Business of the House

Kirith Entwistle Excerpts

Thursday 30th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Lady raises issues about DVLA, some of which I am sure are shared across the House. She may wish to seek a Backbench Business debate or, indeed, an Adjournment debate, so that Ministers not only hear her concerns but see what improvements can be made.

[Kirith Entwistle (Bolton North East) (Lab)]

At a time when communities already feel divided, the leader of the Conservative group on Bolton council recently branded a motion on the horrific suffering in Gaza “sectarian” and suggested that Muslim councillors cared only out of prejudice against Israel. Such language not only threatens and undermines local councillors and groups such as the Bolton Council of Mosques, who have worked tirelessly for community cohesion, but legitimises a divisive climate that goes against our British values. Does the Leader of the House agree that this behaviour is symptomatic of Bolton Conservatives’ complete disregard for the value of community cohesion?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Social cohesion is so important, particularly at this time, and I agree with my hon. Friend that this matter should be taken seriously. I hope the shadow Leader of the House, who is a decent man, will have heard my hon. Friend’s questions and will see what can be done in response. I want to make it clear once again from this Dispatch Box that all of us in public life have a responsibility to conduct debate without recourse to division or offensive language.