Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Keir Starmer and Sarah Pochin

Wednesday 22nd April 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I know that the site is of huge significance to the people of York, and I understand that the site is under offer. Ministers are happy to work with the council and my hon. Friend to find the right deal for the site, taking into account the points she has made.

[Sarah Pochin (Runcorn and Helsby) (Reform)]

Every day that the Prime Minister fails to act on or even acknowledge Pakistani grooming gangs that rape and torture vulnerable white girls, more victims continue to suffer. Instead of spending his energy forcing friends of paedophiles into top jobs, why not use that energy to stop this national disgrace?

[The Prime Minister]

I spent many years prosecuting paedophiles who are now in prison, so I really do not need lectures from Reform about this.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Keir Starmer and Sarah Pochin

Wednesday 4th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Pochin (Runcorn and Helsby) (Reform)]

Q4. Given the Prime Minister’s desire to strengthen strategic alignment with our European neighbours, will he—in the interests of public safety—follow the lead of France, Denmark, Belgium and others, and ban the burqa?

[The Prime Minister]

I welcome the hon. Lady to her place. I am not going to follow her down that line, but now she is in Parliament and safely in her place, perhaps she could tell her new party leader that his latest plan to bet £80 billion of unfunded tax cuts with no idea how he is going to pay for them is Liz Truss all over again—although, considering that I think the hon. Lady was a Conservative member when Liz Truss was leader, she probably will not.

UK-EU Summit

Debate between Keir Starmer and Sarah Pochin

Tuesday 20th May 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

An hour and a half, and we have only just got to pet passports—but I am really glad my hon. Friend mentions it. The deal contains an advance for pet passports, along with the many other advances that will progress as soon as possible. I assume that the Conservatives are against pet passport progress as well.

[Sarah Pochin (Runcorn and Helsby) (Reform)]

Will the Prime Minister admit to the British people that this deal takes the country back under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, which is now able once again to overrule our courts, meaning we are surrendering our judicial sovereignty?

[The Prime Minister]

No, that is just wrong under the agreement. There is an independent arbitration—