UK-Australia-Canada open letter calling to End Frozen Pensions

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by the End Frozen Pensions campaign.

  Dear Prime Minister,

  We recognise and cherish the deep and enduring relationship between Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, which has been built on shared history, values, and mutual respect.

  As members of our respective Parliaments, we express our concern regarding the United Kingdom’s frozen pensions policy, which treats UK state pensioners residing in Australia and Canada differently from those residing in other overseas countries (such as the USA, Philippines, Israel and Türkiye). This policy unfairly denies annual pension uprating to pensioners now living in Australia and Canada, despite them having made contributions to the UK National Insurance system under the same rules as pensioners living elsewhere.

  We urge the British Government to negotiate new reciprocal social security agreements with Australia and with Canada to end this longstanding inequity and ensure fair treatment for all UK pensioners.

  We would be grateful for an urgent response.

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by the End Frozen Pensions campaign.

Settlement Rights Open Letter

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  The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  2 Marsham Street

  London SW1P 4DF

  11th January 2026

  Dear Home Secretary,

  We the undersigned write to express our concern with the Government’s proposals to restrict settlement rights. They are unfair towards migrant workers who have put down roots, contributed to their communities and built lives here. This will undermine public services, social integration and the wider economy.

  The British public believe in fair play: that if you work hard, follow the rules and contribute, that Government should tread lightly on your life. The proposal to double the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain to 10 years, rising to 15 years for those such as care workers, wrongly deemed “low-skilled”, alongside new conditionality is deeply unfair.

  The proposals to change settlement rules would pull the rug from under migrant workers, including in social care who provide dignity and comfort to our loved ones, often in difficult conditions and for low pay. The Government must uphold its promises – we cannot simply change the rules halfway through an agreed process.

  These proposals undermine the Government’s priorities for economic growth, reducing child poverty and strong public services. For instance, adult social care already faces around 110,000 vacancies, and as we await the Casey Review and the Fair Pay Agreement, these proposals risk pushing the sector closer to breaking point. While we support efforts to grow and train the domestic workforce, this is a separate task. Restricting the rights of the workers keeping the sector running will not grow the domestic workforce – it will only worsen care provision.

  We make the following recommendations to the Home Office:

  • Halt the consultation process until a full Impact Assessment is published: The Government is making sweeping immigration reforms without transparency regarding its own forecasts on the economy, public services and communities with protected characteristics. It must restart the process with an Impact Assessment, together with a Child Rights Impact Assessment, with the starting point of treating people fairly as well as supporting the economy and public services.

  • Rule out retrospective application: The Government must immediately rule out applying new immigration rules to migrant families already in the UK. Thousands of families have planned their lives around current rules.

  Upholding fairness, trust in Government and the dignity of work are core British values and essential to building

  a country that works for everyone.

  Neil Duncan-Jordan MP Andrea Egan Dr. Dora-Olivia Vicol,

  Unison, General Secretary Work Rights Centre, CEO

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Neil Duncan-Jordan MP.

Letter to the Home Secretary on Gaza Students Policy

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  INSERT HERE

  The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP

  Home Secretary

  6 January 2026

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Abtisam Mohamed MP.

  Dear Home Secretary,

  We are writing to urgently to request a meeting regarding the Government’s evacuation policy

  for scholarship students from Gaza, which ended on 31 December 2025.

  From the initial application process through to the evacuation stage, students in Gaza have

  faced delays, uncertainty, and confusion amid the daily horrors of life under bombardment and

  siege. Despite this, dozens have successfully navigated the system and arrived here to start

  their studies.

  They were able to do so as new guidance confirmed the UK Government’s commitment to the

  evacuation of scholarship students, as well as a further agreement for the evacuation of their

  dependents. This was extremely welcome.

  However, we understand that very few have been evacuated under the agreed policy for

  dependents. In December, students were informed that despite previous assurances, no

  dependents would be evacuated before the end of the scheme, and that students should take

  the opportunity to leave Gaza without them. This included PhD student Mohammed Aldalou

  bound for LSE, who has a severely autistic child and was expected to leave him behind in

  Gaza.

  PhD student Manar al Houbi campaigned for months to be able to take up her place at the

  University of Glasgow. She was told repeatedly to either to leave Gaza without her spouse

  and children, or to remain behind with her family in danger, abandoning her course.

  Manar and her family were eventually evacuated at the end of last year, but this was not the

  case for the rest who are still waiting. The wider scheme has now ended; and there is no

  confirmed extension to the policy, which is causing extraordinary pressure and uncertainty for

  the students. Time is critically short, and we believe that at the very least, an extension of this

  scheme would bring both the compassion and the stability needed in these circumstances.

  We would be grateful for an urgent response.

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Abtisam Mohamed MP.

Requesting Meeting on Trophy Hunting BanInbox

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  Dear Secretary of State,

  We are writing to request an urgent meeting.

  We applaud many of the measures in the government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy. However, we were surprised and disappointed that banning imports of hunting trophies did not feature.

  We are also concerned at suggestions that a ban may be highly selective. You previously stated that you sought to “ban the import of any goods that are related to trophy hunting.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKsLggGf5rY)

  Several reports have spelt out the shocking cruelty involved in trophy hunting. This is an issue about which voters feel very strongly. It is also an issue about which there is virtual consensus in Parliament. 

  We would therefore be grateful if you would agree to a meeting at the earliest available opportunity to clarify both the scope of the government’s proposed ban and the timeline for introducing legislation.

  Yours sincerely, 

  , 

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting.  

Letter to the Prime Minister urging a review of the business rates changes in the November 2025 budget.

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by the Music Venue Trust.

  Keir Starmer MP 

  Prime Minister 

  10 Downing Street 

  London 

  SW1A 2AA 

  Xx December 2025 

  Dear Prime Minister, 

  We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the decisions on business rates announced in the November 2025 Budget, which will have severe consequences for grassroots music venues (GMVs) across England.

  We acknowledge the Government’s intended interventions to ease bills from business rates, including the transitional relief scheme and lower tax multipliers for hospitality. For grassroots music venues, however, these measures merely address symptoms rather than fixing the underlying problem.

  Analysis of the incoming 2026 Rateable Values from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), conducted by Music Venue Trust (MVT), reveals a catastrophic picture. The GMV sector faces a collective £7.2 million increase in its tax base. Hundreds of venues will see rises of over 50% in their Rateable Value, with dozens experiencing increases of 100%, 200%, or more. In some cases, venues that have never previously been liable for business rates will now face bills of thousands of pounds. For venues operating on passion and razor-thin margins, these are not bills - they are closure notices.

  Grassroots music venues are at the heart of communities and our constituencies. They provide jobs, entertainment, access to local culture, and vital platforms for emerging artists. Yet the VOA’s methodology values them solely as commercial property, blind to their cultural role, community function, and contribution as the research and development engine of the UK’s world-leading music industry.

  This creates a direct contradiction: while the Government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan seeks to drive growth through culture, the VOA’s approach dismantles the very infrastructure on which that plan depends.

  The November 2025 Budget compounds this crisis by reducing rate relief from 40% to zero, following the 2024 cut from 75% to 40%. The lower multiplier means a further reduction down to 12% instead of 40%. In 2024, the entire sector of 810 venues returned a gross profit of just £2.5 million yet was asked to absorb £7 million in additional premises taxes. Transitional relief cannot bridge this gap, nor that created by higher rateable values. Data from MVT shows that a venue with a rateable value of £30,000 will see its bill rise from £8,000 under 40% relief in 2025 to £11,000 with no relief in 2026, even on the lowest multiplier. 

