Adam Jogee
MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme · Labour · United Kingdom
“In business questions earlier, the Leader of the House said that a new Administration may want to look at whether they want to proceed with any current proposals in other areas. I hope the next Administration will hear my call today to look again at that reorganisation.”
“That is one of the few things I do not have to bang on about quite as much as I did when I was first elected to this House. I have worked hard to represent our excellent local farmers, who produce—with their flock and animals —excellent British food, and I will continue to be a strong champion for them.”
“I will not stop banging on about this until we put it right. More generally, I welcome the £120 million support package for the ceramics industry in Staffordshire, and I am grateful to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and the Minister for Industry, my hon. Friend the hon.”
“The announcement today and the proposals in it are completely unacceptable. I reject them in the strongest terms— [ Interruption. ] Don’t heckle me. I have been saying this all along, so let me finish; I speak for my constituents.”
“It is a pleasure to follow the Chairman of the Backbench Business Committee, the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman). I join him in paying tribute to Ann Widdecombe. We must be able to disagree without being disagreeable—or in this case, murderous—in our country.”
“I have a minute and a bit to go, so I will take the opportunity to add a few words. I thank my constituents for their commitment to our country and our community, and for holding me to account in no uncertain terms every single day.”
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“The people of Audley in Newcastle-under-Lyme are proud of their green spaces, and in this week of Staffordshire Day, they want to say no to the release of the land south-east of the M6 from its green belt status for development. The petition “further declares that this proposed change of use would be significantly detrimental, particularly to the Parish of Audley… and further declares that the proposed development would result in poor air quality, noise, litter, loss of habitat and illumination for up to twenty-four hours a day, as well as severely impacting the views across the Cheshire plains and North Staffordshire, and having a devastating impact on the local community.”
“I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing the debate. Does he agree with me, and indeed with the hon. Member for South West Hertfordshire (Mr Mohindra), that the Conservative-run council in Newcastle-under-Lyme should also be applying article 4, sooner rather than later?”
“I congratulate my constituency neighbour, my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Leigh Ingham), on securing this urgent question. In Newcastle-under-Lyme, we make excellent British bricks at Ibstock in Chesterton, and I draw the Minister’s attention to my ten-minute rule Bill on British bricks. Will he take the opportunity to confirm today that the changes he has outlined will result in a “British brick first” approach to public contracts as we build the homes, community centres, schools and hospitals that our communities desperately need?”
“We all enjoyed listening to my hon. Friend talk about Neil, and he is right to talk about the impact of fly-tipping in rural communities—not just in Essex, but in Staffordshire too. He said that one of the reasons why the powers have not been used was the lack of a rural crime strategy, but is it not also the case that many police and crime commissioners have simply been missing in action, as has happened in Staffordshire?”
“I am thinking of all the people in Betley, Bradwell and Audley who have shared with me the corrosive impact that fly-tipping, industrial crime and waste crime have on communities such as mine. Conscious of the fact that you did not plan to call me, Madam Deputy Speaker—and judging by the looks of Members, they are keen to get to the votes—”
“Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I can tell by your smile that you were not expecting to call me, but I am very grateful that you spied me in this corner at the back of the Chamber. You will know because I have said it before, Madam Deputy Speaker, that waste crime, fly-tipping and the rest have, sadly, had too much of an impact in Newcastle-under-Lyme. I am thinking of Walleys quarry landfill site and the other examples that continue to blight my community, which I have talked about since my election to this place. As my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Chris Vince) noted, the impact fly-tipping can have on rural communities and our constituents’ lives speaks for itself not just in our surgeries, but in our inboxes.”
“I hope the Minister will provide that confirmation when she winds up, because it is important not just to me, but to the good people of Newcastle-under-Lyme.”
“It was very well said, but it is also important that my constituents are heard in the fight against fly-tipping and keeping our communities safe, clean and green. When the Minister winds up, I hope she will provide confirmation to Members of the House and to my constituents in Newcastle-under-Lyme that strengthening the statutory guidance on enforcement, including the use of vehicle seizure powers, will help councils. This is important because the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme will be voting in the Newcastle district borough council elections on Thursday 7 May, and I really hope that people in my community vote for the excellent Labour candidates on the ballot paper that day. It is also important because we need our councils to take tougher, more visible action against the fly-tippers who blight our communities.”
