Emma Lewell MP: speeches

Speeches

• 15 Apr 2026 · Strategic Defence Review: Funding · Hansard source

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  I genuinely respect my friend the shadow Minister, but seriously, defence was hollowed out in his party’s time in government. Our safety is the primary responsibility of any Government, and more must be spent on our defence. However, that should not come at the expense of pensioners and people with disabilities receiving welfare. There are always other ways, such as scrapping digital identification, looking at some of our net zero policies, and rethinking some of the fiscal rules. Will the Minister confirm that all future funding options are being seriously considered?

• 15 Apr 2026 · Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill · Hansard source

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  A decade ago, I raised the heartbreak that siblings in the care system suffer when they are separated and have no contact with each other. My aim was simply to create parity in legislation, by extending the requirement for a looked-after child’s reasonable contact with their parents to contact with their siblings or half-siblings. What followed were amendments, debates, early-day motions, articles, questions, ministerial meetings and letters—so many letters. Every single time, I was advised that there was sympathy for my request, but nothing ever changed—until now. Under this Labour Government, we are finally putting an end to the cruelty in our care system that separates siblings and denies them contact with each other. When I heard my noble Friends in the other place carry unopposed Lords amendment 17B—the same amendment that I moved in 2016—I was for once completely lost for words. This may seem like a very small change to legislation, but it is not. It will make a profound difference to the lives of so many children, including children whose lives are already more difficult than many of us in this place can even begin to comprehend. Like everything that happens in this place, it was not a solo endeavour. If the Chamber would please indulge me for a moment, I want to thank all the MPs across the House who over the years have supported this change; my right hon. and hon. Friends in our Education team; Cathy Ashley and the team at the Family Rights Group who, way back, helped me craft the amendment; and my friend the broadcaster and journalist Ashley John-Baptiste, who powerfully used his experience of the care system, in which he grew up never knowing that he had siblings, to help press for this change. That leads me to who I want to thank most of all: the children I worked with in my former career. I promised them that if I ever made it into this place, I would do absolutely everything in my power to change legislation that causes them further pain and distress.

• 15 Apr 2026 · Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill · Hansard source

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  I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that intervention—possibly one of the nicest interventions I have ever had in this place. I hope that if those children I worked with are listening now, they will know that I have honoured my word to them. It may have taken me a decade and they will now be adults, but I sincerely hope they know that this is for them and it is they who have made sure that other little ones will never ever have to go through what they had to go through.

• 26 Mar 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  Heugh Street bridge in South Shields was closed over four months ago by the council, as it deemed it to be unsafe. It was used by over 5,000 vehicles per day and the closure is damaging my local economy. The council is currently unable to give any timescale for reopening the bridge and I am led to believe there is no funding for it to do so anyway. Can my hon. Friend the Minister please assist us in any way at all?

• 26 Mar 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Yesterday I was very sorry to be absent from the very powerful Adjournment debate led by my hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Rebecca Long Bailey), who is seeking justice for our nuclear veterans after previously covered-up information has proved that there was radiation fallout. My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House knows that this is the longest-running scandal in British history. May I plead with him that, in preparing for the new Session, he advocates for a one-year special inquiry to be included in the King’s Speech?

• 25 Mar 2026 · Proposed Visitor Levy · Hansard source

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  When I was looking through the guidance, it seemed to indicate that mayors will have to consult local authorities and local industry before they come to any decision, but there is no requirement to hold discussions with local MPs, who arguably know their constituencies far better than any mayor ever could. Could the Minister look at that for me, please?

• 25 Mar 2026 · Proposed Visitor Levy · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mr Efford. I thank the right hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) for securing the debate. South Shields is a beautiful coastal town that really comes alive in the summer months. The overall borough of South Tyneside has nearly 6 million visitors each year, adding millions to our local economy. Sandhaven beach in South Shields is a Sunday Times beach of the year and the famous Great North Run has its finishing line on our Leas. When tourists visit us, they get the best hospitality that the UK has to offer, the cosiest of places to stay, and a welcome like no other. We are naturally a friendly bunch who love our little part of the north-east and are proud to call it our home. Given the context of rising energy costs, high business rates, employer national insurance contributions, minimum wage increases and high VAT, a tourist tax is the wrong tax at the wrong time. I understand that some of those issues are beyond the Government’s control. I know all too well that the decline in communities like mine, which suffered under the last Tory Government, will not be reversed overnight. I understand that national insurance contributions were necessary to fund key public services and I absolutely support the national minimum wage; its introduction under the previous Labour Government transformed my life. I have been vocal, however—and I continue to be, along with colleagues—about working with the Government on a business rates reduction across all hospitality and a VAT cut. As a sector, hospitality is being hit hardest by the accumulation of those costs. Despite those ongoing discussions, the new, unexpected development of a tourism tax has felt like a kick in the guts for me and my local businesses. It is one burden too many for us, and it will result in job losses and more boarded-up businesses in the centre of my town. That extra burden is very likely to tip hotels, B&Bs and small providers over the edge, and will be felt most acutely by low-income visitors. It feels as though the tax is simply a quick win to divert more money into regional coffers, but with drastic long-term consequences and adverse impacts locally. It feels like short-termism at its worst and does not feel very strategic. UKHospitality modelling estimates that the tax will lead to 33,000 job losses, just short of £2 million in lost tourism spending and a reduction in tax receipts to the Treasury of £688 million. Hospitality is the largest employer in South Shields. We also have high levels of unemployment, which is rising for those aged between 18 and 24. The tax seems at odds with the Government’s aims for growth, youth employment and reviving local economies such as mine. That is why it was never in our manifesto. Just last year, the Government were continuing to rule the tax out. I believe that the legislation that will enable the tax is currently going through the House of Lords in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. I implore my hon. Friend the Minister to revert to last year’s sensible position, because I have yet to meet a single business, trade body, operator or member of the wider public, especially in South Shields, who supports the proposal.

