Stella Creasy MP: speeches

Speeches

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  Will my right hon. Friend give way?

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  I think we all share my right hon. Friend’s passionate desire to support the victims who are waiting too long to get to court, but that means that we also owe them a debt of truth. The concern highlighted in the Institute for Government report is that magistrates courts will struggle to absorb such a large increase in demand, so we may not see the faster justice that he is promising under these proposals. Will he recognise that those of us who cannot support the Bill as it currently stands think that the way forward is to look at the data and consider whether juries are actually a red herring when it comes to the investment that we so sorely need because of the damage done by the previous Government?

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  I know at first hand the strength that my hon. Friend is showing in making this speech, and I know why it matters for us to be confident that what we bring forward actually will change this situation—that we will not go down rabbit holes and be distracted by changing juries, but will focus ruthlessly on the victim’s experience. I want to speak on behalf of everyone in the Chamber in saying that we are with my hon. Friend every step of the way, and we are so damn proud of her today.

• 25 Feb 2026 · Electronic Travel Authorisation: Dual Nationals · Hansard source

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  The Minister says this has not been mishandled, but I am sure even he would accept there are elements that could have been done better. One of those is to do with babies. I have two constituents—a three-month-old little boy stuck in Italy, and a little girl stuck in Uruguay who was born in Whipps Cross hospital in Walthamstow—whose mothers have dual citizenship and who both want to be back in the United Kingdom within the next month. If they come home with their families, under the current policy they face being turned away or separated from their mothers on arrival. Alternatively, families who have just taken on the biggest cost of all—having a baby—will have to find hundreds of pounds to pay for a certificate that will take months to arrive. In those circumstances, will the Minister at least accept there should be a waiver on the fees for babies so that they can come back home to their country?

• 24 Feb 2026 · EU Membership Referendum: Impact on the UK · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Desmond. I never inhaled: I always opposed Brexit, and I continue to fight for a closer relationship with Europe. I also recognise that the way the previous Government left the European Union was the hardest of Brexits. They compounded the damage that walking out of the room did to this country, and we see that in our constituencies every single day. I do not believe that anybody voted for 1.8 million fewer jobs to be created in our economy, or for 16,000 businesses to give up on trading with Europe because the basic consequence of Brexit was paperwork. I do not believe that anybody in this country really wanted those outcomes.

• 24 Feb 2026 · EU Membership Referendum: Impact on the UK · Hansard source

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  I apologise, but I am aware of the time available. I also recognise that 2016 was over a decade ago. One of the challenges in this nation is that we have always acted as if the hard part about our relationship with Europe was us deciding what we wanted to happen, and the easy part was going and telling our European counterparts what we wanted to do. In a decade, President Trump has been elected twice, covid has happened, the #MeToo movement occurred and TikTok was invented—not to mention the antics of President Putin. If we are going to get this right then, as my hon. Friend the Member for Chelsea and Fulham (Ben Coleman) is right to argue, we need to get closer to Europe, but, in what we ask now, we have to show them the respect of recognising the damage we did in walking out of the door. First and foremost, we need a salvage operation for British businesses, jobs, climate and people. That requires looking at the deal that has been done with Switzerland. We must get closer to the single market, because the customs union is not our European counterparts and European freedom of movement. There is so much more that we can do but, first, let us start by respecting those people we disavowed.

• 4 Feb 2026 · Lord Mandelson · Hansard source

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  Like the hon. Gentleman, I have been a Member of this place for longer than I care to remember, and throughout that time I have seen powerful men go unchallenged and cause havoc in our country as a result. He and I will want to change that for good, because this goes well beyond any partisan concern. Does he agree that it is therefore time to revisit the role of this House in scrutinising appointments, and particularly the capacity of Select Committees to object? Too many people have known for too long that a number of controversial characters are not fit for public office. It is time to bring the disinfectant of democracy back into that process—does the hon. Gentleman agree?

