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Vacancy: Constituency Support Officer

Dave Doogan (Angus and Perthshire Glens)

Working for: Dave Doogan, MP for Angus and Perthshire Glens Job Title: Constituency Support Officer Salary: £23,810 - £37,846 Hours: Full time (40 per week) Location: Working primarily from Forfar office with travel across constituency on ad hoc basis Length of contract: Permanent Overview This role offers experience supporting an MP with their constituency work including dealing with casework and handling enquiries from members of the public. The Angus and Perthshire Glens office is a...

Stephen Morgan MP has given his support towards the Government’s announcement of an overhaul of the youth justice system, which is set to keep Portsmouth’s street safer and stop more local young people from being drawn into crime.  

  • 8 in 10 prolific offenders begin offending as children, while 2/3 of children released from custody reoffend within a year 
  • Many of these children have already experienced violence, neglect, and exploitation 
  • Labour is modernising the youth justice system to break cycles, intervene earlier, respond faster, and target cutting crime. 

The Government will be introducing new Youth Intervention Courts that bring together judges, youth justice services and specialist support to tackle the drivers of offending head-on, with intensive supervision and tailored interventions to keep young people on track. 

Alongside this, Labour will be strengthening parental accountability by expanding Parenting Orders so that where parents refuse to engage, there are clear consequences and the support needed to address a child’s behaviour. 

Supporting these measures is an investment of £45 million into early intervention through the Turnaround programme, reforming out-of-court resolutions, and ensuring the system is equipped to deal with modern risks like exploitation and online harm. 

These announcement’s follow a Cuppa & Chat session hosted by Mr Morgan, where local people were able to share their personal experiences and concerns with local ASB and crime, with the feedback from the session being shared with colleagues in Westminster. 

Commenting, Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, said:  

“Taking back Portsmouth’s streets, while protecting our city’s young people from being drawn into crime requires a fundamental shift in youth justice so the system intervenes early, consistently and effectively. 

“These reforms will ensure young offenders get the support they need to turn their lives around while improving public safety. 

“For many children, even a short spell inside can do lasting damage, disrupting the most formative years of their lives, and sometimes exposing them to more violence and criminal influence. As a result, balancing the protection of our streets with the best interests of young people is crucial. 

“I will continue to back this Government’s wider missions of cutting crime, tackling knife crime and creating safer streets, to ensure that Portsmouth people are able to feel and be safe within their own city”. 

The post Youth justice system overhaul to protect Portsmouth’s streets appeared first on Stephen Morgan MP.

As part of the major crackdown on waste criminals, underpinned by the government’s Waste Crime Action Plan, laws being laid this week will require waste handlers to prove they are qualified to transport waste.

  • New permit system to replace outdated paper-based registration – requiring identity, criminal record and competence checks
  • Up to five years in prison for waste criminals who misdescribe or dump waste illegally
  • New reforms are set to tighten the net on waste criminals with tougher sentences for those illegally dumping waste, and advanced background checks to help put rogue operators out of business.

Amanda Martin MP says residents have raised concerns about rogue operators dumping waste across the city from Farlington to Paulsgrove and Hilsea to Baffins. Latest figures show that Portsmouth has seen incidents of fly-tipping increase across the city.

The current registration system is broken and outdated, relying on a basic registration process with limited identity and background checks. This has been exploited by rogue operators with a poor track record of dumping waste and leaving a huge clean-up bill.

The new and tougher permit-based system will be brought into force in 2027, and require waste handlers to undergo identity, criminal record and technical checks before receiving a permit. They will also need to display their permit number in advertising, including on their vans, making it easier for the public to report unlicensed operators.

For those mishandling waste, they will now face up to five years in prison. The move to permitting will also give the Environment Agency stronger powers to revoke permits and issue enforcement notices.

The government is doubling the budget for waste crime enforcement, with a clear focus on targeting the organised criminal gangs that have exploited the Conservative’s system for years.

By combining stronger digital checks with increased enforcement capacity, these reforms will drive criminal operators out of the sector and restore confidence that waste is being handled safely and legally.

Waste Minister Mary Creagh said: “Waste criminals have abused the system for too long, blighting our countryside and cities alike.

“Through our Waste Crime Action Plan, we’re introducing rigorous background checks for waste traders, shutting down corrupt operators and kicking them out of the industry for good.

“This is just one measure we’re introducing to stamp out waste crime, with law breakers now facing up to five years behind bars thanks to tougher penalties.”

Amanda Martin MP for Portsmouth Said: “My constituents have seen first-hand the damage done by rogue waste operators. Illegal dumping blights our communities, harms our environment and costs everyone money. These reforms send a clear message: if you want to handle waste in Portsmouth, you have to prove you can do it properly.”

The post Amanda Martin MP welcomes crackdown on rogue waste operators as Labour Government introduces toughest ever licensing reforms appeared first on Amanda Martin MP.

