Retirement of the Clerk of the House

Tulip Siddiq Excerpts

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Highgate) (Lab)]

Some people in the House may have noticed that a year ago a foreign state took an enormous interest in me and went to town with the newspapers. I was not worried about the law as such, because I knew that I had done nothing wrong, but I was a little bit conscious about the reputation of the House and my position here, having been an MP for 11 years. I went to see the Deputy Speaker, who told me that I should go and speak to Tom. She scornfully added that I would have much better shoes if I had the amount of money that it was alleged I had—I think it was a backward compliment, but I am not sure.

I went to see Tom, who I did not know very well but who I had interacted with a few times, and I asked him about the status of all the fabricated allegations against me. I explained that no one has ever contacted me about all those allegations—not even now—because apparently they cannot find me, even though I am standing here right now in Parliament. The advice that Tom gave me, which was so calm, reassuring and well researched, and delivered in such a compassionate way, is something that I will never forget. We are lucky to live in a country where there is the rule of law and a functioning democracy, and where we have an amazing House of Commons.

We are also very lucky to have people such as Tom, who can provide evidence on anything he is asked about without even consulting a book, and who knows the rule of law and procedure like the back of his hand. That is not a session I will ever forget, and I will not go into detail about it, but it provided reassurance at a very difficult time. Not all heroes wear capes, but some of them wear black gowns and sit on green chairs.

Business of the House

Tulip Siddiq Excerpts

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

On the wider issue, the Government are very clear that we stand four-square with the Falklands. Indeed, the Prime Minister raised that matter with President Trump when he met him recently. On that, there is a very clear position. I do not know about the matter involving those businesses, but I will raise it with ministerial colleagues; if the right hon. Gentleman wants to raise it with them directly, I will, if necessary, help him to arrange a meeting.

[Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Highgate) (Lab)]

On 24 September, Melissa Premaratne was on her way to school when she was run over by a private hire vehicle on a crossing. Her parents, family, friends and teachers at Highgate school are understandably devastated. I have had countless emails from parents who are very anxious about their children going to school, especially if they are travelling independently during rush hour. Could we have a debate in Government time about road safety for children going to school on their own, particularly in areas like Highgate, where there is a cluster of schools in one vicinity?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sure that the whole House will join me in sending our most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the young girl, because what has happened is simply a tragedy. We are taking steps through our road safety strategy to make roads safer for everyone, including children around schools. I will make sure that my hon. Friend gets a response from a Minister about what we are doing and what we plan to do in the future. This is an issue that comes up for Members across the House from time to time, so I will give some thought to whether we can have such a debate.

Business of the House

Tulip Siddiq Excerpts

Thursday 15th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Highgate) (Lab)]

Vincent Chan abused baby girls at a Bright Horizons nursery in my constituency for seven years. The Guardian has now revealed that three years before he was arrested, a complaint was made about him. It was investigated by Bright Horizons, overseen by Camden council, who cleared him and allowed him to return to work, where he continued to abuse little children until he was arrested. I have asked Camden council and Bright Horizons for the full documentation relating to the investigation that took place in 2021. Can we have a debate in Government time about strengthening the safeguarding practices in nurseries, particularly in the Bright Horizons chain? Ofsted has taken the unprecedented step of issuing two welfare requirement notices to the nurseries in that chain.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter again. She is doing an excellent job of keeping it at the forefront of our mind. The safeguarding of young children is our utmost priority. Over the summer, we have announced a range of measures to improve early years safeguarding. The Department for Education has established an expert advisory group on safeguarding, which is looking at the use of CCTV and digital devices in early years settings; it will report before Christmas. If she is seeking a meeting with the Department to get an update on these matters, I will help her to arrange one.

Business of the House

Tulip Siddiq Excerpts

Thursday 5th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sorry to say that the hon. Gentleman appears to be confused, because we have agreed that British bases can be used by the United States for limited and specific purposes of knocking out Iranian missile launches. This is defensive action—the purpose is to protect British lives in the region. This Prime Minister is absolutely committed to the defence of our allies in the region, and I would include other British overseas territories. When we talk about our national interests, we are talking about their interests, too.

[Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Highgate) (Lab)]

My constituent, Sanju Pal, who is watching from the Gallery today, fought and won a landmark case against her employer after she was unfairly dismissed when she was diagnosed with endometriosis. I wanted to mention Sanju’s case today, as we approach International Women’s Day, because I do not see her fight for justice as a victory just for herself—it is for the countless women across the country who talk about their medical health conditions in the workplace but are ignored. Not a single gynaecological condition is mentioned in the guidance on the Equality Act 2010. That is shameful. I ask the Leader of the House, who I know is a champion of women: can we have a debate in Government time to talk about the impact of endometriosis in the workplace and try to end this discrimination once and for all?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important and timely matter ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday. Too many women are still subject to a system that does not listen to their experience and does not understand their needs. Our renewed women’s health strategy will set out our longer-term vision, so that every woman gets the healthcare she deserves. My hon. Friend may wish to raise these matters with Ministers during the debate on International Women’s Day next week.

Business of the House

Tulip Siddiq Excerpts

Thursday 22nd January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will certainly draw the hon. Gentleman’s concerns to the attention of the relevant Minister. It is important that we make progress on this matter, and that does involve change, but it is also important that Members are kept up to date. I will get the hon. Gentleman an update.

[Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Highgate) (Lab)]

The House will be aware of the horrific case of sexual abuse that took place in one of my local nurseries. The parents involved, who have shown amazing resilience, feel very strongly that if the nursery had had CCTV, the perpetrator, Vincent Chan, would not have been able to get away with his horrific crimes for seven whole years. Will the Leader of the House help me to persuade the Government that we need mandatory CCTV in local nurseries, with secure local monitoring and restricted remote access for parents, in order to safeguard our children?

Business of the House

Tulip Siddiq Excerpts

Thursday 6th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I am really sorry to hear about the hon. Lady�s constituent, and I am very familiar with these issues. Unfortunately, my gorgeous cousin recently died of a brain tumour, and it is a terrible illness. It is something that I have personally spoken to the Health Secretary about. There are drugs that could be made more available, and there are trials. The Health Secretary is committed to doing that, and my hon. Friend the Member for Mitcham and Morden (Dame Siobhain McDonagh) has been campaigning on these issues for a number of years. I will absolutely ensure that the hon. Lady gets a meeting with the relevant Minister.

[Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Highgate) (Lab)]

I have received an email from my constituent that says:

�On April 1 last year I had a fall on Highgate Golf Course which resulted in a complex break of my right leg. Friends phoned for an ambulance but were told that an ambulance would not come for this type of emergency�On a cold spring day, I was left lying in an isolated spot on the wet ground, unable to move and in great pain, with very limited options about getting to hospital.�

Could we have a debate about the response of ambulances in such serious situations, so that my constituents do not have to go through something like that again?

[Lucy Powell]

I am sorry to hear of that case. Ambulance wait times, and the availability of ambulances, are still absolutely unacceptable. They are a symptom of an NHS that is still in crisis. Ambulances find themselves waiting outside A&Es with patients on board, unable to get them inside, which means that they are unable to go on to the next case. We are taking action, and I will ensure that the House is kept updated and that my hon. Friend�s case is looked into.

Business of the House

Tulip Siddiq Excerpts

Thursday 14th December 2023 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

I am sorry to hear about that issue in my hon. Friend’s constituency, and I thank her for raising it. She will know that the next Transport questions are on 8 February. I am sure she will take that opportunity to raise the issue directly with the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Guy Opperman), but as that is a little time away, I will make sure that he has heard what she has said today. With respect to delivery companies that use these vehicles, the former Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hereford and South Herefordshire (Jesse Norman), wrote to the major delivery companies to remind them of their obligations in this respect.

[Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Kilburn) (Lab)]

The Royal Free Hospital is a jewel in the crown of my constituency. The maternity unit holds a special place in my heart, because I had both my children there and received wonderful aftercare from the doctors and nurses there. I am very concerned to hear that there are now plans to consult on the closure of the maternity unit at the Royal Free Hospital. Will the Leader of the House grant us a debate in Government time to discuss the potential closure of the maternity units at the Royal Free Hospital and other hospitals across London?

