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Julia Lopez MP

@JuliaLopezMP • 13,413 subscribers

Conservative MP for Hornchurch & Upminster. Shadow SoS for Science, Innovation & Technology. Promoted by Julia Lopez of 23 Butts Green Rd, Hornchurch, RM11 2JS

Shorts

It is not 'political bickering' to set out genuine concern that Labour is getting all the basics wrong - tax, energy, heavy new regs, an anti-success narrative. It's an approach that's screwing the economy and people's aspirations. Yet every leadership candidate has their hands over their ears. If PM wannabe, Darren Jones, won't take it from me, perhaps he'll listen to Welfare Secretary, Pat McFadden, who's been moaning to Mandelson, 'Every meeting I have is 'who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others'.

It is not 'political bickering' to set out genuine concern that Labour is getting all the basics wrong - tax, energy, heavy new regs, an anti-success narrative. It's an approach that's screwing the economy and people's aspirations. Yet every leadership candidate has their hands over their ears. If PM wannabe, Darren Jones, won't take it from me, perhaps he'll listen to Welfare Secretary, Pat McFadden, who's been moaning to Mandelson, 'Every meeting I have is 'who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others'.

22,549 views

Just been sworn in as MP for Hornchurch & Upminster, following Speaker's election. This morn Shadow Cabinet met - next Wed our role scrutinising new gov on your behalf will formally begin in King's Speech debates. Currently working thru emails of past few days as fast as poss

Just been sworn in as MP for Hornchurch & Upminster, following Speaker's election. This morn Shadow Cabinet met - next Wed our role scrutinising new gov on your behalf will formally begin in King's Speech debates. Currently working thru emails of past few days as fast as poss

49,719 views

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Labour has spent the past year dining off deals the Conservative government secured. Those deals are now off. Last night, a £1bn investment from US life sciences giant, Merck - in the Prime Minister's own constituency -collapsed. Yesterday, Merck was unsparing - 'Simply put, the UK is not internationally competitive'. And instead of batting for Britain's economy yesterday, our Ambassador to the US was battling for his position. The new Science Secretary sent her junior minister to answer parliament's questions. The cancellation this year of Astra Zeneca's £450m UK plant should've been a canary screaming in the coal mine. Where is the sense of urgency from Labour on addressing the needs of our brilliant and vital life sciences sector?

Labour has spent the past year dining off deals the Conservative government secured. Those deals are now off. Last night, a £1bn investment from US life sciences giant, Merck - in the Prime Minister's own constituency -collapsed. Yesterday, Merck was unsparing - 'Simply put, the UK is not internationally competitive'. And instead of batting for Britain's economy yesterday, our Ambassador to the US was battling for his position. The new Science Secretary sent her junior minister to answer parliament's questions. The cancellation this year of Astra Zeneca's £450m UK plant should've been a canary screaming in the coal mine. Where is the sense of urgency from Labour on addressing the needs of our brilliant and vital life sciences sector?

447,564 views • 9 months ago

In mandatory digital ID, Liz Kendall has been handed another of Keir Starmer's steaming messes to clear up. To get through her Statement in parliament today, she simply talked about something else. A digital 'key' (not ID). Better online services. A world in which nobody loses a library card again. She could hardly bring herself to mention the PM's dodgy argument about stopping illegal migration. She couldn't own up to the reality that Labour will be excluding British people from the workplace if they don't sign up to a mandatory ID. (Don't worry, everyone, they're spending £9m on an 'inclusion' plan) Labour is choosing to cover up its mistake by suggesting their mandatory ID plan is the only way to deliver better online government services - which it's not. MP after MP - including even the stoogier Labour ones - stood up to pick holes in the government's plan. Answers from Liz there came none. Perhaps this can be one of those cack-handed government announcements that goes quietly into the night.