  MVT projects that around 600 GMVs in England face an average 28% increase in business rates, with some reporting rises of 91%. Based on 2025 data, this will directly close 80–120 venues, place another 120–180 at risk, and lead to 200–300 closures over the next four to five years. 

  Of the 801 GMVs identified in 2025, 38.1% were registered as not for-profit entities, a 15.4% increase on 2024. Despite this number, very few venues receive discretionary rate relief due to dwindling local authority resources. MVT has repeatedly explored multiple avenues with local authorities to aid venues with business rates but, like transitional rate relief, it is merely a sticking plaster on a much deeper wound, and one that is now very rarely a viable option.

  HMRC’s fiscal rules further exacerbate the crisis, as operators who can foresee future insolvency risk being deemed to trade recklessly. Once closed, these venues will not be replaced.

  The fundamental flaw remains: the system is designed to value property, not cultural purpose. As long as venues are treated as speculative assets rather than cultural utilities, relief measures, however welcome, amount only to temporary stays of execution.

  We therefore support the Music Venue Trust’s call for the immediate implementation of an emergency 40% rate relief for GMVs, akin to the relief granted to film studios in 2034, recognising GMVs as critical creative infrastructure. 

  Reform to date has not gone far enough and the effect on this sector is chilling. Events in these local GMVs sustain high streets across the UK by bringing visitors willing to spend money in hotels, bars, restaurants, shops, and taxis and other businesses.

  Without urgent and thoughtful policy solutions, the outcome will be the continued closure of GMVs, with devastating consequences for communities, culture, and the UK’s music industry.

  We urge you to act swiftly to safeguard this vital part of our national cultural infrastructure by introducing emergency rate relief for grassroots music venues and establishing a rapid inquiry into the valuation methods for event spaces. 

  Kind regards 

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by the Music Venue Trust.
  
  
  

Letter on Agriculture in Palestine

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Steve Witherden MP.

  Hamish Falconer MP

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

  Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

  King Charles Street

  London

  SW1A 2AH

  19th December 2025

  Dear Minister Falconer,

  Agriculture has long been central to livelihoods and food security in Gaza. Yet widespread

  destruction of farmland, irrigation systems, and storage facilities has devastated production.

  Restrictions on seed imports, the lack of locally produced fertilisers and pesticides, and soil

  degradation have deepened reliance on food aid. The Israeli Government’s blockade of aid into

  the region has led to widespread famine and malnutrition, with children, older people and those

  with pre-existing health conditions the most affected.

  The UK Government should help establish humanitarian corridors for agricultural inputs -

  including seeds, fertilisers, and machinery - and strengthen local food systems to reduce

  dependency and restore dignity. Soil contamination and the loss of resilient seed varieties also

  require urgent assessment and restoration to safeguard future harvests and resilience.

  Agriculture has always been a key source of income and employment across Palestine, with

  people frequently working into older age alongside their families. Older farmers who have lived

  through recurrent conflict, hold the traditional knowledge to recover the local food systems for

  their communities. But access to cultivable land remains limited, with mines, rubble, and

  destroyed infrastructure preventing safe farming. The UK should facilitate debris clearance and

  land rehabilitation, provide basic tools and seeds to smallholder farmers, and promote shared-

  resource farming models that enable collective recovery and market access.

  Following the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state, restoring land access and sovereignty is

  vital. Many farmers cannot reclaim or cultivate land that has been destroyed, contaminated, or

  deliberately targeted and without access to the right equipment. The UK should support land

  clearance and safe certification, implement soil regeneration and replanting programmes, and

  advocate for farmers’ land rights as part of a recovery that leaves no one behind.

  Agricultural relief must intentionally include all marginalised groups – older people, children,

  women, and people with disabilities - who are essential to rebuilding Gaza’s agricultural

  foundation and ensuring a sustainable, dignified future.

  This letter was written alongside Age International, and we hope that you will be able to meet

  with us to discuss this further. We look forward to your response.

  Yours sincerely,

  Steve Witherden MP

  Diane Abbott MP

  Shockat Adam MP

  Bell Ribeiro Addy MP

  Baroness Alexander of Cleveden

  Tahir Ali MP

  Josh Babarinde MP

  Paula Barker MP

  Lorraine Beavers MP

  Apsana Begum MP

  Sian Berry MP

  Olivia Blake MP

  Baroness Blower

  Richard Burgon MP

  Dawn Butler MP

  Ian Byrne MP

  Wendy Chamberlain MP

  Sarah Champion MP

  Dr Ellie Chowns MP

  Marsha De Cordova MP

  Jeremy Corbyn MP

  Steve Darling MP

  Ann Davies MP

  Carla Denyer MP

  Neil Duncan-Jordan MP

  Colum Eastwood MP

  Sorcha Eastwood MP

  Cat Eccles MP

  Tim Farron MP

  Andrew George MP

  Rachel Gilmour MP

  Patricia Ferguson MP

  Mary Kelly Foy MP

  Claire Hanna MP

  Lord Hendy KC

  Chris Hinchliffe MP

  Adnan Hussain MP

  Imran Hussain MP

  Baroness Hussein-Ece

  Liz Jarvis MP

  Kim Johnson MP

  Afzal Khan MP

  Ayoub Khan MP

  Ben Lake MP

  Peter Lamb MP

  Ian Lavery MP

  Chris Law MP

  Brian Leishman MP

  Clive Lewis MP

  Baroness Lister of Burtersett

  Seamus Logan MP

  Rebecca Long-Bailey MP

  Rachael Maskell MP

  Andy McDonald MP

  John McDonnell MP

  Llinos Medi MP

  John Milne MP

  Abtisam Mohamed MP

  Iqbal Mohamed MP

  Layla Moran MP

  Grahame Morris MP

  Lord Oates

  Brendan O'Hara MP

  Dr Simon Opher MP

  Kate Osborne MP

  Manuela Perteghella MP

  Yasmin Qureshi MP

  Adrian Ramsay MP

  Martin Rhodes MP

  Liz Saville Roberts MP

  Roz Savage MP

  Baroness Sheehan

  Lord Singh of Wimbledon

  Vikki Slade MP

  Cat Smith MP

  Jamie Stone MP

  Lord Soames of Fletching

  Alex Sobel MP

  Jon Trickett MP

  Valerie Vaz MP

  Nadia Whittome MP

  Lord Woodley

  Mohammad Yasin MP

Hunger Strikers - request for urgent meeting with David Lammy MP

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  Dear Secretary of State,

  We the undersigned MPs, are writing to implore you to meet with Imran Khan & Partners, the lawyers representing the 8 prisoners on hunger strike, immediately.

  We note that Imran Khan & Partners wrote to you on the 9th December imploring you to meet with them "before our client’s health deteriorates beyond any possible recovery”. We draw your attention to the section of the letter which details the exceptionally urgent medical status of the prisoners, five of whom have already been hospitalised more than once. In particular the following extremely serious symptoms: pulse above 100 beats per minute, ketone levels above 4 (when they should be 0 in a non-diabetic person), weight loss of more than 10kg, deteriorating vision, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, hypoglycaemia, shallow breath, and signs of memory loss.

  We are growing increasingly dismayed at the government’s lack of action to protect the health and well being of British citizens.

  If you will not meet with the MPs who are representing the hunger strikers and their loved ones, then we plead with you to urgently meet with their solicitors and act to prevent a catastrophe.

