UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) have shared the following Guidance published 4 December 2025: 

The Government published the Immigration White Paper ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System on 12 May, which announced the intention to end overseas recruitment for social care visas. We have taken this action following significant concerns over many thousands of displaced care workers, as well as the abuse and exploitation of individual workers, linked to unethical international recruitment practices. We have heard countless reports that people have been brought to the UK where promised work does not materialise or they are being paid less than the required minimum salary threshold, leaving workers at risk of becoming destitute. The scale of non-compliance exposed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is significantly greater in adult social care than in any other sector eligible for the Skilled Worker visa. UKVI have revoked over 850 sponsor licences to date in this sector, impacting thousands of workers in the care sector.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) funds 15 regional partnerships across England to respond to, and prevent, unethical international recruitment practices in the sector. Over 2025/26, DHSC is providing up to £12.5 million to the regional partnerships to continue this work. This service can be used to assist impacted care workers to find new employment. Any affected care workers in your region may want to view the following link for information on the support available to them: www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-offer-to-international-asc-workers-whose-employers-sponsor-licence-has-been-revoked/support-offer-to-international-asc-workers-whose-employers-sponsor-licence-has-been-revoked  

UKVI are writing to all care workers who have been impacted by their sponsor having their licence revoked. Their correspondence signposts care workers to their nearest regional partnership in England (as per the link provided above). The other nations of the United Kingdom have developed their own mechanisms which aim to support impacted care workers to suitable vacancies; they have kindly extended this offer to workers in England.

UKVI have signposted all workers associated with providers in Wales and Scotland to the relevant support mechanisms currently in place and they, alongside Northern Ireland, are working collaboratively to support workers from other regions into suitable vacancies. The contact details for this support outside England are as below:

Wales – www.gov.wales/national-advisory-service-overseas-social-care-workers .
Scotland – Candidates Resource (DW) | Turas | Learn

Any impacted care workers who require immigration advice to resolve their status in the UK can find details of accredited legal advisors here: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/immigration-advice-authority

The care route has seen unacceptable levels of abuse and exploitation, including reports of modern slavery. If you have encountered a constituent who may have been a victim of modern slavery, or if you have any concerns or suspicions of worker exploitation, these should be reported to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) via their free confidential helpline: 0800 432 0804, or email: [email protected]. If there are immediate safeguarding concerns, these should be reported to the police on 999.

Impacted care workers who wish to return to their home country may be eligible to seek assistance from the Home Office using the voluntary return scheme.

Further details about the scheme and eligibility can be found at: www.gov.uk/return-home-voluntarily.

 

My colleague Joanna Baxter MP coordinated a letter to the Minister, Stephen Doughty  about the The Stolen Children of Ukraine  on 4 December 2025.

The letter urges the Government to reaffirm its commitment to the Geneva Convention and to the protection of Ukrainian children who have been abducted and harmed by Russia’s illegal invasion. 

A cross-party total of 132 MPs signed this letter to stand for decency, for the rule of law, and for the basic dignity of every Ukrainian child. 

 

 

The Pensions Bill returned to the Commons for the Third Reading on 3 December 2025.

The Bill aims to strengthen pension investment by increasing the amount available to private-sector pension schemes. The Bill will also enable reforms to investment management in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in England and Wales.


There were 4 clauses and amendments selected for debate :


New Clause 3, tabled by Manuela Perteghella MP (Liberal Democrats) set out to require the Secretary of State to use regulations to provide for the use of a valid 'SR1 form' to  allow a person to more easily demonstrate that they are terminally ill for purposes related to compensation from the Pension Protection Fund or Financial Assistance Scheme. This clause was lost: Ayes 87 Noes 299







New Clause 26, tabled by Steve Darling MP (Liberal Democrats) sought to allow the Secretary of State to establish investment funds to encourage investment in areas such as high streets, social housing, care homes, clean renewable energy, and other investments with clear social benefits. This clause was lost: Ayes 77 Noes 298







Amendment 16, tabled by Mark Garnier MP (Conservatives) aimed to remove the ability of the Government to set mandatory asset allocation targets for certain pension schemes, specifically requiring investments in UK productive assets such as private equity, private debt, and real estate. This amendment was lost: Ayes 143 Noes 304







Amendment 15, also tabled by Mark Garnier MP proposed to require the Government to issue and resolve a report before it can set quantitative baseline asset allocation targets for some pension scheme investments. This amendment was lost: Ayes 154 Noes 303







The Bill was then read a third time and passed. It will now be debated by the House of Lords at a later date.

