wednesday 18th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

The trains and all travel were in an appalling state under the previous Government, and we are clearing that up. We are fixing it, and the hon. Gentleman should welcome that.

[Ian Byrne (Liverpool West Derby) (Ind)]

Q9. The parliamentary ombudsman concluded that an injustice was done to 1950s-born women and ruled that they are owed compensation, and asked Parliament to intervene to deliver justice. I have more than 5,000 women affected in my constituency. Alongside a great many Members in this House, I believe these women are owed compensation for the injustice done to them at the hands of the state. Will the Prime Minister give Members the opportunity to vote on whether they believe WASPI women are owed compensation?

[The Prime Minister]

I have just set out the factual background and the percentage who knew about the change. The simple fact of the matter is that in the current economic circumstances, the taxpayer cannot bear the burden of tens of billions of pounds in compensation. [Interruption.] Opposition Members are chuntering away, but, in 14 years, they accelerated the changes and never once spoke about compensation.