18 May 2026
George Freeman speaks in the debate on the King’s Speech

George Freeman highlights that the UK’s most pressing national challenge is its persistently low economic growth and the structural barriers holding back productivity, enterprise, innovation, and investment. He calls on the Government to make a radical shift towards a “renaissance of enterprise and innovation,” including major reforms to regain control and unlock growth.

George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)

There is no more important issue for the country than the stubbornly low growth rate and the structural barriers to the growth, productivity, enterprise, innovation and investment that this country so desperately needs, solutions to which have defied successive Governments since the coalition and the political crisis that Brexit unleashed in 2016. It gives me no pleasure to highlight that, for my constituents in Mid Norfolk, the King’s Speech is irrelevant without real delivery on the ground. In Mid Norfolk, the small businesses on which we rely are shedding jobs; disposable incomes are falling; high streets in market towns such as Dereham, Watton and Attleborough are struggling; pubs are closing; farmers are moving away from farming food to take the Government incentives for solar panels and commuter housing estates; and public services are being overwhelmed by rising demand from new housing and an ageing population.

This is fuelling a surge in political anger, which explains a lot of the election results last week. Across Suffolk, Norfolk and the fens of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire, rural deprivation, rural poverty and the disproportionate impact of high energy prices on the rural economy—where, according to Treasury figures, every cup of coffee, schoolbook, pencil, lesson and journey costs 20% more than in cities, yet rural areas are underfunded—are driving real anger, based on real grievances. People are now paying European levels of tax for American levels of public services, and they are fed up. Unless we—this Government, this Parliament, this media, this Whitehall—respect and understand the grievance and set out a truly bold plan to deal with it, I fear that the rich will continue to leave this country, that the middle classes, the engine of growth, will conclude that it is no longer worth putting the work in, and that the poor will turn to the black market and crime.

Sir John Hayes 

For that to happen, Governments and Parliament must take back control, and successive Governments have divested themselves of that control by, as Simon Case said when he left office, giving more power to unelected and unaccountable bodies of all kinds and types. For the Government to act, they need levers to pull to make the kind of difference that my hon. Friend described, and Governments have less and less ability to do that, yet the King’s Speech does not address that fundamental need for a change of direction.

George Freeman 

My right hon. Friend makes an important point. The King’s speech that my constituents loved was the King’s speech in Washington, in which he spoke for the very best of this country. My point is that it is in all our interests—I say this as a friend of mainstream politics and democracy—that we tackle this challenge more boldly.

I welcome the speed with which newly elected Labour MPs have realised the scale and urgency of the problem of public and voter anger, stubbornly slow growth, rising unemployment and demand for public services exceeding capacity, but they are in danger of going for the wrong prescription. What we need is a renaissance of enterprise and innovation across the public and private sectors. Convenient though it may be for my party politically, the idea that the answer is a regicidal political infighting crisis and a leadership contest in office is for the birds. Take it from me: my party has tested that idea to destruction, and we have all paid the price. We do not need a Labour party beauty contest. We need a Parliament and a Government that get more urgent about the many laudable things they have set out to do, but we do not have 10 years to deliver it—we have a couple of years.

If the Labour party knifes this Prime Minister, he will be the seventh who will have been got rid of because of the structural deficit. I remember, when I first arrived here in 2010, the brilliant Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies explaining what the structural deficit is, and it is worth repeating. The normal deficit is when a Government do not earn as much as they are spending; because the economy has taken a downturn, they borrow a bit to keep spending and then pay it back. The structural deficit is that bit of the deficit that goes up every year even when the economy is growing, and it is driven by four things. In 2010, it was being driven by welfare, public sector pensions, and—the big one—health, and debt interest was remarkably low. After the coalition, we had capped off the rise in public sector pensions, incredibly painfully, and we had capped off the rise in welfare, incredibly painfully. Health has continued to defy reform, and it is bankrupting the public sector. We are now spending more than 50% on health, welfare and social support. That is simply not affordable.

We cannot cut, borrow or tax our way out of this. The only way out is to grow, not through dumping cheap housing across the countryside, but by backing the industries of tomorrow.

Sir John Hayes 

I might press my hon. Friend a little further. The other way of dealing with that is to improve productivity, as I said earlier. He is right, of course, that the cost burden is fundamentally important, but it can be made better through greater efficiency. Indeed, the Government themselves have said that, as successive Governments have, but we must put in place measures—very often, tough measures—to deliver that kind of productivity.

George Freeman 

My right hon. Friend makes an important point. I will make a slightly different point, which is that there are huge opportunities for good growth in this country. Speaking as someone who has had a 16-year career backing the industries of tomorrow, whether it is in fusion, SMR nuclear technologies, agritech, bioscience, the bioeconomy on Teesside, or the satellite economy in Glasgow, we have an opportunity to turn these into the industries of tomorrow. I welcome the Government’s industrial strategy commitment to do it, but it is at 50,000 feet; we need to drop down to some more tangible and bolder policies to back those industries.