• 9 Mar 2026 · Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill · Hansard source

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  I will speak briefly to Lords amendment 17. Since 2016, I have used every single parliamentary lever possible to improve sibling contact for children in care, by trying to create parity in the legislation. Although the Children Act 1989 requires local authorities to allow a looked-after child reasonable contact with their parents, there is no such requirement for a looked-after child’s contact with their siblings or half-siblings. If siblings cannot be placed together, they should have the same rights to contact defined in primary legislation as they do with their parents. Many siblings who come from neglectful or abusive backgrounds often state that their only constant, positive and reassuring relationship is with their siblings. After all, they have a shared experience. No matter how horrific it is, it is something that only they truly know about.

• 9 Mar 2026 · Middle East: Defence · Hansard source

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  The Secretary of State is right that our armed forces are the very best of us. Australian and British media are reporting that HMS Anson has departed western Australia ahead of schedule. Can my right hon. Friend indicate whether HMS Anson will play a role in defending British interests in the region on her voyage home?

• 5 Mar 2026 · Local Museums · Hansard source

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  With a time limit of four minutes on Back-Bench speeches, I call Dr Kieran Mullan.

• 25 Feb 2026 · Student Loan Repayment Plans · Hansard source

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  Order.

• 25 Feb 2026 · Student Loan Repayment Plans · Hansard source

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  Order. As Members can see, this is a very popular debate, so there will be a two-minute limit on all Back-Bench contributions.

• 25 Feb 2026 · Student Loan Repayment Plans · Hansard source

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  Order. I am going to have to reduce the time limit to one and a half minutes.

• 11 Feb 2026 · Woodland Creation · Hansard source

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  If Back Benchers could keep their speeches to five minutes, that would be most helpful.

• 11 Feb 2026 · Supported Exempt Accommodation: Birmingham · Hansard source

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  I call Jim Shannon, on supported exempt accommodation in Birmingham.

• 4 Feb 2026 · Fast-Track Visas: Skilled US Citizens · Hansard source

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  I will call Christine Jardine to move the motion, and then call the Minister to respond. I remind other Members that they may make a speech only with prior permission from the Member in charge of the debate and the Minister. There will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up, as is the convention for 30-minute debates.

• 4 Feb 2026 · Civil Service Pension Scheme: Administration · Hansard source

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  Order. To ensure that all Members wishing to speak do get to contribute, I am reducing the time limit to two and a half minutes.

• 4 Feb 2026 · Civil Service Pension Scheme: Administration · Hansard source

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  Order. It is obvious that the Member does not want to give way.

• 4 Feb 2026 · Civil Service Pension Scheme: Administration · Hansard source

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  We will need to keep Back-Bench contributions to three minutes. I call Ann Davies.

• 4 Feb 2026 · Civil Service Pension Scheme: Administration · Hansard source

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  Order. I remind Members that when they say “you”, they are referring to me. It is the same convention as in the Chamber.

• 4 Feb 2026 · Civil Service Pension Scheme: Administration · Hansard source

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  Order. It is up to the Member if he wishes to give way; he has made it clear that he does not wish to.

• 2 Feb 2026 · Indefinite Leave to Remain · Hansard source

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  The debate may now continue until 7.37 pm.

• 2 Feb 2026 · Indefinite Leave to Remain · Hansard source

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  Order. I remind Members that when they say “you”, the convention is the same as in the main Chamber: they are referring to me.

• 2 Feb 2026 · Indefinite Leave to Remain · Hansard source

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  Order. I call Patrick Hurley.

• 2 Feb 2026 · Indefinite Leave to Remain · Hansard source

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  Order. The sitting is suspended.