Steve Witherden

Backing Business to Create Economic Growth

Since the last King’s Speech, we have seen great steps forward under this Labour Government in their first parliamentary Session: the Employment Rights Act 2025, the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation; the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024, establishing Great British Rail to improve services and keep fares down; the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, providing security and dignity by ending no-fault evictions; and the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act

Cost of Living

3. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce the cost of living in Wales.

Cost of Living

This month, the UK Labour Government formally lifted the two-child limit, benefiting nearly 70,000 children in Wales and 2,270 children in my constituency. I am enormously proud that Labour is lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty, while the other parties in Wales promise spending cuts and tax rises on working families. Will the Secretary of State update the House on what this policy means for the future of Wales?

Gulf Conflict

While energy giants and Wall Street banks cash in on the war, ordinary people pay the price. In the first month of the US-led war with Iran alone, the world’s 100 largest oil and gas companies made more than $30 million an hour in unearned profit. What discussions has the Minister had with the Chancellor on the merits of introducing windfall taxes to directly fund a cost of living support package, making life more affordable for people and businesses across the UK?

Gulf Conflict

16. What steps her Department is taking with international counterparts to help achieve a lasting resolution to the conflict in the Gulf.

Cost of Heating Oil

It will not surprise my hon. Friend that I agree wholeheartedly. With heating oil prices reaching levels similar to those in 2022 following the Ukraine war, our Government have been far quicker to react than the previous Conservative Government were. Less than two weeks after the price surge, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announced a £53 million support package aimed at protecting the most vulnerable households that rely on heating oil—particularly low-income households in rura

Cost of Heating Oil

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Allin-Khan. I thank the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Steff Aquarone) for securing this essential debate. The escalation of conflict arising from Donald Trump’s war on Iran and the consequential disruption to the strait of Hormuz has sent shockwaves through international fossil fuel markets. This has left many households across the country, including a significant number of my constituents, facing sudden and severe increases to their energy bil

Crime and Policing Bill

I shall keep my remarks brief. I welcome the vast majority of this Bill, but given the serious implications for our fundamental rights, Lords amendment 312 on cumulative disruption should be given adequate time to be properly scrutinised and debated. This amendment could be used by future far-right Governments to in effect stamp out protests and even trade union pickets altogether. As we all know, Reform UK would repeal the Employment Rights Act 2025, but I doubt it would repeal what Lords amend