“The people of Newcastle-under-Lyme join me in welcoming Archbishop Sarah to her new responsibilities and in wishing her well. We also give thanks to Bishop Michael, who has announced his intention to stand down in September, for his service. The new archbishop will have a long to-do list, but what steps will be taken to ensure that vacancies at parish churches, including St Mark’s, Basford, and St Margaret’s, Wolstanton, will be filled quickly?”
“[That this House notes, with affection and respect, the 100th anniversary, on 21 April 2026 of the birth of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; reflects on the sense of loss that people throughout the United Kingdom, the realms, territories and Commonwealth still feel following Her late Majesty’s death on 8 September 2022; expresses its grateful thanks for Her late Majesty’s long life of service and her reign of 70 years and 214 days, unparalleled in history; remembers a monarch driven by purpose, commitment, love of country and an unmatched dedication to the Commonwealth; recognises the many visits, meetings and receptions, over seven decades, through which the people of this country were able to meet Her late Majesty, and she them, in communities right across the UK and the world; acknowledges that this milestone in history will be a very personal day of reflection, love and remembrance for His Majesty the King and his family as they remember a mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin and great-grandmother; and gives thanks for Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s long life of service and the example she set to all of us and sings with one voice, God Save the King.]”
“Queen Elizabeth II was and still is held in the highest esteem by the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire, and next Tuesday is the 100th anniversary of her birth. Will the Leader of the House join me in paying tribute to Her late Majesty’s long life of service to our United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and will he encourage all colleagues to sign early-day motion 3129, which I have tabled to mark that milestone?”
“The font of this statement is so small that it is super difficult to read, which made it even more difficult for me to look for the word “ceramics”, which I have yet to find. The Secretary of State said in his statement that he wants to “move faster” to support British manufacturing. He has heard from a number of my colleagues, and now he will hear from me, that we want to meet him. We have met Ministers—we had an excellent visit with the Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton North (Chris McDonald)—but we want to see the Secretary of State, so that we can talk about this scheme and the ceramics industry. We need to have that meeting quickly, because this is about the jobs, livelihoods and future of my community and many others across our country.”
“Nobody wants a sob story—I fully accept that—but this is my experience, and I hope that we will look at how we can do things differently so that nobody has to experience what we have. We need to consider the eligibility rules for Members seeking a proxy; in my view, the current rules are far too narrow. I read the Procedure Committee report, and I hope that, together, the Procedure and Modernisation Committees will be able to get us to the right place sooner rather than later. I say this not to seek sympathy but to be helpful, so that we finally make our Parliament compassionate and fit for purpose.”
“As I left this place to go back to my wife and in-laws, my wife called to tell me that her father had died. I will never forget that phone call. I received it only because I was unable to get a proxy or a pair. That remains the worst day that I have had in this job. The Leader of the House, the shadow Leader of the House and the hon. Member for North East Fife (Wendy Chamberlain) said that all Members should be able to do their jobs properly, and that is true, but it should not come at the expense of our family commitments—not least as a loved one reaches the end of their life. It is not lost on me that we were voting on assisted dying, but I was given no assistance by this House, or by the powerful people in it, to do my job and be with my family when they needed me most.”
“If a teacher cannot be at work, we get a supply teacher—we all remember the days when a supply teacher was in charge. How that cannot happen in the mother of Parliaments is inexplicable. We must get a grip of the proxy voting system. Nobody wants to let people off or change how we do things in a radical way, as I said at the beginning of my remarks. We do not want to stop people being here to vote, but we need to be sensible, compassionate and respectful. We need to get a grip because nobody should be forced to experience what I had to. Having failed to get a pair, despite trying really hard to do so given that my father-in-law was still on the journey to the end of his life, and having spoken to my family, I came to vote on that Friday, because if I had not, my constituents would not have been represented in that debate.”