I know the Secretary of State gave a tub-thumping speech about the 1980s, but the truth is we have made a lot of progress over the last 20 years. I was doing my work as the Minister for Life Sciences, for agritech and for Science and Technology following in the footsteps of Paul Drayson and David Sainsbury. In life science, fusion, AI and quantum, we have built an unbelievably competitive economy, but other countries are moving fast. Our competitors are more agile. We are terrible at adopting technology in the public services. Our scale-ups are not getting the finance they need in the city. Kate Bingham in The Times today is right.

How do we unlock this? I want to suggest a ten-point plan for renewal. I support the Government’s ambition. I say this because if all of us fail, the Benches to my left of pub populists who are promising everything will win, and we will see even deeper disillusionment. I am calling in this speech for, first, real honesty of a 1979 scale about the extent of the emergency; secondly, bold devolution to the people, cities and mayors who know how to do it better—frankly, they could not do worse than Whitehall—thirdly, serious Whitehall reforms, so that we end the juvenile process of His Majesty’s Treasury playing Departments off against each other for funding, which in the end comes very late and is taken back; and fourthly, a serious backing for the innovation economy. 

I welcome the £20 billion of R&D, but how we allocate it is key. We need to allocate it in a way that attracts private investment. Fifthly, we need a bold revolution of tax incentives for enterprises—a new deal for new business. There should be no national insurance or VAT for a couple of years for someone starting a company and growing it. Sixthly, we need regulation for innovation. That is not just cutting regulations, but leading in setting the regulation. I welcome the Government’s work in setting up the Regulatory Innovation Office. We then have skills and patriotic capitalism. I do not think it is communism to get the city investing in British business. Boldness—

Hansard

Heugh Street Bridge Petition

Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields)

The post Heugh Street Bridge Petition appeared first on Emma Lewell MP.

Award winning dog George helps leads the way!

Dame Nia Griffith (Llanelli)

Meet George – a very special award-winning pooch who supports youngsters at Ysgol Penygaer School.

George and his owner, Pat Stevens, were in Parliament last week as he was one of the winners of the National School Dog Alliance – NSDA’s Primary School Dog of the Year award!

George and Pat volunteer every week to help pupils with their reading and do a remarkable job to improve their confidence and language skills. There are so many potential benefits of young learners interacting with dogs on their social, emotional, physical, behavioural and cognitive development and I’m glad to see that here locally in Llanelli we are helping to lead the way.

Congrats to George, Pat, Penygaer Primary School and everyone who has made this nationally recognised initiative possible!

Preet Kaur Gill MP - My Weekly Update - 15th May 2026

Preet Kaur Gill (Birmingham Edgbaston)

This week, I joined His Majesty’s Government as Minister for Health and Innovation in Department of Health and Social Care. It is a real honour to take on the role, and I want to thank Zubir for all his hard work and dedication in the role. This marks the end of the current Government's session, and has been a monumental 22 months since we were elected to deliver a new agenda of change for the country.

Meg's Weekly Round-Up: Friday 15 May

Dame Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch)

See here for what I've been up to in Hackney and Westminster this week.

Wey Aye LEGO Man 2026 supporting neurodivergent people

Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West)

Wonderful evening attending Wey Aye LEGO Man 2026!

Amazing work supporting neurodivergent people across the North East to express themselves creatively.

The photos were brilliant!

Definitely worth a look at One Strawberry Lane before it finishes today.

 

In 2024, nearly 30% of home sales in Bristol South were on leasehold properties For far too many leaseholders in Bristol South, the reality of home ownership falls woefully short of the ideal they were promised. Escalating service charges, opaque fees and poor management can be daily stresses with many leaseholders feeling disempowered and at the mercy of a system that feels like it is extracting value from them rather than allowing them to enjoy the home they have dreamed of. Nearly 30% of...

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026

Jeff Smith (Manchester Withington)

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, a week to reflect on the importance of good mental health, improve understanding, challenge stigma and encourage people to seek support when they need it. 

Raising awareness about mental health has always been central to this week, however awareness is not always enough, and the Mental Health Foundation theme this year is action. 

You can read more about the actions we can all take to improve mental health here: Take action for good mental health | Mental Health Foundation

This week is also a reminder that support is available. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, support is available across Manchester. 

Urgent Support

  • Samaritans, call 116 123, for free and confidential support 24 hours a day: Contact Us | Samaritans
  • NHS 111 Mental Health, if you feel mentally unsafe or severely distressed, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.

Local Charities and Support

Judith brings together partners from Bradford Council, West Yorkshire Police, Incommunities, local councillors and volunteers. Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South, has welcomed the Government’s new Waste Crime Action Plan, the most robust crackdown to date on illegal waste activity. These new measures will see waste criminals facing tougher enforcement action, including additional penalty points on their driving licence and prosecution. The announcement follows a series of meetings convened...

Renters Rights Act Comes into Force

Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill)

A residential street of red brick houses with parked vehicles and 'To Let' placards outside.

On 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act officially entered into force, giving 11 million renters across Britain stronger rights, better protections and more security in their homes.

