Yes indeed. This is good sense and credit to
@sajidjavid
for listening to representations. Vaccine passports were discriminatory, unworkable and it was never clear to us which question they sought to answer. Well done SoS.
Last night I took the difficult decision to step down from my position in Government after almost three can read my resignation letter to the Prime Minister here;
Despite
@SkyNews
clumsy labelling of my friend
@RoryStewartUK
as an “MP”, sadly he is not one anymore. The Conservative Party is so much worse off without him on our team. It’s like Spurs playing City this weekend with Harry Kane in the stand.
As the Public Health Minister who oversaw the introduction of the sugary drinks levy, I totally despair at this. Transparent dog whistle politics dressed up as something thinking. It is the exact opposite.
This was so predictable and a loss to Government. As said to the Prime Minister last night, when we met to talk about current events, this was flash-man and totally unnecessary. The PM has got to stop picking fights.
Just spent last hour in the special debate for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Some very powerful speeches but we’re no further forward. We just need to pay the debt as
@jeremyhunt
said so powerfully today.
#FreeNazanin
I will be supporting the Prime Minister in tonight’s confidence vote. This is about the national interest not personalities and naked ambition. Theresa May has the most difficult job imaginable and I think, whatever your view of Brexit, this is a time to stand together.
I am absolutely broken by this news. Another decent man we’ve lost this month. Prayers for David and his family. Sense of total disbelief - and growing anger - among MPs. We cannot carry on like this. Language (online and at party conference) matters and has an impact.
Such a pleasure to speak with Richard Ratcliffe this afternoon after the Free Nazanin debate in
@HouseofCommons
Winchester is right behind you and Nazanin and, as our MP, I promise to keep pushing our Ministers to get her home where she belongs.
This needs to stop. I think I know where the British public are on this debate and the teaching unions had better get on the right side of such for the first time in this pandemic.
And just for the record, deleting tweets and apologising, doesn’t make this right. We are better than this and do not speak for my constituents - however they voted in 2016.
Total embarrassment and childish. And so, for the record, is wearing silly t-shirts blazen with political messages. You all wanted to be elected to this Parliament so treat it with respect.
@JBrokenshire
We are utterly devastated by this news. James was simply one of the nicest kindest people I ever had the privilege to work with. In my prayers James and his young family
This lunchtime I made my morning run a mission to the Iranian Embassy to offer my support and prayers to Richard Ratcliffe who is on day 11 of his hunger strike. Turns out Richard and Nazanin were married in Winchester.
#FreeNazanin
@FreeNazanin
#Hungry4Justice
🚨 20,000 MORE POLICE 🚨
👮♀️👮♂️ We're starting a national campaign to deliver more frontline officers to make our streets safer.
🗣 Prime Minister
@BorisJohnson
: "People want to see more officers on their streets, protecting the public and cutting crime."
Like if you agree 👇
@DriiftLive
@glastonbury
Sorry guys but this is a shambles. First world problem but lots of people have paid you their money for this and your system is clearly unable to handle it.
Today I attended the first meeting of the new All-Party Group on SW Railway, of which I am to be Vice Chairman. We will work together to hold this struggling service to account. Watch this space in the next 24 hours ...
@swtrains_watch
As predicted this week when I raised this with Tim Davie at
@CommonsDCMS
it seems this BBC employee is thumbing his nose at his new boss again. Your move Tim ...
Still this. Familiar drumbeat to this which will inevitably end with an apology. May as well do it before PMQs. Every time we engage politically – online, in an email or in the House - we must be measured and moderate.
This was so predictable and a loss to Government. As said to the Prime Minister last night, when we met to talk about current events, this was flash-man and totally unnecessary. The PM has got to stop picking fights.
Speaking to Adam Boulton at
@SkyNews
this morning (and others) about “sin” taxes. The sugar tax is an evidenced based success story which has taken some 45m kg of sugar out of soft drinks. It’s also generated £145m for the School Sports Premium.
#justsaying
A brand new podcast is coming!
@BrineMP
+
@HelenStokesLam
discussing all things health + NHS related inc the 'Pod Surgery' which is your chance to shape what we talk about. We're recording the pilot episode tomorrow. Send your talking points to podcast
@stevebrine
.com or tweet us
Absolutely thrilled my dear friend
@Jeremy_Hunt
was re-elected to serve the people of Godalming & Ash. When it’s that close it’s YOUR victory and you thoroughly deserve it. Pleasure to join you on the campaign trail with our kids.
#nextgen
Lots of sorting out taking place in my life at the moment as we clear my father’s house. This is a cracking find. Good simple fun. The kids love it. Anyone else remember the Mastermind game?
