Category Archives: Debates

Backing The PM To Go Back to Brussels

Yesterday, I spoke in the House of Commons debate on Brexit. I welcomed the Prime Minister’s reassurance that she will seek changes to the proposed Withdrawal Agreement in order to make it acceptable to the UK.

Parliament gave the Prime Minister a mandate to go into bat in Brussels, and rejected proposals to allow MPs to wrest control of the legislative agenda. This was an important moment in the Brexit process.

You can read my speech here, or watch a video of me delivering it in the House of Commons here. I also gave an interview explaining my position to the BBC’s Today Programme, which you can listen to here (from 1hr34m).

Where Now on Brexit?

Yesterday, I wrote an article for The Sun on Sunday, setting out what the government should do next on Brexit, and the optimistic vision we need for the post-Brexit UK economy. I appeared on BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show and Sky’s Sophie Ridge Show to discuss the issues.

You can read my article here, watch my interview on The Andrew Marr Show here (from 16m) and catch a clip of my interview with Sophy Ridge here.

Meaningful Vote Speech

Yesterday, I spoke in the House of Commons debate on the government’s Brexit deal explaining why I could not support it.

In my speech, I set out how the draft deal would have severe, long-term, risks for our economy and trust in our democracy. The deal would also stifle the positive opportunities of Brexit that inspired over 17 million people to vote to leave the EU in June 2016.

You can read the full text of my speech on Hansard here, or watch a video of my speech here.

Elmbridge Business Conference

On Thursday evening, I was delighted to attend the second Elmbridge Business Conference in Weybridge. I joined a number of senior business professionals and civic leaders for a Question Time style debate to discuss the opportunities for Britain post-Brexit. I was joined on the panel by Kathy Slack, Executive Director of the M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, Henk Potts, Director of Global Research & Investments at Barclays, Dominic List, CEO and Founder of Comtact, a cyber security company, and Julianne Ponan, who is Founder and CEO of Creative Nature in Molesey which just won a small business of the year award.

The floor was opened up to questions from the audience, made up of representatives from local businesses. I took questions on the Brexit negotiations, the benefits of free trade for the UK and the prospects for England in the World Cup!

My thanks to Doug Perkins at Elmbridge Borough Council for the invitation and to the other panellists for such a thoughtful and fun debate.

 

Ensuring Fairness in the Housing Sector

Yesterday, I opened the Second Reading debate for the government on the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Bill.

Put simply, the Bill does two things.

First, it allows councils to charge double the rate of Council Tax on homes left empty for over 2 years. Currently, local authorities can levy a 50% premium, which has seen the number of long-term empty homes drop by a third since 2010. We now want to go further. This Bill will allow councils to double the amount of council tax on vacant residential properties, to incentivise bringing long-term empty housing back into use.

Second, the Bill reverses the so-called ‘staircase tax’. The staircase tax resulted from a Supreme Court ruling, which changed the way business rates were calculated. It meant that businesses who worked from two linked areas of the same building (but which were separated by a wall or staircase) faced multiple rates assessments, rather than just one. As a result, many hard-pressed businesses faced an unjustified tax hike. We are amending the law to reverse these changes, which will support small businesses and the high street. 

So, the Bill was an important boost for small businesses, and for increasing the supply of residential homes. The Bill passed the House of Commons at Second Reading. You can read my contributions to the debate here, and watch my speech here (from 18:03:45).

Planning Reform

I wrote a column for the Mail on Sunday, today, setting out the government’s approach to planning reform in advance of publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework tomorrow.

Planning reform is an important part of our housing strategy, to build the homes we need and make the more affordable for those on low and middle incomes, and thereby revive the dream of Britain as a property-owning democracy for the next generation. You can read the column here.

The UK offer to the EU

Following the Prime Minister’s speech in Florence, on Friday, I have penned a column for The Sun on Sunday,  summarising the key points – on how we intend to take back control of our laws, money and borders, while offering a positive and optimistic ‘win-win’ deal to our European partners.

You can read it here.

 

Vote Conservative on Thursday

On Thursday, voters in Esher and Walton constituency will decide who they want as their next MP, and who will lead the government. Please vote for me as your local MP, and a Conservative government under Theresa May, for three reasons.

First, as your local MP, I have fought your corner with my heart and soul – to cut income tax so the vast majority of our constituents take home £1,000 more each year (compared to 2010), deliver two new state secondary schools by 2020, add extra carriages on our local trains to ease overcrowding, and secure extra health services including £1million towards a new air ambulance for the area. On Brexit, I have consistently argued that we should strive for a ‘win-win’ deal with our EU friends on trade, security and wider cooperation.

Second, only the Conservatives under Theresa May as our Prime Minister can provide the strength of leadership Britain needs, to keep the economy firing on all cylinders, generate the tax revenue to invest in our precious public services, protect our national security, deliver controlled immigration and – above all else – deliver a successful Brexit, whichever way you voted in the referendum last year.

Third, the last thing the country needs right now is a chaotic coalition of bickering smaller parties (including the Lib Dems, Greens and SNP) propping up a split Labour government, led by a weak and floundering leader in Jeremy Corbyn. That would be an economic disaster, weaken our security, and increase the risk of failure in these vital Brexit negotiations.