14,647 renters in Clapham & Brixton Hill will benefit from these new laws, which include a long-overdue ban on ‘No Fault’ evictions, ending the practice of tenants being evicted without a reason.

These reforms are designed to give renters greater security, stability and fairness – helping people to put down roots and feel more secure in their homes.

How have renters’ rights improved?

  • No more Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions – private landlords can no longer evict tenants without a valid reason.
  • Goodbye to fixed contracts – all tenancies in the private rented sector will roll on from month to month or week to week (depending on your arrangement) with no end date, giving renters more flexibility. Tenants can end them with two months’ notice.
  • Fairer rent rules – landlords can only raise rent once a year and renters can challenge unfair hikes.
  • No more bidding wars – landlords must stick to no more than the advertised rent price.
  • One month’s rent upfront, max – landlords can’t ask for more.
  • No discrimination – it’s now illegal to refuse tenants just because they receive benefits or have kids.
  • Pets welcome – renters can now ask to live with a pet and landlords cannot unreasonably refuse permission.

These changes are designed to make renting fairer and more secure, while also giving landlords clear, modernised rules to follow. 1 May 2026 marks the first phase of implementation, with additional provisions coming in later this year and beyond.

What further changes am I pushing for?

This legislation represents a significant upgrade to renters’ rights and I welcome it wholeheartedly but there is still work to do to stop renters being evicted and exploited.

  • Rent controls: whilst the legislation limits the frequency of rent rises, it does nothing to address the soaring hikes we’ve seen. As I pointed out at Third Reading, a large rent increase is just a no fault eviction by another name. The government must adopt rent controls to prevent renters being exploited and evicted in this way.
  • Stronger protections for renters in upgraded homes: I welcome the government’s commitment to improve energy efficiency standards in private rental homes, tackling fuel poverty for renters. However, I fear that without stronger protections, many tenants may not enjoy the benefit of their upgraded homes — even when such upgrades are delivered with public money. That’s why I’ve been pushing for a protected period from eviction after a government grant is used to retrofit a privately rented property — to stop landlords simply cashing in on the increased value of their property by selling up.

What future changes has the government promised?

  • A Private Rented Sector Database – a register of all landlords and rental properties in England, so you can check who you’re renting from. The new online database will be rolled out gradually by area from late 2026, showing who is renting out homes across England. You’ll be able to check your landlord and see if they’re properly registered once it is live in the area you live.
  • A free complaints service – a new independent Private Landlord Ombudsman will help renters sort complaints against landlords quickly and fairly, without needing to go to court. It will also support landlords with tools, guidance and training on handling complaints from tenants early.
  • Warmer and safer homes – new rules in the future will raise the standard of rented homes – tackling damp, mould and dangerous conditions. Landlords will need to fix serious hazards faster and make homes more energy efficient, helping tenants stay warm and cut bills.
  • Greener homes by 2030 – by 2030, all privately rented homes must meet new energy efficiency standards (EPC rating C or better) unless exempt. That means better insulation, lower bills and greener living.
  • Landlord action to fix hazards – the government is looking to extend Awaab’s Law to private rentals – forcing landlords to act fast when homes are unsafe. A consultation on how best to do this will be launched soon, so private tenants can benefit from protections like those already supporting social housing tenants.
  • A new Decent Homes Standard by 2035 for private rentals – the government will introduce a Decent Homes Standard for privately rented homes: a clear set of rules to make sure every rented property is safe, warm and in good repair. This new standard will help raise the bar across the board, giving renters confidence that their home meets basic safety and quality rules – and giving councils more power to crack down on landlords who don’t meet them.

How can renters exercise their rights?

  • Landlords are responsible for sticking to these new rules – and your local councils now have stronger powers to act if your landlord breaks them.
  • Should you need help as a renter, the process you follow depends on the type of dispute you want to raise. The government’s guidance is a good starting point to check how you approach different rental issues.
  • It is always a good idea to raise concerns with your landlord in the first instance before taking formal steps. But if you think they might be breaking the law, you should get in touch with your local council. Councils have significant powers to take enforcement action including higher fines and prosecution.
  • In the future, a new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman will provide quick, fair, impartial and binding resolution for tenants’ complaints about their landlord.

What does the Renters’ Rights Act mean for landlords?

  • Landlords can still get their property back for clear reasons – like selling up, moving in, or dealing with rent arrears or anti-social behaviour.
  • The changes aim to strike a fairer balance between renters and landlords, making the system more stable, safer and easier to understand.
  • The government is investing in the courts to help tenants and landlords see justice quicker, with boosted powers and funding for councils now in place to tackle rogue landlords.

The post Renters Rights Act Comes into Force appeared first on Bell Ribeiro-Addy.