In mandatory digital ID, Liz Kendall has been handed another of Keir Starmer's steaming messes to clear up. To get through her Statement in parliament today, she simply talked about something else. A digital 'key' (not ID). Better online services. A world in which nobody loses a library card again. She could hardly bring herself to mention the PM's dodgy argument about stopping illegal migration. She couldn't own up to the reality that Labour will be excluding British people from the workplace if they don't sign up to a mandatory ID. (Don't worry, everyone, they're spending £9m on an 'inclusion' plan) Labour is choosing to cover up its mistake by suggesting their mandatory ID plan is the only way to deliver better online government services - which it's not. MP after MP - including even the stoogier Labour ones - stood up to pick holes in the government's plan. Answers from Liz there came none. Perhaps this can be one of those cack-handed government announcements that goes quietly into the night.

310,528 views • 8 months ago

Nearly 3 million people signed the petition to say NO to Keir Starmer's mandatory digital ID. It sparked a debate at which MPs from every party turned out to say NO too. It was packed. Labour MPs now openly speculate about the PM's future. Let's make sure if Starmer goes, his dodgy mandatory ID follows him.

Nearly 3 million people signed the petition to say NO to Keir Starmer's mandatory digital ID. It sparked a debate at which MPs from every party turned out to say NO too. It was packed. Labour MPs now openly speculate about the PM's future. Let's make sure if Starmer goes, his dodgy mandatory ID follows him.

170,801 views • 6 months ago

“Sit down!” “What’s she on?” That and more was shouted at me yesterday in parliament during the Statement on Grok/X I made clear the images are wrong. I made clear I support Ofcom. I made clear that if law is to be effective, we have to be willing to enforce it. But it’s my job as Opposition to scrutinise the Tech Secretary. So I raised: - If it’s proportionate at this stage to threaten a wholesale ban of an important platform - Who holds power in the Internet Age - What the regulator should do about difficult enforcement decisions re images under threshold of illegality - If she’s had contact with US gov after sanctions threatened by some administration figures, further to her and PM’s statements at the weekend. - What gov is doing on issues affecting women and girls in the real world…

“Sit down!” “What’s she on?” That and more was shouted at me yesterday in parliament during the Statement on Grok/X I made clear the images are wrong. I made clear I support Ofcom. I made clear that if law is to be effective, we have to be willing to enforce it. But it’s my job as Opposition to scrutinise the Tech Secretary. So I raised: - If it’s proportionate at this stage to threaten a wholesale ban of an important platform - Who holds power in the Internet Age - What the regulator should do about difficult enforcement decisions re images under threshold of illegality - If she’s had contact with US gov after sanctions threatened by some administration figures, further to her and PM’s statements at the weekend. - What gov is doing on issues affecting women and girls in the real world…

133,077 views • 5 months ago

Labour don’t get that their policies are driving the very things they say they want to fix. They then try to fix that by spending everyone’s tax on stuff that doesn’t work. Take this. Liz Kendall famously failed to cut welfare while Rachel Reeves jacked up jobs taxes. Both policies are killing opportunity for young people. Now it’s more expensive to employ humans at a time when AI is disrupting the graduate jobs market. Kendall becomes Tech Secretary, launches an AI Skills Hub to ‘help’ same young people. It costs millions and a few months in, they can’t even tell us how many people are using it. A low tech solution to sound high tech, while completely screwing the fundamentals on employment taxes. See the useless PQ answer we got on this below. 👇

Labour don’t get that their policies are driving the very things they say they want to fix. They then try to fix that by spending everyone’s tax on stuff that doesn’t work. Take this. Liz Kendall famously failed to cut welfare while Rachel Reeves jacked up jobs taxes. Both policies are killing opportunity for young people. Now it’s more expensive to employ humans at a time when AI is disrupting the graduate jobs market. Kendall becomes Tech Secretary, launches an AI Skills Hub to ‘help’ same young people. It costs millions and a few months in, they can’t even tell us how many people are using it. A low tech solution to sound high tech, while completely screwing the fundamentals on employment taxes. See the useless PQ answer we got on this below. 👇

25,790 views • 1 month ago

At today's PMQs, Kemi asked the PM what he's delivering for all that extra tax everyone's paying. PROMISE - Labour will cut your energy bill by £300 ➡️ It's gone up £187. PROMISE - Labour will deliver 6500 extra teachers. ➡️ There are 400 fewer. PROMISE - Labour will recruit 13 000 more police officers. ➡️ Numbers are down by 1300. PROMISE - Labour will end doctors' strikes. ➡️ 93 000 appointments lost to strikes since the 28.5% pay deal. And instead of delivering, all his Cabinet Ministers are jostling for his position. That extra tax is causing so much pain for people and businesses, and they're not getting anything for it.

