Since I was first elected in 2019 my constituents have been hit with a tidal wave of infrastructure that has no place in the countryside. The behemoth that is HS2 has had the widest impact across Mid Buckinghamshire and continues to do
In troubled times, many on the Left instinctively run for the protective skirts of Nanny Europe. I’m just back from Brussels with the Business & Trade Committee and I have to say that while the welcome was cordial, it was not warm.
Last week I secured a Westminster Hall debate on road safety around schools. This issue has become the most common subject of correspondence I have had from constituents, even more so since mid-November when my constituency of Chester South and Eddisbury was
In the race to combat climate change, solar farms have emerged as a beacon of hope. But as these sprawling fields of gleaming panels multiply across our countryside, they’re casting long shadows over another crucial resource: our precious farmland. It’s a classic
When campaigning to become an MP, I heard about the struggles parents face when trying to get support for their children with Special Educational Needs (SEND). During the past few months, I have seen just how far reaching the crisis is. I
If I asked you to read this sentence aloud, chances are it would be remarkably easy. Speech is something most of us take for granted—every day it allows us to express our thoughts, feelings, hopes, needs and, of course, our politics. Put
The United Nations have decreed 24 January as International Day of Education to remind us of the powerful role education can have in building communities, strengthening economies, and empowering individuals. Education is one of the most effective ways to ensure that young
The Government wants to turbo boost UK growth. My ‘Buy British Bill’ aims to do just that. The UK spends £300 billion on public procurement. But all too often, this money goes overseas to foreign suppliers or multinationals, rather than supporting UK
I tabled a Bill last week to recognise a Palestinian state. It did not get debated. We ran out of time, a little like what is happening to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. They are running out of time. My
I recently had the opportunity to bring an issue that’s close to my heart to the national stage in Parliament: support for our high streets at the heart of our communities. This was through an adjournment debate I secured on the impact
Every time we eat a meal, turn the radiator up, or go for a long Sunday walk in the countryside we are benefitting from the hard work of rural communities. Yet these communities, like my constituency of North Northumberland, are not receiving
We are deep in that time of the parliamentary cycle where Fridays see a host of Private Member’s Bills being debated. Friday 24th January, whilst Storm Eowyn raged across Northern Ireland and Scotland was no exception, with my bill the Gambling Act
Illegal migration is out of control, and it is local communities up and down the country who are footing the consequences of catastrophically ineffective policy. 220 asylum hotels across villages, towns and cities sit as stark reminders on the doorsteps of the
Every now and then a topic captures the public’s imagination and rightly generates much-needed debate. A year ago, everyone was talking about the Post Office Horizon scandal and finally asking important questions about how this had been allowed to happen. But hardly
I wanted to secure last week’s adjournment debate to recognise the importance of Crewe Railway Station, not just to my constituents in Crewe and Nantwich, but to the entire region of Cheshire East, the North West of England, and the nation as
Imagine navigating life as your vision gradually fades, knowing that no treatment currently exists to halt or reverse the process. For thousands of individuals in the UK living with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), this is a stark reality. Yet, within this challenge
This year marks the centenary of Stoke-on-Trent, a city born out of the federation of six towns in 1925. It is a city built on partnerships, a union of equals that must now consider its future as it enters a second century.
Seventy-four per cent of the total floodplain in the United Kingdom is agricultural land, including, 60% of our best and most versatile land. As a result, the argument about what should happen with floodplains—whether they should be allowed to flood, be rewilded
We are nothing without our heritage and its vital we preserve it. Nothing perhaps encapsulates the UK’s heritage more than our historic places of worship. Church buildings form a vital part of the identity of Britain’s landscapes and townscapes. They are the
The stark reality for migrant workers in the UK is that they are under-protected by our employment rights framework and victimised by our immigration rules. Migrant social care workers are particularly vulnerable to this kind of ill-treatment because of the hostile environment
It all started with a knock on the door. The kind of knock that too many parents have experienced and too many more dread. Last week, a woman from West Bromwich told me her story. She had already heard through friends that
Britain’s Submarine fleet has a long and distinguished record, always at the heart of this nation’s deterrence and defence policy. In 1900, the Royal Navy ordered its first five submarines – the Holland Class. In 1901, six officers were recruited for the
Statistically, you will have never heard of endometriosis. Despite the fact it was first identified in 1860 and affects one in ten women and those AFAB, the vast majority of the population are oblivious to the pain and suffering that many go
There are moments when those in power face a true test of character. Moments when the principle of justice demands action from the people with the authority to right a wrong. As a nation, we have witnessed several injustices in recent years:
As a Cambridgeshire MP, the issue of policing is raised frequently by my constituents, concerned by a lack of visible policing and changing rural crime. Cambridgeshire is the fastest growing county yet is the fourth-worst funded police force with things only set
The development of cycling infrastructure is vital for rural areas. However, after a decade of Tory underinvestment we’re not where we want, or need, to be. Additional funding for councils is necessary to unlock new projects, but it is not sufficient on
