TV Licences – over 75s
John Whittingdale Conservative, Maldon 2:46 pm, 8th May 2019 I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this debate. As the Minister pointed out, I was the Secretary of State at the time when the licence fee settlement was agreed with the BBC, so I would like to set out some of the reasons why those decisions were reached. As […]
Exiting the EU Sanctions
John Whittingdale Conservative, Maldon 7:02 pm, 29th April 2019 It is a pleasure to hear that the importance of rolling over these sanctions is supported on both sides of the House. My right hon. Friend Alistair Burt spoke with considerable knowledge and authority about the sanctions against Syria. I will concentrate on another of the three countries on whom […]
Russian Annexation of Crimea
John Whittingdale Conservative, Maldon 10:09 am, 24th April 2019 I congratulate my hon. Friend John Howell on securing this debate at an extremely important time for Ukraine, and on doing an excellent job of setting out the facts about the Russian occupation of Crimea. Like Angela Smith, three weeks ago I spent my Sunday sitting in a polling station in […]
Murder of Lyra McKee
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con) Share Does my right hon. Friend agree that although any death is a tragedy, the murder of a journalist is particularly abhorrent? Is she aware that Lyra McKee’s death came on the very same day when the world press freedom index was published, which showed the UK rising by […]
Violence against Journalists
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con) Share Is my right hon. Friend aware that, already, another seven journalists have been killed in the course of their work this year, coming on top of the 80 who died last year? Two of those were in Mexico, which is one of the deadliest countries in the world […]
Prime Minister’s Questions
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con) Share Is my right hon. Friend aware that five years ago today Russian special forces seized the Government building in Crimea and raised the Russian flag? Will she confirm that the UK Government remain committed to the restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty over Crimea, and will she look at strengthening […]
Tourism: East of England
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con) Share Thank you, Mr Hollobone; I will be very brief. I was first elected to the House to represent a part of Colchester, so I fully endorse the remarks of my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Will Quince) in promoting its many attractions, which I can vouch for. […]
Far-right Violence and Online Extremism
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con) Share I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement, and I strongly agree that the tech companies need to do more to stop the spread of hate and incitement to violence. However, does he also recognise that the internet is a force for good and that many authoritarian countries—China and, now, […]
Topical Questions
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con) Share T4. In the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, will my right hon. Friend consider using the provisions of article XXIV of the general agreement on tariffs and trade to maintain existing arrangements until a free trade agreement can be concluded, and thus avoid any […]
Leaving the European Union
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con) Share Does my right hon. Friend agree that the whole history of the European Union has shown that time and again, when there are intractable disputes, agreement is obtained, often late at night, with about an hour to go before the clock runs out? Will she therefore stick to […]