Speeches by Costa.

“On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I would like to apologise to the House for failing to declare an interest during a debate on 16 July 2025 about the Committee on Standards’ third report of the 2024-25 Session, which concerns the Register of Interests of Members’ Staff. During the debate, I inadvertently faile…”

“Putting aside for a moment the rights and wrongs of the Prime Minister’s decision on Saturday morning, the BBC is in a unique position: running BBC Persian language broadcasting into Iran. Given that and given President Trump’s wishes for the Iranian people themselves to take control, will the Prime Minister put on the…”

“I never comment on any conduct or standards issues that may impact individual MPs, precisely because of my adjudicatory role on the Committee on Standards, and I do not propose to refer to the Prime Minister in respect of the potential that, if not all the documents are disclosed to the House, there might be a breach o…”

“I absolutely agree, and I sympathise entirely with the hon. Lady. I would go further. I made the point earlier about finding suitable experts who are able to apply their technical expertise to help campaign groups or MPs to rebut planning applications on a technical basis. They are simply not there, for fear of a confl…”

“As the hon. Lady will hear in the remaining parts of my speech, I entirely concur with her comments. Given that the proposed quarry site is not allocated in Leicestershire county council’s minerals plan, which runs until 2031, we can understand why a group such as the concerned residents present today would try to seek…”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered planning policy for quarries. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Murrison. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring the issue of planning policy for quarries to Westminster Hall today. I thank the Backbench Business Committee for granting this important…”

“To conclude, there is no doubt that quarrying plays an extremely important role in delivering the homes, roads and infrastructure that our country needs, as the Minister has said and I acknowledge. That cannot and must not, however, come at the expense of the health of the people of our country. The residents of Mister…”

“Thank you. Only a few days ago, on Wednesday 10 December, on a point of order, the hon. Member for Harrow East, in respect of the police settlement and the local government settlement, said: “Normally there is a debate held about both of these matters, or at least a statement given on the Floor of the House, so that Me…”

“Let me turn to ministerial statements to the House and standards expected. The “Ministerial Code”, at paragraph 1.6.b, states: “Ministers have a duty to Parliament to account, and be held to account, for the policies, decisions and actions of their departments and agencies.” Paragraph 9.1 states: “When Parliament is in…”

“Indeed. In the foreword to the “Ministerial Code”, which was updated in October this year—I have a copy here—you state: “This Code sets out the higher standards that the British people expect and that ministers must now follow. It enshrines the commitment we all make, on entering the service of this nation, to uphold t…”

“Thank you. Paragraph 1.6.c of the “Ministerial Code” states: “It is of paramount importance that ministers give accurate and truthful information to Parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity.” Prime Minister, you are of course familiar with that paragraph of your “Ministerial Code”. Is th…”

“Thank you. Again, to refer to a recent example and to assist you in showing how you comply with the extract from the “Ministerial Code”, I would like to turn to last week’s Prime Minister’s questions, when the Leader of the Opposition asked you “how many extra teachers” there are since your Government took office. Full…”

“Thank you very much. Can I now turn to the issue of written parliamentary questions and standards? I know that my colleague, the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre, as Chair of the Procedure Committee, has issued calls for evidence to her Committee’s new inquiry. Paragraph 9.8 of your “Ministerial Code” states: “Minist…”

“Thank you. Can you explain why your Government are failing to provide timely responses to WPQs, as obligated under the standards outlined by your own “Ministerial Code”?”

“Thank you. I will now refer to a further contemporary example. I understand that this coming Thursday, the last day before the forthcoming parliamentary recess, your Government, Prime Minister, intends to publish a progress report on the Grenfell inquiry by way of a written ministerial statement. Given Mr Speaker’s com…”

“Were you aware of this point of order, raised last week?”

“But X readers added context to clarify your comment. They said: “Important reminder that a £2 cap was introduced by the Tories in 2023. Labour have since risen this by 50%.” Prime Minister, which of the Nolan principles do you consider to have followed in publishing your X post?”

“Well, we will come back to that. I just wanted to confirm that Labour party leadership speculation is a purely party political matter in accordance with the code.”

“Paragraph 15 of the code—just to help you, Prime Minister—goes further: “Special advisers must not take public part in political controversy… They must observe discretion and express comment with moderation, avoiding personal attacks”. You are very familiar with the code. I would like to refer to an interview that you …”

“Thank you. Paragraph 13 of the “Code of Conduct for Special Advisers” states that “briefing on purely party political matters must be handled by the Party machine.” For the purposes of this code, can you confirm that Labour party leadership speculation is a purely party political matter?”