Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Shabana Mahmood and Jess Phillips

Monday 8th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Jess Phillips (Birmingham Yardley) (Lab)]

I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute back to the Home Secretary, who has worked incredibly hard on the issues on which the Government made their announcement today. The BBC carries the headline that we will stop children sending and receiving images; can she say for the House that the change will also stop children ever taking naked images of themselves, and give us an assurance that her Department is working on robust legislation and a legislative vehicle to make sure that can happen?

[Shabana Mahmood]

I very much thank my hon. Friend for her question, and she is absolutely right. Let me clarify for the House that this involves the taking of those images. We will also follow through on the threat to legislate, and the Department is working at pace on the content of the legislation and the appropriate vehicle in the second Session.

Grooming Gangs: Independent Inquiry

Debate between Shabana Mahmood and Jess Phillips

Tuesday 9th December 2025 Commons Chamber

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

We at Reform UK welcome the progress announced today by the Home Secretary into this long-overdue inquiry and welcome the reassurance she has given that the victims of predominantly British Pakistani rape gangs will be properly consulted and involved in the inquiry. Will she confirm that her Safeguarding Minister will be called as a witness in the inquiry, as someone who voted against an inquiry earlier this year and in whom victims lost all confidence?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Jess Phillips)]

I would be happy to give evidence.

[Shabana Mahmood]

First, the Minister for Safeguarding will happily talk to anyone, anywhere and under any auspices about the need for justice for victims and survivors of these heinous crimes. Let me just say to the hon. Lady that I hope the House can elevate beyond party political point scoring. [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”] The most important thing here is to deliver the measure of justice that is needed for the victims and survivors of these horrific crimes. They will be at the heart of this inquiry and the inquiry will go wherever the evidence takes it.