Putting Questions to the Prime Minister and His Deputy
Report back from Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick
In Lyric Square, Hammersmith to light a candle for the first night of Chanukah
December 19, 2025
Parliament has been busier than ever this week as we try to cram in everything before the Christmas break.
On Monday it was my chance to question the Prime Minister as a member of the Liaison Committee of Select Committee Chairs. I asked about the plan to limit jury trials, risks that we could still run out of prison places, the danger AI can pose to civil liberties and whether he would meet victims of press harassment – he said yes to that. You can watch the session here for those interested.
On Tuesday, I chaired the Justice Committee for a two-hour evidence session with the Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, David Lammy. Again juries, courts and prisons were the main topics, but we also covered delays in the civil and family courts and the current prison hunger strikes. The full evidence session can be watched on Parliament Live.
I asked questions in the Commons on the new Violence against Women and Girls Strategy, on underfunding of civil legal aid and family mediation, and on the shortage of prosecutors that is lengthening the backlog in the Crown Court. I met lawyers to discuss the Hillsborough Bill and Sir Brian Leveson about his review of the criminal courts. You can find all of my spoken contributions in the House of Commons on Hansard.
But away from Parliament there is a lot happening locally. The tragedy of the terrorist attack in Australia was at the front of our minds as the Jewish community and those showing solidarity met in Lyric Square, Hammersmith to light a candle for the first night of Chanukah. Despite the grim news, Chanukah is festival of light and hope, and we did celebrate with doughnuts and dancing.
Also, on Sunday night I attended a packed St Paul’s Church for Carols by Candlelight, a mix of singing, readings and musical performance. Now I am looking forward to another great Christmas event at St Nick’s in Old Chiswick this Sunday.
Parliament is in recess and my office is now closed until new year, but there is plenty to occupy me over the holidays, not least the Christmas Dinner for several hundred older people that H&F Council puts on at the Novotel every year on Christmas Day. There is still time to donate to the cost of this wonderful event which I have been attending for over 30 years, and which gets bigger and better every year. If you can, please consider donating through this link.
And finally, after all those celebrations, I will get my own Christmas Dinner!
So let me take this opportunity to wish my Chiswick constituents a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Best wishes,
Andy
andy@andyslaughter.com
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