• 4 Feb 2026 · Lord Mandelson · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend was here when I said that we should not only deal with this situation—I am with those who were not happy about the original amendment —but also think about what we can change fundamentally. This is not the first time we have seen controversial people appointed to positions. Does my hon. Friend, as a relatively new Member, share my interest in learning from other jurisdictions around the world? For example, there could be pre-appointment hearings before Select Committees, which could object to shortlists. Could we not toughen up our role as eyes and ears looking out for what good democracy practice looks like?

• 3 Feb 2026 · Iran · Hansard source

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  The Minister is right when he says that our constituents who have relatives in Iran—relatives who are also British-Iranians themselves—are looking to us for clear action. I must press him on this point about proscription. He is aware, as has already been said, that the European Union has added the IRGC to its terrorist list, as has Australia, Canada and America. When I raised this with the Foreign Secretary three weeks ago, she talked about the importance of our taking action in concert with our allies. Given that our allies have already proscribed the IRGC, can he at least give us some comfort that that legislation will come forward forthwith and that this is an urgent priority for the Government?

• 27 Jan 2026 · Business Rates · Hansard source

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  I know that many of the businesses in the Walthamstow beer mile that are also music venues, as well as our brilliant Rose and Crown pub and the Wood Street Bear, will welcome what the Minister has said today, and rightly so, because pubs are important. I must take issue, however, with his metric that pubs are somehow the only cornerstone of community life in this country. I join colleagues in asking for further support for the hospitality industry, in particular those small independent venues, such as cafés, community centres and soft play centres. I am sure he does not want to be the Minister responsible for sending toddlers into pubs because the other places that their parents might take them to during the day have closed down. That would not be in anybody’s interest. May I make a plea for him to revisit his exclusion of these smaller, independent chains from the hospitality relief that he is talking about?

• 27 Jan 2026 · Commonhold and Leasehold Reform · Hansard source

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  I thank the Minister for his diligent work on this issue. I know that we all appreciate his expertise, as will my constituents in Walthamstow who are leaseholders with Clarion and who, in the last year, have seen their ground rents go up from £200 to £650 and now this year to £857, including an admin fee. What can the Minister say to reassure my constituents that there will not be loopholes in the cap and that we will ensure that all charges are included in the £250 limit?

• 20 Jan 2026 · Mobile Phones and Social Media: Use by Children · Hansard source

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  Many young people watching us will be thinking that issues of addiction and online harm are not simply age-related. This debate reflects, I fear, many parents’ and carers’ lack of confidence in the ability of the Online Safety Act and Ofcom to deal with rapid technological change. What conversations has the Secretary of State had with Ofcom about the powers and further action that it could take now, in particular on artificial intelligence chatbots?

• 15 Jan 2026 · Food Inflation · Hansard source

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  I wonder whether my hon. Friend heard the testimony of Toby Ovens, the managing director of Broughton Transport Solutions, to the Business and Trade Committee the other day. He spoke about how we have lost that complex network, but gained a mountain of paperwork, which is accounting for much of the costs that are incurred for the food that is coming into our country. That includes 26 different stamps that he now has to get to import food into our country. Does she recognise that one of the ways that we can help bring food costs down is to get that sanitary and phytosanitary deal signed?

• 15 Jan 2026 · Food Inflation · Hansard source

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  Will the hon. Member give way?

• 13 Jan 2026 · Iran · Hansard source

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  The scenes we have seen in Iran are heartbreaking, terrifying and, I fear, just a fraction of what is happening, given the media blackout. The Foreign Secretary says that the world must come together, and she is right. I understand her point that proscription in this country is a matter for the Home Secretary, but given the measures that are being talked about in the European Parliament, which has banned representatives of the Iranian Government from attending, can she confirm that she is talking to our European counterparts about co-ordinating proscription measures?

• 12 Jan 2026 · Social Media: Non-consensual Sexual Deepfakes · Hansard source

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  May I very much welcome what the Secretary of State is doing in proving that none of this is inevitable with the development of technology? She has just said that there is a concern that our legislation is behind, rather than ahead of, the curve. She knows that this issue is not just about Grok; it is about AI chatbots. I know that Baroness Kidron in the other place has brought forward legislation on that. Will the Secretary of State defend all those talking about content moderation and how we get this right in the future, including by standing up to Governments who are not free speech advocates if they bar those people from their shores?

