Basildon & Billericay MP. Shadow Transport Secretary. Usually out campaigning in Westminster or on the ground for my constituents. Likes pubs & cooking roasts
United Kingdom
Joined November 2013
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- Following2.1K
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Pinned Tweet
Do you think it’s acceptable to have multiple wives and claim for them in the Welfare system?
A man with four wives can receive more than £75,000 a year in benefits.
Do you think Uncle/Niece or Aunt/Nephew marriages should be supported via benefits? The Government doesn’t even know how many of these there are.
In my view answer should be a resounding no. These marriages are illegal in the UK. They are anathema to British culture and shouldn’t be subsidised by British taxpayers.
Labour ministers say only a small number of people do claim this via housing but then also admit they don’t actually count how many people are in polygamous marriage and have no idea how many are getting pension credit via this route either.
The last @Conservatives Government stopped Polygamous marriage recognition under the Universal Credit but a loophole in our benefits system recognises polygamous marriages performed abroad for certain legacy benefits.
With the support of @KemiBadenoch and @HelenWhatley, I want to close this loophole through my Bill.
Polygamy and incest are illegal in the UK. British taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for these marriages that are already illegal under UK law.
Moreover, we’ve also got to change to law and ban first cousin marriages too.
I hope Labour MPs will back my Bill today. If they don’t, what message does that send?
bills.parliament.uk/bills/43…
Well, that was an interesting #AnyQuestions on #BBCRadio4
@TiceRichard @Meg_HillierMP @rachelmillward and me!
Got quite feisty at points!
Listen here: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00342…
Ticey deflected @reformparty_uk latest scandal, in which he lobbied the Governor of the @bankofengland to cut regulations on crypto four months after Reform UK got a £9,000,000 donation from a Thai-based crypto billionaire quite well tbf >> story via @theipaper >>> inews.co.uk/news/politics/re…
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Richard Holden MP retweeted
Great news for Newark. @Mark_Spencer - a hard worker, a real farmer and a real man.
Congratulations Mark, a superb choice and a superb candidate.
Looking forward to #BBCAQ this evening with @rachelmillward from the Greens, @TiceRichard from Reform, Dame @Meg_HillierMP DBE from Labour and myself for HM Opposition & @Conservatives
There was going to be a Labour Government minister on but they dropped out. Meg is a senior Labour MP and experienced select committee chair so I’m sure will be terrific.
bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00342l…
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Richard Holden MP retweeted
Classy from Chris… predictably poor from Zia.
"Listen to the people clapping and read the room."
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accuses Reform UK's Zia Yusuf of being "disingenuous" over the Conservative Party's approach to illegal migration.
trib.al/tMdT2NW
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube
Richard Holden MP retweeted
The real Shadow Home Secretary won that exchange and the applause. The fake one went along to score cheap points but made an arse of himself instead.
Reform MPs Jenrick and Braverman (currently spending her time handcuffed to Katie Price) were part of the failure. They are not a serious party and have no serious plans for government. They are noisy time-wasters who are merely standing in the way of us removing this Labour government.
Conservatives are different from Reform. We acknowledge mistakes we made and work to rebuild trust. We are now the only party with an actual plan to leave the ECHR and solve the small boats crisis for good.
"Listen to the people clapping and read the room."
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accuses Reform UK's Zia Yusuf of being "disingenuous" over the Conservative Party's approach to illegal migration.
trib.al/tMdT2NW
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube
Richard Holden MP retweeted
I’ve just arrived here in Piddington following the Labour government's outrageous announcement last night that they are going to house 1,500 young male illegal migrants.
Richard Holden MP retweeted
We will shut down the planned migrant camp at Piddington
With Kemi Badenoch as PM and me as Home Secretary the camp will close and illegal immigrants be deported
Local residents deserve to be listened to, not ignored
Richard Holden MP retweeted
Local Piddington residents not happy about the way Zia Yusuf took cheap political shots instead of supporting them
Poor Zia needs to learn to read the room
The Conservatives are the only party with a serious plan - the BORDERS plan - to fix this
Richard Holden MP retweeted
When I told Zia to pipe down, stop the cheap political slurs and read the room local people clapped (twice)
Embarrassing behaviour which residents were deeply unimpressed by
Only the Conservatives have a serious plan - the BORDERS plan - to deport illegal immigrants instead of accommodating them in places like Piddington
"Listen to the people clapping and read the room."