“To say I was cross is an understatement, but I took on board that response and went on my way to find my own pairing arrangement. It was clear at that time that my father-in-law was not going to get better, so I asked colleagues in my party and on the Opposition Benches if they would pair with me. I asked the promoter of the Bill, who said that she was not able to help. I asked another colleague—whom I will not name, although I think it is important that I say this—who said that she could not help me because she was doing the numbers for the pro side, and she would therefore be “gleeful” that I could not be there, as it would be one less vote against the Bill. Given the stress and hassle it causes, no colleague should be forced to find their own pair when a loved one is dying. That is insane and, frankly, inhumane.”
“By the following Tuesday, it appeared that he was reaching the end of his life, and that if we wanted to say goodbye, we had to get there as soon as possible—and so we did. On Friday 20 June, this House was considering the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill—an issue of the utmost importance to all of us and to our constituents. Whatever our views, we all wanted to have our voices heard and to be able to take part in this most important of debates. I asked my Whips if a proxy vote could be sorted so that I could represent my constituents and also be with my family, but was told that because it was a private Member’s Bill, a proxy would not be possible, and therefore the only option available to me was to seek my own pairing arrangement with a colleague in the House.”
“It is those victories that allow us to serve in this place—and what a pleasure and privilege it is to do so. However, as we speak for our people, tackle injustices wherever we find them and work every day to get things done, no Member of this House should be forced to choose between family and doing our job of honouring the trust of the local people who sent us here and holding Ministers to account. The fact that I was forced to make such a choice on Friday 20 June 2025 is something that will stay with me forever. It remains, I am sad to say, the worst day I have had in this job. My wife received a phone call on 15 June to tell her that her father had taken unwell after many years of living with Parkinson’s.”
“Friend the Member for Harlow (Chris Vince), I broadly like the customs and practices of this place; they are age old and they broadly work. Indeed, they have been adopted by nations across the Commonwealth that have developed their own Westminster systems, such as in the Caribbean, Australia, Canada and on the African continent. I would not, therefore, advocate for radical changes that would change how we do things, but I am willing to advocate for sensible and respectful changes that would allow us to do our jobs more properly and effectively. Everyone has good days and bad days at work and at home. That is the nature of the world that we live in. It has always been that way, and that is not going to change. At work, some things go well; in our case, sometimes we win, and then we hope to keep on winning.”
“I acknowledge the Leader of the House of Commons, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Sir Alan Campbell), for picking up the baton and running with it. As my office staff would tell you, Madam Deputy Speaker, as would my wife and family, I am in many ways an analogue politician in a digital age—or, now, an AI age. I much prefer the written word and signing letters by hand over putting some app on my phone to record 30 seconds of myself speaking into a screen. In many ways, it might seem odd that I have taken such a close interest in both this report and the recent report from the Procedure Committee on proxy voting, and, more generally, in the measures being taken to open our national Parliament to all who work here and bring it into the 21st century. Like my hon.”
“This is an important debate, and I hope people do not think that the number of colleagues present means that it is not taken seriously. I am grateful to all members of the Modernisation Committee from across the House for their work, and for taking on the most Herculean task of making this place fit for the 21st century and creating the best means for us to deliver for the people who sent us here. I will focus my comments on part 2 of the report on procedures and processes, and within that on pages 2, 25 and 30, as well as page 11 of the response. I would like to acknowledge the work of my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester Central (Lucy Powell) while she served as Leader of the House— I suppose I should declare an interest as her former Parliamentary Private Secretary.”
“Finishing too early is not always a good thing. I start by extending my condolences to my constituent and great friend back home in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Rosi Monkman, whose mother died in County Waterford in the Republic of Ireland yesterday. I pay tribute to her mother, Mrs Morrissey, and to Rosi, her husband, their sons and all the family. As there were so many pithy contributions before me, Madam Deputy Speaker, and we have until 5 o’clock, I would like to place on the record my respect for Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. As was discussed in business questions, next Tuesday will mark the 100th anniversary of Her late Majesty’s birth, which is a fitting opportunity for us to remember, reflect and give thanks for a long life of service to our United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.”
