House of Commons

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey before delivering his first Budget to the Houses of Parliament. He outlined various defence policies, but did not mention Portsmouth when discussing areas which will be reindustrialised.

'Portsmouth not being sidelined' despite being absent in Budget speech

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to a marina in Gosport, by the RNLI following a small boat incident in the Channel

"Not safe" Councillors unite to oppose future small boat landings

Dame Caroline Dinenage, Conservative MP for Gosport, praised her former counterpart in Portsmouth North, Dame Penny Mordaunt, but said it's right that all prospective Tory candidates should reapply.

"Everyone should reapply": Gosport MP addresses Penny Mordaunt wait

Discarded life jackets at Eastney Point, near Eastney Beach, Portsmouth, following a protest after people thought to be migrants were brought into the harbour (PA)

Officials to meet local MPs to address concerns over migrant crossings

Elise Sargent from Portsmouth has stage 4 bowel cancer and is urging MPs to vote the assisted dying bill through on Friday, September 11, 2026

I'm 45 with terminal cancer - MPs should vote for assisted dying bill

Dame Caroline Dinenage, Member of Parliament for Gosport, has written to the Home Secretary calling for the Phase 2 plans of the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre to be considered by Gosport Borough Council.

Immigration Centre plans blasted as minister promises to meet with MP

Partial replacements for HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion have been announced by defence secretary Dan Jarvis. The former has been sold to Brazil.

New amphibious ships to partially replace HMS Bulwark and Albion

Married at First Sight participant Shona Manderson, left, and Dame Caroline Dinenage

Gosport MP writes to Channel 4 over allegations of TV show rape

Sir Keir Starmer has indicated that new protections for military veterans will be added to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

MPs at odds as concerns are raised about Northern Ireland Bill

Stephen Morgan MP

POLITICAL COMMENT: Major reforms to put victims first continue progress through ...

Defence secretary John Healey was tight-lipped when asked whether Royal Navy ship HMS Stirling Castle would be deployed to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the ongoing hostilities in Iran. Pictured: Mr Healey and Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty.

MP tight-lipped on sending mine-clearance mother ship to Iran

Elkin & Bell Funerals was based in Nobes Avenue in Gosport prior to their arrest.

Bereaved families call for urgent regulation of funeral sector

Britain is reportedly facing a £28bn shortfall in defence funding. Pictured: Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) with Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton (2R) during a visit to a defence contractor in Bedfordshire on May 2, 2025.

"Money may not be there": Calls for more defence funds amid delays

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addressed the "£28bn shortfall" in defence spending, after being accused of being weak by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.

Starmer accused of being "weak" on defence spending

Defence secretary John Healey said British naval assets will continue to step its actions against "shadowy maritime activity". This comes as the UK supported the US seizure of the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera, also known as Bella 1.

"Shadowy threat" posed by Russia will be challenged as Bella 1 seized

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said increasing Portsmouth defence investment at the city’s Royal Navy base is an example of building for the future. It was a chaotic budget for Ms Reeves, with the OBR report being leaked early.

Portsmouth defence investment cited in chaotic Budget leaked early
Chancellor Rachel Reeves cited investment in Portsmouth as evidence of the government building for the future, amid a chaotic budget which was leaked early.
Freddie Webb

Alan Mak MP has voted for Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights

Political comment: Havant MP Alan Mak votes for Britain to leave the European Co...

Amanda Martin MP

Political comment: Amanda Martin MP Welcomes the Passing of the Victims and Cour...

Alan Mak MP has urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves not to scrap the two-child benefit cap in the November budget

POLITICAL COMMENT: Havant MP Alan Mak urges Labour Chancellor not to scrap two-c...

Vitamin B12 Awareness Day is on 23 September

Ad Feature 1 in 3 Brits may be at risk of B12 deficiency – but most have no idea

There have been calls to "accelerate" the development of a new Type 83 destroyer for the Royal Navy, after Russian drones flew over Poland - violating Nato airspace. Pictured: Labour defence minister la Carns, and Labour politician Graeme Downie.

Calls to "escalate and accelerate" Type 83 destroyer project

Alan Mak MP with Havant Constituency residents in Westminster Hall

MP Alan Mak welcomes another group of Havant Constituency residents to Parliamen...

The First News poetry competition for young writers will be judged by Hollywood star Will Poulter

Poetry competition launched for young writers - judged by Will Poulter

Alan Mak MP with the latest group of Havant constituents to go on a tour of Parliament

MP Alan Mak welcomes another group of Havant Constituency residents to Parliamen...

Alan Mak MP in the House of Commons

Havant MP Alan Mak votes against Assisted Dying Bill as it is passed by House of...

Alan Mak MP

Political Comment: Havant MP Alan Mak continues to vote against Assisted Dying B...

Nicola Crowson running in the London Marathon for Sarcoma UK

Portsmouth academic describes ‘quiet chaos’ of rare cancer in powerful House of ...
MPs heard a landmark review by a charity which reveals systematic failings in sarcoma care journey despite excellent specialist treatment
University of Portsmouth Press Office

Stephen Morgan MP on a school visit

'We are lifting 100,000 children out of poverty': MP Stephen Morgan

Local MP Alan Mak welcomes another group of Havant Constituency residents to Parliament

Local MP Alan Mak welcomes another group of Havant Constituency residents to Par...

