UK Parliament - Page 6

This weekend marked a familiar ritual: the clocks went forward, ushering in longer evenings and the start of British Summer Time. For many of us, the lighter days lift our mood – a welcome contrast to the gloom of darker autumn afternoons. We’ve

The challenges facing the horticulture trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain remain a serious concern, and as the MP for East Londonderry, I and my Party colleagues have continued to press for solutions that will assist businesses, suppliers, and consumers. The

For too long, learning disabled and autistic young people have faced disproportionate barriers to employment. Despite their talents and potential, only 4.8% of learning disabled adults in England are in paid work in contrast with the overall 80% employment rate of the

As a Member of Parliament from Bedfordshire, tourism might seem like an unusual priority for my work in Parliament. Bedfordshire is not an obvious tourism destination, with a tourism economy that lags behind most of our competitors and a tourism ecosystem that

Dear Member of Parliament, Tomorrow, following the Spring Statement will be the Report Stage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Our team at parliamentnews.co.uk are supporting amendment NC2, proposed by Dame Caroline Dinenage and supported by a cross party group of MPs,

Sunday marked another hugely successful high-profile sporting event held at Wembley with the league cup final between Liverpool and Newcastle. New generations of fans have grown accustomed to, for the most part, feeling safe on a matchday. But, as I witnessed firsthand

On 18 March, I secured a Westminster Hall debate on the UK’s secretive military cooperation with Israel’s war in Gaza and a chance to hear a government minister respond. Given Labour’s unwavering support for Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza (with minor concessions

Shipyards and shipbuilding are iconic cultural symbols of the UK’s industrial heritage – from the Belfast poetry of Carnduff, the folk songs of England from the North East to South West, to the words of Donald Dewar evoking the “The shout of

Creating the means for post-industrial towns like Leigh and Atherton to connect to growth opportunities is vital for these towns to thrive. As chair of the Labour MPs group on local growth funding, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with the

With the recent conclusion of one of the most violent cycles of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in history, the largest since 1973, it is imperative that we redouble our efforts towards achieving peace. The atrocities and massive loss of life we saw on October

Most people first witnessed the chaotic underbelly of local government in 2021 when the now infamous phrase, “You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver,” echoed across the internet. That viral clip from a Handforth Parish Council Zoom meeting was a rare bit

This month marks the 40th anniversary of the Swann Report, a landmark document that exposed the systemic racism embedded in the UK’s education system. Its findings, commissioned in response to mounting evidence that Black and ethnic minority students were being failed, laid

I moved to South Devon in 2007. Before then, I’d lived in Edinburgh, Sheffield, and London on and off for nearly two decades. Coming here 18 years ago was my first real experience of rural life, other than holidays, and in the

I have been incredibly lucky as both an MP, and formerly a councillor, to have represented somewhere with really brilliant community theatres. NK Theatre Arts, who are based at the Forum Theatre in Romiley, are an incredible group who have given so

Last week, as well as welcoming Young Carers from Mark Hall Academy in Harlow into Parliament I took part in a number of activities with Carers Trust to mark Young Carers Action Day. This included opportunity to hold a debate in Westminster

Philomena Lee was 18 years old when she became pregnant and was sent to the Sean Ross Abbey Mother and Baby Home in Roscrea, County Tipperary, in Ireland. There Philomena gave birth to her son Anthony, and there they both lived until

When you hear the words Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), what comes to mind? Your first thoughts will be of insulin injections, sugar monitoring, and the delicate balancing act between food and medication. For those living with T1D, diet is inseparable from their

If you ask most people why they love the sports that they do, most will have been inspired by watching the sports they love on TV. Be that watching rugby with parents, football down at the pub, Wimbledon in the summer; free

Last week, I had the privilege of presenting a 10-minute bill motion in the chamber, urging an amendment to a sub-section of the Dentists Act 1984 regarding indemnity arrangements. Although this might seem like a niche issue it is one that confronts

In 2021 there were repeated calls for the triggering of Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The ‘Safeguards’ provision in the treaty, Article 16 sets out the developments that it was agreed cannot reasonably be accommodated within the actual operation of

The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision crisis is a national emergency. During the Westminster Hall debate that I led at the end of February, I was struck by the all too familiar stories shared by colleagues of parents and children

I couldn’t have agreed with Kim Leadbeater more when she said, ‘whatever the problem, sport can be the solution’. For every £1 we invest in sport, we get a £4 return in social and health benefits. As I argued in my recent

Last week I introduced a debate on Labour’s decision to apply VAT to independent school fees and remove business rates relief. The catalyst for the debate was a petition urging the government to “understand that not all independent school parents are wealthy,

