Business of the House

Liz Twist Excerpts

Thursday 4th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I am not sure whether any of the couples I mentioned at the beginning of this questions session got married in Gretna Green—maybe they can declare it if they did—but we are all of course very familiar with it as the iconic place for weddings in this country. The right hon. Gentleman makes an important point about simplifying some of the bureaucracy and making sure we remember what marriage is all about. I will get in touch with the relevant Minister on his behalf and see what we can do.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett) (Lab)]

Next Wednesday is World Suicide Prevention Day. People can be nervous of talking about suicide, but it affects so many people in our communities. This year, Samaritans is sharing this message:

“If you think someone might be suicidal, take action, interrupt their thoughts and show them you care.”

There are events taking place across Parliament next week, but will the Leader of the House join me in encouraging Members to participate in next Thursday’s debate on suicide prevention, which has been announced today by the Chair of the Backbench Business Committee, the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman)?

[Lucy Powell]

My hon. Friend is a passionate and long-standing campaigner around those issues, and she has raised them with me many times. I thank her for all the work she does raising the issues around suicide and suicide prevention. It is often an uncomfortable and difficult issue to talk about, and she leads from the front in making sure that people feel that they can do so. I certainly join her in encouraging Members to participate.