Oral Answers to Questions

Natasha Irons Excerpts

Wednesday 3rd June 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I thank the hon. Member for her question. We will do whatever is necessary to protect our democracy from foreign influence and from dirty money. That is why we commissioned the Rycroft review, capped overseas donations and introduced a moratorium on crypto donations, and we are taking further action, as set out in the King’s Speech. But the £5 million question still remains: why is the leader of Reform dodging questions about his donations, and why did he keep it secret in the first place?

[Natasha Irons (Croydon East) (Lab)]

Q3. I am proud that, after decades, this Labour Government are putting passengers before profit by bringing Greater Thameslink Railway, Southern and Gatwick Express into public ownership. The previous Government shelved plans to unblock the bottleneck at East Croydon station, which not only causes delays from Bedford to Brighton, but leaves constituents at Norwood Junction station in limbo. Will the Prime Minister look again at the Croydon area remodelling scheme and back my campaign to unblock the Croydon bottleneck? Does he agree that, by bringing our railways back into public hands, this Government are getting us back on track?

[The Prime Minister]

I commend my hon. Friend’s campaign to address the Croydon bottleneck. The last Government cancelled work to address this; we will carefully consider the case for upgrades, including step-free access at Norwood. I am proud that her constituents are travelling on rail services that are now back in public ownership, and benefiting from the first freeze in rail fares for 30 years—a Labour Government transforming our railways and building a fairer Britain.