  Yours sincerely,

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP.

Proposed Restrictions on the Use of Terms Such as “Burger” and “Sausage” for Plant Based Foods

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by the Vegetarian Society.

  LETTER TO MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

  From Members of Parliament of the United Kingdom 

  Re: Proposed Restrictions on the Use of Terms Such as “Burger” and “Sausage” for Plant Based Foods 

  06/12/2025 

  Dear Commissioners, 

  We write as members of the UK Parliament to express our deep concern regarding the  proposed ban on the use of everyday, well-understood food terms, such as ‘burger’, ‘sausage’, and similar descriptors, when used for plant-based products. Although the  United Kingdom is no longer a member of the European Union, our markets, companies,  consumers, and regulatory conversations remain closely intertwined. Decisions taken at  EU level continue to influence global norms, international trade, and the direction of  sustainable food innovation. 

  We urge you not to adopt these restrictions, as we are deeply concerned about the  significant global impact they could have. The evidence is clear: existing legislation already  protects consumers; consumers themselves overwhelmingly understand and support  current naming conventions; and new restrictions would undermine economic growth,  sustainability goals, and the EU’s own simplification agenda. 

  1. Current legislation already ensures consumer protection 

  The Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulation provides extensive safeguards  against consumer confusion. The European Court of Justice confirmed in Case C-438/23  that the current legislative framework is fully adequate to protect and inform consumers  and to address misleading presentation when it arises1. 

  The Court also reiterated that existing rules already mandate transparency when expected  ingredients are substituted - requirements that plant-based producers consistently follow. 

  This position has also been acknowledged at multiple points by the European Commission (see 2020 response2, 2022 response3 and 2024 response4). 

  2. Most consumers are not confused, however, a ban could increase confusion 

  1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:62023CJ0438  

  2 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2020-004966-ASW_EN.html 3 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2022-002681-ASW_EN.html 4 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2024-002312-ASW_EN.html

  Research consistently shows that consumers intentionally choose plant-based  alternatives and do not confuse them with animal meat. 

  The Advocate-General’s Opinion (Capeta, 2024) explicitly warns that banning familiar food  terms could increase confusion, not reduce it5. Empirical studies reinforce this finding: 

  • BEUC study (2020): ~80% support use of terms like ‘veggie burger’6 • Smart Protein (2023): Only 9% of consumers do not recognise plant-based meat  alternatives7 

  • Germany (2022): 92% identify plant-based alternatives correctly8 

  • Spain (2021): Only 13% oppose plant-based use of traditional terms9 • Portugal (2021): >95% understand that plant-based alternatives contain no animal  meat10 

  • Greece (2024): ~82% do not oppose current naming11 

  • Empirical study on label clarity (Gleckel, 2020)12 

  These findings show an overwhelming pattern; most European consumers understand the  terminology for plant-based foods well. 

  3. The proposed ban undermines competitiveness, innovation, and the single market 

  Introducing a denomination ban would run counter to the EU’s commitments on  simplification and competitiveness. It would create administrative burdens, force  companies to redesign packaging, and generate inconsistencies across languages and  Member States. 

  This is particularly problematic given the rapid growth of the plant-based market: • Europe remains the world’s largest consumer market for plant-based alternatives13 

  5 

  https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=289831&pageIndex=0&doclang=en&mo de=req 

  6 https://www.beuc.eu/sites/default/files/publications/beuc-x-2020- 

  042_consumers_and_the_transition_to_sustainable_food.pdf 

  7 https://smartproteinproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/Smart-Protein-European-Consumer-Survey_2023.pdf 8 https://www.vzbv.de/sites/default/files/2022- 

  04/220307_IFH%20K%C3%96LN_Verbraucherzentrale_Kennzeichnung%20von%20Ersatzprodukten_final.p df9 https://proveg.com/es/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/02/Resultados-estudio-nomenclatura-alimentos vegetales.pdf 

  10 https://www.atrevia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Relatorio_Upfield_FINAL_UCP.pdf 11 https://hellasveg.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/survey-2024-final_EN.pdf 

  12https://ssrn.com/abstract=3727710 

  13 https://gfi.org/resource/plant-based-meat-eggs-and-dairy-state-of-the-industry-report

  • The EU market grew 21% between 2020 and 202214 

  • Consumer trends show rising flexitarianism and reduced meat consumption15 • 31% of Europeans are reducing meat intake16 

  • Economic modelling demonstrates substantial opportunities: Plant-based dietary  shifts could increase farm incomes by up to 71%17 

  • Alternative proteins could create 83 million jobs globally by 205018 • This sector is also a major opportunity for European farmers, with most crops used  in plant-based dairy grown inside the EU (ProVeg International, 2022). 

  4. Plant-based foods support climate goals and European food security 

  Alternative proteins offer some of the highest emissions-reduction returns per euro  invested, outperforming investments in electric vehicles and green building initiatives19.  

  They are also identified as one of the key ‘super-leverage points’ that can accelerate  transitions across multiple sectors. Meldrum et al. (2023): The Breakthrough Effect. 

  Greater cultivation of pulses and legumes improves soil fertility and reduces fertiliser  dependency, lowering production costs20,21. All of this shows that expanding plant-based  options is aligned with environmental, economic, and food-security goals. 

  Conclusion 

  We recognise the importance of protecting consumers and ensuring clarity in food  labelling. However, the evidence is unequivocal: 

  • Current EU law already provides full protection 

  • Consumers overwhelmingly understand and support the existing naming system • The proposed restrictions could damage competitiveness, innovation, and climate  progress. 

  Clear labelling, not unnecessary terminology bans, is the best approach for consumers,  producers, and the future of sustainable European food systems. 

  14 https://gfieurope.org/market-insights-on-european-plant-based-sales-2020-2022/ 15 https://smartproteinproject.eu/market-research/ 

  16 https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2954 

  17 https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-9552.12530 

  18 https://www.climateworks.org/ginas-methane/ 

  19 https://www.bcg.com/publications/2022/combating-climate-crisis-with-alternative-protein 20 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.03.024 

  21 https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.175

  We therefore urge the Commission to reject these restrictions and maintain the current,  proportionate, effective regulatory framework, which we firmly believe sets the global  standard for best practice. 

  Yours sincerely, 

  Members of Parliament of the United Kingdom 

  Siân Berry MP 

  Irene Campbell MP 

  Jeremy Corbyn MP 

  Carla Denyer MP 

  Kerry McCarthy MP 

  Navendu Mishra MP 

  Adrian Ramsay MP 

  Alex Sobel MP 

  Also supported by: 

  The McCartney Family 

Giving staff time to travel sustainably is smart business - letter for the Financial Times

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by We Are Possible.

   Giving staff time to travel sustainably is smart business

  Many employees would choose low-carbon travel for their holidays if they did not have to forfeit precious time off work. Sustainable Travel Leave, pioneered by the charity Possible, offers a simple fix: grant a small amount of extra paid leave when staff choose trains, coaches or ferries instead of flying.

  The principle is straightforward. A London–Berlin rail journey cuts emissions by roughly 92% but takes seven hours longer than flying. Under the Sustainable Travel Leave policy, employers cover that additional time with a modest leave allowance.

  Possible has already supported almost 200 employers to adopt the policy, and it is now spreading internationally as standard practice. Employees can make lower-carbon choices; employers face minimal disruption. 

  Six years’ worth of data shows that the extra amount of leave taken averages just three minutes per employee per month. Yet participating organisations report measurable gains: 74% say it increases staff motivation and wellbeing, 67% say it has aided recruitment efforts, and 81% say it helps embed sustainability across their operations.

