On 7 January 2026 the 15th allotted Opposition Day was allocated for debate and the Conservative Party chose to raise Jury Trials and Rural Communities as matters for debate.

The Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Jenrick MP, moved the following motion:

"That this House believes that it is wrong to abolish jury trials for crimes with anticipated sentences of three years or less because jury trials are a fundamental part of the UK constitution and democracy; acknowledges the scale of the courts backlog and the necessity of reducing it to ensure justice for victims but believes that restricting the fundamental right to trial by jury will have a limited effect on reducing that backlog; calls on the Government to increase the number of court sitting days to help urgently reduce the backlog; and further calls on the Government to publish immediately all modelling it has undertaken and received on the potential impact of the abolition of jury trials on that backlog."

The Motion was rejected (Ayes 182, Noes 290) and the following amendment in the name of the Prime Minister was resolved: 

"That this House believes that the Government inherited a justice system on the brink of collapse with a record and rising caseload created under 14 years of Conservative mismanagement, austerity and cuts to the justice system that has forced victims of crime to wait years for justice; notes that the justice system has historically evolved to match the needs of the society it serves; supports the Government in making the investment required, including continuing to break records on the number of sitting days funded; looks forward to Sir Brian Leveson’s upcoming recommendations on reforms to improve efficiencies across the courts system; further supports taking forward reforms to the justice system based on Sir Brian Leveson’s independent review of the criminal courts in which victims and the public can have confidence; and further notes that the Government will introduce legislation and publish its impact assessment in due course."

Following this debate, the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Victoria Atkins MP moved the following motion:

"That this House regrets that the Government’s policies have resulted in taxes forecast to rise to the highest proportion of GDP on record, record closures of agriculture, forestry and fishing businesses in the last 12 months, the closure of two pubs or restaurants every day and falling levels of business investment; further regrets the Government’s changes to funding for rural areas; also regrets the Government’s plans to build more energy infrastructure in the countryside to meet its net zero targets; believes that these changes are likely to affect the rural way of life; additionally regrets the Government’s chaotic approach to its plans to change Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief; and calls on the Government to scrap all its planned changes to those reliefs."

The Motion was rejected (Ayes 105, Noes 332) and the following amendment in the name of the Prime Minister was resolved: 

"That this House welcomes the support that the Government is providing for rural people, communities and businesses; commends the continued support for farmers through investment in Environmental Land Management schemes which will boost nature and sustainable food production; recognises that the Government has listened on the subject of Agricultural Property Relief and made changes to support family farms; further welcomes the Bus Services Act 2025, which includes provision to support the protection of socially necessary bus services in rural areas; further recognises that the Government continues to invest in Project Gigabit with £2.4 billion available to ensure over one million premises have access to gigabit-capable broadband; and supports the joined-up approach with the weight of Government behind tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock."

I made the following intervention in Parliament at the Westminster Hall debate "That this House has considered Government proposals for renewal of the BBC Charter", moved by Sir John Whittingdale MP:

"I respect the right hon. Gentleman’s views, as he is a former Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, but does he agree that 47p a day is value for money for nine television stations, 17 radio stations, iPlayer, BBC Sounds and the BBC World Service? Does he think that represents good value for money? 47p a day."

I asked that question to Sir John if he agreed with me. I do think 47p a day for the full breath of BBC output does provide a valuable service for everyone from News and current affairs to Culture and Sport and is value for money. 

The BBC Charter is up for renewal and there is a Green Paper out for consultation. I would encourage everyone to make their views known and respond to the consultation. 

Here you can read the eNews for December 2025

On 18 December 2025, before the pre-Christmas adjournment debate, I presented a public petition on the Leather Museum: 
"I am presenting this petition on behalf of the residents in Walsall and the UK. This is a petition about the Walsall Leather Museum which was built in a nineteenth century leather factory. It is the heart of the town's heritage and the pride of the community. 
The petition states that Walsall Council plans to relocate the museum and lease the site to Walsall College for a peppercorn rent. This plan has been brought forward without consultation with local people. Alternative sites, including within Walsall College’s estate, are more appropriate for SEND provision than the Museum site and should be considered as alternatives in order to preserve the culture and heritage of the current Museum site.

These plans amount to removing a cherished community asset against the wishes of the community. 
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to acknowledge the contentiousness of the proposed transaction, and to encourage Walsall College and Walsall Council  to halt the plans to relocate Walsall Leather Museum, to look instead at alternative sites for Walsall College’s SEND provision, to hold a full public consultation on the proposal, to publish detailed information about the plans including alternative options, to ensure that the Museum remains open, and to make a commitment to transparency and accountability.
May I wish everyone, including you, Madam Deputy Speaker, a very happy Christmas and new year?"

The House of Commons met on on Wednesday 17 December 2025 to debate the Bill at second reading. 

The National Insurance Contributions Bill make provision to amend section 4 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, and section 4 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, so that amounts of salary sacrificed for employer pensions contributions pursuant to optional remuneration arrangements are liable to national insurance contributions.

The focus was on amending the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 to create a power to apply national insurance contributions to salary sacrifice pension contributions above £2,000 a year from April 2029. 

The Bill was read a Second Time: 312 Ayes 165 Noes

I voted Aye. The Bill will now proceed to a Committee of the Whole House.