Fascinating time at
@BoomtownFair
this afternoon; meeting police including our Chief Constable and organisers. Blown away by my time at
@WeAreTheLoopUK
drug testing service helping keep festival goers safe. We will learn from this. Have a great time everyone and be smart.
This afternoon I led an important debate on early years educators in the
@HouseofCommons
and called for parity in pay with reception year teachers.
Here's a key passage and watch the full debate here;
@hantschronicle
@APPGearlyyears
Huge congratulations to
@RishiSunak
on becoming our new leader and shortly Prime Minister. As I just said to ITV News Meridian (see that tonight at 18:30 in the South) everything about this feels right. 1/
Tomorrow, I'll be proposing a Bill in Parliament to require screening for dyslexia in primary schools
Only with improved screening in primary schools, alongside better teaching & assessment can we truly unleash the potential of people with dyslexia
Pleased to have a drink (and a hug) with my friend
@Jeremy_Hunt
this lunchtime. He ran a brilliant campaign and I was proud to be a part of it. Now we unite as one party.
With regards this Boris Johnson 'burka' story ... by all means we can have a debate about them but his comments were offensive and clumsy - and typical. Apologising is not ridiculous, it's the decent thing to do, but only if you mean it.
#notfunnyanymore
Dropped into the A33 this lunchtime to thank
@HantsPolice
for a visible and consistent presence (and patrols) this weekend to prevent illegal pony and trap racing. To be clear, they’re in this for the long haul and this is being watched like hawks.
@DonnaJonesPCC
The
@HouseofCommons
debate on the Privileges Committee Report is now underway and, despite the best efforts of SWR, I'm here. For avoidance of any doubt I will be voting to accept the report this evening and uphold the important constitutional principles of the democratic process
I was there and the Prime Minister gave a dignified and very human speech at the 1922 this evening. We must now ALL support the deal and move forward as a country.
@BigJetTVLIVE
Amazing footage today. Can I just say, because they don't get anything like the praise they should, our pilots are total heroes and on a day like they show that time and again. Thank you.
@BALPApilots
Well done
@MattHancock
This is an agenda we were both passionate about when together at DHSC. So pleased to see this positive innovation. It’s exactly what’s needed to imbed this.
The most exciting thing today: I’m launching the National Academy for Social Prescribing, the realisation of a long-held ambition of mine to ensure people have access to a huge range of options to improve their health
#socialprescribing
Can I just say that this is getting beyond parody now? My constituents expect very little of their City Council in reality but collecting their rubbish is basic.
@Lynda_Lib_Dem
- you wanted to do this job so please get a grip for all our sakes.
@ProfBrianCox
@mrjamesob
Hi Brian; why don’t you come join us? Put yourself forward, put yourself on the line and step in the ring? Easy to lob bombs from your position perhaps ...?
Winter Tour (now to be known as General Election 2019) underway with a very busy street surgery in Winchester. Pleased to be reconfirmed as the Conservative Candidate last night and will be standing as a strong, experienced and principled MP on 12th December.
#TeamSteve
With my good friend
@KevinBrennanMP
this lunchtime in Parliament Square ahead of his
#fixstreaming
Bill coming before the
@HouseofCommons
. I am of course supporting the Bill which hails from our landmark DCMS Select Committee inquiry and report.
@MrTomGray
@campbellclaret
@BorisJohnson
Moving interview ref; mental health on radio 5 the other day Alastair but, boy, how you’ve fallen if this is how you roll these days ...
Prime Minister needs to clear this up and leave NO possible doubt about what went on, and what his role was, in these Downing Street gatherings.
I am furious at the handling of this. Indefensible. We are listening carefully Prime Minister ...
@joncraig
Fake news and pretty nasty fake news totally against the spirit of our event which was resolutely cross party and held in a spirit of love and unity.
What a superb interview from
@RishiSunak
this evening. That is how to be across the detail and be the grown-up in the room. Hope he’s not the only candidate to have the confidence to face
@afneil
.
It's National HIV Testing Week.
Over 4,600 people living with HIV still don't know their status.
Testing is quick, easy, and painless. You can now test for HIV at home. Order your free test kit here:
#HIVTestingWeek
This is really sad and shocking. Whatever our views across the Chamber does a newly elected MP (or any MP) speaking on behalf of his constituents deserve this? Surely we're better than this
@AngelaRayner
and the bad old bully days of Corbyn era are behind the Labour Party?
This is totally unacceptable from
@AngelaRayner
. At 29 seconds you can clearly hear her call
@ChrisClarksonMP
“scum.”
As elected representatives we have a duty to lead by example. Will she apologise and if not will Keir Starmer take action?
A few images from my final day at
@HouseofCommons
which began with breakfast in the members’ tea room and finished in the Chamber I adore where in the last hour I delivered my short valedictory speech.