At today's PMQs, Kemi asked the PM what he's delivering for all that extra tax everyone's paying. PROMISE - Labour will cut your energy bill by £300 ➡️ It's gone up £187. PROMISE - Labour will deliver 6500 extra teachers. ➡️ There are 400 fewer. PROMISE - Labour will recruit 13 000 more police officers. ➡️ Numbers are down by 1300. PROMISE - Labour will end doctors' strikes. ➡️ 93 000 appointments lost to strikes since the 28.5% pay deal. And instead of delivering, all his Cabinet Ministers are jostling for his position. That extra tax is causing so much pain for people and businesses, and they're not getting anything for it.

102,536 views • 6 months ago

Too many MPs still harbour the view that Brexit was an exercise in nostalgia, pushed on everyone by uninformed thickos. The truth is that it has delivered a major strategic advantage in the industries of the future - an advantage that Labour risks trading away. Today the Tech Secretary refused to rule out aligning us with the EU's AI Act and other tech laws as part of Labour's EU 'reset'. She knows our autonomy on tech is at risk, which is why someone in her ministerial team is briefing the Financial Times that Starmer's EU plans could 'smother' British innovation. Mario Draghi has warned the EU's approach to tech is killing Europe's competitiveness. Chancellor Merz wants looser rules for Germany. Over 40 EU companies are asking for a two-year stop clock on the AI Act. Labour thinks this is what a growth plan looks like.

Too many MPs still harbour the view that Brexit was an exercise in nostalgia, pushed on everyone by uninformed thickos. The truth is that it has delivered a major strategic advantage in the industries of the future - an advantage that Labour risks trading away. Today the Tech Secretary refused to rule out aligning us with the EU's AI Act and other tech laws as part of Labour's EU 'reset'. She knows our autonomy on tech is at risk, which is why someone in her ministerial team is briefing the Financial Times that Starmer's EU plans could 'smother' British innovation. Mario Draghi has warned the EU's approach to tech is killing Europe's competitiveness. Chancellor Merz wants looser rules for Germany. Over 40 EU companies are asking for a two-year stop clock on the AI Act. Labour thinks this is what a growth plan looks like.

16,150 views • 26 days ago

🚨LATEST on Labour’s Digital ID Mess 👀 WATCH - Labour MP jumps up to tell me off when I ask Ministers about security breaches of the underpinning system — at a time when public sector cyber risk is already red-light-flashingly large, they’re expanding it with mandatory digital ID. 💷 Ministers have no idea how to pay for the new system, so Starmer’s demanding cuts elsewhere. 📢The guy they’ve put in charge of improving public perceptions of the project is the same Minister who refused to take MPs’ questions on it - great start…

🚨LATEST on Labour’s Digital ID Mess 👀 WATCH - Labour MP jumps up to tell me off when I ask Ministers about security breaches of the underpinning system — at a time when public sector cyber risk is already red-light-flashingly large, they’re expanding it with mandatory digital ID. 💷 Ministers have no idea how to pay for the new system, so Starmer’s demanding cuts elsewhere. 📢The guy they’ve put in charge of improving public perceptions of the project is the same Minister who refused to take MPs’ questions on it - great start…

61,222 views • 5 months ago

Today Conservatives launch a new plan for young people: 1. Cut the number of places on poor value uni courses. 2. Use the savings from this to free graduates from the interest rate treadmill & deliver 100 000 more apprenticeships a year. 3. Let people keep the first £5k of tax they'd have paid on starting work. (We’d also cut stamp duty to help people get on the housing ladder.) It’s not wrong in principle to be asked to pay for some of your higher education rather than get those who didn't go to uni to pay through tax. But the current system is not working in the interests of students, taxpayers or the wider economy. Students have crushing debt that can be esp hard to clear for middle earners; the taxpayer will end up footing the bill for loans that can’t be paid; and the wider economy is not getting the skill mix it needs or a new generation of workers able to make the aspirational choices they want because they are so financially constrained. If you agree, sign our student loan petition -