I was delighted to attend the Mercian Regiment Reception on 2 December 2025 In the Churchill Room. 

The Mercian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, recruited from the five countries that formed the ancient kingdom of Mercia. It was formed on 1st September 2007 by the amalgamation of three existing regiments. The Regiment, also known as The Heart of England's Infantry, has deployed on many operational tours since its formation, making it one of the most operationally experienced regiments in the British Army. 

The Mercian Regiment consists of two infantry battalions, one regular and one reserve. The 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire, Worcesters and Foresters, and Staffords) is a regular battalion of The Mercian Regiment. The Battalion saw two major restructures in 2014 and again in 2022 with the amalgamation of the 3rd and 2nd Battalions respectively. 

The 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire, Worcesters and Foresters and Staffords) is an Army Reserve battalion of The Mercian Regiment. It is regionally based, with companies spread across the five countries that form Mercia. The Regiment was formed of a number of antecedent Regiments outside of those4 of the regular Battalions. These include elements of 3 WFR , 3 Staffords, The West Midlands Regiment, The Kings and Cheshire Regiment and The East of England Regiment. 

The Mercian Regiment and its antecedent Regiments put a great deal of effort into maintaining strong links with their recruiting areas. The five counties of Mercia: Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire as well as The Wirral and The Black Country all maintain a two way relationship with the Regiment, represented by the large number of freedom parades which are held. 

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, delivered the Budget on 26 November 2025. The Government aims to cut the cost of living by tackling inflation, lowering energy bills, and implementing a one-year freeze on regulated train fares and prescriptions charges; cut the NHS waiting list in England by delivering more appointments and creating 250 new Neighbourhood Health Centres; and cut debt and borrowing.

In the days following the statement, the House of Commons meets to debate on the budget resolutions, which form the foundation of the Finance (No.2) Bill that will bring the plans from the Chancellor's statement into law. At the end of the debates, the House of Commons votes on all the resolutions.

On 2 December 2025, the House voted on 7 resolutions:

Budget Resolution No. 4: Income tax (dividend rates): This will increase the ordinary and upper rates of dividends by 2%, with effect for the tax year 2026-27 onwards. Ayes 371 Noes 166.

Budget Resolution No. 5: Income tax (savings rate for future years): This allows Parliament to include measures in a Finance Bill that decide savings tax rates for the tax year 2027-28 and future years. Ayes 369 Noes 166.


Budget Resolution No. 9: Basic rate limit and personal allowance for tax years 2028-29 to 2030-31: This allows Parliament to freeze the basic rate limit and personal allowance from 2028-2031. Ayes 348 Noes 176.





Budget Resolution No. 28: Capital gains tax (employee-ownership trusts): This resolution, which had statutory effect from 26 November 2025, taxes only half of any profit when a company disposes of shares to an employee‑ownership trust, but the usual tax reliefs will not apply. Ayes 362 Noes 164.






Budget Resolution No. 50: Inheritance tax (limiting agricultural and business property reliefs etc): This amends the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 to limit the amount of agricultural and business property relief, and removes the exclusion of property owned overseas from Inheritance Tax. Ayes 327 Noes 182.






Budget Resolution No. 51: Inheritance tax (pension interests): This allows Parliament to make provision to to charge inheritance tax on pension benefits paid after a member of that pension scheme dies. Ayes 364 Noes 167.




Budget Resolution No. 64: Rates of alcohol duty: This sets new rates of alcohol duty, which will increase in line with inflation from 1 February 2026. Ayes 357 Noes 174.





A date is yet to be announced for the second reading of the (Finance No.2) Bill.