  We are calling on the Cabinet Office to offer Sustainable Travel Leave within the Civil Service. It is an ultra low-cost way to align workplace practice with the Government’s net-zero strategy while improving the public-sector employee offer. It also signals credible leadership at a time when voters expect consistency between climate ambition and day-to-day decisions. Crucially, it requires no new regulation, no subsidy and no complex administration.

  The UK has repeatedly shown that people embrace climate-positive measures when they are practical and fair. Allowing employees modest time to travel responsibly is exactly that: commercially sensible, reputationally valuable and operationally light. It should become a standard part of the modern employment offer, in Whitehall and beyond.

Cross-party Parliamentarians urge Government to end cruelty of cages and crates in UK farming ahead of forthcoming Animal Welfare Strategy.

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  Adrian Ramsay MP initiated this cross-party letter with Irene Campbell MP.

  3rd December 2025

  The Rt Hon Emma Reynolds 

  Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

  Dear Secretary of State, 

  We are writing as cross-party Parliamentarians to request that the forthcoming Animal Welfare Strategy includes a time-bound phase-out of all confinement cages and crates in farming, alongside a properly funded package of support for farmers to transition away from this practice.

  Every year, millions of farmed animals in the UK endure severe and prolonged suffering confined to crates and cages. Around 8 million laying hens are kept in cages no larger than an A4 sheet of paper, unable to forage, feel sunlight, or fully stretch their wings. In addition, around 200,000 mother pigs spend nearly a quarter of their adult lives in farrowing crates, unable to turn around for weeks at a time and forced to nurse their piglets through metal bars.  

  The UK claims to have some of the highest farmed animal welfare standards. But despite progress in moving towards cage-free systems, millions of animals are still suffering daily, leaving us behind a number of European countries. Cagesfor hens are either banned or being phased-out in Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, France, Slovenia and Slovakia. Farrowing crates for sows are banned in Sweden, Switzerland and Norway. 

  In the UK there is clear and growing public, professional and industry-level support for ending this cruel and unnecessary practice. Research from Humane World for Animals shows that over two-thirds of the public oppose the use of farrowing crates. The British Veterinary Association reports that 75% of vets are concerned about the welfare impacts of these crates. And many farmers are ready and willing to transition away from this practice, given appropriate support to do so.

  This Government was elected on a mandate to deliver the most ambitious animal welfare improvements in a generation. To deliver on this promise, we call on you to ensure the forthcoming Animal Welfare Strategy includes:

  • A time-bound phase-out of farrowing crates for sows, individual calf pens, and all cages used for birds, including hens, partridges, pheasants and quail.

  • A comprehensive, funded package of support to help farmers transition to higher-welfare systems.

  • Adequate resourcing for enforcement bodies and enhanced enforcement powers.

  • Measures to ensure Parliament can properly track and scrutinise progress on the phase-out, and the Strategy more broadly.

  We should be grateful for your response to this letter.

  Yours sincerely, 

  Adrian Ramsay MP

  Irene Campbell MP

  Fleur Anderson MP

  Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

  Siân Berry MP

  Bob Blackman MP

  Olivia Blake MP

  Richard Burgon MP

  Ellie Chowns MP

  Jeremy Corbyn MP

  Carla Denyer MP

  Dame Caroline Dinenage MP

  Neil Duncan-Jordan MP

  Sorcha Eastwood MP

  Sarah Edwards MP

  Andrew George MP

  Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

  Andrew Gwynne MP

  Wera Hobhouse MP

  Terry Jermy MP

  Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

  Clive Lewis MP

  Kerry McCarthy MP

  John McDonnell MP

  Helen Maguire MP

  Rachael Maskell MP

  Manuela Perteghella MP

  Peter Prinsley MP

  Baroness Redfern

  Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP

  Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP

  Andrew Rosindell MP

  Vikki Slade MP

  Alex Sobel MP

  Ian Sollom MP

  Steve Witherden MP

A Letter on the Urgent Need for Targeted Prostate Cancer Screening

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Prostate Cancer Research

  Dear Secretary of State,

  We write united by a belief that no man should die because of his postcode, ethnicity, or GP access.

  Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in UK men, with over 63,000 diagnoses and 12,000 deaths annually.i Today, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) meets to decide on prostate cancer screening. This is a defining moment for men’s health. The Government must be ready to act so that those at highest risk – men aged 45–69 who are Black, have a family history of prostate, breast or ovarian cancer, or carry BRCA1/BRCA2 variants, all of whom face at least twice the average risk of developing prostate cancer – are no longer left behind.ii

  1) A growing inequity

  The latest National Prostate Cancer Audit (2025) shows inequalities are deepening. Men in deprived areas are more likely to present with advanced disease and more likely to die.iii Our current opportunistic PSA testing system is unstructured, inefficient and unfair – a postcode lottery where some men succeed because they know to ask or can pay privately, while others are turned away despite repeated requests.

  Yet the data hide what cannot be modelled: eroded trust among communities who feel abandoned. Black men, already at higher risk, often believe the system fails them. Families bear devastating emotional and financial burdens from late-stage disease – costs absent from formal modelling but among the most compelling reasons to act.

  2) The evidence is now clear

  The evidence shows screening saves lives. The 23-year follow-up of the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer demonstrated a 13% mortality reduction – comparable to breast and bowel screening, with the numbers needed to screen and treat to prevent a death in line with those for existing programmes.v

  Modern diagnostic pathways have transformed safety. Prostate Cancer UK’s 2024 analysis found harms reduced by 79% thanks to MRI and improved biopsy techniques.vi The Göteborg-2 trial confirmed pre-biopsy MRI halves overdiagnosis.vii

  Today, the pathway is entirely different to when the UK NSC last evaluated screening: men have an MRI before any biopsy is considered; biopsies are carried out using safer transperineal methods; and low-grade cancers are far less likely to be detected – and, when they are, they are managed with active surveillance rather than treatment. Harms that once justified inaction have largely been engineered out.

  These advances mean we now have the tools to deliver screening safely and effectively, yet the system is frozen waiting for next-generation trial data. Comments in The Times (3 October) suggest results from the upcoming TRANSFORM trial may take over a decade.viii Waiting would entrench inequality and allow preventable deaths. Evidence is strong enough to act now.Perfection must not be the enemy of progress.

  3) Practical, affordable and efficient

  Targeted screening is practical and affordable. Prostate Cancer Research’s 2025 report, Prostate Cancer Screening: The Impact on the NHS, with modelling by Carnall Farrar, shows additional annual costs would be around £25m – just 0.01% of the NHS budget – with modest workforce uplift and costs per screen comparable to existing programmes.ix Recent data also show a simplified MRI, taking 10 minutes, is as effective as current scans, opening the path to increased capacity within existing resources.x

  The socio-economic benefits are substantial. Deloitte UK modelling found a five-year targeted programme would deliver a net benefit of £54m through earlier diagnosis, reduced treatment costs, and quality-of-life gains.xi Late-stage treatment averages £127,000 per patient vs. £13,000 for early-stage.xii Every delay costs lives and money.

  Public support is overwhelmingly behind action: a nationally representative Healthwatch England poll of 3,575 men found 79% would attend screening if invited.xiii Tens of thousands have called on Parliament to act. We have a duty to listen, and to act.

