Speeches by Gilmour.

“11. What steps he is taking to improve national resilience.”

“Not long ago, a Russian-flagged ship anchored just two miles off the Minehead coast in my constituency, directly above critical transatlantic cables. Our adversaries are becoming emboldened and operating even closer to home. As the proud sister of a serving brigadier and a retired lieutenant colonel, who between them h…”

“We know that MI6’s finding last September that Mandelson had compromising business interests was accurate—I mentioned it myself on 15 September 2025. He failed his security vetting. We also know that the former Cabinet Secretary advised the Prime Minister to carry out security clearance for Mandelson before his appoint…”

“He’s dying.”

“This Committee is called the Public Accounts Committee. For a moment, I would like you to think about it as the public accountability Committee. I noticed that you had been in the Army for 20 years, which is something I have great respect for as a sister of two Army officers. Sitting behind you is a gentleman who is a …”

“Is there a zero option?”

“Good.”

“Oh well, never mind.”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Furniss. I thank the hon. Member for Cannock Chase (Josh Newbury), who I would also be proud to call my hon. Friend, for bringing this debate to Westminster Hall. I do not think there is a single elected person sitting in this Chamber who does not realise what a won…”

“What website is designed to crash? [Laughter.]”

“I would find it very difficult to have a conscience that has been as traumatised as yours.”

“I commend my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Tewkesbury (Cameron Thomas) for bringing forward the debate, and for his wonderful and kind introduction to so many of his Gurkha friends. It would be easy for my remarks to simply be an ode to the Gurkhas and to shower them with honeyed words, because that is what th…”

“To tide you over.”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. As everyone knows, Tiverton and Minehead is the most beautiful constituency in the country, and I am privileged to represent a part of the country that sits firmly in the tourist belt and has such rich heritage. In my constituency, tourism is not an abstract…”

“I suppose nothing good has come out of the Ukrainian war, or Putin’s illegal invasion, except for the fact that the Ukrainians have really led the way in defence innovation and technology. To do that at the same time as being set against one of the wickedest men in the world is a huge achievement—that was an observatio…”

“Yes.”

“You used the word “extraordinary”. Can we assume, from what you have just said, that you got the wrong information and figures from the AWE, which is why the MOD accounts are so askew?”

“How nice to hear the voice of reason—and interestingly, without a civil servant’s background. I have a question for Anna-Lee Reilly. When do you think that the MOD will achieve the strategic defence review’s vision of delivering the best kit and technology into the hands of our frontline forces at speed? Obviously, I a…”

“I would also add that the European Union needs to recognise that it is as much its war as the rest of eastern Europe. Until it recognises that and produces the goods, the Ukrainians will continue to suffer at the hands of that ghastly man.”

“So the answer, in real human-being speak, is yes?”