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accuses Reform UK's Zia Yusuf of being "disingenuous" over the Conservative Party's approach to illegal migration.
trib.al/tMdT2NW
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube
Richard Holden MP retweeted
Kemi Badenoch has pledged to close down the Piddington migrant camp
Our detailed, credible, BORDERS plan will ensure illegal immigrants are deported, not accommodated anywhere
Neighbouring MP Greg Smith and I were in Piddington today supporting residents
Richard Holden MP retweeted
Do you think it’s acceptable to have multiple wives and claim for them in the Welfare system?
A man with four wives can receive more than £75,000 a year in benefits.
Do you think Uncle/Niece or Aunt/Nephew marriages should be supported via benefits? The Government doesn’t even know how many of these there are.
In my view answer should be a resounding no. These marriages are illegal in the UK. They are anathema to British culture and shouldn’t be subsidised by British taxpayers.
Labour ministers say only a small number of people do claim this via housing but then also admit they don’t actually count how many people are in polygamous marriage and have no idea how many are getting pension credit via this route either.
The last @Conservatives Government stopped Polygamous marriage recognition under the Universal Credit but a loophole in our benefits system recognises polygamous marriages performed abroad for certain legacy benefits.
With the support of @KemiBadenoch and @HelenWhatley, I want to close this loophole through my Bill.
Polygamy and incest are illegal in the UK. British taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for these marriages that are already illegal under UK law.
Moreover, we’ve also got to change to law and ban first cousin marriages too.
I hope Labour MPs will back my Bill today. If they don’t, what message does that send?
bills.parliament.uk/bills/43…
🥯😋 Great to pop into Billericay Bagel Company and grab a delicious bagel! 👏
Our independent businesses are the heart ❤️ of our local high streets. Let’s keep supporting them! 🏪🙌
📍 Radford Way, Billericay
#Billericay #ShopLocal #SupportLocalBusiness
Richard Holden MP retweeted
Bosmere (Suffolk) Council By-Election Result:
🌳 CON: 33.2% (+13.8)
🌍 GRN: 32.2% (+2.8)
➡️ RFM: 17.4% (-16.0)
⬛ RES: 7.9% (New)
🔶 LDM: 4.7% (-8.3)
🌹 LAB: 4.6% (-0.1)
Conservative GAIN from Reform UK.
Changes w/ 2026.
🎄🎅 Christmas Card Competition 2026! 🎅🎄
The deadline is fast approaching! There’s still time for primary-school-aged children across the constituency to enter.
📮 Post or email your entry to my Constituency Office.
🎁 Every entrant gets a personal letter from me, with prizes for winners and runners-up!
🚨🗞️ Breaking News from Somerset where a Labour Councillor who had taken up the role of Civic Mayor - supposed to be the borough’s figurehead representing everyone apolitically - photoshopped Remembrance Day photos to remove @Conservatives Councillors!
Unbelievable behaviour from a Civic Mayor and totally against the institution they’re suppose to uphold.
If @andyburnham & @bphillipsonMP don’t give him the boot then they’re condoning this Pravda-esque behaviour from one of their own @UKLabour Coubcillors
Via @AJNewbury94 & @Daily_Express
express.co.uk/news/politics/…
In the light drizzle, I joined others in Basildon in observing the two minutes’ silence to remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
We will never forget their sacrifice, or the families who live with their loss.
Lest we forget.
🚚📦 Great to visit the Amazon Depot in Basildon! I enjoyed meeting the team and taking a tour to see the operation.
With hundreds working there normally - doubling at peak season like this - it was fascinating to learn more about the work behind the scenes. Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome! 👏🤝
#Basildon #Amazon
Lovely afternoon this weekend in #Basildon and about having a pint with new team member Sam the Wetherspoons in Basildon! 🍺
Sometimes it's the simple things that make a day enjoyable. Cheers, Sam! 🍻😊
