Christmas Adjournment

Noah Law Excerpts

Thursday 18th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Noah Law (St Austell and Newquay) (Lab)]

War and Russian brutality first came to Ukraine in 2014. While Ukrainians knew that it never left, I think it fair to say that we did forget that our friends in Ukraine were at war—that is, until 2022. Since then, we have witnessed the heroism of the Ukrainian people, and the savagery of Putin’s regime.

In case it was not devastatingly clear, this is not just Ukraine’s fight; it is a contest for the security of Europe and the integrity of the international order. The Britain I know has always stood on the side of the underdog. We are in a phase of hybrid warfare. Other countries, such as Poland and Estonia, are calling a spade a spade, and it is time we did so, too. One does not have to turn very far for examples. Warehouse fires, targeting of undersea cables, a strategy to recruit traitors in turquoise—these are not just random acts; they are deliberate steps in a campaign of destabilisation designed to test our resilience and erode our unity. In case there were any illusions about quite how direct the links between Reform UK and the Kremlin were, we should ask ourselves why even local Reform supporters in Cornwall share posts attacking the plans to freeze Russian assets.

Meanwhile, this Labour Government are getting on with the job, as shown by the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday compelling Abramovich to pay up. As a former banker, I know as well as anyone the importance of a rules-based order, but the fact that we are engaged in hybrid warfare is precisely why I have absolutely no qualms about these assets being used to help Ukraine. I also greatly welcome the new probe into foreign interference in British politics, which will investigate how foreign agents target and subvert our political process.

By next July, this phase of war will have lasted longer than the first world war. It has cost the European economy more than $4 trillion, barely a 10th of which has been spent on support for Ukraine. I am not a defence or security specialist—I am not even a banker any more—but I can tell the House that this is a war that Europe cannot afford to lose.

Business of the House

Noah Law Excerpts

Thursday 30th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman will know that where housing is built, infrastructure is important, and we will want to make sure that it is included in any proposals. He is at liberty to apply for a debate in which to raise these matters. I gently point out that it is for the local authority and the local fire service to decide how they deploy their resources, but we are in this situation because his party left public services on their knees.

[Noah Law (St Austell and Newquay) (Lab)]

The Leader of the House may have heard my question earlier today to the Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, my hon. Friend the Member for East Renfrewshire (Blair McDougall), regarding the financing of Cornwall’s industrial potential. Will he meet me and Cornish MPs to discuss how we can bring such issues together in a wider devolution package that finally gets Cornwall the powers and investment that we need?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am always willing to meet my colleagues from Cornwall, so the answer is yes.

Business of the House

Noah Law Excerpts

Thursday 5th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

The Government are working flat-out to protect British Steel, because it is vital to our future economy and our security. We have made some statements to the House about progress, but I will ensure that this House is the first place to hear about any developments.

[Noah Law (St Austell and Newquay) (Lab)]

Community pharmacies are becoming an increasingly important part of our place-based healthcare provision, so I am pleased that our Government are committing to more localised delivery. None the less, numerous pharmacies in the St Austell and Newquay constituency have closed in recent years, thanks to a shocking contract under the last Government. What discussions has the Leader of the House had with Department of Health and Social Care colleagues regarding pharmacies to ensure that they are properly remunerated for the services they provide and that the sustainability of the operating model is secure?

[Lucy Powell]

Community pharmacies play a vital role in ensuring that healthcare is delivered and is based in our communities. I will ensure that the Department of Health and Social Care has heard my hon. Friend’s question today. It would make a good Backbench Business or Westminster Hall debate, as I know there is a vacancy for them.

Business of the House

Noah Law Excerpts

Thursday 31st October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I, too, welcome the formation of the Backbench Business Committee, and I welcome the conversations we have begun to ensure that we work together on the allocation of time for Backbench Business debates and others that may be granted by the Government. On the application from the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), I am sure he will definitely be in attendance for that debate, should the Committee grant it. There is no question about that, and I expect it will be on the freedom of religion or belief, which is a common theme of his questions in these sessions.

I join the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) in wishing everybody a happy Diwali.

[Noah Law (St Austell and Newquay) (Lab)]

I am delighted that the Chancellor’s Budget included a significant real-terms funding increase for local authorities, giving them more to invest in vital community services and infrastructure.

I, too, express my condolences to the victims of flooding in Spain. One of my constituents has experienced significant flooding issues after the road outside her property was resurfaced in a way that directs water directly into her home, instead of towards the river. After raising this with Cornwall council, she was told that nothing could be done. Does the Leader of the House agree with me that it is incumbent on local authorities to ensure that every penny of taxpayers’ money is spent as effectively as possible to address serious issues such as the flooding experienced by my constituent?