Government must be honest over level-playing-field obligations in Canada-style FTA

03 Feb 2020

Stephen Kinnock: The Foreign Secretary says that he wants a Canada-style free trade agreement and claims that FTAs never include level-playing-field obligations, but article 23.4 of the EU-Canada FTA clearly states that “it is inappropriate to encourage trade or investment by weakening or reducing…labour law and standards.” Will the Foreign…

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Trump’s ‘peace deal’ is no such thing

30 Jan 2020

Stephen Kinnock: This is not a peace deal; it is an annexation plan. If another country wanted 60% of our territory and full control of our borders, natural resources and national security, we would not see that as a peace proposal; we would see it as a declaration of war.…

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‘Global Britain’ doesn’t mean we stop giving support and sanctuary to the most vulnerable

22 Jan 2020

Stephen Kinnock: My hon. Friend is making an excellent statement. Does she think that the phrase “global Britain” means we stop supporting and giving sanctuary to some of the most vulnerable people in the world? [Interruption.] Thangam Debbonaire: Of course not—hon. Members on the Government Benches seem to agree with…

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Defending Our Democracy In The Digital Age

20 Jan 2020

As Chair of the APPG on Electoral Campaigning Transparency I launched the groups ground-breaking report, Defending Our Democracy In The Digital Age, which sets out 20 recommendations on how to protect future elections and referenda from dirty money and dodgy data. Our electoral law has not been updated properly since…

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Welsh Steel MPs Meet With Secretary Of State

16 Jan 2020

Following the election Welsh steel MPs met with the Secretary of State for Wales and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State to push the Government to act now to protect and strengthen our steel industry – the backbone of UK manufacturing. We know what needs to be done, the Government…

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We should be staying aligned on workers’ rights, environmental protections and consumer standards

09 Jan 2020

Stephen Kinnock: My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech, and I would like to echo the comments about the diligent way in which he is going about this task. Does he agree that 52-48 was a mandate to move house but stay in the same neighbourhood? if we are…

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Steel APPG Meets With Minister

29 Oct 2019

The APPG on Steel held a constructive meeting with Nadhim Zahawi. The Minister told us his team are looking at how to close huge gap between energy costs faced by UK steelmakers & those in Germany & France. We look forward to hearing his proposals in due course.

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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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