  4) Learning from the world

  The UK can lead but risks falling behind. Sweden’s Organised Prostate Testing (OPT) programme shows that structured, equitable testing is achievable even without a formal programme, laying the groundwork for a future national rollout.xiv Across Europe, the EU is implementing its prostate cancer screening recommendation, and Australia is preparing to endorse risk-adapted testing for high-risk men.xv xvi

  Introducing targeted screening would be a legacy-defining advance for men’s health, aligned with the ambitions of the Men’s Health Strategy and the National Cancer Plan.

  Yours sincerely,

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Prostate Cancer Research.

  i prostatecanceruk.org/for-health-professionals/data-and-evidence

  ii James ND, Tannock I, N'Dow J et al. The Lancet Commission on prostate cancer: planning for the surge in cases. Lancet.

  2024 Apr 27;403(10437):1683-1722. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00651-2. Epub 2024 Apr 4. Erratum in: Lancet. 2024 Apr

  27;403(10437):1634. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00748-7

  iii National Prostate Cancer Audit (NPCA) State of the Nation Report 2025. London: National Cancer Audit Collaborating

  Centre, Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2025. natcan.org.uk/reports/npca-state-of-the-nation-report-2025/

  iv Roobol MJ, de Vos II, Månsson M, et al. European Study of Prostate Cancer Screening - 23-Year Follow-up. N Engl J Med.

  2025 Oct 30;393(17):1669-1680. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2503223

  v Vickers A. Early Detection of Prostate Cancer - Time to Fish or Cut Bait. N Engl J Med. 2025 Oct 30;393(17):1742-1743. doi:

  10.1056/NEJMe2509793

  vi Norori N, Burns-Cox L, Blaney N et al. Using real world data to bridge the evidence gap left by prostate cancer screening

  trials, ESMO Real World Data and Digital Oncology, Volume 6, 2024, 100073, ISSN 2949-8201, doi:

  10.1016/j.esmorw.2024.100073

  vii Hugosson J, Månsson M, Wallström J et al. Prostate Cancer Screening with PSA and MRI Followed by Targeted Biopsy Only.

  N Engl J Med. 2022 Dec 8;387(23):2126-2137. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2209454

  viii thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/nhs-advisers-set-to-reject-routine-prostate-cancer-screening-ckznrp80p

  ix Prostate Cancer Research. Prostate Cancer Screening: Impact on the NHS; 2025

  x Ng ABCD, Asif A, Agarwal R et al. Biparametric vs Multiparametric MRI for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: The PRIME Diagnostic

  Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2025 Oct 7;334(13):1170-1179. doi: 10.1001/jama.2025.13722

  xi Prostate Cancer Research. Socio-Economic Impact of Prostate Cancer Screening; 2024

  xii Prostate Cancer Research, ibid

  xiii healthwatch.co.uk/blog/2025-10-08/men-would-come-forward-prostate-cancer-screening

  xiv Bratt O, Godtman RA, Jiborn T et al. Population-based Organised Prostate Cancer Testing: Results from the First Invitation

  of 50-year-old Men. Eur Urol. 2024 Mar;85(3):207-214. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2023.11.013

  xv EU Council Recommendation 2022/2381 and Beating Cancer Plan updates (2024). consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-

  releases/2022/12/09/council-updates-its-recommendation-to-screen-for-cancer/

  xvi Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Public Consultation: Draft 2025 Clinical Guidelines for the Early Detection of

  Prostate Cancer. pcfa.org.au/public-consultation/

Letter to Chancellor on Tax-Free Childcare Cap

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Claire Hanna MP.

  Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  HM Treasury

  1 Horse Guards Road

  Westminster

  London

  SW1A 2HQ

  25 November 2025

  Dear Chancellor,

  We are writing to you as Members of Parliament and stakeholders from across England, Northern Ireland,

  Scotland and Wales, alongside Pregnant Then Screwed, the leading charity working to end the motherhood

  penalty, to request urgent action to support families who are struggling with the rising cost of childcare.

  As per previous correspondence earlier this year, we are calling for the cap on Tax-Free Childcare, fixed at

  £2,000 per child per year since the scheme was introduced in 2017, to be uprated in line with inflation.

  Since 2017, prices have risen by approximately 34%, yet the cap has never been adjusted. As a result, the

  real value of the support available to families has been significantly eroded.

  During this period, childcare costs across the UK have increased sharply, placing growing pressure on

  households already struggling to make ends meet. Updating the Tax-Free Childcare cap to reflect inflation

  would be a simple, fair and effective way to ease the financial burden on families.

  It is also important to note that many other benefits and forms of support, including tax credits and

  pensions are uprated each year. We therefore believe it is both reasonable and consistent that the same

  principle should be applied to the Tax-Free Childcare cap.

  The forthcoming Budget provides an opportunity to address this. Increasing the cap would offer vital

  support to parents and would strengthen the economy by enabling more parents to enter, remain in or

  return to the workforce.

  We look forward to your response.

Introduction of a Medal for British Soldiers Injured in Combat

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Davin Baines MP.

  Re: Introduction of a Medal for British Soldiers Injured in Combat

  Dear Minister,

  I am writing to urge the Government to support the campaign of my constituent Corporal Andy Reid MBE to establish an official medal to recognise British service personnel who have been wounded or injured while serving on active duty.

  In October 2009, Corporal Andy Reid MBE stepped on a Taliban improvised explosive device while on patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Injured so badly that it was thought he would not survive, he defied the odds to the extent that, within a month, he was able to meet up with members of his patrol again. Since then, as a triple amputee, he has gone on to carry out many arduous challenges to raise money for charity and give back to the associations that helped him and his family through difficult times.

  Through his Standing Tall Foundation, Andy continues to provide invaluable support to injured service personnel and their families, demonstrating remarkable dedication to those who have served and also to the wider community.

  Currently, UK service personnel who are wounded in active service receive no formal medal or honour to reflect the profound physical and mental sacrifices they have made in defence of our country. While the Elizabeth Cross appropriately recognises the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, there is no equivalent recognition for those who bear the wounds of their service. This stands in stark contrast to our international allies: the United States awards the Purple Heart, and India presents the Wound Medal or Parakram Padak to those injured in conflict.

  Andy understands intimately the sacrifices made by our armed forces and is leading the charge for this vital recognition. As Andy eloquently states: "For many injured soldiers that bit of recognition in the form of a medal for

  the mental and physical sacrifices they have made would give them that real boost they might need – a thank you from the nation that might just pull them out of that dark place and move forward with their lives towards a better future."

  This medal would provide something instantly recognisable to the general population – a visible acknowledgement that this individual has paid a sacrifice for their safety and the safety of the nation.

  My colleagues and I look forward to your response and to working with you on this important matter.

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Davin Baines MP.

Use the Autumn Budget to lower electricity prices

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by the MCS Foundation.

  Dear Chancellor,

  Subject: Use the Autumn Budget to lower electricity prices

  The cost of living crisis is still hitting millions of households across Britain. Prices remain high, and the latest rise in the Energy Price Cap will only make things worse. The public wants to see action to reduce energy bills, which now ranks as the most worrying household expense amongst the population.

  Britain has some of the highest electricity costs in Europe. A significant factor in keeping prices high is the social and environmental levies placed directly on households’ electricity bills. These levies make up 18% of a typical household’s electricity bill and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable. Households reliant on direct electric heating, such as electric radiators and fan heaters, are more likely to be in fuel poverty – yet they pay a far higher proportion of their income funding social and environmental levies.

  Research from The MCS Foundation shows that moving these levies off electricity prices could save households, including those on direct electric heating and those with heat pumps, up to £300 on their bills.