“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to work with Staffordshire County Council to ensure that the concerns that have been raised are listened to carefully, to ensure full transparency about the future of the site, and to take all possible steps to protect Baldies Field for the benefit of the community. And the petitioners remain, etc. [P003185]”
“The petition states: The petition of residents of the constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Declares that Baldies Field—a green space adjacent to Hoon Avenue and Milehouse Lane—has been used by local people for generations, and is valued by residents as an accessible open space used for walking, recreation and wellbeing; further declares that proposals affecting the site have generated significant concern across the community and that residents have raised issues relating to traffic congestion in the surrounding area and have questioned how additional development could be accommodated safely within an already pressured road network; further declares that there are concerns about flooding and drainage in the area, including existing problems following heavy rainfall; further declares that questions remain about how further development would affect the local drainage system and whether the implications have been fully addressed; and further declares that the potential loss of Baldies Field itself is a major concern as, for many people nearby, it represents one of the few remaining accessible green spaces, relied upon by individuals and families for everyday recreation and for the mental and physical wellbeing that open spaces support.”
“It must be a Northern Irish thing. She often purchases marmalade at one of the excellent shops in Newcastle-under-Lyme. May I congratulate the hon. Lady on an excellent and interesting speech, and on giving voice to the sweet, sweet tastes of Paddington Bear himself?”
“Holy Scripture tells us that we should never walk by on the other side, and I am reassured by the Secretary of State’s statement that she agrees, even if she used other words. She is right to talk about value for money for taxpayers and the values that we hold close as Brits. I particularly welcome the commitment to Gavi. With that in mind, and as we work to make “Global Britain” mean something, will she update the House on the work of the Soft Power Council in recent months? I also urge her to use the Commonwealth to advance the values that she set out in her statement today. Will she meet me to discuss my thoughts on how we can do just that?”
“We are enjoying my hon. Friend’s speech; she has a number of pages left, and we want to hear all of it. She rightly talks about the potential ban for under-16s. I was at Newcastle academy last week, and a number of young people said that they would feel much safer if such a ban were imposed, so I would like to add my support to hers.”
“On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Today is 17 March, St Patrick’s day. People will be celebrating across the world, something that has been made easier for us this evening because Opposition Members voted for the Government business today. Madam Deputy Speaker, as chair of the Ireland and the Irish in Britain all-party parliamentary group, I seek your guidance on the best way for this House to send its best wishes to all the Irish staff working in this place, and to all those who are Irish and who wish they were Irish, in Newcastle-under-Lyme and across the kingdom. And may I say, through you Madam Deputy Speaker, happy St Patrick’s day?”
“We all welcome the work being done to get our national health service back on track. What engagement does the Department have with, and what guidance does it provide to, ICBs about what happens when a practice closes or a GP returns their contract in rural communities, like in Betley in Newcastle-under-Lyme? We need to do whatever we can to ensure that people in rural communities such as mine do not get left behind and can access the GP services that my hon. Friend the Minister outlined in their own communities.”
“It allowed me and the many hundreds of people present the opportunity to reflect, remember and celebrate all that makes the Commonwealth—a family of nations in all corners of the globe—what it is, what is has been, and what it can be.”
“So it was again this year; the world marked Commonwealth Day on Monday this week, and people across all 56 member countries took part in cultural events, school activities and faith-based services. On Monday, thanks to Mr Speaker, the Commonwealth flag was raised here, in this mother of Parliaments. Sadly, I had not quite reached this place from Newcastle-under-Lyme—the centre of our collective universe—to attend the ceremony, but I pay tribute to Mr Speaker for the seriousness with which he takes furthering links between Commonwealth Parliaments, peoples and traditions. Although I could not attend the flag raising, I was privileged to mark Commonwealth Day in the presence of Their Majesties at a service of thanksgiving at Westminster abbey, attending on behalf of my constituents back home in Newcastle-under-Lyme.”
