I am conscious of the number of people who want to speak in this debate, so I will continue.

It is not said often enough that this country’s dogged belief in fair rules for everyone is also a secret ingredient to business success—if your assets are protected, your contracts are enforced...

I am conscious of the number of people who want to speak in this debate, so I will continue.

It is not said often enough that this country’s dogged belief in fair rules for everyone is also a secret ingredient to business success—if your assets are protected, your contracts are enforced...

This Budget was a missed opportunity for the residents of Bromsgrove and the villages. There was next to nothing in it for my residents, or for the hard-working business owners and businesses across the constituency. The frank reality is that businesses across the country and in my area are really...

This Budget was a missed opportunity for the residents of Bromsgrove and the villages. There was next to nothing in it for my residents, or for the hard-working business owners and businesses across the constituency. The frank reality is that businesses across the country and in my area are really...

The Government’s local government reorganisation will abolish the two-tier system in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency of Bromsgrove, thereby reducing the number of local councillors and so the number of politicians. Which part of that did he miss in the announcements that have been made over the last 12 months?

The Government’s local government reorganisation will abolish the two-tier system in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency of Bromsgrove, thereby reducing the number of local councillors and so the number of politicians. Which part of that did he miss in the announcements that have been made over the last 12 months?

If the hon. Lady had listened to what I was saying, she would have heard me say that Worcestershire does not want a Mayor.

The Government’s proposals for devolution are nothing more than a cop-out to absolve Westminster of its failure to tackle the big issues facing this country, and that...

If the hon. Lady had listened to what I was saying, she would have heard me say that Worcestershire does not want a Mayor.

The Government’s proposals for devolution are nothing more than a cop-out to absolve Westminster of its failure to tackle the big issues facing this country, and that...

We now come to a maiden speech. I call Sagal Abdi-Wali.

6.35 pm

We now come to a maiden speech. I call Sagal Abdi-Wali.

6.35 pm

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to make my maiden speech during a Budget debate—a Labour Budget that speaks directly to some of the challenges that first brought me into politics and public service. It is a profound honour to rise for the first time in this...

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to make my maiden speech during a Budget debate—a Labour Budget that speaks directly to some of the challenges that first brought me into politics and public service. It is a profound honour to rise for the first time in this...

May I say that it is a genuine pleasure to follow the excellent maiden speech of the hon. Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Sagal Abdi-Wali)? As a West Ham fan, I understand that it is the optimism that kills you; she is a Spurs fan, so after last season,...

May I say that it is a genuine pleasure to follow the excellent maiden speech of the hon. Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Sagal Abdi-Wali)? As a West Ham fan, I understand that it is the optimism that kills you; she is a Spurs fan, so after last season,...

When I ask people in my constituency how they feel about the economy, they tell me that their bills are too high and their rent or mortgage take too much of their pay. I am glad that the Budget takes some first steps to address those issues.

Four years ago, the...

When I ask people in my constituency how they feel about the economy, they tell me that their bills are too high and their rent or mortgage take too much of their pay. I am glad that the Budget takes some first steps to address those issues.

Four years ago, the...

As we head into winter with bills rising again in January, households and businesses across the country are worried. This Budget needed to match the scale of the energy and climate challenges, but we as Liberal Democrats are concerned that it does not. While the standing charge removal and the...

As we head into winter with bills rising again in January, households and businesses across the country are worried. This Budget needed to match the scale of the energy and climate challenges, but we as Liberal Democrats are concerned that it does not. While the standing charge removal and the...

It is a pleasure to speak in this debate, and let me add my congratulations to my hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Sagal Abdi-Wali) on her excellent maiden speech.

This is a Budget to create growth in every postcode, and nowhere is better placed than Newcastle to...

It is a pleasure to speak in this debate, and let me add my congratulations to my hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Sagal Abdi-Wali) on her excellent maiden speech.

This is a Budget to create growth in every postcode, and nowhere is better placed than Newcastle to...

The Budget was a missed opportunity for our rural economy, which yet again this Government have failed to back. My message to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor is simple: stop saying that every postcode matters, and start showing it. In Chester South and Eddisbury, around our farms sit the...

The Budget was a missed opportunity for our rural economy, which yet again this Government have failed to back. My message to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor is simple: stop saying that every postcode matters, and start showing it. In Chester South and Eddisbury, around our farms sit the...

