Speeches by Blackman.

“Yesterday the all-party parliamentary group on UK-Israel heard from the families of five of the remaining hostages. It is estimated that of the 59 who are still in captivity, only 24 are alive and 35 have been murdered. The recently released hostage Eli Sharabi described the conditions in which he was detained: he was …”

“I thank the Leader of the House for announcing the business. We had 11 applications, covering nine Departments, for the estimates day debates. All of them could have been chosen, but we had the difficult decision of choosing three. We will try to accommodate those that were not chosen when we have the main estimates da…”

“I welcome the Secretary of State’s robust view on the BBC. However, the problem is that the BBC does not refer to Hamas as a terrorist organisation, as it should. Indeed, the problem is that David Collier, an investigative journalist, could actually go through the documentary and identify all the errors that were made …”

“It is estimated that only 3% of the 3.5 million British citizens abroad participated in the last general election. What action can the Electoral Commission and my right hon. and learned Friend take to ensure that people who are eligible to vote can do so in future general elections?”

“I welcome the Secretary of State’s statement. All our thoughts are with the victims and their families. I know the Secretary of State will keep us up to date about the permanent memorial. However, the big failure that she has not spoken about was the testing regime for the products that were put on Grenfell, and on bui…”

“T7. As you will know, Mr Speaker, I rarely, if ever, agree with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. The Secretary of State has set out the position in relation to her change of heart, but will she commit to ensure that any proposal for a third runway at Heathrow will have a full impact assessment before it is approved or …”

“I remind the House that the Backbench Business Committee is taking applications for estimates day debates on 5 March, and that applications close a week tomorrow. We will then consider the applications for debates—we understand that there may be several—at our meeting on 25 February. In addition to the business announc…”

“Clearly, national security concerns are being expressed across the House. Will the Minister ensure that the construction, maintenance and access to software will be carried out by British workers in British shops, and will not be subcontracted to foreign powers?”

“It is welcome news that some hostages have been released, but the shocking scenes that we have seen of brave young women surrounded by terrorists demonstrate that Hamas are still in charge in Gaza. The question now turns to how we ensure that the Palestinian people can return to safe and secure homes, that the terror t…”

“In addition to the business that the Leader of the House has announced, in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 11 February there will be a debate on the cost of energy, and on Thursday 13 February there will be a debate on HIV Testing Week, followed by a debate on the prevention of cardiovascular disease. When we return after …”

“There is a difference, as well, between an MP that is standing again and a new candidate coming in. I think there is a marked difference there, particularly in terms of long-standing MPs that were re-standing, compared to, say, a new candidate coming in. I think that is something that has to be looked at as part of thi…”

“I think it has changed. Personally, not in this election but in previous elections, I have been assaulted on the street. You have to take that into account and always think of your security. I for one would never be out and about by myself, and I am sure other candidates have been in the same position. There is a feeli…”

“There is a difference, as well, between an MP that is standing again and a new candidate coming in. I think there is a marked difference there, particularly in terms of long-standing MPs that were re-standing, compared to, say, a new candidate coming in. I think that is something that has to be looked at as part of thi…”

“I would also single out, which might be controversial, HOPE not Hate, who produced a booklet of disgraceful slurs, particularly against female candidates in the Conservative party, but Conservative men as well. It was not deliberately aimed at stirring up trouble, but without doubt it had an impact on the abuse that th…”

“Without question, social media was much more abusive. Personally, the first thing I do in the morning is go through X, and mute or block anyone that is rude or abusive. I know that colleagues do that but, frankly, I have been doing it for donkey’s years, and I just take it as part of the normal experience that we have …”

“Personally, the campaign was very much directed in an orderly fashion in my constituency, but I am very well aware that candidates across the country had terrible times. I have to say that, in my experience, from the complaints I have heard, in the main, female candidates experienced terrible misogyny and abuse from va…”

“I have circulated to colleagues and ex-colleagues the fact that we are having this hearing, and I asked them to send me details of anything that happened. We will compile that and submit it.”

“We have a process by which, certainly close to general elections, everything that is going out with the party logo on has to be signed off. I am sure that it is a great frustration to candidates—my colleagues are nodding around the room. That is a process to ensure that nothing defamatory would actually be issued. You …”

“I think it is fair to say that, internally, within the party, those actions are taken—probably in the Labour party as well—but they will not be publicised. Therefore, you would not have necessarily seen what action was taken, but as a board member of the party, we routinely see the results of disciplinary action and th…”

“Clearly, they were out to cause a particular reaction in the voters’ minds, but that also created hostility towards those individuals. If we could eliminate that, it would be very good news, because it is unfair on candidates and probably on the electorate, who are going, “What’s this all about?” While I think it is fa…”