It Could Take Two Years For EU To Give UK An ‘Adequacy Decision’ Under GDPR Regulations

09 May 2018

In the Committee on Exiting the EU my questioning revealed it could take two years for EU to give UK an ‘Adequacy Decision’ under General Data Protection Regulation. This could hinder free flow of data to and from EU after Brexit. It’s vital work is done now to prepare us…

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Committee For Exiting The European Union Asks About The Parliamentary Vote On Withdrawal Agreement And EU/UK Future Framework

08 May 2018

During the latest session of the Exiting The European Union Committee, I questioned how Parliament could end up voting on contradictory things on withdrawal agreement and the EU/UK future framework. Stephen Kinnock: Distinctions are being drawn between the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration. I wonder whether there is, to…

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Magnitsky Amendments: Sunlight Is The Best Disinfectant

01 May 2018

I pushed the Minister on the Magnitsky amendments. Full publication of names of human rights abusers and clarity on independent review mechanism are vital, if Bill is to succeed. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Stephen Kinnock: Along with other colleagues, I absolutely share the objectives of the Magnitsky provisions. I have…

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Committee For Exiting The European Union Grills David Davis

25 Apr 2018

David Davis appeared before the Committee for Exiting the European Union and I grilled him on the nature of the Parliamentary motion on regarding the Withdrawal Agreement, the nature of the political declaration and asks if we are heading towards a constitutional crisis. Stephen Kinnock: Good morning, Secretary of State. During the…

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Can He Assure Me That All Plans For The Baglan Prison Are Well And Truly On Hold

24 Apr 2018

In the first Ministry of Justice question since I, along with two representatives from Stop NPT Prison group, met Rory Stewart in London, and off the back of the latest public meeting held in the Aberavon Beach Hotel, I pressed the Minister again on the government’s plans to build a…

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I Refuse To Allow My Country Or My Party To Be Held Hostage By Vladimir Putin

17 Apr 2018

Following the Prime Minister’s decision to authorise air strikes in Syria over the weekend, Parliament had the chance to debate the Prime Minister’s actions. I spoke about how the chemical weapons attach on innocent civilians was a brutal and barbaric act, that Parliament should have had a say in the…

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A Sector Deal For The Steel Industry

02 Apr 2018

During a debate on industrial strategy, I called on the Government to start delivering a sector deal for the steel industry. It would be a massive boost for the steel works in my Aberavon constituency and for the wider steel making industry, turning it from surviving to thriving. The Government…

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Prime Ministers Brexit Red Lines Are Leading Us Inexorably Towards A Hard Border On The Island Of Ireland

27 Mar 2018

The Prime Minister gave her latest statement to the House on the Brexit negotiations, following her meeting with the EU Council. I asked her about her Brexit red lines and the impact they would have on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Stephen Kinnock: The 23…

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We Should Not Allow Putin To Use The World Cup As Smokescreen For His Crimes & To Bolster His Regime

27 Mar 2018

I called on the Foreign Secretary to work with others around to world to postpone the World Cup, and relocate it to another country in 2019. Our government should be working with others to strip Russia of the FIFA World Cup & relocate it in 2019, after the Women’s World Cup. Sport…

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Sergei Magnitsky

20 Mar 2018

During an urgent question in the House on the Government’s actions to address dirty money being laundered in the UK, I asked why the UK is the only country to have done nothing to track down, arrest and seize assets of those associated with the brutal murder of Sergei Magnitsky, despite having…

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Managing Customs At The Border After Brexit

20 Mar 2018

I asked the Minister what the government are doing to be ready at the border in Dover after Brexit, and his response exposed how unprepared the government are for managing customs at the border after Brexit. Stephen Kinnock: Currently, goods that require checks go into a lorry park just off the M20, which…

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Cambridge Analytica

20 Mar 2018

During an urgent question in the House over the revelations surrounding Cambridge Analytica, I asked about the role of Cambridge Analytica in the Brexit referendum and the implications for the referendum result are if it is revealed that Cambridge Analytica and Leave.EU broke electoral law. Stephen Kinnock: Andy Wigmore, who was director of communications…

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We Need The Westminster Government To Change Their Attitude Towards Wales

20 Mar 2018

In the delayed House of Commons debate to mark St David’s Day, I spoke about how the Tories stand by while Welsh Labour stands up for Wales. We need a government that will support our steel industry, give the go ahead to the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, stop the ill-judged…

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If You’re Looking For A Commonsense Brexit That Strikes A Balance Between Prosperity And Sovereignty The EEA is The Only Game In Town

15 Mar 2018

In the House I called for an EEA based Brexit, a deal that builds on the architecture of the EEA for deal that can reunite Britain, satisfying both Leave and Remain voters. In the EEA-EFTA model, we have the answer to protecting market access, jobs and opportunities; to a friction-less border in Northern Ireland;…

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Call For Action Against The Trump Steel Tariffs

14 Mar 2018

During questions to the Secretary of State for Wales, I explained the cost of steel tariffs for the Welsh steel industry and also to America itself, and asked him what the government has done to stop the Trump steel tariffs hurting the British steel industry. Stephen Kinnock: Is the Secretary of State aware…

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Holding The World Cup In Russia This Summer Risks Vindicating The Putin Regime

14 Mar 2018

When the Prime Minister updated the House on the ultimatum given to Russia over the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, I spoke about my experience of the Russian state as head of the British Council through the Litvinenko crisis, and asked the Prime Minister if she agrees that the…

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Chancellor Appears Before EU Scrutiny Committee

06 Mar 2018

The Chancellor appeared before the EU Scrutiny Committee and I took the opportunity to question him on Brexit and the EEA,  and also called out the Tories Kafka-esque confusion about what is and isn’t included in alignment.

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Brexit Secretary Appears Before EU Scrutiny Committee

06 Mar 2018

The Brexit Secretary, David Davis MP, appeared before the EU Scrutiny Committee. During my questions to him, he revealed that it may not be possible for the UK to participate, as the PM said we would, in various EU Agencies. You can watch the exchange below.

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Former Director Of The WTO And EU Trade Commissioner Questioned By Exiting EU Committee

28 Feb 2018

Pascal Lamy, the former Director of the WTO and EU Trade Commissioner was questioned by the Committee for Exiting the EU. I asked about steel, Brexit the WTO and dealing with Chinese dumping; and the implications on trade of the transition deal that the government have signed up to. Stephen…

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European Economic Area And The Single Market Are Not Synonymous

22 Feb 2018

During the debate on alternatives to a no-deal outcome in negotiations with the EU, I made the point that the European Economic Area (EEA) and the single market are not the same thing. Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon): I congratulate the hon. Lady on securing this debate. One of the common misconceptions is that…

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Norway Option Ticks Every One Of Those Boxes

22 Feb 2018

As the Minister responded to the debate on on alternatives to a no-deal outcome in negotiations with the EU, I challenged her on how an EEA EFTA Brexit not only preserves market access, jobs & opportunities, but that it also ticks all of the government’s leave boxes: ending ECJ jurisdiction and direct…

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