Alan Mak MP with street party organiser Angela Hopkins

Local MP Alan Mak shows support for Hayling Island VE Day 80th anniversary stree...

Peter and Sandie Adams from Langstone receive their wedding anniversary gift from Havant MP Alan Mak

Havant MP Alan Mak presents Langstone couple with surprise wedding anniversary g...

Caroline Nokes MP has a tour of Optegra Eye Hospital Hampshire with Clinic Lead Rob House

RT Hon Caroline Nokes MP shows support for specialist eye hospital in Whiteley

Minister for defence procurement Maria Eagle said both HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark are attracting several suitors who wish to buy the former Royal Navy flagships.

"Several customers" interested in buying HMS Albion and Bulwark - MP

Alan Mak MP with Havant Constituency residents in the Grand Committee Room at Westminster

Havant MP Alan Mak welcomes group of residents on his first Parliament tour of 2...

The future of the Royal Navy Sandown-class minehunter HMS Walney is uncertain after it received no bids in a recent Ministry of Defence tender.

Future of HMS Walney uncertain after minehunter fails to sell

Reports in the Mail on Sunday said HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark are due to be sold in a cut-price deal worth £20m, despite millions being spent on returning them to the fleet.

"Militarily illiterate": HMS Albion and Bulwark could be sold for £20m

The Type 32 warship programme has stalled, with officials from the Strategic Defence Review looking over the project. Few details have been officially released, with the minister for defence procurement, Maria Eagle, responding to parliamentary written questions.

Mysterious new Type 32 warship project stalls - designs under review

Government ministers have been challenged over capability gaps in the Royal Navy, Army and RAF - they promise it will be fixed. Pictured: Liberal Democrat MP Helen Maguire and Labour MP Luke Pollard.

Ministers promise to fill defence capability gaps amid Nato reaction

Alan Mak MP and residents from Havant in Westminster Hall

Havant MP Alan Mak welcomes more residents on guided tour of Parliament

Costs spent on refitting HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark have been revealed, with both former flagships due to be decommissioned from the Royal Navy.

Costs spent refitting HMS Albion and Bulwark revealed - decommissioned

Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, leader of the Strategic Defence Review, said recent Royal navy cuts have not impacted the reviewers' ability to make decisions on the nation's defensive future.

Shock Royal Navy fleet cuts addressed by strategic defence reviewers

HMS Albion, an Albion-class landing platform, is among the ships to be decommissioned as part of defence cuts. Defence secretary John Healey said both landing platforms, including HMS Bulwark, were unofficially "retired" but "superficially kept on the books".

"Ridiculous": Lord defends cutting old ships in swipe at opposition

Alan Mak MP with Havant constituents on their trip to Parliament

Havant MP Alan Mak welcomes another group of residents to Parliament

Defence secretary John Healey has announced several cuts before the Strategic Defence Review has been published. HMS Northumberland will be among the vessels decommissioned, alongside HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark.

Stunning cuts announced as two former flagships among assets axed

Penny Mordaunt, former MP for Portsmouth North, has a new role promoting UK and USA relations after losing her seat in the last General Election.

Ex-MP Penny Mordaunt lands new job after election loss

Defence spending was brought up in the House of Commons today, with Tory MPs challenging the government over a timeline for 2.5 per cent of GDP being committed to military spending. From left: Defence secretary John Healey, Gregory Stafford MP and Graham Stuart MP.

Disgruntled MPs challenge government over defence spend timeframe

If passed the bill means that terminally ill adults in England and Wales who have six months to live will legally have the choice to end their life.

Assisted dying bill UK: What is the proposed law?

Child plays with building blocks.

Watch: Measures for families announced in Rachel Reeves’ budget

Peter Prinsley, Labour MP for Bury St Edmonds and Stowmarket, suggested that over £100m should be given to the BBC World Service instead of acquiring more F-35 Fighter Jets. They are used alongside Royal Navy aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

MP believes £100m spent on F-35 fighter jets should go to BBC instead

Poor accommodation for Royal Navy, British Army and RAF personnel will be fixed, the government has said. Veterans minister Al Carns said he was “utterly shocked” by the state of housing.

"Mould-ridden" military housing to be resolved, government says

The government pledge to house all Royal Navy, Army and RAF veterans was challenged in parliament. From left: Labour MP Al Carns and Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty.

Emotional pledge to house all armed forces veterans challenged

The ongoing Royal Fleet Auxiliary strikes (RFA) were addressed in parliament. This is shortly after the Daily Telegraph reports that RFA Fort Victoria will not join HMS Prince of Wales on Exercise Strike Warrior as there are not enough staff to deploy her.

RFA strikes addressed after ship stopped from joining major exercise

Defence secretary John Healey, and shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge, held heated discussions in parliament about the state of Britain's armed forces. The Strategic Defence Review was outlined.

Defence secretary lambasts ex-Tory regime for state of armed forces

Penny Mordaunt said the soul of the Conservative Party needs restoring after a crushing election defeat. Shye lost her Portsmouth North seat to Labour’s Amanda Martin.

Penny Mordaunt says soul of Tory party needs restoring

A child cancer task force sparked by Sophie's Legacy has been paused by the government. Labour health secretary Wes Streeting and Gosport MP, Dame Caroline Dinenage, spoke about the issue in parliament.

Child cancer task force linked to Sophie's Legacy paused

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