Queen’s Speech 2019

24 Oct 2019

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Bolton West (Chris Green). This Queen’s Speech shows an incredible level of ambition, with 26 Bills and no Government majority to deliver them. High hopes indeed this Government have for our nation. Or could it be, just possibly, that the…

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Statement on today’s Brexit votes

22 Oct 2019

I campaigned and voted to Remain on 23 June 2016, but as a democrat I accepted the result. I would have taken this view even if my Aberavon constituency had voted Remain. This was a UK-wide vote, and 52% of that electorate voted to leave. Those are the rules, and…

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Exiting the European Union Committee: Northern Ireland

15 Oct 2019

Stephen Kinnock: Sorry, I missed that last section of the conversation, but hopefully my question will not cut across what may have already been said. I am just thinking about this link between the future relationship, the arrangements for the Northern Irish border and the idea, under the customs partnership,…

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Orb Steelworks Debate: Government should back the Syndex plan

08 Oct 2019

Stephen Kinnock: My hon. Friend is making a very powerful speech. The Government often criticise us for critiquing their failure to support the steel industry without proposing a constructive plan, but she has just outlined an absolutely compelling and viable plan. One of the vital parts of it is that…

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Orb Steelworks Debate: British steel industry are completely undermined by energy price disparity

08 Oct 2019

Stephen Kinnock: The Minister talks about this being a commercial decision, but it is absolutely clear that the underlying conditions for the British steel industry are completely undermined by the energy price disparity. Is he aware of the fact that it costs £50 per MWh in the UK, compared with…

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Not a penny less, not a power lost

05 Sep 2019

I thank the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Drew Hendry) for securing this important debate. Over a year ago, I set up the all-party group on post-Brexit funding for nations, regions and local areas, with the aim of holding the Government to account on their promises regarding…

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Committee For Exiting The EU Hears From Michael Gove

05 Sep 2019

Stephen Kinnock: Thank you very much, Minister. We know that the withdrawal agreement was rejected three times, which then gave rise to the cross-party talks. The cross-party talks—very serious talks—went on for a period of around six weeks and from them a number of commitments and, if you like, concessions…

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Our nation is stuck in limbo, if the UK does not specify the purpose of the extension, we will end up in exactly the same position

04 Sep 2019

Stephen Kinnock: I rise to speak in favour of amendments 6 and 7 and new clause 1, which have been tabled in my name and those of my right hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) and many other Members across the Committee. Before I do, however, I…

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New Prime Minister Has No Mandate To Deliver No Deal

25 Jul 2019

Stephen Kinnock: The Conservative party 2017 manifesto says: “We need to deliver a smooth and orderly departure from the European Union”. That phrase is repeated eight times in the document. Does the Prime Minister therefore agree with me that he has no mandate to deliver no deal? The Prime Minister: …

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Exiting the EU Committee: Second Referendum

24 Jul 2019

Stephen Kinnock: I want to go back to this issue of legitimacy and link it to what question could be on the ballot paper in a possible further referendum. In the recent European Parliament elections, the Brexit Party won convincingly on the basis of an explicit commitment to a no-deal…

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No Deal Brexit Represents An Existential Threat To The British Steel Industry

24 Jul 2019

Stephen Kinnock: The UK exports 2.6 million tonnes of steel to the European Union every year. It is estimated that a no-deal Brexit would add £70 million of additional administration costs and costs relating to border checks. Does the Secretary of State therefore agree that a no-deal Brexit represents an…

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EU Scrutiny Committee: No Deal Brexit

17 Jul 2019

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Committee For Exiting The EU Hears From Keir Starmer MP

10 Jul 2019

Stephen Kinnock: You have said many times, and I think many of us around this table share the view, that crashing out of the European Union on 31— Mr Bone: Not everyone. Stephen Kinnock: No, I said many. Sorry, I have lost my train now. Mr Bone: You were talking…

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Committee For Exiting The EU Hears From David Liddington MP

10 Jul 2019

Stephen Kinnock: I want to go back to the cross-party talks. You set out the way that the Government interpreted Labour’s priorities and objectives going into those talks. Do you feel that the Labour side entered those talks in good faith? Mr Lidington: Yes, I do, and not only because…

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No Deal Brexit And Steel Quotas

09 Jul 2019

Stephen Kinnock: I thank my hon. Friend for securing this vital debate. I also pay tribute to him for his absolutely outstanding work as chair of the all-party group on steel and metal-related industries. He shows real leadership in this area. On the subject of the steel quotas, he rightly…

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We Were Promised A Consultation On UKSPF, It’s Unacceptable That This Hasn’t Happened

26 Jun 2019

Stephen Kinnock: I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this important debate. Given those regional imbalances and the question of how funding should be spent, is it not completely outrageous and unacceptable that we were promised a consultation on the shape of the shared prosperity fund, which should have started…

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Prime Minister’s Successor Should Re-Table Withdrawal Agreement Bill

24 Jun 2019

Stephen Kinnock: Colleagues on the Labour Benches voted against the Prime Minister’s initial attempts to get a deal through because it was ​essentially a blind Brexit, with very little detail on the future relationship. However, the withdrawal agreement Bill tabled just prior to the European elections was actually full of…

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Committee For Exiting The EU: Examining The Impact Of A No-Deal Departure

12 Jun 2019

Stephen Kinnock: Thank you, gentlemen. Some of the leadership candidates for this Conservative leadership election are using the term “managed no deal”. Mr Barnier has said, “If the UK were to leave the EU without a deal, let me be very, very clear. We would not discuss anything with the…

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Government Must Act So British Steel Industry Can Compete Without One Hand Tied Behind Its Back

11 Jun 2019

Stephen Kinnock: British steel companies pay twice as much as their French competitors for energy and 50% more than German companies. What action will the Government take to enable the British steel industry to compete without having one hand tied behind its back? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business,…

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Ford Bridgend: This Government Are Like A Driverless Vehicle

10 Jun 2019

Stephen Kinnock: This is a devastating blow for the workforce, many of whom are from my Aberavon constituency. The Secretary of State keeps saying that the situation in other EU countries is also difficult, but none of them has seen investment in the automotive sector drop by 80% in the…

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Will The PM Give Her MPs A Free Vote?

22 May 2019

Stephen Kinnock: The Prime Minister has made it clear that she does not intend to put a commitment to a second referendum on the face of the Bill on Second Reading. In the spirit of compromise, therefore, will she commit to giving her MPs a free vote in Committee when…

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