SEND Provision

Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett)

I’m hosting a roundtable on Saturday 2nd May on SEND provision. I know many people were able to attend the roundtable event in January focused on SEND provision within schools, with a lot of constituents having personal experience of this. I really want to see a system that works for parents, schools and local authorities alike. Since that roundtable, the Government has […]

Royal Mail boss hauled before Business and Trade Committee

Liam Byrne (Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)

Our post is broken. And our community is suffering for it. Missing hospital letters. Lost prescriptions. Court documents going astray. I've been hearing it on doorsteps right across the constituency. So, the Commons Business and Trade Committee, which I chair, hauled in the Royal Mail's new owner. He’s on notice. He has committed to publishing an improvement plan. I'll be watching - and reporting every step back to you. Read my column in the latest Solihull Observer:...

March Update

Sean Woodcock (Banbury)

What I’ve been up to throughout March March has been a busy month, both in Westminster and in the constituency. In Westminster, a lot of my time has been spent on the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee, where we have been doing pre-legislative scrutiny of commonhold and leasehold legislation. I asked constituents to

The post March Update appeared first on Sean Woodcock, MP for Banbury.

March Newsletter

Mohammad Yasin (Bedford)

Dear Constituent,

Eid Mubarak to everyone who was celebrating last week. This month has been marked by the meaningful overlap of Ramadan and Women’s History Month – a time to reflect on equality, community and shared values. I have been working to uplift women’s voices in Bedford and especially recognise their role throughout Ramadan, balancing professional work and family life. This month has been a moment to celebrate progress but also to recommit to action so that women’s health, safety, opportunity and equality remain at the heart of our work in Parliament. 

Yours sincerely,

Mohammad Yasin MP

In the constituency

Over the past month, I’ve been pleased to attend the following visits and meetings: 

Youth Mindset – I had a great meeting with Verity and Claire from Youth Mindset, an inspiring charity providing free mentoring to young people across Milton Keynes. I was particularly impressed by their focus on building confidence and resilience early, and by their diverse team of volunteer mentors. I’m delighted they are now expanding into Bedford. 

Bedford Sixth Form – I really enjoyed visiting Bedford Sixth Form, where I spoke with students interested in public service and politics. I was inspired by their curiosity and confidence, and we had a thoughtful discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing young people today. 

Flood Risk Visit – I met with the Environment Agency to visit areas at risk of flooding, including King Ditch, Kingfisher and Church Walk in Kempston. Seeing these locations first-hand, along with the pumping system at Bedford Girls’ School, reinforced how important it is that we continue working to protect homes and infrastructure. 

Miracle Church of God in Christ – I had a lovely introductory meeting with Bishop Eric Brown. It was great to hear about the Church’s ambition to engage more young people and provide a welcoming space for the community. 

International Women’s Day (Hawaa Empower) – I was honoured to attend this event celebrating the incredible women in our community. I was particularly inspired by young girls sharing how sport has helped build their confidence, and by the meaningful conversations during Iftar about family, work and equality. 

Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha – I was honoured to join celebrations marking the 649th Birth Anniversary of Sat Guru Ravidass Maharaj Ji. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of equality, humility and unity in our community. 

Acorn House Veterinary Hospital – I had a fantastic visit to this impressive local veterinary hospital. I saw first-hand the high standard of care available and had a valuable discussion about the cost pressures facing pet owners and the importance of transparency. 

Bedford School – Cultural Diversity Day – I was delighted to speak with students at this event and take part in a Q&A session. It was a great opportunity to celebrate diversity and hear directly from young people about the issues that matter to them. 

The Higgins Bedford (British Science Week) – I really enjoyed visiting the Science Lab and seeing so many young people getting hands-on with science. It was wonderful to see curiosity and learning brought to life in such an engaging way. 

Visit of The Princess Royal – I was honoured to attend the Combined Cadet Force inspection at Bedford School during the visit of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, where a memorial to former pupils who lost their lives in the First World War was unveiled. 

In Westminster

Global tensions and the cost at home 

The situation in Iran has dominated much of the past month. Every day that passes, the Prime Minister’s decision not to follow the United States into this war, despite intense pressure from the White House, the Opposition and Reform, looks more measured. The backpedalling from some of the loudest early advocates, including figures like Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch and parts of the media has been striking to watch. 

That said, this is an incredibly serious and volatile situation. The risks of escalation remain high, and the consequences are already being felt here at home. Rising global energy prices are feeding directly into the cost of living, and what only weeks ago looked like a stabilising economic picture is now far more uncertain. 

The Spring Statement pointed to improving conditions, with inflation easing and expectations that interest rates would begin to fall. But much of that progress is now under huge pressure. As I write, the Bank of England has held rates amid growing economic nervousness linked to the conflict, when previously cuts had been expected sooner. 

In Parliament, I pressed the Government to hold the line: to prioritise the safety of British citizens, act within international law, and resist being drawn into a wider offensive war without the consent of the House. Ministers have confirmed that the UK will not be drawn into a broader conflict, but the longer this continues, the harder it will be to shield households from the impact. 

Closer to home, I have already been supporting constituents trying to leave the region, a stark reminder that these events are not distant, but deeply personal for many families here who are already feeling the pinch in their pockets to rising petrol prices and a word economy looking more volatile every day the US/Israeli war in Iran continues. 