You can watch that via SBTV at:
Jeremy Corbyn has sat down with terrorists around the world apparently in pursuit of peace & always without preconditions.
But will he sit down with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to tackle biggest constitutional challenge of our time without preconditions?
Errr, no.
This is welcome news as PART OF our push towards 'smoke-free' England. 80,000 die each and every year of smoking related illness, not a figure reported on the evening news every day, but a tragic reality.
This is the right decision from
@trussliz
who has put the nat interest first this afternoon. Her position was completely untenable. MPs will do our job responsibly + swiftly in the coming days + the new PM will form a Gov based on talent + competency alone.
#grownupsincharge
The United Kingdom is a great country but we face a profound economic crisis.
That’s why I am standing to be Leader of the Conservative Party and your next Prime Minister.
I want to fix our economy, unite our Party and deliver for our country.
Fourteen years ago I was first elected as an MP. It’s been the privilege of my life. Later tonight, Parliament will be Dissolved ahead of the General Election on July 4.
This is therefore my final post and here, just released, my FINAL Annual Report >>>
As Public Health Minister I set the zero transmissions ambition for 2030. The subsequent HIV Commission work was key in getting us where we are today. Watch this space today for an announcement on new opt-out testing locations. And see you later
@eltonofficial
!
Out with the litter pickers this morning, I was reminded how plain daft this restriction on North Walls (with its impact on Hyde Street) really is. One is the least walked pavements in the city!
@WinchesterBID
Happy (and a little surprised) I seemingly have a lot of reading to do this lunchtime ... if you don’t want ‘no-deal’ you need to support a deal. Diving in ...
Pleasure this morning to join
@PSCommissioner
Henrietta Hughes at the launch of her important report.
@CommonsHealth
will do our bit to push Ministers for a speedy response. I will be speaking shortly on
@BBCSouthNews
‘South Today’.
#redressnow
This morning's launch in Parliament of my report into redress options for those harmed by pelvic mesh and valproate heard how women were deceived, kept in the dark, and fobbed off and let down by the health system - read the report at
It's been an incredible campaign, I've been visiting all parts of the country and seeing members everywhere make the
#SwitchtoHunt
.
✉️ Only a few hours left to return your ballots!
#HastobeHunt
I have resigned from Cabinet and surrendered the Conservative Whip.
I cannot stand by as good, loyal moderate Conservatives are expelled.
I have spoken to the PM and my Association Chairman to explain.
I remain committed to the One Nation values that drew me into politics.
Good for
@matthancock
and I to chat through our current and future plans to tackle childhood obesity with
@jamieoliver
and
@HughFW
. We’re a good team!
Winchester named the happiest place to live in the UK! Well, in amongst the gloom, isn’t this just nice to see. Silly comment posted on the story but let’s focus on the good news.
Today in the
@HouseofCommons
I wasn’t whipped to vote for the new Smoking & Vapes Bill - I CHOSE to for the reasons I set out in my speech.
Here’s a clip but you can watch back the full speech (10-minutes) via Steve Brine TV here:-
@CommonsHealth
Unbelievable scenes at Old Trafford.
@LFC
are very good +
@ManUtd
are very poor right now BUT IMO the
@premierleague
has a problem. There are really only THREE teams who can win this league (Super League?) which is only one better than a very Scottish kind of situation.
@HampshireLawyer
@Jacob_Rees_Mogg
Really though!?!? Jacob is a decent man who is working with me (and me him) on a drug for children with Battens disease. It’s not all about Brexit you know.
Just the greatest pleasure for our
@APPG_HIV_AIDS
to host
@eltonofficial
in House of Commons this evening. What lovely people Elton and David are. First time I’ve met them but hope not the last.
#optouttesting
BIG NEWS:
@DHSCgovuk
announces opt-out HIV testing in A&E is to be expanded to 46 more hospitals!
This is the testing turbo boost that's needed if we're to end new HIV cases by 2030, with today’s announcement meaning an additional 2 million tests a year.
@afneil
Just wow. We’re doing our job Mr Neil based on the confirmation hearing and what we heard on the day from the GovM’s preferred candidate. Not sure it’s us being pompous here but sorry if the report upset your cosy matey consensus.
Powerful! Open letter from leading health experts published in the
@nytimes
to
@Facebook
,
@Twitter
,
@YouTube
and
@Google
CEOs: “stop giving oxygen to the lies that threaten us all” “misinformation on your platform is threatening lives”
#COVID_19
Huge congrats to my former parliamentary neighbour
@carolinenokes
arriving in the chair for the first time as one of the new
@HouseofCommons
Deputy Speakers today
Hospitality is effectively now in lockdown because of careless (or was it planned?) comments at last night’s No.10 press conference. Watch what I said about that, and the help that must now follow, in the
@HouseofCommons
this morning;
@hantschronicle