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As Chair of the APPG on Portugal I was pleased to welcome to Parliament on 19 March 2026 a group of 16 early-career diplomats, 8 from the UK and 8 from Portugal. The meeting was organised to complement the UK-Portugal Joint Diplomats Training programme run by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and to help

On 18 March 2026, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Laura Trott MP (Conservative) moved the motion on Student Loans:  “That this House calls on the Government to set the interest rate on Plan 2 student loans at a level which ensures that balances will never rise faster than RPI inflation; further calls on the Government to

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Classical Music, met for its annual AGM on 18 March 2026 and I was re-elected Chair with Baroness Barbara Keeley as co Chair.  The APPG exists to bring together parliamentarians who have an interest in and wish to further the appreciation and championing of classical music; to act as

On the 19th allotted Opposition Day, 18 March 2026, the Conservative Party raised Fuel Duty with this motion: “That this House believes that it is wrong to increase the main fuel duty rates on 1 September, then again on 1 December 2026, with a further increase on 1 March 2027, by a total of five pence

Andrew Western MP invited his local school St Matthews Primary to promote the Peace Mala Project.  A Peace Mala is a symbolic double rainbow bracelet that promotes friendship, respect, and peace between people of all cultures, lifestyles, faiths, beliefs, and none. My bracelet was made by Georgina who read out what each bead meant while