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- Stephen Kinnock, Aberafan Maesteg (lab)
- Kirsty Blackman, Aberdeen North (snp)
- Stephen Flynn, Aberdeen South (snp)
- Seamus Logan, Aberdeenshire North and Moray East (snp)
- Kenneth Stevenson, Airdrie and Shotts (lab)
- Alex Baker, Aldershot (lab)
- Wendy Morton, Aldridge-Brownhills (con)
- Brian Leishman, Alloa and Grangemouth (lab)
- Connor Rand, Altrincham and Sale West (lab)
- Mark Tami, Alyn and Deeside (lab)
- Linsey Farnsworth, Amber Valley (lab)
- Dave Doogan, Angus and Perthshire Glens (snp)
- Stephen Gethins, Arbroath and Broughty Ferry (snp)
- Brendan O'Hara, Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber (snp)
- Andrew Griffith, Arundel and South Downs (con)
- Lee Anderson, Ashfield (ref)
- Sojan Joseph, Ashford (lab)
- Angela Rayner, Ashton-under-Lyne (lab)
- Laura Kyrke-Smith, Aylesbury (lab)
- Elaine Stewart, Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (lab)
- Sean Woodcock, Banbury (lab)
- Claire Hughes, Bangor Aberconwy (lab)
- Nesil Caliskan, Barking (lab)
- Dan Jarvis, Barnsley North (lab)
- Stephanie Peacock, Barnsley South (lab)
- Michelle Scrogham, Barrow and Furness (lab)
- Richard Holden, Basildon and Billericay (con)
- Luke Murphy, Basingstoke (lab)
- Jo White, Bassetlaw (lab)
- Wera Hobhouse, Bath (ld)
- Kirsteen Sullivan, Bathgate and Linlithgow (lab)
- Marsha De Cordova, Battersea (lab)
- Joy Morrissey, Beaconsfield (con)
- Liam Conlon, Beckenham and Penge (lab)
- Mohammad Yasin, Bedford (lab)
- Gavin Robinson, Belfast East (dup)
- John Finucane, Belfast North (sf)
- Claire Hanna, Belfast South and Mid Down (sdlp)
- Paul Maskey, Belfast West (sf)
- Neil Coyle, Bermondsey and Old Southwark (lab)
- John Lamont, Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (con)
- Rushanara Ali, Bethnal Green and Stepney (lab)
- Graham Stuart, Beverley and Holderness (con)
- Dr Kieran Mullan, Bexhill and Battle (con)
- Daniel Francis, Bexleyheath and Crayford (lab)
- Calum Miller, Bicester and Woodstock (ld)
- Alison McGovern, Birkenhead (lab)
- Preet Kaur Gill, Birmingham Edgbaston (lab)
- Paulette Hamilton, Birmingham Erdington (lab)
- Tahir Ali, Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley (lab)
- Liam Byrne, Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North (lab)
- Shabana Mahmood, Birmingham Ladywood (lab)
- Laurence Turner, Birmingham Northfield (lab)
- Ayoub Khan, Birmingham Perry Barr (ind)
- Al Carns, Birmingham Selly Oak (lab)
- Jess Phillips, Birmingham Yardley (lab)
- Sam Rushworth, Bishop Auckland (lab)
- Adnan Hussain, Blackburn (ind)
- Graham Stringer, Blackley and Middleton South (lab)
- Lorraine Beavers, Blackpool North and Fleetwood (lab)
- Chris Webb, Blackpool South (lab)
- Nick Smith, Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney (lab)
- Liz Twist, Blaydon and Consett (lab)
- Ian Lavery, Blyth and Ashington (lab)
- Alison Griffiths, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (con)
- Natalie Fleet, Bolsover (lab)
- Kirith Entwistle, Bolton North East (lab)
- Yasmin Qureshi, Bolton South and Walkden (lab)
- Phil Brickell, Bolton West (lab)
- Peter Dowd, Bootle (lab)
- Richard Tice, Boston and Skegness (ref)
- Tom Hayes, Bournemouth East (lab)
- Jessica Toale, Bournemouth West (lab)
- Peter Swallow, Bracknell (lab)
- Imran Hussain, Bradford East (lab)
- Judith Cummins, Bradford South (lab)
- Naz Shah, Bradford West (lab)
- James Cleverly, Braintree (con)
- David Chadwick, Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe (ld)
- Dawn Butler, Brent East (lab)
- Barry Gardiner, Brent West (lab)
- Ruth Cadbury, Brentford and Isleworth (lab)
- Alex Burghart, Brentwood and Ongar (con)
- Chris Elmore, Bridgend (lab)
- Sir Ashley Fox, Bridgwater (con)
- Charlie Dewhirst, Bridlington and The Wolds (con)
- Martin Vickers, Brigg and Immingham (con)
- Chris Ward, Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven (lab)
- Siân Berry, Brighton Pavilion (grn)
- Carla Denyer, Bristol Central (grn)
- Kerry McCarthy, Bristol East (lab)
- Damien Egan, Bristol North East (lab)