• 5 Jan 2026 · Venezuela · Hansard source

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  The truth is, the warning signs that the rules-based order is at risk have been there for some time. In evidence to Congress during the impeachment inquiry into President Trump, the former White House adviser on Russia and Europe, Fiona Hill, claimed that an informal offer was made by Russia to withdraw its support for Venezuela in exchange for America withdrawing its support for Ukraine. In the light of these events, will the Foreign Secretary confirm that that specific allegation has been raised in her conversations with our American counterparts? What response has she had?

• 5 Jan 2026 · Middle East and North Africa · Hansard source

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  I must press the Minister on the further 19 settlements announced over the Christmas period in the west bank. Minister Smotrich has been explicit that that is deliberately about making it impossible to establish the Palestinian state. That brings the total in the last three years alone to 69 new settlements in the west bank, several of which had previously been dismantled. These actions are provocative at best, and deeply disturbing for a peace process that will benefit so many people in both Israel and Palestine as a result. The Minister has said that the Government condemn the settlements, but we know from the history of the crisis that condemnation is not enough; we do need concrete action. What more can he tell us about his conversations with our allies in America, for example, who are also concerned about the settlements, and what action will he take to stop this deliberate attempt to stop the peace process?

• 18 Dec 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I join others in wishing you, Mr Speaker, and the staff of the House a happy Christmas, and also wish a happy fifth night of Hanukkah to all those who are celebrating. May I also thank the shadow Deputy Leader of the House for reminding me of my favourite version of that Dickens classic, “The Muppet Christmas Carol”? Qesser Zuhrah is currently undertaking a hunger strike. Understandably, her next of kin, who are my constituents, are very worried about her welfare and desperate for information about her current condition. As her MP, I have sought that information, because I believe that, whatever one may think of what someone who is incarcerated has done, welfare information is a reasonable thing for the next of kin to require. Will the Leader of the House give some advice and support on how we can improve the channels of communication with the Ministry of Justice in these circumstances, especially at this time of year and given some of the reporting of this issue, so that the next of kin can get accurate information? Will he also say whether we can have a debate on how we can support families in those situations?

• 18 Dec 2025 · Violence against Women and Girls Strategy · Hansard source

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  I thank all the Ministers for their collective hard work with the Safeguarding Minister. It has been worth the wait for this strategy. She will know that for too long it has been an occupational hazard for women in this country that they get hassled wherever they go and whatever they do. Will she therefore confirm that, as part of the strategy, the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023 will come into force in April next year? That will mean that, for the first time ever, the law will recognise that misogyny causes crimes against women and girls, and the police and courts will be able to do something about it. The Minister will know that Citizens UK, the brilliant Sue Fish, Our Streets Now, the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Mike Martin), and indeed the former Member for that constituency, Greg Clark, and I have been pushing for that for over a decade because we want to see women and girls as free to walk our streets as men and boys are. Will she tell us how we can now feed into the police guidance on the matter?

• 17 Dec 2025 · UK-EU Common Understanding Negotiations · Hansard source

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  I congratulate the Minister on doing what many of us have felt has been needed in the relationship between the European Union and the UK: what therapists call “active listening”. He is actually listening to our neighbours, finding out what they are interested in and where we can do a deal, and recognising that those in a relationship who keep making random demands—whether they are about a customs union, rejoining the EU or fish—fail to recognise the importance of communication to negotiation. I note that the original wreckers of this relationship have not turned up today to explain to Britain’s young people, who have borne the consequences of their bad behaviour, why they felt that it was necessary. The Minister will know that many more people in our constituencies are now looking at the work he is doing to repair the UK-EU relationship, and seeking some Christmas cheer. For all the businesses still facing piles of paperwork and mountains of red tape, can he play Santa a little bit more and tell us what 2026 might bring in resetting the relationship and getting Britain back on track with its neighbours?

