It was wonderful to attend the discussion with Elizabeth Hallam Smith and Mari Takayanagi  who work for the House and are the authors of Necessary Women over lunch on Monday 5 February 2024. The book recounts the many women who have worked behind the scenes in the Palace of Westminster ensuring the place works. 

At the Parliamentary Book Awards, on 6 February 2024 in the Churchill Room, one of the winners was Matt Chorley a radio journalist and presenter won an award for his book Planes Trains and Toilet Doors. The other winners were Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP for his novel The Winding Stair and Danny Finkelstein for his family memoir Hitler Stalin Mum &Dad. A family memoir of miraculous survival- all worthy winners.       

On Tuesday 5 February 2024, the House of Commons debated the Finance Bill. The Bill enacts various tax measures announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement 2023. One measure included in the Bill is full expensing – a capital allowance tax scheme that lets UK companies deduct 100% of the cost of capital equipment from taxable profits in the year the investment was made – which the Bill makes permanent. I have consistently supported calls for permanent full expensing, as a means to support greater business investment and economic growth. However, I am concerned that repeated changes to capital allowances, without any clear long-term plan, have had a cost to our economy by undermining prospects for investment, innovation and growth. I therefore supported a new clause to the Bill that would have required the Chancellor to publish an assessment of the impact on investment and growth of the measures to make full expensing permanent, and to consider what other policies could support the effectiveness of permanent full expensing. Unfortunately, this new clause was voted down by Government MPs.

I also supported a new clause on air passenger duty. This is because, for domestic flights, the Bill freezes this duty for those flying by private jet, while raising it for people flying economy and business class. The new clause I supported would have required the Chancellor to publish a review of the multipliers used to calculate the higher rates of air passenger duty, and to propose options for closing the current loophole that has allowed private jet passengers to enjoy a tax freeze while everyone else is seeing a tax rise. Unfortunately, this amendment was also defeated. I did not oppose the Bill as it contains some measures that I support. However, I do not believe it provides the comprehensive and effective plan for growth that families and businesses across the country need.

Finance Bill Report Stage: New Clause 6, I voted Aye and the result was: Ayes: 185 and Noes: 285
Finance Bill Report Stage: New Clause 7, I voted Aye and the result was: Ayes: 182 and Noes: 289

That the Bill be now read the third time. I abstained at third reading. The House divided. Ayes: 283  Noes: 39 

 

 

 

The House of Commons approved the Electoral Commission Strategy and Policy Statement on 31 January 2024.  I note that, during the debate, the Minister for Elections claimed, “This statement and the previous legislation that this House has put through will augment the accountability of the commission to Parliament and, in so doing, serve this as its sole and only purpose: to build on Parliament’s and the public’s confidence in its work”.

In her response, the Shadow Minister noted that polling shows that trust in our politics and democratic institutions is at an all-time low, under this Government. I agree with her that all politicians need to work hard to restore trust and give people confidence that politicians will follow the rules. In my view, this Statement raises the appearance of politicians in Government seeking to influence the work of the independent body tasked with managing elections, the Electoral Commission. That is why the Statement is so concerning. As the Shadow Minister pointed out in her speech, “MPs from all parties have condemned it and respected bodies have rejected it, which is further proof that we need a new approach to a democracy that works for everyone”. The risk is that the Statement represents a “dangerous politicisation of our independent elections watchdog. I am concerned as, I know, do many other MPs. There was a vote on the draft Statement. I am disappointed that Government MPs pressed ahead and approved it despite the lack of consensus over it. The House of Lords will now consider the Statement. 

Motion on Draft Electoral Commission Strategy and Policy Statement, I voted No and the result was: Ayes: 273 and Noes:
190

 

On the 31 January 2024 I hosted a IKEA UK & Ireland, Parliamentary Reception in the Terrace Pavillion. I opened the event with a speech and said: “Ambassador Gullgren, Minister Kevin Hollinrake Peter Jelkeby Country Retail Manager, and colleagues from both Houses and other guests for coming to Parliament to celebrate 80 years of Ikea the wonderful everyday

On Tuesday 30 January 2024 the Media Bill underwent the Report Stage and Third Reading. This Bill updates the legislative framework for public service broadcasting (PSB), sets out provisions to deliver content on digital platforms, and updates the commercial radio framework. While I support this Bill, I believe it has been far too long in the making. The delays have held back the UK’s world leading PSBs and have subsequently affected the productivity of the creative industries as a whole. Our PSBs are a fundamental part of British cultural life. I supported amendments that I believe would have strengthened the Bill, benefitted people across the country and helped to support our broadcasters in the coming years. I am concerned that the Bill does not go far enough to shape the industry for the next decade, and falls short when it comes to digital rights for listed events. The rights to broadcast moments of national sporting importance are offered first to channels such as the BBC and ITV, enabling the broadest possible range of people to watch. By not extending this to online clips and highlights, the Bill risks preventing thousands of people from the joy of watching Britain compete on the world stage. I supported an amendment to address this issue, which was voted down.

Language is a daily expression of our history, and Gaelic language broadcasting is an important forum for that expression. I remain concerned that this is still not recognised in legislation in the same way as other minority language services are. I therefore supported an amendment calling for a review into whether a Gaelic language service should be given a public service broadcast remit. Disappointingly, this was also voted down. Lastly, an amendment was laid that would have allowed the possibility of commencing subsection 2 of Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013. This subsection incentivises publishers to join a recognised press regulator by granting them protection against high-cost court cases. I want to see a financially sustainable free press in the UK that is regulated in a way that makes it accountable for its reporting and that meets the highest ethical and journalistic standards. Despite my support, this amendment was also voted down. This Bill has now progressed through the House of Commons and will now undergo further scrutiny in the House of Lords.

Media Bill Report Stage: Amendment 2, Voted Aye and result was Ayes: 195 Noes: 284
Media Bill Report Stage: New Clause 16, Voted Aye and result was: Aye: 193 and Noes: 295
Media Bill Report Stage: New Clause 13, Voted Aye and the result was: Aye: 194 and Noes: 294

New Clause 16

Listed Events

“(1) The Broadcasting Act 1996 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 97 (as amended by section 299 of the Communications Act 2003), after subsection (1B) insert—

“(1A) The following events must be included in Group A of the list drawn up under subsection (1)—

(a) the Olympic Games;

(b) the Paralympic Games;

(c) the FIFA World Cup Finals Tournament;

(d) the FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals Tournament;

(e) the European Football Championship Finals Tournament;

(f) the European Women’s Football Championship Finals Tournament;

(g) the FA Cup Final;

(h) the Scottish FA Cup Final;

(i) the Grand National;

(j) the Wimbledon Tennis Finals;

(k) the Rugby Union World Cup Final;

(l) Six Nations Rugby Tournament Matches Involving Home Countries;

(m) the Derby;

(n) the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final;

Column 807is located here

(o) any match involving the national teams of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or England pertaining to qualification for the events listed in paragraphs (c), (d), (e) and (f).””—(Gavin Newlands.)

This new clause would make it compulsory for the Secretary of State to place the list of sporting events in Group A of listed sporting events, ensuring they are available on free to air television in their entirety. The events consist of all current Group A events plus the home nations World Cup and Euro qualifiers.

Brought up, and read the First time.

Question put, That the clause be read a Second time.