“Thirty-three of its members are small states, including many island nations in all corners of the world, from Jamaica—the land of my grandfather’s birth; that wonderful green island in the West Indies—to Tonga, Tuvalu and Malta. Its member states have agreed to shared goals on development, democracy and peace, and its values and principles are expressed in the Commonwealth charter. Though I am firmly of the view that the Commonwealth must be recognised every day by all of us, I am pleased that on the second Monday in March, every year since 1977, people from across the Commonwealth, representing nearly a third of the world’s population, come together in a shared moment of reflection and celebration.”
“I am grateful for the chance to lead the House in acknowledging and marking Commonwealth Day 2026. I declare an interest as co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group for the Commonwealth and a member of the executive of the UK branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association—and as, in many ways, a child of the Commonwealth. As you know Madam Deputy Speaker, the Commonwealth was formed way back in 1949—not that you were present, for clarity—with His late Majesty King George VI as its first head; we think, of course, about Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries across the globe. It is home to 2.7 billion people and includes both advanced economies and developing countries.”
“If the hon. Member waits a little minute longer, he will hear all the important points that I make, some of which he has just mentioned. I agree with him. He knows that I had the wisdom to marry a woman from County Antrim—”
“Our world is ever more fractious, there is geopolitical instability almost everywhere we look and, following our departure from the European Union, it is vital for jobs and livelihoods in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, Northern Ireland and right across our United Kingdom that we nurture and further our connections with the wider world. Where better to start than with the Commonwealth—”
“A very good choice. I am glad that she chose me. Actually, I am sure that she regrets it sometimes in this life. The importance of Northern Ireland both to the United Kingdom and to the Commonwealth is absolute, and he and I are at one on that. The hon. Gentleman’s intervention demonstrates why I am delighted to have secured this debate: it provides colleagues across the House with an important opportunity not only to reflect on the legacy of the Commonwealth and our own individual stories and connections, but to look to the opportunities before us. Every one of us in this place is a Commonwealth citizen, and it is about time that we all started acting like it.”
“My hon. Friend—he is a very good friend—makes an excellent point. I hope that His Majesty’s Government will advance a Commonwealth-first approach in the coming years. My hon. Friend could not have put it better.”
“Who doesn’t love an intervention from the Liberal Democrats? The hon. Lady will not be surprised to hear that those issues have been brought to me, in my capacity as co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group, together with my co-chair, the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell). We have raised them with Ministers, and I feel sure that my colleagues on the Front Bench will pick up those issues in the coming weeks. It is a message that many of us have heard loud and clear, and we hope to see some progress on this. The Commonwealth’s roots go back to the British empire, but today any country can join the modern Commonwealth, and that speaks to its potential—”
“Yes, it is complex and, yes, at times it is painful, but it is important that we reflect honestly on it. The Commonwealth emerged from that history as a voluntary association of nations committed not to hierarchy but to partnership, co-operation and equality. Throughout our history—a history that we reflect on every Commonwealth Day—Commonwealth nations have proudly stood together in defence of our shared values.”
“I am grateful to all my friends for coming out tonight with their helpful, pithy interventions, but if I wax lyrical too much I will get into trouble. The hon. Member raises an important point and more generally acknowledges the important role that Britain and Ireland together have played in advancing the causes of freedom and peace. We have seen much progress between our island and the island of Ireland in recent years. I feel sure that the hon. Member, with Minister Feighan, will continue to advance the relationship between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, and he will have a strong champion in me as he continues to do so. The modern Commonwealth that all countries can join speaks to its potential for good, for change and for progress, but we should not shy away from our history.”
“The hon. Gentleman makes a really good point. I feel as though Conservative campaign headquarters has seen my speech, because I was just about to say that in world war two, soldiers from across the Commonwealth made immense sacrifices in the fight against fascism on the battlefields of Europe. They included Indians, Africans and those from the Caribbean and the Pacific. There were Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Christians from all over the Commonwealth, including Jamaica, Rhodesia—now Zimbabwe—Australia, India, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Malta, to name just a few.”