• 16 Dec 2025 · Transgender People: Provision of Healthcare · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I think I speak for everyone in this Chamber when I say that it is a privilege to be in the room with my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire and Bedworth (Rachel Taylor), and to hear her passion for this subject and her honesty about the impact. Too often, that voice is missing in our politics. Wherever we stand, I think people can recognise that. I am so grateful for this debate, because in the time available to me, I want to highlight what we have been doing in Walthamstow on this issue. We were worried that we would never find allies for our work, and today is a reminder that we will, because the majority of people in this country understand a simple and decent point: trans people pay for the NHS too, and they should be entitled to services that suit their needs. The reality for that very vulnerable and small group within our society is that they are not getting the services they need. This is not just about gender-affirming healthcare; it is about healthcare across the piece. That is the challenge that we have been dealing with in Walthamstow. I pay tribute to the members of my local trans community who have had the bravery to come forward and speak about their experiences. I will not name them because, sadly, we live in a world where people would demonise them simply for speaking up about the fact that, because they cannot access their local GP—particularly in shared care agreements, which many others have mentioned—they cannot access healthcare at all, even for other conditions. They might also have physical disabilities or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but they struggle to access services accordingly. No one can think that it is acceptable for a patient group in the NHS to be systematically excluded. I pay tribute to the North East London integrated care board, which has risen to the challenge and recognised the problem, and is now looking at how to resolve it. I think we all recognise that shared care agreements are complicated, but the reality is that not every shared care agreement is refused. Not every person in my constituency with a referral from an NHS provider, let alone a private one, gets a doctor who says, “We do not cover that agreement”. Some in our local trans community are self-prescribing hormones and not getting the blood tests and monitoring that they need, and they face a delay in getting support. I want to put on the record that there have also been some very positive responses from my local GPs, but it is patchy. In the time available to me, I make one simple plea to the Minister. It is great that we have the David Levy review, but I ask for the Minister’s help and support for my local clinicians. They are cutting through the heat in this debate and asking a simple question: how can we serve this local community better? How can we make services work better for them? I will stand up for the right of every single one of my constituents to get decent healthcare, but I ask the Minister to work with us to get it right on the ground.

• 15 Dec 2025 · NHS: Winter Preparedness · Hansard source

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  The Secretary of State is rightly proud of the work that has been done to vaccinate people, and he will be acutely aware that we are heading into the super-spreader festive season. There are parents across the country who want to protect their own parents by getting their children vaccinated, but right now there is a gap in the system: 16 and 17-year-olds are not covered. Even if people try to pay for a vaccine at a wholly private provider, they cannot get a vaccine for that cohort, and NHS pharmacists are turning away parents who want to pay for a vaccine. Can I press the Secretary of State to correct that gap, so that families who want to protect their loved ones can do so and 16 and 17-year-olds do not give their grandparents the worst Christmas present ever?

• 15 Dec 2025 · Violence against Women and Girls Strategy · Hansard source

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  I do not think that anyone in the Chamber can doubt the Minister’s passion and commitment on this topic, and she will recognise the shared sense of urgency across the House. We know that one in six teenage girls experience domestic abuse in a relationship, which means that an equivalent number of our teenage boys are perpetrators. I welcome the discussion about how we can help young men to make healthy choices, and I appreciate that the Minister will be saying more in the statement on Thursday. My colleagues and I all agree that we would love to be here, but we recognise that this discussion will continue. Can the Minister give us a bit more detail about how we can help both young men and young women not to feel judged, but to feel supported and helped to be healthy and to be respectful? That is how we can move forward together.

• 8 Dec 2025 · Child Poverty Strategy · Hansard source

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  I recognise that we should not take any lessons from Opposition Members, because they do not seem to understand that lots of families in work are affected by the two-child cap. Their priorities seem to need a rethink, because they are arguing against lifting the two-child cap before subsidising private school fees. They will go to the wall for some kids to play the Eton wall game, but not for all children to be able to eat. I welcome the Secretary of State’s plans for a review of early years funding. Right now, we know that 20% of those taking up the 30 hours of free childcare are on the lowest incomes. The role of the DWP is critical, because 1 million women in this country are out of work owing to their caring commitments. I would love for the DWP to be in Sure Start centres working with mums, so that they know about tax-free funded childcare and the changes to universal credit. Will she meet me and others who are concerned about this, to discuss bringing those systems together, so that those 1 million women are not forgotten but supported under this Government?