  Reducing the cost of electricity has the dual benefit of tackling fuel poverty while providing a significant financial incentive for households to electrify - a necessity for tackling climate change and meeting our net-zero obligations.

  Social and environmental levies were introduced to raise revenue to support those in fuel poverty and boost renewable energy. While these areas are still in critical need of funding, retaining levies on electricity is now running directly counter to these initial aims, by disincentivising the switch away from fossil fuel heating.

  While we appreciate that there are political and economic challenges that must be overcome, we believe now is the time for bold action. We urge you to use the Autumn Budget to reduce bills and incentivise electrification. There’s no time to waste.

  Yours sincerely,

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by the MCS Foundation.

Letter to the Prime Minister Ahead of COP30

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this letter along with Sian Berry MP, Carla Denyer MP and Dr Ellie Chowns MP.

  Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP

  Prime Minister

  10 Downing Street

  London

  SW1A 2AA

  31 October 2025

  Dear Prime Minister,

  We are writing ahead of COP30 to urge that you use the UK’s influence to ensure an ambitious outcome consistent with avoiding the most catastrophic climate impacts. This year’s COP summit is taking place at a pivotal moment in history - just past the mid-point in what’s a critical decade for climate and nature action.

  The state of nature, biodiversity and ecosystems are deteriorating more rapidly than ever, and global temperatures continue to climb at a terrifyingly dangerous rate. The combined effect is devastating for the life support systems on which we all depend, and therefore also for our security, for our economic, social and political stability, and for everything from our food supplies to our health and wellbeing.

  The UN Secretary General has called the fossil fuel companies the godfathers of climate chaos and the IPCC warn that emissions from fossil fuels are the dominant cause of global warming. Yet COP30 is taking place against a backdrop of continued financial support from governments for the fossil fuel industry – including an estimated £17.5 billion every year here in the UK.

  At the same time, the poorest peoples of the world, with the least historic responsibility for climate emissions, continue to bear the brunt of climate breakdown. It is vital that the decisions made at COP30 do not further perpetuate climate injustice.

  And with this year marking the start of a new round of Nationally Determined Contributions, COP30 is critical to closing the 1.5°C delivery gap and other gaps – as the UN Secretary General said in his remarks of 27th October 2025:

  We need Nationally Determined Contributions that cut emissions much more deeply and accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewables. At COP30 in Brazil, we must go further and faster to close the ambition gap. We need more ambition in adaptation, mitigation and climate financial justice.

  We warmly welcome your attendance at COP30 and hope your leadership will include advocating for:

  • A Climate Damages Tax – a “polluters pay” tax on the extraction of fossil fuels in the world’s richest advanced economies.

  • The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty – a framework to manage the global transition to safe, renewable & affordable energy for all.

  • Climate Justice – a climate finance package made up primarily of public funded grants funds, accompanied by debt cancellation measures, and that enables countries in the Global South to reduce their emissions, adapt to the impacts of climate change and meet the costs associated with loss and damage.

  • A global Just Transition - negotiators must stop blocking progress towards a Belém Action Mechanism (BAM).

  • An action plan to end forest destruction by 2030 - voluntary initiatives have failed to halt and reverse deforestation or to stop forest degradation, and substantive, structural change is needed to ensure existing forest commitments are met in an efficient, just and equitable way.

  The UK’s global leadership should also be matched with ambitious domestic action as evidence of leading by example.

  So we also call on you to back national measures that are aligned with the priorities of a successful COP30, and signal to the rest of the world that the UK is prepared to do its fair share in closing the gap between what the climate science demands and current emissions projections. Specifically, we urge you to:

  • End handouts to fossil fuel companies - use the forthcoming Budget to stop tax reliefs, investment allowances and subsidies, and to close loopholes in the ban on UK overseas finance supporting fossil fuels.

  • Play fair on climate finance – this must not come at the expense of overseas development aid, must be new government money, must not increase debt burdens, and must reflect the UK’s historic responsibilities.

  • Back the Energy Jobs Bill - to invest in British jobs and a just transition for workers in the oil and gas sector.

  • Deliver climate justice at home – with policies that ensure the poorest in our communities do not bear the financial brunt of climate action.

  • Keep your promise on no new oil and gas – by rejecting Rosebank, Jackdaw, other new extraction proposals and all new use of tie-backs – and go even further by refusing development consent for oil and gas projects that have already been licensed.

  • Step up on climate adaptation – with a national climate resilience plan and a sixth Government mission on adaptation that reflects the CCC’s advice of 15th October 2025.

  Whilst we recognise that the UK and the world are making significant strides towards a carbon free economy, this is still accompanied by plans to produce more than double the quantity of fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with holding global temperature rises to 1.5C above preindustrial levels.

  This collective failure is driving climate breakdown.

  COP 30 is an opportunity to change course – to choose transformative action that tackles injustice and inequality alongside greenhouse gas emissions.

  We trust you will recognise this decisive moment by ramping up your ambition still further, in order to help secure a liveable future for all.

  Yours sincerely,

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this letter along with Sian Berry MP, Carla Denyer MP and Dr Ellie Chowns MP.

  • https://www.globaljustice.org.uk/news/uk-government-subsidises-fossil-fuels-by-17-5-billion-every-year-new-research-reveals/

  • https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statements/2025-10-27/secretary-generals-remarks-the-asean-united-nations-summit-delivered

  • https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CDT_guide_2024_FINAL-1.pdf

Gentoo penguins at Sea Life London

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by David Taylor MP.

  Dear Secretary of State,

  Re: Urgent review of the welfare of Gentoo penguins at SEA LIFE London Aquarium

  We, the undersigned Members of Parliament, are writing to express our deep concern regarding the welfare of fifteen Gentoo penguins currently kept at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium, a short walk from Parliament. In light of the growing public concern, we respectfully request that DEFRA conduct an independent review into whether the current conditions meet the highest standards of animal welfare and, if necessary, intervene to secure a more appropriate environment for these animals.

  Recent reports have highlighted that the penguins are housed in a windowless basement enclosure, with no access to natural light or fresh air, and that the pool depth is around six to seven feet, which is far shallower than the environments Gentoo penguins experience in the wild. Concerns have been raised by respected conservationists, including Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin, who argue that such an environment cannot adequately support the species’ natural behaviours.

  As Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, we share a collective commitment to animal welfare. All political parties in this great nation value the protection of animals as a reflection of our shared compassion and sense of moral duty. The United Kingdom has a proud record in this area, from the Hunting Act 2004, which banned the hunting of wild mammals with dogs, to the ongoing work to strengthen welfare protections for both domestic and wild animals. The 2024 General Election manifesto commitments to phase out animal testing, ban the use of snares, end the import of hunting trophies, and strengthen protections for wildlife reflect the continued importance placed on these issues across Parliament.

  In that spirit, we respectfully ask that DEFRA:

  Commission an independent welfare assessment of the Gentoo penguin enclosure at SEA LIFE London, involving external veterinary and zoological specialists. Evaluate the facility’s compliance with both the Standards of Modern Zoo Practice and the Animal Welfare Act 2006, as well the likelihood of compliance with the revised zoo Standards entering into force in May 2027, with particular focus on light, air quality, pool depth, and enrichment.

  Consider whether the penguins should be relocated to a more suitable facility better aligned with their behavioural, ecological and physiological needs. Publish the findings of this review to ensure transparency and maintain public confidence in welfare standards.

