HENCEFORTH.CLUBThis Week in Parliament, 8 Jul to 15 Jul 2026
The murder of Ann Widdecombe
The week began in mourning. On Monday 13 July the Home Secretary told the House that Ann Widdecombe, the former Member of Parliament for Maidstone, had been murdered in her home the previous Wednesday. Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation, a twenty-eight-year-old man is in custody, and no motive has been established. Tributes were paid in both Houses and by the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s Questions, who noted that three serving or former Members have been murdered in his eleven years in Parliament. The rest of the week was heavy with law, with the Hillsborough Law passed and the Immigration and Asylum Bill given a second reading, as Sir Keir Starmer took one of his last sessions before handing over.
The week in brief
Tributes to Ann Widdecombe, 13 to 15 July. The Speaker and the Home Secretary led tributes in the Commons, the Lords followed on Tuesday, and the Prime Minister spoke at Prime Minister’s Questions. The Home Secretary confirmed that Counter Terrorism Policing leads the investigation and announced a review by Sir Robert Buckland of the lessons of the Sir David Amess murder.
The Hillsborough Law, 14 July. The Public Office (Accountability) Bill passed the Commons on the night of 14 July, imposing a duty of candour on public officials. Three amendments at report stage were defeated by 412 votes to 104, 409 to 102, and 323 to 93.
Immigration and Asylum Bill, 13 July. The Government’s borders Bill was given a second reading by 264 votes to 90. A reasoned amendment to refuse it a second reading fell first by 358 votes to 97. The Bill is now in committee.
Prime Minister’s Questions, 15 July. Sir Keir Starmer took what looked like one of his final sessions at the Dispatch Box before a handover. Andy Burnham, returned to the Commons last month as the Member for Makerfield, is the expected successor.
The divisions, closest first
Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations283–182
Immigration and Asylum Bill: Second Reading264–90
Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations317–103
Public Office (Accountability) Bill, Report Stage: Amendment 393–323
Immigration and Asylum Bill: Reasoned Amendment97–358
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 (Establishment of Schools) Regulations369–102
Public Office (Accountability) Bill, Report Stage: Amendment 199102–409
Public Office (Accountability) Bill, Report Stage: Amendment 19104–412
Written questions, by department
Defence293Health292Transport174Housing164Home Office162Environment13119 others921
The most-asked subjects
16 Defence: Finance13 RAF Barnham10 Asylum: MOD Bicester10 Asylum: Age Assurance9 Pigs: Animal Housing9 Visitor Levy
A sample of the week’s questions
Asylum: MOD Bicester · Calum Miller, Liberal Democrat
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government intends to use a Crown Development Order in relation to proposals to use Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
The answer The Home Office has submitted an application for Urgent Crown Development for the proposed large site at Bicester. It is important to note that although the Home Office has submitted a planning application to obtain suitable planning permission, no final decision has been made or will be made until all relevant due diligence, including planning, has been completed and considered.
Feature
RAF Barnham
Rupert Lowe, the Restore Britain Member for Great Yarmouth, tabled twelve written questions on RAF Barnham, a former Ministry of Defence site now being turned into asylum accommodation. He pressed on the contractor budget, freedom of movement, safeguarding for female residents, and the cost of one day restoring the site.
Mike Wood asked more written questions than any other Member of Parliament this week with 90.
Luke Pollard answered the most with 182.
Every figure checked against the official Parliament record. henceforth.club