Steve Witherden Portrait

Steve Witherden

Labour - Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr

3,815 (8.8%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 4th July 2024


4 APPG memberships (as of 20 Nov 2024)
Cuba, Education, Greece, Wood Panel Industry
Steve Witherden has no previous appointments


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Steve Witherden has voted in 76 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Steve Witherden Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op))
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(4 debate interactions)
Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op))
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(4 debate interactions)
Jess Phillips (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
(3 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Home Office
(6 debate contributions)
Wales Office
(4 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Steve Witherden's debates

Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Petitions with most Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr signatures
Steve Witherden has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Steve Witherden

13th January 2025
Steve Witherden signed this EDM on Tuesday 14th January 2025

Sexual harassment in the workplace

Tabled by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent East)
That this House is seriously concerned about the continued incidence of alleged sexual harassment in workplaces across the UK; notes that 700 current or former employees of McDonald's UK alone are bringing legal action against the company alleging they were subject to sexual harassment, alongside other discrimination, homophobia, and racism …
34 signatures
(Most recent: 20 Jan 2025)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 15
Independent: 7
Plaid Cymru: 4
Green Party: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2
Scottish National Party: 1
Liberal Democrat: 1
Alliance: 1
13th January 2025
Steve Witherden signed this EDM on Tuesday 14th January 2025

Right to protest outside the BBC

Tabled by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
That this House is alarmed by attempts by the Metropolitan Police to prevent an agreed march for Palestine from protesting at the BBC on 18 January 2025; notes the route for the march was confirmed with the police nearly two months ago and as agreed with them was publicly announced …
40 signatures
(Most recent: 20 Jan 2025)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 20
Independent: 10
Scottish National Party: 5
Green Party: 3
Plaid Cymru: 2
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
View All Steve Witherden's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Steve Witherden, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Steve Witherden has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Steve Witherden has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Steve Witherden has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

1 Bill co-sponsored by Steve Witherden

E-scooters (Review and Awareness) Bill 2024-26
Sponsor - Jessica Morden (Lab)


Latest 10 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
27th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help improve (a) mobile signal and (b) broadband for areas that have no access to fibre internet in Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr constituency.

As part of the Shared Rural Network, we have recently upgraded and activated two government-funded masts in the Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency, delivering a 4G coverage boost to local businesses and community organisations, with more to come.

Through Project Gigabit, around 70,000 homes and businesses across Wales, including thousands in the Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency, are currently set to benefit from a contract being delivered by Openreach that will deliver gigabit-capable broadband to premises that would otherwise miss out.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
7th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that both platforms at Ruabon train station in Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr constituency are accessible to all.

I regret we are not yet able to comment on next steps regarding Access for All projects at specific stations including at Ruabon railway station. However, please be assured that we are committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognise the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. Once we can confirm our approach to the Access for All programme, we will of course ensure that MPs and other stakeholders are informed.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
24th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of allegations of sexual violence and assault perpetrated against (a) women in Palestine and (b) Palestinian women detained in Israeli prisons.

The UK unequivocally condemns all alleged violations and abuses, including sexual violence, and calls for all reports to be fully investigated to ensure justice for victims and survivors. We are deeply concerned by allegations of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces. We believe it is critical that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is given regular access to detainees to carry out its independent visiting role, as enshrined within the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Currently, the ICRC cannot fully investigate these reports, as Israel continues to deny it access to places of detention. The UK calls on all parties to the conflict to comply with international law and grant immediate and unfettered access for the ICRC.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
24th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what UK-funded aid has been denied entry into Gaza since 7 October 2024.

During my visit to Al Arish, Egypt on 16 October, where I announced £1 million of UK assistance for Egypt's support to medically evacuated Gazans, I saw that many tonnes of lifesaving aid continue to be denied entry into Gaza by Israel. As the Foreign Secretary said on 16 October, Israel must do more to get aid into Gaza. We continue to press Israel to allow aid to flow freely into and through Gaza; the Prime Minister stressed this during his 19 October discussion with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The UK continues to play a leading role in alleviating the suffering in Gaza. We provide significant funding to partners to support those most in need, including agreeing to match up to £10 million of public donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee's Middle East humanitarian appeal.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
23rd Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will take steps to help protect non-UK citizens in Lebanon who have siblings in (a) the UK and (b) Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr constituency.

Consular services are only open to British nationals (funded by a premium on all British passports), and the UK Government is unable directly to assist non-UK citizens in Lebanon. However, immediate family members of British citizens and those settled in the UK who wish to come and live in the UK can apply under one of the existing family visa routes, through the usual channels. Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Immigration Rules.

The UK has been calling for an immediate ceasefire between Lebanese Hizbollah and Israel and has announced £15 million of life-saving aid to Lebanon since 25 September. This funding will respond to the mass displacement of people and the growing number of civilian casualties, as well support access to clean water, sanitation and health and nutrition supplies through UNICEF.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on foundry businesses (a) in Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr constituency and (b) nationally.

The government will introduce the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on 1 January 2027.

The UK CBAM will ensure highly traded, carbon intensive products from overseas face a comparable carbon price to those produced here so that UK decarbonisation efforts lead to a true reduction in global emissions rather than simply displacing carbon emissions overseas.

The CBAM will apply to all imports of relevant goods into the UK, and will have indirect differential regional impacts due to the location of impacted sectors. Both nationally and in Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, the CBAM will give industry confidence to invest in decarbonising knowing their efforts will not be undermined by carbon leakage. An assessment of CBAM impacts on the economy and businesses will be provided when the policy is final or near final, in the form of a tax information and impact note.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
6th Nov 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing Value Added Tax from automated external defibrillators.

The Government currently provides VAT reliefs to aid the purchase of defibrillators. For example, when an AED is purchased with funds provided by a charity and then donated to an eligible body, no VAT is charged. Furthermore, all state schools in England have been fitted with AEDs.

A key consideration for any potential VAT relief is whether savings would be passed on to the consumer. Evidence suggests that businesses only partially pass on any savings from lower VAT rates.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to retain Lord Walney as the Independent Adviser on Political Violence and Disruption.

The Home Office is currently reviewing the role of the Independent Adviser on Political Violence and Disruption through the Counter-Extremism sprint.

Any decisions arising from this review will be announced in the normal was in due course.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Home Office)
22nd Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of implementing a (a) resettlement and (b) reunification scheme for non-UK citizens in Lebanon who have siblings in (i) the UK and (ii) Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr constituency.

We are monitoring the deeply concerning situation in Lebanon closely and keeping all existing pathways under review.

Lebanese nationals who wish to join family members in the UK can do so via the existing range of routes available.

Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Immigration Rules. Immediate family members of British citizens and those settled in the UK who wish to come and live in the UK can apply under one of the existing family visa routes.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
20th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to provide an update on the status of Drenewydd Actif Newtown’s application for the Community Ownership Fund.

Applicants to the Community Ownership Fund (COF) were required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form as a first stage and have this approved before being able to submit a full application in the next available round of the Fund.

Drenewydd Actif received an outcome regarding their EOI on 11 April 2024 after the last round of funding had closed.

Communities will rightly be seeking clarity regarding the future of the Community Ownership Fund. We recognise uncertainty is challenging for groups seeking to save vital community assets; the Government is carefully considering all available options and will confirm plans in due course.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)