“Friend the Member for Ilford South (Jas Athwal) led a debate that focused on the more than 3 million soldiers and labourers from the Commonwealth who served nobly, diligently and bravely alongside the British Army in world war one. That shared experience remains an enduring example of our collective commitment to freedom and shows why the Commonwealth was formed back in 1949 and why it is so important that we mark Commonwealth Day 2026.”
“My hon. Friend makes a really important point. In the Gallery is Father Tommy Merry, who used to be the vicar of St Margaret’s at Wolstanton in Newcastle-under-Lyme, where there are a number of Commonwealth war graves. I was there recently and saw the amazing volunteers who live in my constituency—the centre of our collective universe, as I have said—who week in, week out volunteer their time, their compassion and their commitment not just to honouring our history but to ensuring that we live it, remember it and keep it in mind as we go forward. From Newcastle-under-Lyme to Devon, people take the Commonwealth War Graves Commission seriously. I pay tribute to them for all the work that they do. Last week, my hon.”
“I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. He calls me his hon. Friend; I am not sure what that does for his street cred or mine, but I am grateful to him for the compliment—it will probably cause you more trouble these days, comrade. But in all seriousness, he raises an important point. There are people up and down the United Kingdom and in our overseas territories, all of whom played an important part in the battles I referred to and in the efforts to bring our people together. I agree with him that ensuring they all have a seat at the table is important for all of us.”
“This was followed by the Harare declarations of 1991, signed in the land of my father’s birth, which committed the Commonwealth to strengthen its ability to promote and protect democracy in member states. The Commonwealth offers so much more, as the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) alluded to when he prematurely intervened on my speech, in the arts, culture, sport, education, health and other spheres. And while I speak of the historical significance of the Commonwealth, we must also recognise that it is a living network with immense potential.”
“I will, and I am very grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. I am glad he has found his voice. He was losing it earlier on today, and I am grateful to him for his intervention. From Devon to Newcastle-under-Lyme and up to north Yorkshire, he is right that we want to ensure that we hold on to not just that community spirit, but an understanding of what went before us and how we also ensure we do not fall back into the battles that we were able to win in previous years. In the latter half of the 20th century, the Commonwealth played a very important role in advancing the global cause of human dignity. The Singapore declaration of 1971 set out the recognition of racial prejudice and discrimination as an “evil of society”.”
“My hon. Friend from Lichfield in Staffordshire raises an excellent point. I am looking forward to him competing one day in the Commonwealth games when they are held in Lichfield—”
“We use Commonwealth Day 2026 to recognise and celebrate that, because the Commonwealth must not be a symbolic institution: it must be a practical network that promotes progressive ideas across the world. As my hon. Friend the Member for Mid and South Pembrokeshire (Henry Tufnell) noted, reducing barriers to trade between member states could deliver significant benefits for my constituents, and yours too, Madam Deputy Speaker.”
“It needs meaningful support and a greater sense of direction to make it the useful network for the contemporary world we all live in. That is particularly important given the fraying relations across the globe. With the aggression of hostile states like Russia and China, we face a period of acute geopolitical uncertainty. The Commonwealth has a unique opportunity to bring together nations that share a commitment to mutual respect and the rule of law. The Commonwealth makes a unique contribution to international relations, as it is an association built on dialogue, where large and small states are given an equal voice at the table. It also offers the opportunity to make progressive change. The Commonwealth already supports programmes focused on advancing women’s rights, expanding access to quality education and tackling the climate crisis.”
“I would bet on you, brother. But in all seriousness, my hon. Friend raises an important point. The Commonwealth games is just one example of how the Commonwealth brings people together, and he and I will be cheering on team GB together as they do well. In the latter—excuse me, Madam Deputy Speaker, my hon. Friend threw me there with his excitement at taking part in the tug of war in the Commonwealth games one day. The theme of this year’s Commonwealth Day is “unlocking opportunities together for a prosperous Commonwealth”, reminding us of the opportunities that stand before us. It is a massive regret that the Commonwealth is currently underutilised. It is underfunded and does not get the recognition it deserves by member states and its leaders.”