One of the biggest surprises I’ve had in Parliament is discovering we’ve barely talked about playgrounds in nearly a decade. It’s remarkable, because if you wander through almost any neighbourhood and pause by a set of rusted swings or a boarded-up slide,
UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The UK government is still confident that there will be sufficient gas and electricity this winter, in spite of Centrica’s alerts regarding low gas storage capacities. Centrica’s CEO, Chris O’Shea, highlighted the growing demand for energy storage
Since 1926, 500,000 people have died in collisions on our roads, more than have died from war in the same period. Even today, roughly 30,000 people are killed or seriously injured every year. Our progress in reducing these numbers has all but
Anti-social behaviour is something that many of us have unfortunately become familiar with at some point in our lives. The varying forms it takes can have a truly devastating impact on individuals and communities. However, it is anti-social behaviour by social and
I was delighted to have the opportunity to bring forward a debate this week to highlight the significance and importance of improving transport links between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. My constituency sits in the very south of Scotland,
UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Labour MP Jo White demands that MPs and peers must undergo DBS checks to prevent risks to vulnerable people, believing it would make Parliament safer. A proposal was submitted by the Labour MP to have criminal record
In recent years, the UK has faced an education crisis that has deprived young people of the opportunities they deserve. One of the most significant impacts of this crisis has been the undervaluation of vocational training and apprenticeships. These pathways have long
As a Cornwall MP I am very keen to see the development of floating offshore wind (FLOW) in the Celtic Sea. It is the next frontier in the UK’s clean energy transition, positioned to unlock up to 4GW of power by 2035
On the night of the 28th of October 2021, two teenagers headed into a local shop selling fireworks. They told the store owner “People are going to be terrorised tonight” then asked, “Which are the good ones to let off at people?”
Yesterday in Parliament MP Steffan Aquarone raised urgent concerns about failings in the care of Patricia, a 25-year-old woman with anorexia nervosa, and called for immediate action to save her life. Patricia has a life-threateningly low BMI and has been unable to
Aldridge-Brownhills is a unique constituency for many reasons, and one of those is that it is in an elite club of only forty-nine UK Parliamentary Constituencies out of six hundred and fifty not to have a passenger train station. Like in so
Financial inclusion is a fundamental need across the UK. It means that everyone, wherever they are based, has the ability to access and understand financial services in order to manage their money and maintain a sustainable life. Despite this necessity, the specific
Last night saw some of the UK’s most senior Parliamentarians attend our inaugural awards ceremony hosted by the affable Sir John Hayes MP and the brain injury charity Headway. With awards for Frontbencher, Backbencher, Peer, Intervention or Speech, Campaigner, Staffer, PR Stunt
London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – More than 60 parliamentarians are pushing for a switch to electronic voting to replace in-person voting, arguing that the current system wastes valuable time and disrupts legislative work. The combined letter to the leader of the Commons,
Last week I heard from yet another publican in my constituency expressing fears about the impact of the Government’s budget on his livelihood, when he is already coping with the challenges of high energy bills, the cost of living crisis and employment
It’s possible that within this decade, we could achieve something remarkable: stopping the onward transmission of a virus without a vaccine or cure, for the first time in history. Even twenty years ago, that possibility would have been unthinkable. Thanks to recent
The Government has promised to decarbonise the grid by 2030, but their current approach is widely questioned by the energy industry, economists and other experts. The National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) 2030 Clean Power report warns that achieving clean power by 2030
There are big changes coming for electricity customers on the Total Heating with Total Control (THTC) tariff on Great Britain and it is vital people know what to do and when. This affects 4,665 constituents across the whole of my Angus and
After the COVID-19 Pandemic, we know better than ever that biosecurity affects us all. Future diseases could come from anywhere, threatening human health, food security, and the industries that underpin our economy. Farmers and horticulturalists are on the frontlines of today’s biosecurity
I feel deeply honoured to have been given the opportunity to present my Animal Welfare Bill to the House in my first term as an MP and have it pass the second reading. I’ve been campaigning on this issue for many years
Launched in 2020 by the Conservative Government, Project Gigabit represents a transformative initiative in the UK’s infrastructure strategy. With an initial investment of £5 billion, its goal is to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to every UK household by 2030. When announced, just 7%
On Friday 29th of November, Parliament debated an important private members bill in the House of Commons. It rightly had the focus of attention on the day within Parliament and beyond. Whilst the news coverage reported on the outcome of the vote
This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Nolan Principles of Public Life. For too much of that time, these seven principles – integrity, honesty, accountability, openness, leadership, selflessness, and objectivity – have been frequently invoked but less reliably observed. Labour’s emphasis
Our troops have been put in an impossible position: defend themselves and the equipment we need to fight – or defend the homeland and our people. This is the strategic failure on air and missile defence that now haunts not just the