Unreliable. Late. Cancelled. Those are three of the most common words I hear from my constituents when discussing the performance of our local train services in Mid Bedfordshire. And that is why I worked so hard to secure a debate in Parliament

Over the past four decades there has been a precipitous decline in the number of high street banks. Data from the British Banking Association showed the branches in 1986 was more than 21,000 whilst at the beginning of 2025 there were fewer

For too many parents in this country, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is not just failing—it is actively making their lives harder. Behind the concerning statistics lies a human cost: struggling single parents, children living in financial insecurity, and families trapped in

Our high streets are the beating heart of our communities. They are not simply places where people shop – they are gathering points, cultural centres and serve as symbols of local identity. They fuel local economies, support countless small businesses and provide

Social media is having a negative effect on children in this country. I know this as the father of two boys; but also hearing from teachers, parents and those working with young people who are seeing its effects every day. Social media

The campaign to eradicate the most common form of plastic rubbish in the world, cigarette butts, which make up around one in five of all littered items grows as more MPs and councillors back the move to force the tobacco companies to

Since my election to Westminster last year, I have heard numerous stories through conversations and casework about the almost complete breakdown of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision for families in Amber Valley. Last week in Parliament, last week I led

I have reported in these pages previously on the suffering of those who have been adversely affected by Covid-19 vaccines. Their suffering is largely in terms of the inappropriate delays in having their claims to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) considered,

Over the past few years, I have heard from many constituents who are struggling to heat their homes or power their businesses amid spiralling energy costs. This winter has sadly been no different. The situation has got worse and worse with energy

Late last year, Freedom of Information requests that I submitted to all UK police constabularies revealed just how damaging the Chancellor’s budget will be for our policing – and the significant number of officers it could cost us. The responses I received

In the United Kingdom, more than four in every ten marriages end in divorce. The breakdown of any marriage is likely to be the source of great sadness. However, when children are involved, the impact of divorce is often deeper and more

This week Labour colleagues and I from across the South East met with the Transport Minister, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill. We were all very pleased that the Government will be backing our efforts to bring European travel back to Kent. The

Pensioners deserve security in retirement. That’s what Labour told us before last year’s General Election. And I agree. But as soon as they got into power, they took that security away from pensioners in Mid Bedfordshire and across the country.  People who

Every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive. Whether through education, extracurricular activities, or access to mental health support, investing in our children and young people is one of the most important things we can do as a society. Youth services—both universal

When 17-year old Illya Habibi was killed in a knife attack in December 2023 in my constituency, he was just minutes away from a local police station. Illya had his whole life ahead of him. He, alongside far too many more young

For over 25 years, Open Access has been a successful component of UK Rail. It has delivered substantial benefits to passengers in underserved parts of the country. Along with cost-saving and environmental benefits, Open Access has driven innovation, delivered choice and also

In the heart of Birmingham lies the vibrant communities of Erdington, Kingstanding, Castle Vale, and South Oscott, areas bursting with untapped potential. Yet, for too long, systemic barriers have held them back. My constituency ranks among the top five most deprived areas

Twenty-two years ago, I became part of a club no-one wants to join: the young widows club. My husband, Nick, had died of oesophageal cancer, leaving me with an 18-month-old baby and a toddler.  Not long after, I joined a support group

Low-income countries are being crippled by unsustainable debt. Many governments now spend more servicing their debt repayments than they do on their healthcare and education systems. Clearly, the international debt architecture is failing. Despite $130 billion of debt cancellation in the last

Last week I was proud to present the First Reading of Sam’s Law – otherwise known as the Water Safety Bill – to the House. My bill’s aims are to introduce and maintain crucial safety equipment around reservoirs and other bodies of

Last year at the age of just 19, a young man took his own life. He was addicted to gambling. Despite efforts to escape he received 63 promotional emails in the two months before his death. Every day he received an offer

Ok yes – I did put on my rose-tinted nostalgia specs this week when I opened the debate in my name on the closure of high street services. I talked about my childhood home town of Tain. I mentioned the greengrocer that

This week the I presented the First Reading of the Harry Parker Bill; its official title is the Road Traffic (Unlicensed Drivers) Bill, but I and Harry’s family will always know it as the Harry Parker Bill. Why? Because Harry Parker, a

Post offices up and down the country are facing uncertainty despite providing vital services and contributing an estimated £4.7 billion annually to the UK economy. Although they provide much more than economic benefits, according to The Post Office, their presence adds to

This National Apprenticeships Week it is right that we celebrate the success of more than 750,000 apprenticeships powering skills and productivity in our local economies. I have had the privilege of visiting more than 100 businesses to meet apprentices since I was