Speeches by Brandreth.

“I thank my right hon. Friend for that really important intervention. We need to understand what the removal of our countryside and green belt will mean for people using rural roads, and the real impact that some of these developments will have. For riders and their horses—I should add carriage drivers, who are also oft…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Dowd. Just last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Harry Zimman, a constituent who is a keen rider. He highlighted two significant issues. The first is access to bridleways. Even in areas with excellent riding routes, such as Cheshire, riders must often travel alo…”

“I have been contacted by concerned doctors in Chester South and Eddisbury who, after five or six years at medical school and a further two years of foundation training, are now struggling to secure specialty posts and are being forced to consider leaving the NHS altogether. While I will reserve judgment on the medical …”

“8. When he plans to publish the NHS 10-year workforce plan.”

“My hon. Friend makes an important point and mentions the sub-postmasters in his constituency. I echo what he has said and pay tribute to those who work so hard in my constituency. Although I sincerely hope there will be no future branch closures, if the Government intend to make changes to the network, will special con…”

“The Post Office is a critical part of our national infrastructure. I do not believe that to be an exaggeration. In the time available to me this afternoon, I hope to demonstrate to the House, and to the Minister, why I, many right hon. and hon. Members on the Conservative Benches and, most importantly, my constituents,…”

“Dangerous driving and speeding are among the biggest road safety issues in my constituency. Despite that, the local Cheshire councils frequently say that they cannot introduce further safety measures because the police are unable to enforce them. What discussions has the Minister had with the Home Office to ensure that…”

“The right to a trial by jury is one that has stood at the very centre of our criminal justice system for centuries. It is a crucial check on the power of the state as it undertakes one of the most solemn duties: to try a citizen and to determine guilt or innocence. That principle is, in the words of the Lord Chancellor…”

“Given all that, the Intelligence and Security Committee was critical of the Government’s response to Iranian threats and raised concerns about the level of internal expertise. Does the FCDO think it has the required expertise to ensure it can competently assess these Iranian threats? Is anything being actively done to …”

“If I can move on to Iran—so, from one significant country to another—written evidence to this Committee has said that, alongside Russia and China, the Iranian regime “plays a key role in spreading disinformation to advance its extremist ideology, nurture antisemitism” and “undermine democratic institutions in the West.…”

“Linked to all that, Minister, perhaps one question is: which is more of a priority for you, national security or the economic opportunities that China presents?”

“I totally note that. I just think there seems to be an apparent disparity between the actions taken against Russia and Iran—when they have linked FIMI campaigns—and those linked to China. I wanted to specifically share that the Committee heard from witnesses who said that Chinese narratives on the Ukraine conflict appe…”

“You mentioned the December 2025 sanctions on the China-based cyber firms. Are the Government considering designations for known Chinese-linked disinformation and influence networks more broadly?”

“I take what you are saying, but given the clear security threats posed by China, and given that we have heard from the executive director of the China Strategic Risks Institute, the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Intelligence and Security Committee, to name just a few, asking why China, unlike Russia and Iran,…”

“I wanted to ask, given that last time there was a confirmed cyber-attack by Storm-1849 on MPs and the Electoral Commission, which I think occurred between 2021 and 2022, it took three years for the perpetrators to be identified. Are we expecting to wait that long for this to be confirmed?”

“So we have not confirmed whether it did or did not occur? Perhaps Mr Hall can elaborate?”

“It was reported in December that the FCDO was the victim of a cyber-attack by the Chinese state-linked Storm-1849 group. Could you confirm the nature and scale of that breach, and whether you have confirmed who was responsible?”

“The Government have heard from these Benches time and again about the impact the family farm tax has had on food security and the risk to countryside stewardship and our environment and the economic viability of farms, but also, crucially, about the impact on farmers’ mental health. My question to the Minister is simpl…”

“I welcome the removal of Nicolás Maduro, who for too long oppressed the people of Venezuela, but history shows that the aftermath of intervention can be as consequential as the intervention itself. What specific steps is the Foreign Secretary taking to ensure that there is no vacuum for instability or hostile actors to…”

“May I, too, wish you, Mr Speaker, your team and Members across the House a very merry Christmas? Given the significant demand for new homes, my constituency has seen a large number of developments in recent years. However, some developers are building and selling homes, then moving on without completing the work, leavi…”