Social Security System Is Not Only Callous And Cruel, It Is Not Value For Money

20 Dec 2018

Early in the debate on the cumulative impact of changes to the social security system I intervenes on the high rate of PIP and ESA decisions that are overturned on appeal. Stephen Kinnock: Is my hon. Friend aware of the fact that in Wales 75% of PIP and 74% of ESA…

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Norway Plus And The Backstop

18 Dec 2018

As the Prime Minister returned to the House of Commons following the EU summit I asked her about the Norway-plus option and the backstop. Stephen Kinnock: The Prime Minister repeatedly claims that the Norway-plus option would require a backstop, but on 3 December her Attorney General told me from the Dispatch…

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A Norway plus-Based Brexit Would Be A Strong Compromise In The National Interest

07 Dec 2018

As Parliament debated the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal I spoke about respecting the referendum result and how Norway Plus is the best way to do that. The instruction given by 52:48 referendum vote is clear: move house, but stay in same neighbourhood. To leave EU’s political project, but to retain…

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Brexit Secretary Appears Before Committee For Exiting The European Union

04 Dec 2018

Before five days of debate on the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on the Framework for the Future Relationship, the Brexit Secretary and Prime Minister’s Europe Adviser appeared in front of the Committee For Exiting The European Union. I asked him about turning the political declaration into a binding international…

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Attorney General And Norway Plus Option

04 Dec 2018

During questions to the Attorney General over the legal advice given on the Withdrawal Agreement I asked him about the Norway-plus option and the backstop. Stephen Kinnock: The Attorney General may be familiar with the terms of the so-called Norway-plus option, in which the United Kingdom would join the European…

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Norway Plus

04 Dec 2018

The Brexit negotiations have reached crunch point. The Prime Minister has agreed a deal with the European Union. In a few weeks MPs will have to vote. The parliamentary arithmetic looks very challenging. The chances of no deal are rising day-by-day. The UK needs a Plan B. One that can…

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Ukrainian Economy Is Being Strangled By The Economic Blockade

28 Nov 2018

During Foreign and Commonwealth Office questions I asked about the situation in Crimea, the Ukrainian economy and the Magnitsky amendment. Stephen Kinnock: The Minister has done an excellent job, as always, of answering our questions, but this does smack a little of complacency. Let us remember that 10,000 people have…

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Prime Minister Is Flogging A Dead Horse

27 Nov 2018

In the Commons I told the PM that she is flogging a dead horse and I urged her to join forces with senior members of her own Cabinet to back Norway Plus. It protects jobs, gives immigration safeguards, solves NI, means we leave ECJ and helps reunite our deeply divided…

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Committee For Exiting The EU Examines The Political Declaration

22 Nov 2018

When the Committee examined the political declaration I asked about the transition period and negotiating a future relationship with the European Union, as well as the UK changing direction and going for an EEA-based Brexit. Stephen Kinnock: We have established that the transition period will be an opportunity for the…

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Steelworkers Meeting In Parliament

22 Nov 2018

A group of steelworkers visited Parliament to campaign for pension justice and compensation. Nick Smith, Tonia Antoniazzi and I brought them face to face with regulators: the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and Financial Conduct Authority. During the transfer from the British Steel Pensions Scheme to the British Steel Pension Scheme…

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Ask Her To Stand

21 Nov 2018

It was lovely meeting my constituent Nicola Irwin who was visiting Parliament on the centenary of the Qualifications of Women Act and the Ask Her To Stand day. The day was designed to encourage and give women the confidence to stand for elected office either locally or nationally. It is…

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Shared Policy Fund Decisions Should Be Devolved

15 Nov 2018

Intervening in the Westminster Hall debate on the Shared Prosperity fund, I called for decisions to be devolved, empowering local authorities, local stakeholders and practitioners who know what works best in their communities. Stephen Kinnock: My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech. Surely the best way to ensure the…

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Westminster Must Not Use Brexit And The End Of The EU’s Regional Funding As An Opportunity To Short-Change The Poorest Parts Of The UK

15 Nov 2018

In a Westminster Hall debate on the Shared Prosperity Fund and Wales I spoke about how this cannot be a financial or a power grab and the work of the APPG on post-Brexit funding for nations, regions and local areas. You can read the APPG report of an initial inquiry…

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Brexit Impact On Security Policy Development

15 Nov 2018

The Committee for Exiting the European Union examined the impact of Brexit on security policy, it heard from Camino Mortera-Martinez, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for European Reform and Sir Rob Wainwright, former Executive Director, Europol. I asked about and EEA-based Brexit, extradition and access to the EU justice and home…

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Women’s Equality Network Wales Mentoring Reception

14 Nov 2018

It was great to meet Kate Ellis from Baglan at the Women’s Equality Network Wales reception in Parliament. Kate was one of the twenty-six aspirational women who are part of WEN Wales’ mentoring programme to get more women, and more diverse women, into public and political life. WEN Wales has done fantastic…

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Backstop Plans For Irish Border

30 Oct 2018

The Committee for Exiting the EU heard from representatives of industries operating on both sides of the Irish border, such as food and drink, retail and manufacturing. They looked at what the impact of the various backstop proposals would be on trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the…

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NPT Cancer Challenge Parliamentary Reception

30 Oct 2018

As the Chancellor prepared to deliver his Budget on Monday, I took time away from the Budget build-up to welcome members of Neath Port Talbot Cancer Challenge to Parliament for a reception to celebrate their 20th anniversary. It was a fantastic afternoon celebrating Neath Port Talbot Cancer Challenge’s 20th anniversary.…

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Raab And Meaningful Vote

23 Oct 2018

I questioned Dominic Raab over Parliament’s meaningful vote on the Brexit deal. Stephen Kinnock: The Secretary of State’s memorandum justifies the ordering involving the substantive motion coming first, which is highly unusual, on the basis of Standing Order No. 31, which relates to Opposition day motions. On what planet could this…

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Committee for Exiting the European Union Hears From Government Department Permanent Secretaries

22 Oct 2018

The No Deal option is a charade. It’s unthinkable. To sum up evidence our Committee heard: cost to UK exporters: £4.5-6bn; only 2% of British biz are prepared; no proper plans for reciprocal healthcare. It’s time to end this chaos and pursue and EEA-based Brexit. Sir Ian Cheshire, Government Lead…

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Surely Salzburg Summit Taught Her That The White Paper Was Completely And Utterly Dead In The Water

16 Oct 2018

The Prime Minister keeps telling us that her Chequers white paper will deliver frictionless trade, post-Brexit. The Salzburg summit showed us all that Chequers is completely dead in the water, yet incredibly she just keeps on flogging that dead horse. Time for Plan B: an EEA-based Brexit. Stephen Kinnock: The Prime…

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Pressure Points If We Have A No Deal Brexit

15 Oct 2018

The Committee for Exiting the European Union heard from Sir Amyas Morse, Comptroller and Auditor General, National Audit Office about Brexit preparedness and coordination across Whitehall. Sir Amyas talked about ‘points of failure’ and I asked him where these pressure points will be. Stephen Kinnock: Good morning, Sir Amyas. The…

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