Prem Sikka

Latest speeches

1. House of Lords · House of Lords · 16 September 2026

   • Second oral question: business rates avoidance schemes

     “Second oral question, Lord Sikka. My Lords, I thank the minister for his reply. After claiming empty property relief, some businesses place empty boxes in premises to give the appearance of occupation, subsequently removing them to trigger an additional period…”

     Watch from 13:21

   • Debate: Lord Speaker’s role, time limits and ‘business attire’

     “My Lords, I think saying that questions need to be completed in 30 seconds or 45 seconds is incredibly regressive. We have more members, we have more ministers, more ministries, more legislation than ever before. And to imagine that in…”

     Watch from 51:01

   • House size, appointments and crossbench/specialist representation

     “My Lords, I support some of the committee's suggestions, but not others. I have never knowingly supported discrimination based on gender, race, religion, disability, or age, and will not support mandatory retirement age of 80 for members of this House.…”

     Watch from 4:01:51

2. House of Lords · House of Lords · 15 September 2026

   • Private Notice Question – China’s financial influence over UK water

     “My Lords, 90% of England's water industry is foreign owned including the Chinese state. The result has been low investment, high bills, raw sewage in rivers, over 1200 criminal convictions, harms to nature, health and national security. Everyone knows that…”

     Watch from 1:06:47

3. House of Lords · House of Lords · 14 September 2026

   • FATF credibility, UK illicit flows and AML supervision

     “My Lords, according to a former minister, 40 per cent of the global illicit financial flows pass through the UK, its crown dependencies and overseas territories. Can the minister explain why UK governments continue to fail to curb the flow…”

     Watch from 55:01

   • Lord Sikka: big money, corporate donations and radical funding reform

     “My Lords, this bill does not end the power of the rich to hijack democracy. Corporations and the super-rich don't donate, they invest and get a return for themselves and their class. Numerous laws are bent to advance their interest.…”

     Watch from 5:40:25

4. House of Lords · House of Lords · 4 September 2026

   • Inequality, premature ageing and tax policy

     “The ageing problems begin during childhood and are incubated by poor government policies. A June 2026 paper in Nature Human Behaviour noted that consequences of poverty, inequality, and discrimination accelerate biological ageing from a very young age. Adults enduring childhood…”

     Watch from 57:26

5. House of Lords · House of Lords · 2 September 2026

   • Essex Thurrock data centre: local environmental impacts

     “The proposed data center at Thurrock in Essex will concrete over habitat for bees, butterflies, plants, and birds. It will consume up to three million liters of water a day in an area routinely subject to hosepipe bans. It will…”

     Watch from 16:01

   • Backbench questions on growth, devolution and welfare reform

     “My Lords, I welcome the Prime Minister's statement and he faces a daunting task in reversing the Conservative legacy, which includes 25.3 million people living below minimum living standard, declining life expectancy, potholed roads in every street, 7.6 million NHS…”

     Watch from 4:06:50

6. House of Lords · House of Lords · 1 September 2026

   • Bill debate: regulators, financial services, historic events and devolved issues

     “My Lords, I welcome this bill and congratulate all campaigners who helped to secure the duty of candor and extend human rights. However, I have several concerns. The bill imposes a duty of candor only after a formal inquiry, inquest,…”

     Watch from 5:59:03