Education and opportunity 

Education reform has been another major focus this month. The Government’s Schools White Paper, a bold plan to raise standards, rebuild services around families and ensure every child can thrive. A White Paper sets out proposals ahead of legislation, so we now have the opportunity to scrutinise and strengthen the detail, particularly around support for children with special educational needs and disabilities which has particularly worried parent’s who have children with SEND. 

In the Chamber, I asked the Education Secretary for firm assurances: that inclusion will not become conformity, that children who do not meet the threshold for formal plans will still receive specialist support without families having to fight for it, and that parents will retain a clear right of appeal. 

I also raised the issue of student finance directly with Ministers. I asked what steps are being taken to improve the student loan system, because too many young people feel it is fundamentally unfair. While the Government pointed to measures such as reintroducing maintenance grants and raising repayment thresholds, I made clear that deeper reform is still needed. Too many graduates are burdened with debts they may never realistically pay off, and that generational imbalance needs to be addressed. 

Young people and the online world 

The Government has launched a major national consultation on how we keep children safe online an issue many parents raise with me. 

It will look at whether there should be a minimum age for social media, how to tackle addictive features like infinite scrolling, and how to protect children from harmful content. I have supported calls to go further, including exploring an under-16 ban, but it is important that any action genuinely improves safety rather than pushing risks elsewhere. 

Health and everyday services 

There have been important developments in healthcare this month, particularly around access to GP services. A new funding package aims to improve appointment availability, recruit more doctors, and modernise how patients access care. 

I also raised a specific issue that constituents have contacted me about: the long delays in diagnosing Endometriosis. In Parliament, I asked whether the Government would set stronger targets and improve GP training to recognise the condition earlier. In response, Ministers acknowledged that too many women are dismissed or misdiagnosed and committed to speeding up diagnosis and treatment through the upcoming women’s health strategy. 

Economy, jobs and fairness 

Alongside the Spring Statement, Parliament has been examining wider economic challenges, including youth unemployment and the ongoing cost of living pressures. 

The Government has set out plans to support more young people into work, but the uncertainty caused by global events, particularly the conflict in the Middle East, makes this more difficult. The longer instability continues, the more pressure it places on households and businesses here in the UK. 

During International Women’s Month, I also welcomed steps to reduce the gender pay gap, expand childcare, and strengthen workplace protections—important not just for fairness, but for economic growth as well. 

Standards, democracy and public life 

This month has also seen progress on transparency and standards in public life. I supported initiatives to strengthen openness in lobbying, because public trust depends on people being able to see how decisions are made. 

I also voted to remove the automatic right of hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords, an overdue reform and a step towards modernising Parliament. 

Alongside colleagues from across parties, I supported action to tackle racism in football and challenged unacceptable public discourse where necessary. 

I also supported a letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards regarding comments made by Conservative MP and Shadow Justice Minister, Nick Timothy, who described on the platform X, a mass Muslim prayer event in Trafalgar Square with the Mayor of London, as an “act of domination and division”. Many felt those remarks were Islamophobic inflammatory, divisive and inappropriate… and in breach of the Ministerial Code. 

Whatever our political differences, there is a responsibility on all of us in public life to choose our words carefully and to avoid inflaming tensions. 

Environment and public health 

Environmental concerns remain high on the agenda. Following growing anger about sewage pollution, I met campaigners in Parliament to discuss the need for stronger regulation of water companies following the excellent C4 docudrama, Dirty Business. The drama shows how this national scandal was only exposed by two regular men – Ash Smith and Peter Hammond whose 10 year campaign started when they asked why their local river looked so dirty when it was transparent when they were growing up in a little hamlet in Oxfordshire. I had a chat with Feargal Shearkey, whose tireless campaigning in this area has also been great. 

The Government’s proposed reforms in the “A new vision for water: white paper” offer a significant opportunity to clean up our waterways, but it is clear that public expectations are high and further action will be needed and I am sympathetic to the idea of bringing water companies back into public ownership. 

Looking ahead 

It has been a month where global instability has cast a long shadow over domestic policy. While important progress continues across education, healthcare and reform, much will depend on how the situation in the Middle East develops. 

There is also a wider strategic concern that cannot be ignored. The United States remains an essential ally, but under Donald Trump it has also become increasingly unpredictable. 

There is a real risk that this conflict becomes the justification for a shift in priorities, particularly when it comes to Ukraine. 

We are already seeing signs of that. Peace talks on Ukraine have reportedly stalled as attention shifts to Iran, and there are growing questions about the future of US support. At the same time, moves to ease some oil-related sanctions in response to the energy shock risk strengthening Russia’s position just as pressure should be maintained. 

That is why it was so important to see Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the UK this week, working closely with the Prime Minister. His visit was a timely reminder that Ukraine’s fight remains critical to European security. 

There is also a harder truth here. As energy prices rise and global focus shifts, Vladimir Putin stands to benefit. Higher oil and gas prices bring in more revenue, and the diversion of international attention risks easing pressure on Russia’s war in Ukraine. Analysts have already pointed out that, in many ways, Moscow is one of the main beneficiaries of the current conflict. 

