Shadow Minister (Defence)
ConservativeMP for Rayleigh and Wickford
“Essex is a county of nearly 2 million people who are opposed to Labour's plans by over 2 to 1. And yet, in a train crash statement that's lasted over an hour, the Secretary of State hasn't referred to Essex once. So what on earth is going o…”
“We can I play some record from these benches. Our absolute agreement with his tribute to all of our armed forces personnel serving in the Middle East. But if he looks around the chamber just briefly, will he agree with me and confirm that y…”
“Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Can I thank both frontbenchers for their very touching tributes to Anne? And for the benefit of those outside this House, can I place on record that we all know the the absolute personal commitment of Mr. Sp…”
“Minister, is it true that a statement was made in private to Labour councillors and activists in Essex at the weekend? And I know this for a fact, because I was told that by one of the Labour members who was there. So while she confirmed th…”
“And then I thank you. He's making a very accurate critique. Is he aware that at lunchtime today, the Treasury Select Committee, led by the redoubtable lady for Hackney, were looking at defence funding and in that hearing, barely an hour ago…”
“May I endorse your tribute to the late Sir George Howarth, Mr Speaker? May I also take this opportunity to welcome the incoming Minister for Veterans and People, the honourable Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Mr Bailey), to his new position…”
“Will the Minister give way on that matter?…”
“It is a privilege to follow the honourable Member for Birmingham Selly Oak (Al Carns), who I may refer to again in a few minutes. It is important to place on record the respect he has engendered across the House by resigning on an important…”
“Why?…”
“On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Today an honourable man has resigned, on a matter of principle, from a Government in disarray. The former Defence Secretary, as he now is, has resigned over the Government’s continuous failure to p…”
“Mr Speaker, as an Essex MP, may I endorse your lovely tribute at PMQs to Sir Alan Haselhurst? He will be much missed, even though he did achieve a respectable innings of 88 years in his time on this earth. I strongly endorse the suggestion …”
“I apologise for interrupting so early, but before the Minister gets into his stride, I would like to place firmly on the record that we are debating legislation of material importance, relating to the care of our armed forces, and yet again…”
“May I begin by saying that we Conservative Members stand four-square with the Government on their response to Romania? It is a NATO ally, and it deserves our support. While overall trends in recruitment and retention may have stabilised, th…”
“Do Labour MPs not realise that it is because of high-handed behaviour like this that they suffered such a drubbing on 7 May? The Minister has said that the documents will be published after we return from Whit on 1 June, but he has repeated…”
“As is traditional, I thank the Secretary of State for advance sight of his statement, in that—as he said himself—the judgment in the Dillon case is a complex one. We on the Conservative Benches certainly agree. I suspect that this judgment …”
“On that point, will the Prime Minister give way?…”
“My right honourable Friend is making an excellent speech, but is it not true that the post of UK ambassador to Washington would be held by someone who would therefore have access to extremely sensitive intelligence, potentially including nu…”
“May I take this opportunity to congratulate my right honourable Friend and Lord Nash on a hard-fought but important campaign? We now have a commitment in principle from the Government that they will ban the use of social media by under-16s,…”
“If, as we have been assured, there was no law that prevented the permanent under-secretary from telling the Prime Minister the outcome of Mandelson’s developed vetting, then presumably by the same token there was no law that prevented the P…”
“(Urgent Question) : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans to fund the recommendations of the strategic defence review.…”
“As former Officer Cadet Francois 24663730, and latterly Lieutenant Francois, 5th Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment (Volunteers), I am proud to be asked to sum up for His Majesty’s official Opposition in this important debate about Gurkh…”
“When I spoke from this Dispatch Box barely a month ago, I had literally just returned, hot foot, from Ukraine. Those who were here that evening might recall that I conveyed to the House a personal warning from the Speaker of the Rada, the U…”
“Iran!…”
“As the son of a man who fought in the second world war, I am privileged to be able to sum up on behalf of His Majesty’s loyal Opposition in this debate about those who fell in the first world war and the vital contribution made by Commonwea…”
“Where is Yvette?…”
“I hope that the Chairman of the Select Committee, who is making an excellent speech, will forgive me for interrupting him. He has referred to readiness and timings. Is he, like me, concerned about the comment on—from memory—page 43 of the s…”
“It is a pleasure to follow the honourable Member for North Devon (Ian Roome), who always speaks knowledgably on defence matters—and not just because of his own service—as he has done again today. I must apologise to the House for missing th…”
“Essex man and woman love their cars, but the A13 and the A217 in south Essex are at 99% capacity during the morning and evening peaks—they are maxed out. The proposed lower Thames crossing would help, and although Labour now says that the c…”
“We had hoped to see the Minister for the Armed Forces today, but we accept that he is on manoeuvres. More seriously, we learned last week that the Prime Minister’s interest in British Army veterans once even stretched to working with disgra…”
“On that point, will the Minister give way?…”
Create a free account to read the full debates — and get an email the moment Mark next speaks in the House.
Follow Mark Francois →Read on Verbatim