  We wish to make clear that this is not an adversarial request but a constructive one, recognising the Government’s strong record on animal welfare and DEFRA’s expertise in safeguarding species under human care. This is an opportunity to demonstrate that the United Kingdom continues to lead the world in setting and upholding exemplary welfare standards.

  We would be grateful for your response outlining the Department’s intended course of action and the anticipated timeframe for review.

  Kind Regards,

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by David Taylor MP.

End Starvation as a Weapon of War

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Action Against Hunger UK.

  The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP

  Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

  Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

  King Charles Street

  London

  SW1A 2AH

  October 2025

  Dear Secretary of State,

  We are writing to urge the UK Government to ratify the 2019 Amendment to Article 8(2)(e)(xix) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which criminalises the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in non-international armed conflicts. As you take up this role, we hope you will seize the opportunity to strengthen the UK’s leadership in driving international accountability for such crimes.

  The UK rightly supported the adoption of this amendment at the Assembly of States Parties in December 2019. However, the UK is yet to ratify it, and is therefore failing to implement its support to the ICC’s jurisdiction on this matter. At a time when starvation is being used as a method of warfare in so many conflict zones around the world - from the systematic denial of humanitarian aid to targeting food production and besieging populations - it is vital that the UK strengthens its commitment to ending these abhorrent practices.

  The UK implemented the Rome Statute via the International Criminal Court Act 2001. The Act currently only criminalises starvation as a method of warfare in the context of international armed conflicts. Ratifying the 2019 amendment would send a vital signal of the UK’s intent to uphold international law and to support global accountability efforts to ensure this is illegal in non-international armed conflicts, such as civil wars.

  Ratification would:

  • Reinforce the UK’s long-standing support for accountability and international justice

  • Further implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2417, which calls for action against the use of starvation in conflict

  • Bolster the rules-based international order and strengthen norms against impunity

  • Underscore the UK’s global leadership in protecting civilians, particularly the most vulnerable

  • Encourage other states to follow suit and build international consensus.

  We note that 21 countries have already ratified this amendment, including Germany, New Zealand, the

  Netherlands, and Spain. UK ratification would send a powerful message of resolve and leadership. Ratification

  will require primary legislation to ensure national compliance. Ratification is a necessary and timely step in

  aligning the UK’s legal framework with the UK Government’s stated values and international commitments.

  We respectfully request that the Government bring forward legislation to enable the UK’s timely ratification.

  We look forward to your response.

  Yours sincerely,

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Action Against Hunger UK.

Urgent Investment Needed to Power Industrial Decarbonisation and Secure UK Jobs

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by ADE the Association for Decentralised Energy.

  Dear Chancellor,

  Urgent Investment Needed to Power Industrial Decarbonisation and Secure UK Jobs

  The UK’s 2050 target depends on decarbonising our industrial heartlands, but current policy is failing to address half the problem.

  While significant focus is rightly placed on large industrial clusters, nearly 50% of our industrial emissions – and at least 1.4 million jobs in the manufacturing and utilities industrial sectors alone could be at risk – are based in dispersed sites outside these clusters. These are the distilleries in Scotland, the ceramics kilns in the Midlands, the food processors in East Anglia. They are the backbone of our regional economies and our national supply chains, yet they face a perfect storm of barriers.

  Our electricity prices are the highest among IEA nations, with policy costs up to fourteen times more expensive and this contributes to making power more expensive than gas. This makes electrification – the primary route to decarbonisation for most of these sites – an economic non-starter. Compounded by crippling grid connection delays and a lack of tailored support, these businesses are being locked into high-carbon operations.

  This is an active threat to our economic competitiveness and energy security. We are stalling investment and risking carbon leakage at a time when we should be spurring green growth in every part of the country.

  The recent ADE: Demand report, "Decarbonising Dispersed Industries," provides a framework of this challenge, outlining five distinct archetypes of rural industry, each with unique needs but all united by this common policy blind spot.Therefore, I urge you to use the upcoming budget to allocate significant funding to address this imbalance. We need a mechanism that bridges the damaging price gap between electricity and gas, conditional on fuel switching, to make electrification the economically rational choice for British industry. This will unleash the investment we desperately need.

  By providing this price signal, you can unlock billions in private investment, secure hundreds of thousands of jobs, and finally put dispersed industrial decarbonisation on the fast track

  Let’s not leave half of our industrial economy behind. Let’s give them the tools to help us all reach net zero.

  Yours sincerely,

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by ADE the Association for Decentralised Energy.

Supporting Parents of Seriously Sick Children

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Chris Hinchliff MP.

  Dear Secretary of State,

  Re: The Government’s Consultation On Support for Parents of Seriously Sick Children

  We are writing in support of the It’s Never You campaign for Hugh’s Law, following the government’s announcement of a stand-alone consultation on supporting parents of seriously ill children.

  The campaign for Hugh’s Law goes to the heart of what our welfare state must provide: a safety net people can rely on in moments of crisis. Too many parents, already facing the anguish of caring for a seriously ill child, also face the devastating reality that they cannot afford to be at their child’s bedside. Hugh’s Law would introduce an immediate, non-means tested benefit for parents of seriously ill children, offering immediate support that current benefits simply do not provide. Families must not fall through the cracks of the welfare system at what is, for many, the hardest period of their lives. There is support for families at certain stages of life, such as maternity and paternity leave. There is nothing bespoke for parents of seriously ill children, aside from the limited Neonatal Care Act, applying only in a child’s earliest days. Hugh’s Law is a natural extension of that Act. Our welfare state should

  respond not to the timing of illness, but to the reality of need.

  We welcome the consultation as a significant step forward that reflects the government’s commitment to addressing the campaign for Hugh’s Law. We would be grateful for clarification on the following points ahead of the consultation:

  • Will the consultation’s terms be co-produced with It’s Never You to ensure they reflect families’ real needs?

  • Will you confirm the timeframe for the consultation?

  • Will you announce an intention to legislate on Hugh’s Law in next year’s King’s Speech?

  • Can you outline a potential timeframe for implementation of any resulting legislation?

  The government’s announcement marks significant progress. The upcoming King’s Speech provides

  the ideal opportunity to build on this to deliver Hugh’s Law, ensuring the needs of families are fully

  addressed.

  Yours sincerely,

  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Chris Hinchliff MP.

Ensure Audit Reform Is Not Delayed Further

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  Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors.

  Sunday 7 September 2025

  The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

  Prime Minister

  10 Downing Street

  London

  SW1A 2AA

  Dear Prime Minister,

  We welcomed the Government’s commitment in last July’s King’s Speech to publish the draft Audit Reform and

  Corporate Governance Bill, an important milestone following years of delay. However, we are very disappointed

  that, despite this early promise, it has been announced that it has once again stalled and will not be published for

  pre-legislative scrutiny during this session.

  The case for reform is now more pressing than ever. Strengthening audit and corporate governance is essential

  to laying the foundations for sustainable growth and long-term economic stability. Investors, the public, and other

  stakeholders must be able to rely on accurate, transparent reporting from our largest companies, covering both

  financial performance and other business-critical matters. This is fundamental to restoring trust and confidence in

  UK markets.

  We also need an audit regulator with real authority, one that can hold company directors and audit firms to

  account when failures occur. Without this, the system remains exposed and vulnerable, as the regulator lacks the

  legal powers it needs to do its job effectively.

