Give The Steel industry The Sector Deal It Urgently Needs

21 May 2019

Stephen Kinnock: It is almost three years to the day since we were battling to save the entire Tata operation throughout the United Kingdom. It beggars belief that we are here having the same conversation and asking the same questions. The fact is that the fundamental problem is that the…

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Busting The ‘Rule Takers’ Myth

15 May 2019

Legal experts appeared before the Committee for Exiting the European Union and I asked them about the notion that being a non-EU member of the European Economic Area would make us rule takers. Stephen Kinnock: Thank you to our panel. I just want to unpack this notion that being a…

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There Is A Fundamental Worry That The SPF Will Become A Politicised Slush Fund

14 May 2019

I’m proud to chair APPG on Post-Brexit Funding and delighted to have taken part in Dan Jarvis MP’s Westminster Hall debate on the Shared Prosperity Fund. I pressed the Government to main the same funding in full, to respect the devolution settlement and to empower communities. I congratulate my hon.…

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Committee for Exiting the EU: Changing Attitudes Within The EU Towards The UK

10 May 2019

As the Committee for Exiting the EU continued its work scrutinising the Brexit negotiations, I asked about how the United Kingdom was being viewed by other European countries. Stephen Kinnock: Good morning. I just wanted to drill down a bit further into what Charles was saying there about changing attitudes…

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Fighting To Ensure That Wales Gets The Regional Investment That It Needs

08 May 2019

I secured a Westminster debate on Regional Development Funding in Wales. The Tory Government seems unable to make guarantees to Aberavon and the rest of Wales about what will replace the £2bn of EU funding from 2020. We need answers! Stephen Kinnock: I beg to move, That this House has…

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Paying Tribute To Steelworkers & Calling For Meeting To Discuss Sector Deal For Steel

02 May 2019

I paid tribute to Tata Steel’s workers & management, and the emergency services for their response to the recent explosion at the Port Talbot works. I was also pleased the Secretary of State, Greg Clark MP, agreed he and Andrew Stephenson will meet our Steel APPG to discuss Steel Sector…

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Steel And EU Emissions Trading Compliance

02 May 2019

To prevent the steel industry facing a new cliff edge at the end of the Brexit transition period, I called on the Government to amend the political declaration on the future relationship to secure a commitment to the Emissions Trading System. Stephen Kinnock: The term “cliff edge” is probably overused,…

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Committee for Exiting the EU Hears About Trade

02 May 2019

As the Committee considered a customs union and our post-Brexit trading relationship, I highlighted that the problem with customs Union without the Single Market is that it wouldn’t deliver free movement of trucks! Border checks can result in 30 hour queues! Turkey used up it’s Austrian permits early, so for…

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There Needs To Be A Viable Leave Option On The Ballot Paper Versus Remain

01 May 2019

During the second round of indicative votes I intervened in the debate to say that if we do have a confirmatory vote then a viable leave option needs to be on the ballot paper. Stephen Kinnock: My right hon. Friend is making an excellent speech, and I agree with her,…

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Single Market Must Be Central To Any Brexit Deal

12 Apr 2019

The Single Market must be central to any Brexit deal: it would mean close economic ties but leaving political union. When I questioned the Prime Minister on the importance of Single Market membership for workers’ rights, the integrity of the union and for the services sector, she suggested there is…

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British Steel Pension Scheme Transfer Debate

11 Apr 2019

Thousands of honest, hardworking steelworkers in my Aberavon constituency and across the country were left exposed to opportunistic and unscrupulous financial advisers. They sought to exploit the steelworkers when they were forced to decide whether to move to the British Steel Pension Scheme 2 or transfer out into another pension…

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Hierarchy Of Chaos

09 Apr 2019

The chaos that has been unleashed by the Government’s handling of Brexit has been laid bare for all to see, so in the Commons chamber I challenged the Tories on the way their voted during the indicative votes. Stephen Kinnock: Given that Conservative MPs voted en masse against just about everything…

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Indicative Votes: Common Market 2.0

28 Mar 2019

When Parliament had it’s opportunity to debate alternative Brexit deals, I set out the arguments for Common Market 2.0 in the House, as lead sponsor of the amendment. Common Market 2.0 brings together Leavers and Remainers, and three different parties. Common Market 2.0 can get us out of this crisis and…

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Committee For Exiting The European Union Hears From A Panel Of Legal And Policy Experts

11 Mar 2019

The Committee for Exiting the European Union heard evidence from a panel of legal and policy experts on Parliament’s role over the next few months, including what legislation Parliament needs to pass ahead of withdrawal to provide for a functioning statute book with or without a deal, including an EU (Withdrawal…

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Launch Of APPG For Reuniting Britain Post-Brexit

08 Mar 2019

It was great to launch the All Party Parliamentary Group for Reuniting Britain Post-Brexit with My Life My Say, Caroline Lucas MP and Tom Brake MP. It’s crucial that whatever happens with Brexit we find ways of healing the divides across ages, education, place and values. To coincide with the…

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Enforcing The Minimum Wage

05 Mar 2019

Since the Minimum Wage was introduced by Labour in 1998 only 14 employers have been prosecuted by HMRC for not paying it. In Treasury questions I asked the Chancellor about boosting the capacity of HMRC to prosecute employers who are failing to pay the National Minimum Wage. Stephen Kinnock: I cannot…

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Calling For A Meeting With Minister Over Post-Brexit Funding

05 Mar 2019

As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Post-Brexit Funding for Nations, Regions and Local Areas, I called on the Minister to meet with the Group to discuss the findings of our report. Our report called for UK Shared Prosperity Fund to pay “not be a penny less” than current EU…

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Steelworkers Pensions FCA Meeting

04 Mar 2019

I, along with Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Nick Smith MP and Philippa Hann of Clarke Willmot, had a very important meeting with The Financial Conduct Authority’s Andrew Bailey. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of steelworkers have been victims of pension miss-selling at hands of rogue financial advisers.  We will keep supporting them to…

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We Are A Proud, Unique Community In Aberavon, Even Banksy Picked Us Out

28 Feb 2019

In this years St David’s Day debate I decided to speak about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, steelworkers pensions, steel procurement, Personal Independence Payments and of course Banksy! Stephen Kinnock: It is always a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff North (Anna McMorrin), and I congratulate my…

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Committee for Exiting the EU Hears From Bertie Ahern

15 Feb 2019

The Committee for Exiting the European Union heard from former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern about British-Irish relations and the implications of the various Brexit outcomes for that relationship. Stephen Kinnock: Thanks, Mr Ahern, for your fascinating evidence. I wanted to ask a more strategic or philosophical question about the future of…

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Prime Minister’s Deal Is A Bridge To Nowhere

15 Feb 2019

The Prime Minister’s deal is a bridge to nowhere. Common Market 2.0 offers a clear, stable & exciting future outside EU. It safeguards jobs and workers rights, offers new controls over free movement, would mean leaving the European Court of Justice, Common Fisheries Policy and Common Agricultural Policy, and it…

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