That leaves us in a precarious position. The challenge now is not only navigating the immediate crisis in the Middle East, but ensuring it does not undermine support for Ukraine or embolden those who seek to take advantage of global instability. 

For now, the priority remains to protect British citizens, support households through rising costs, and hold firm to our international commitments under a legal framework even in an increasingly uncertain world. 

The post March Newsletter appeared first on Mohammad Yasin MP.

A graphic that says MP for Barking secured £20 million for the local area - Funding for Eastbury ward and Mayesbrook ward.

Nesil Caliskan, Member of Parliament for Barking, celebrates the announcement £20 million additional funding for Barking & Dagenham from the government’s Pride in Place programme after launching a campaign for more Pride in Place funding for the borough. 

The government has selected Mayesbrook Park, in Mayesbrook ward, and Rippleside, in Eastbury ward, as the beneficiaries of the funding injection. 

Nesil has been meeting with and speaking to constituents about where additional funding in Barking & Dagenham should go to benefit local people the most. 

The Prime Minister backs UK renewal with a historic £5 billion investment into communities across the UK as part of the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Pride in Place programme. 

Residents and Members of Parliament are to play a leading role in deciding the best use of the funding in their own communities. Local people decide how the money is spent, whether it is on improving local high streets, reviving green spaces or on community hubs, pubs and leisure centres. 

Nesil Caliskan, Member of Parliament for Barking said: 

“I was pleased with the government’s initial announcement of £1.5 million in funding for Barking & Dagenham’s high streets, but local people deserved more to make a tangible impact in our local communities. 

“I’ve been campaigning for an uplift on the £1.5 million Pride in Place, speaking to Ministers and urging them to invest in Barking & Dagenham. People should feel pride in the places they live and enjoy the opportunities that emerge from revitalised community centres. That’s why I’m pleased that Barking & Dagenham will now receive £20 million which will make a real difference to our local area and economy.” 

Join the Peaceful Protest – 28th February

Wendy Morton (Aldridge-Brownhills)

A huge thank you to every resident who is helping to organise and who will be attending our peaceful protest to protect our precious Green Belt and Green Spaces.

Setting politics aside, we are standing together to voice our total opposition to the Government’s plan to reclassify our Green Belt as “Grey Belt.”

This is about standing shoulder to shoulder and protecting our community’s future!

I am getting a huge number of messages from people about potholes across Bassetlaw. Our roads are falling apart and it cannot go on like this.

Many drivers tell me they are worried about damage to their cars. They say they have to swerve to avoid deep holes in the road. People are facing huge bills for car repairs to fix damage to tyres. I have even heard about license plates being ripped from cars by deep potholes in some areas.

Recently, I was contacted by residents who live on Sheffield Road in Blyth. The road there is in a terrible state. Large lorries hit the crater holes at speed, and the impact is so strong that nearby houses shake, day and night. Some residents are struggling to sleep through the night because the vibrations are so bad. Some have even seen cracks appear in their brickwork. That is simply not good enough.

I am pushing for the whole road to be properly resurfaced, not just patched up. I am pleased that this request has now been put forward to the County Council as part of next year’s roads budget. I will keep pressing for it to be approved.

I see the ‘dob jobs’ taking place, but this is a quick fix and not a permanent solution. In some cases, the roads crumble again within weeks. The County Council recently spent £75,000 on flags for lampposts. While I love to see our flag flying, is this really the priority when our roads are in such a bad state?

We have heard plenty of excuses. The councillor in charge of roads has even tried to blame my husband, John Mann, the former MP for Bassetlaw. But I have lived here in Bassetlaw for over 25 years, and I have never known our roads to be in such poor condition. Over the past few months, I have reported over 50 potholes across Bassetlaw. But when I go to report them, I often see that they have been reported many times before, and no action has been taken.

Many people ask me what is being done about it. Here are the facts. Nottinghamshire County Council is in charge of looking after our roads. It runs this service through its company, VIA. The Council has been given an extra £8.3 million from the government to fix roads. This is on top of the £70 million it already has for road repairs. I plan to meet with the County Council very soon, alongside other Nottinghamshire MPs of all parties to discuss the issue.

The Council is saying it plans to buy a special machine called the JCB Pothole Pro. It costs about £200,000 and is meant to repair potholes more quickly. However, I am concerned that the previous Conservative administration looked at this in 2021, and found that the machine did not save money, could damage kerbs, and had problems on narrow roads. Most importantly, it did not fix potholes any faster than normal repair methods.

I will be keeping a close eye on how this money is spent. What matters most is that our roads are maintained and properly repaired. My message is clear, use the money and get on with the job.

The post Potholes are the main concern for Bassetlaw residents appeared first on Jo White MP.