  It is deeply concerning that over seven years have passed since the collapse of Carillion, yet no legislation has

  been brought forward, despite multiple independent reviews, a Government White Paper, and extensive public

  consultation. In the meantime, we have witnessed further high-profile corporate failures linked to weaknesses in

  audit and governance, including Patisserie Valerie, Bulb, Thomas Cook, Wilko, and ISG - making it clear that

  market oversight remains far from adequate. When companies collapse due to audit and governance failings, the

  consequences are devastating - impacting jobs, pensions, and smaller businesses across supply chains. This is

  the polar opposite of economic growth.

  In today’s increasingly volatile geopolitical and macroeconomic environment, a robust and effective audit and

  corporate governance framework is not a nice-to-have but a business necessity. The Audit Reform and Corporate

  Governance Bill enjoys strong cross-party support and represents a vital opportunity to legislate and regulate for

  growth, resilience, and accountability.

  As we have seen with other important Bills, where there is political will, there is a way. We urge the Government

  to act now, bring forward this long-overdue legislation, and prioritise its passage through Parliament.

  Yours faithfully,

  • Rt Hon Diane Abbott MP, Hackney North

  and Stoke Newington (The Mother of the

  House) (Independent)

  • Luke Akehurst MP, North Durham (Labour)

  • Josh Babarinde MP, Eastbourne (Liberal

  Democrat Spokesperson for Justice &

  Justice Committee)

  • Paula Barker MP, Liverpool Wavertree

  (Committee on Standards) (Labour)

  • Lee Barron MP, Corby and East

  Northamptonshire (Labour)

  • Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (former

  Leader of the Green Party)

  • Siân Berry MP, Brighton Pavilion (Green)

  • Clive Betts MP, Sheffield South East

  (Public Accounts Committee) (Labour)

  • Bob Blackman MP, Harrow East (Chair,

  Backbench Business Committee)

  (Conservative)

  • Wendy Chamberlain MP, North East Fife

  (Liberal Democrat Chief Whip)

  • Ellie Chowns MP, North Herefordshire

  (Environmental Audit Committee) (Green)

  • Lord Clement-Jones CBE (Liberal

  Democrat Lords Spokesperson for

  Science, Innovation and Technology)

  • Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, North

  Cotswolds (Conservative)

  • Daisy Cooper MP, St Albans (Liberal

  Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury

  & Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats)

  • Adam Dance MP, Yeovil (Liberal

  Democrat)

  • Steve Darling MP, Torbay (Liberal

  Democrat Spokesperson for Work and

  Pensions & Work and Pensions

  Committee)

  • Ann Davies MP, Caerfyrddin (Welsh

  Affairs Committee) (Plaid Cymru)

  • Bobby Dean MP, Carshalton & Wallington

  (Treasury Committee) (Liberal Democrat)

  • Carla Denyer MP, Bristol Central

  • The Rt Hon. the Lord Dholakia OBE DL

  (Human Rights Joint Select Committee)

  (Liberal Democrat)

  • Neil Duncan-Jordan MP, Poole

  (Independent)

  • Sarah Dyke MP, Glastonbury and

  Somerton (Environment, Food and Rural

  Affairs Committee) (Liberal Democrat)

  • Sarah Edwards MP, Tamworth (Business

  and Trade Committee) (Labour)

  • Will Forster MP, Woking (Housing,

  Communities and Local Government

  Committee) (Liberal Democrat)

  • Andrew George MP, West Cornwall & Isles

  of Scilly (St Ives) (Health and Social Care

  Committee) (Liberal Democrat)

  • Mary Glindon MP, Newcastle upon Tyne

  East and Wallsend (Administration

  Committee) (Labour)

  • Claire Hanna MP, Belfast South and Mid

  Dow (Leader of the Social Democratic and

  Labour Party)

  • Baroness Harris of Richmond (Secondary

  Legislation Scrutiny Committee) (Liberal

  Democrat)

  • Pippa Heylings MP, South Cambridgeshire

  (Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for

  Energy Security and Net Zero &

  Environmental Audit Committee)

  • Wera Hobhouse MP, Bath (Energy

  Security and Net Zero Committee) (Liberal

  Democrat)

  • The Rt Hon. the Baroness Hodge of

  Barking DBE (Labour)

  • Christine Jardine MP, Edinburgh West

  (Women and Equalities Committee)

  (Liberal Democrat)

  • Liz Jarvis MP, Eastleigh (Culture, Media

  and Sport Committee) (Liberal Democrat)

  • Kim Johnson MP, Liverpool Riverside

  (Labour)

  • Clive Jones MP, Wokingham (Liberal

  Democrat Spokesperson for Trade)

  • Ben Lake MP, Ceredigion Preseli (Welsh

  Affairs Committee) (Plaid Cymru)

  • Graham Leadbitter MP, Moray West, Nairn

  & Strathspey (SNP)

  • Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative)

  • Seamus Logan MP, Aberdeenshire North

  and Moray East (SNP)

  • Ben Maguire MP, North Cornwall (Home

  Affairs Committee & Liberal Democrat

  Shadow Attorney General)

  • Helen Maguire MP, Epsom and Ewell

  (Liberal Democrat)

  • Rachael Maskell MP, York Central

  (Independent)

  • Brian Mathew MP, Melksham and Devizes

  (International Development Committee)

  (Liberal Democrat)

  • Andy McDonald MP, Middlesbrough and

  Thornaby East (Labour)

  • John McDonnell MP, Hayes and

  Harlington (Independent)

  • Iqbal Mohamed MP, Dewsbury and Batley

  (Independent)

  • Layla Moran MP, Oxford West and

  Abingdon (Chair, Health and Social Care

  Committee) (Liberal Democrat)

  • Tessa Munt MP, Wells and Mendip Hills

  (Administration Committee) (Liberal

  Democrat)

  • Susan Murray MP, Mid Dunbartonshire

  (Scottish Affairs Committee) (Liberal

  Democrat)

  • James Naish MP, Rushcliffe (International

  Development Committee) (Labour)

  • Sarah Olney MP, Richmond Park (Liberal

  Democrat Spokesperson for the Cabinet

  Office & Public Accounts Committee)

  • Manuela Perteghella MP, Stratford-on-

  Avon (Education Committee) (Liberal

  Democrat)

  • Adrian Ramsay MP, Waveney Valley

  (Green)

  • Martin Rhodes MP, Glasgow North

  (Environment Audit Committee) (Labour)

  • Marie Rimmer MP, St Helens South and

  Whiston (Labour)

  • Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

  (Secondary Legislation Scrutiny

  Committee and former Leader of the

  Social Democratic and Labour Party)

  (Labour)

  • Dr Roz Savage MP, South Cotswolds

  (Petitions Committee) (Liberal Democrat)

  • Jim Shannon MP, Strangford (DUP)

  • Lord Sikka (Professor of Accounting at the

  University of Sheffield, and Emeritus

  Professor of Accounting at the University

  of Essex) (Labour)

  • Alex Sobel MP, Leeds Central and

  Headingley (UK Trade Envoy to Ukraine

  and Chair of the Net Zero APPG) (Labour)

  • Ian Sollom MP, St Neots and Mid

  Cambridgeshire (Liberal Democrat

  Spokesperson for Universities and Skills)

  • Baroness Uddin

  • Martin Vickers MP, Brigg & Immingham

  (Backbench Business Committee)

  (Conservative)

  • The Rt Hon. the Lord Wallace of Saltaire

  (Liberal Democrat)

  • Nadia Whittome MP, Nottingham East

  (Environmental Audit Committee) (Labour)

  • Steve Witherden MP, Montgomeryshire

  and Glyndŵr (Welsh Affairs Committee)

  (Labour)