I commend the hon. Lady for bringing agriculture and the farming life to this debate. That is important, and I congratulate her on being the first person today to mention it. The family farm inheritance tax will have a destructive impact on farming in Northern Ireland. The Ulster Farmers’ Union—I...

I commend the hon. Lady for bringing agriculture and the farming life to this debate. That is important, and I congratulate her on being the first person today to mention it. The family farm inheritance tax will have a destructive impact on farming in Northern Ireland. The Ulster Farmers’ Union—I...

The hon. Gentleman is a champion for farmers in his community, and he is right—the Chancellor had the chance to repeal the vindictive family farms tax and family business tax, but he chose not to.

Nearly nine in 10 rural businesses have paused investment, and when investment stops, the consequences ripple...

The hon. Gentleman is a champion for farmers in his community, and he is right—the Chancellor had the chance to repeal the vindictive family farms tax and family business tax, but he chose not to.

Nearly nine in 10 rural businesses have paused investment, and when investment stops, the consequences ripple...

If I may, I will speak on behalf of the Scottish Affairs Committee, but I wish to make one point from the perspective of my constituency. Glasgow West, which I am proud to represent, has a relatively high level of youth unemployment, a lower than average level of educational qualifications,...

If I may, I will speak on behalf of the Scottish Affairs Committee, but I wish to make one point from the perspective of my constituency. Glasgow West, which I am proud to represent, has a relatively high level of youth unemployment, a lower than average level of educational qualifications,...

The Chancellor has promised growth in every postcode, but those of us in the south-east could be forgiven for thinking that the Government have forgotten us altogether. Take London out of the equation, and the south-east, and Sussex in particular, does not seem to be part of the Government’s infrastructure...

The Chancellor has promised growth in every postcode, but those of us in the south-east could be forgiven for thinking that the Government have forgotten us altogether. Take London out of the equation, and the south-east, and Sussex in particular, does not seem to be part of the Government’s infrastructure...

I am pleased that this Budget sets a clear priority to address the cost of living. More than 44,000 households in my Smethwick constituency will receive the £100 payment to help with their energy bills, and the business rates freeze will benefit 52% of retail, hospitality and leisure properties in...

I am pleased that this Budget sets a clear priority to address the cost of living. More than 44,000 households in my Smethwick constituency will receive the £100 payment to help with their energy bills, and the business rates freeze will benefit 52% of retail, hospitality and leisure properties in...

Scottish voters were promised change, but instead this Budget delivers a real-terms cut of £650 million to Scotland’s block budget. It treats Scotland as an afterthought, syphons off our energy wealth and fails to protect hard-working families facing a bitter cost of living crisis this winter. Rather than delivering economic...

Scottish voters were promised change, but instead this Budget delivers a real-terms cut of £650 million to Scotland’s block budget. It treats Scotland as an afterthought, syphons off our energy wealth and fails to protect hard-working families facing a bitter cost of living crisis this winter. Rather than delivering economic...

It is fair to say that my constituents in Ealing Southall will not all have been glued to the telly last Wednesday to watch the Chancellor’s speech. Instead, due to wars abroad, many of them will have been trying their best to feed hungry kids, who were off for half...

It is fair to say that my constituents in Ealing Southall will not all have been glued to the telly last Wednesday to watch the Chancellor’s speech. Instead, due to wars abroad, many of them will have been trying their best to feed hungry kids, who were off for half...

“What incentive is there for hard-working families and young entrepreneurs to remain in Britain after this Budget?” That is the question that a constituent put to me at a community meeting I held in Wixams in Mid Bedfordshire last week.

Let me start with what I think is the main test...

“What incentive is there for hard-working families and young entrepreneurs to remain in Britain after this Budget?” That is the question that a constituent put to me at a community meeting I held in Wixams in Mid Bedfordshire last week.

Let me start with what I think is the main test...

The motto of my constituency —the old Bootle county borough—was “Respice, Aspice, Prospice”. In English, that means reflecting on the past, considering the present and looking to the future.

I want to look a little to the past. In 2010 David Cameron said, “I’ll cut the deficit, not the NHS.” Well,...

The motto of my constituency —the old Bootle county borough—was “Respice, Aspice, Prospice”. In English, that means reflecting on the past, considering the present and looking to the future.

I want to look a little to the past. In 2010 David Cameron said, “I’ll cut the deficit, not the NHS.” Well,...