[Penny Mordaunt]

I am sure that all Members would join the hon. Lady in singing the praises of the Royal Free, which has an incredible reputation. She will know that these are matters that must be consulted on locally, and it is for local commissioners to decide what needs to happen at a local level. However, I know that the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is keen to ensure that commissioners are doing their job well, so I will make sure that she has heard what the hon. Lady has said today. I would also encourage her to raise it with the Secretary of State directly, as she may be able to assist and ensure a better outcome locally.

Replacement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer

Tulip Siddiq Excerpts

Monday 17th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

What I would say to the hon. Gentleman is that I think it is an honourable thing to act in the national interest, even if it is incredibly difficult personally and politically for someone to do that, and that all Conservative Members were elected in 2019 as a team, on a manifesto that we are determined to deliver.

[Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Kilburn) (Lab)]

The right hon. Lady has said many times that the Prime Minister could not come here for a specific reason at this time. Is there a reason why the Prime Minister decided she did not want to make a statement to the House? She could have chosen any time to do that, even at 10 pm. Does the Leader of the House not think that we, as elected MPs, and the public in this country deserve to hear from the Prime Minister?

[Penny Mordaunt]

I am sure there will be many opportunities to hear from the Prime Minister, some in the next 24 hours, but given the nature of the statement today, it is appropriate that the Chancellor delivers it.

Business of the House

Tulip Siddiq Excerpts

Thursday 11th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Rees-Mogg]

My right hon. Friend raises a very important point. It is going to be important for us to remember the people who have died during this national pandemic. Obviously the proposal for a minute’s silence is a matter for you, Mr Speaker, but there would be absolutely no objection—indeed, there would be support—from Her Majesty’s Government. It may be, Mr Speaker, that your Chaplain would like to hold a service on that day to have a commemoration. I think that it will be a prayerful day for the nation.

[Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Kilburn) (Lab) [V]]

As Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s local MP, I have raised the issue of the £400 million that the UK owes Iran with three Prime Ministers and four Foreign Secretaries so far. In a call to the Prime Minister yesterday, Iranian President Rouhani all but confirmed that resolving this debt was the key to diplomatic progress, and could help Nazanin’s case. Will the Leader of the House finally admit that there is a clear link between the two, or at least allow a debate in Government time to test their arguments?

[Mr Rees-Mogg]

No. The hon. Lady has quite rightly campaigned for the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, as has the shadow Leader of the House. However, it would be quite wrong to link payments of any money to the release of somebody who is improperly detained. Once Her Majesty’s Government go down that route, every badly run country in the world will hold us to ransom via our citizens; we must not do that. We must be absolutely clear that the UK Government do not pay for the release of hostages, whether they are held by states or by individuals. To link these two issues would be a dangerous change of very, very long-standing Government policy.

Business of the House

Tulip Siddiq Excerpts

Wednesday 30th December 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mr Rees-Mogg]

I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend. His views of what should happen and mine are very close. I would point out to him that there are quite a few Bills currently in their lordships’ House, which they are working through patiently; of course, every peer has important views that they wish to express on many of these issues. Those will come back, and as they come back, that will take up our time. But there is good news for my right hon. Friend: although it is not necessarily right for me to announce the Bills that are coming, because other Secretaries of State may wish to announce them individually, I have a feeling that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary may be cooking something up that he will like very much.

[Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Kilburn) (Lab) [V]]

I am sure that the well-informed and intelligent Leader of the House will know that written on the first page of every UK passport is a commitment to

“afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary,”

yet the Government this week stated that British citizens unlawfully arrested and detained abroad have no right to consular assistance. There is serious concern among my constituents in Hampstead and Kilburn that the Government are not taking seriously their responsibilities to British citizens abroad, so may we have a debate in Government time about the UK’s duty to help those such as my constituent Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been held hostage in Iran for nearly five years now?

[Mr Rees-Mogg]

I pay tribute to the hon. Lady, and the shadow Leader of the House, for their tireless campaigning for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, which is a model of how Members of Parliament ought to behave when seeking redress of grievance for their constituents. The hon. Member for Hampstead and Kilburn (Tulip Siddiq) is absolutely right. The words in the passport are:

“Her Britannic Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of Her Majesty”.

We are, I believe, the only country that both requests and requires. When Government documents say such things, I expect them to be factual. The Foreign Office helps 30,000 British nationals each year. As I said earlier, it is a fundamental point that the British Government must protect Her Majesty’s subjects.