Today Conservatives launch a new plan for young people: 1. Cut the number of places on poor value uni courses. 2. Use the savings from this to free graduates from the interest rate treadmill & deliver 100 000 more apprenticeships a year. 3. Let people keep the first £5k of tax they'd have paid on starting work. (We’d also cut stamp duty to help people get on the housing ladder.) It’s not wrong in principle to be asked to pay for some of your higher education rather than get those who didn't go to uni to pay through tax. But the current system is not working in the interests of students, taxpayers or the wider economy. Students have crushing debt that can be esp hard to clear for middle earners; the taxpayer will end up footing the bill for loans that can’t be paid; and the wider economy is not getting the skill mix it needs or a new generation of workers able to make the aspirational choices they want because they are so financially constrained. If you agree, sign our student loan petition -

10,187 views • 3 months ago

We are losing major life sciences investments and Labour has got diddly squat to say about it. Astra Zeneca - £450m gone and £200m paused Merck - £1bn gone Eli Lilly - £279 million incubator on hold Sanofi - won't consider "any substantial investment" in UK R&D under current conditions The industry says the UK is becoming 'uninvestable' for the life sciences. Yet Labour this week tried to dress up as a growth plan a programme we started and which they screwed up. The crisis in life sciences is going to affect us all - it means some pharma companies not bringing new drugs to market here. The NHS will not be able to give people cutting edge treatments. Trials for appalling health conditions won't be done here. Fewer high end science and manufacturing jobs. A less resilient supply chain in medicine manufacture. And yet there's no sign that the Science Secretary is doing anything across government to grip this crisis.

We are losing major life sciences investments and Labour has got diddly squat to say about it. Astra Zeneca - £450m gone and £200m paused Merck - £1bn gone Eli Lilly - £279 million incubator on hold Sanofi - won't consider "any substantial investment" in UK R&D under current conditions The industry says the UK is becoming 'uninvestable' for the life sciences. Yet Labour this week tried to dress up as a growth plan a programme we started and which they screwed up. The crisis in life sciences is going to affect us all - it means some pharma companies not bringing new drugs to market here. The NHS will not be able to give people cutting edge treatments. Trials for appalling health conditions won't be done here. Fewer high end science and manufacturing jobs. A less resilient supply chain in medicine manufacture. And yet there's no sign that the Science Secretary is doing anything across government to grip this crisis.

14,462 views • 7 months ago

Thank you to the people of Hornchurch & Upminster 🙏

Thank you to the people of Hornchurch & Upminster 🙏

29,983 views • 1 year ago

Residents will have noticed Junction 28 of the M25 with the A12 is getting a major overhaul. The last gov funded the National Highways works to stop local traffic jams, reduce accidents at this major black spot and keep road freight moving to and from our ports to serve our shops, homes and businesses. I went to see progress a couple of weeks ago and it's such an impressive engineering project - much bigger than what you can see from the A12. They're also working with local charities like Harold Hill Deer Aid to minimise impact on local wildlife and digging waterways to reduce flood risk in other parts of Havering. All due to be completed in summer 2025 to improve your journeys. Thanks to all the engineers and construction workers working on the project.

Residents will have noticed Junction 28 of the M25 with the A12 is getting a major overhaul. The last gov funded the National Highways works to stop local traffic jams, reduce accidents at this major black spot and keep road freight moving to and from our ports to serve our shops, homes and businesses. I went to see progress a couple of weeks ago and it's such an impressive engineering project - much bigger than what you can see from the A12. They're also working with local charities like Harold Hill Deer Aid to minimise impact on local wildlife and digging waterways to reduce flood risk in other parts of Havering. All due to be completed in summer 2025 to improve your journeys. Thanks to all the engineers and construction workers working on the project.

12,367 views • 1 year ago

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