Friday 20 June 2025 marked a joyous and inspiring celebration of World Refugee Day at the Change Centre in Dundee, where eight refugee football teams from across Dundee, Glasgow, Perth, and Angus competed in the inaugural World Refugee Day Cup Football Tournament. The event was the vision of Sandy Greene, Chief Executive of ScrapAntics in ... Read more

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The Third Runway: A Monument to Mediocrity

Kit Malthouse (North West Hampshire)

An abridged version of this article ran in The Times on 3rd February 2025

In 2007, in the pages of this newspaper, I argued that Britain should seize the moment and move Heathrow to the Thames Estuary, freeing up the congested west London site for much-needed housing while creating a world-leading transport hub fit for the 21st century. It was an ambitious plan—perhaps too ambitious for a nation that has lost its appetite for grand infrastructure. Seventeen years later, what do we have? The same tired debates, the same dithering, and now, a third runway proposal that represents the absolute minimum of what could be done. It is not a vision; it is a concession to stagnation.

Throughout history, Britain built infrastructure that transformed cities and continents. The Victorians laid thousands of miles of railways across India and Africa. British engineers built the world’s first underground railway in London, the great docks of Hong Kong, and the vast shipping hubs that made global trade possible. Ours was once a nation that saw scale and complexity as challenges to be overcome, not reasons to prevaricate. Today, while China constructs floating airports in Hong Kong and Dalian, we are still arguing over a few extra miles of tarmac at an aging airport hemmed in by suburban sprawl.

The case for expanding Heathrow is undeniable. The airport operates at near capacity, with any disruption causing delays that ripple across the global aviation network. Additional capacity is needed. But the third runway is not a bold leap forward—it is an unimaginative compromise. The design is a relic of a bygone era when Britain was still willing to approve large infrastructure projects but had already begun its slow descent into cautious incrementalism. Surely for a solution we should be looking beyond the immediate horizon, daring to create something transformative.

Compare this to the grand infrastructure ambitions of Asia. Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok, which replaced the legendary but perilous Kai Tak airport in the 1990s, was built on reclaimed land. It was a marvel of engineering (mostly British), completed in just six years. Now, China is taking the concept even further: Dalian is constructing a floating airport, pushing the boundaries of what is possible. This is a country that doesn’t simply accept geographic limitations—it overcomes them. Britain, meanwhile, is paralysed by protest groups, endless consultations, and political hand-wringing.

A floating airport in the Thames Estuary—an idea proposed and swiftly dismissed—would have been a statement of ambition. London could have had its own Chek Lap Kok, a world-class hub unencumbered by the constraints of Heathrow’s location. Instead, we are left with a piecemeal expansion of an outdated site, in a project that will take decades and still leave Britain trailing behind.

The environmental argument against expansion is often cited as a reason for delay, but it is a red herring. Modern aviation is rapidly advancing towards lower emissions and greater efficiency. If the concern is air pollution and carbon footprints, the answer is not to stifle airport expansion but to embrace new technology, support cleaner aviation fuels, and invest in modern air traffic management. Britain should be leading these efforts, not using environmental concerns as an excuse for stagnation.

The economic cost of our hesitation is immense. Aviation is a key driver of trade, tourism, and investment. Heathrow’s constraints mean we lose out to European rivals, with airlines shifting long-haul routes to Paris, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt. The third runway, even if built, will do little to reclaim lost ground. By the time it is operational—assuming it even survives the judicial challenges that will inevitably come—other nations will have long since surpassed us.

What Britain needs is a fundamental shift in mindset. We must stop viewing major infrastructure projects as necessary evils to be endured and start treating them as national priorities. This requires reforming our planning laws, streamlining approval processes, and fostering a political culture that celebrates engineering excellence rather than recoiling from it.

The third runway at Heathrow is not the answer—it is a symptom of our decline. Instead of an afterthought tacked onto an aging airport, we should be considering radical alternatives: offshore airports, high-speed rail integration to regional hubs, and a renewed commitment to infrastructure that places Britain at the forefront of global connectivity. We were once a nation that built the world’s most advanced transport networks, that pioneered engineering breakthroughs others only dreamed of. We can be that nation again—but only if we stop settling for mediocrity and start daring to think bigger.

The world is not waiting for Britain to catch up. While we squabble over a single new runway, China is building entire new airports on water. The contrast is stark, and the lesson is clear: boldness breeds success, hesitation ensures decline. If Britain truly wishes to remain a global player, we must abandon the timid incrementalism of the third runway and embrace the kind of audacity that once made us great.

Kit Malthouse 1st February 2025

Dan Jarvis' Christmas Message

Dan Jarvis (Barnsley North)

Christmas is a very special time. It's when we come together with friends and family to take stock, and give thanks for what we have.

Some years – in the best of times, this is cause for celebration.

Other years – it's more complicated if we're missing loved ones,
affected by illness, or facing money worries, homelessness, or loneliness.

Sometimes – let’s be honest, for many reasons, Christmas can just be about getting through it, and that's ok!

Because regardless of the year that’s been, or the circumstances you find yourself in, Christmas offers everyone a precious gift – hope.

ICC FILES ARREST WARRANTS

Brendan O'Hara (Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)

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