Ms Polly Billington

Ms Polly Billington

Labour — East Thanet

Speaking in the House of Commons on 4 February 2026

Debate

Lord Mandelson

Contribution

I accept that there are wider constitutional implications for what we are talking about right now, and I will turn to some of those later. We also know, however, that there is a long track record across politics, not just across the political spectrum but across decades, where people’s talent—predominantly men’s talent—has been seen as a justification for appointment, regardless of their behaviour or their character, and we do need to consider behaviour and character.

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