- Darren Jones, Bristol North West (lab)
- Karin Smyth, Bristol South (lab)
- Jerome Mayhew, Broadland and Fakenham (con)
- Peter Fortune, Bromley and Biggin Hill (con)
- Bradley Thomas, Bromsgrove (con)
- Lewis Cocking, Broxbourne (con)
- Juliet Campbell, Broxtowe (lab)
- Callum Anderson, Buckingham and Bletchley (lab)
- Oliver Ryan, Burnley (ind)
- Jacob Collier, Burton and Uttoxeter (lab)
- James Frith, Bury North (lab)
- Christian Wakeford, Bury South (lab)
- Peter Prinsley, Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket (lab)
- Ann Davies, Caerfyrddin (pc)
- Chris Evans, Caerphilly (lab)
- Jamie Stone, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (ld)
- Josh Fenton-Glynn, Calder Valley (lab)
- Perran Moon, Camborne and Redruth (lab)
- Daniel Zeichner, Cambridge (lab)
- Josh Newbury, Cannock Chase (lab)
- Rosie Duffield, Canterbury (ind)
- Jo Stevens, Cardiff East (lab)
- Anna McMorrin, Cardiff North (lab)
- Stephen Doughty, Cardiff South and Penarth (lab)
- Alex Barros-Curtis, Cardiff West (lab)
- Julie Minns, Carlisle (lab)
- Bobby Dean, Carshalton and Wallington (ld)
- Rebecca Harris, Castle Point (con)
- Alan Gemmell, Central Ayrshire (lab)
- Mel Stride, Central Devon (con)
- Patrick Spencer, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (con)
- Ben Lake, Ceredigion Preseli (pc)
- Tristan Osborne, Chatham and Aylesford (lab)
- Tom Morrison, Cheadle (ld)
- Marie Goldman, Chelmsford (ld)
- Ben Coleman, Chelsea and Fulham (lab)
- Max Wilkinson, Cheltenham (ld)
- Sarah Green, Chesham and Amersham (ld)
- Samantha Dixon, Chester North and Neston (lab)
- Aphra Brandreth, Chester South and Eddisbury (con)
- Toby Perkins, Chesterfield (lab)
- Jess Brown-Fuller, Chichester (ld)
- Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Chingford and Woodford Green (con)
- Sarah Gibson, Chippenham (ld)
- Dan Tomlinson, Chipping Barnet (lab)
- Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Chorley (sp)
- Sir Christopher Chope, Christchurch (con)
- Rachel Blake, Cities of London and Westminster (lab)
- Mary Kelly Foy, City of Durham (lab)
- Nigel Farage, Clacton (ref)
- Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Clapham and Brixton Hill (lab)
- Becky Gittins, Clwyd East (lab)
- Gill German, Clwyd North (lab)
- Frank McNally, Coatbridge and Bellshill (lab)
- Pam Cox, Colchester (lab)
- Paul Davies, Colne Valley (lab)
- Sarah Russell, Congleton (lab)
- Lee Barron, Corby and East Northamptonshire (lab)
- Mary Creagh, Coventry East (lab)
- Taiwo Owatemi, Coventry North West (lab)
- Zarah Sultana, Coventry South (ind)
- Melanie Ward, Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy (lab)
- Emma Foody, Cramlington and Killingworth (lab)
- Peter Lamb, Crawley (lab)
- Connor Naismith, Crewe and Nantwich (lab)
- Natasha Irons, Croydon East (lab)
- Chris Philp, Croydon South (con)
- Sarah Jones, Croydon West (lab)
- Katrina Murray, Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch (lab)
- Margaret Mullane, Dagenham and Rainham (lab)
- Lola McEvoy, Darlington (lab)
- Jim Dickson, Dartford (lab)
- Stuart Andrew, Daventry (con)
- Catherine Atkinson, Derby North (lab)
- Baggy Shanker, Derby South (lab)
- John Whitby, Derbyshire Dales (lab)
- Iqbal Mohamed, Dewsbury and Batley (ind)
- Olly Glover, Didcot and Wantage (ld)
- Sally Jameson, Doncaster Central (lab)
- Lee Pitcher, Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme (lab)
- Ed Miliband, Doncaster North (lab)
- Chris Coghlan, Dorking and Horley (ld)
- Mike Tapp, Dover and Deal (lab)
- Nigel Huddleston, Droitwich and Evesham (con)
- Sonia Kumar, Dudley (lab)
- Helen Hayes, Dulwich and West Norwood (lab)
- John Cooper, Dumfries and Galloway (con)
- David Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (con)
- Chris Law, Dundee Central (snp)
- Graeme Downie, Dunfermline and Dollar (lab)
- Alex Mayer, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard (lab)
- Liz Saville Roberts, Dwyfor Meirionnydd (pc)
- Dr Rupa Huq, Ealing Central and Acton (lab)
- James Murray, Ealing North (lab)
- Deirdre Costigan, Ealing Southall (lab)
- Yuan Yang, Earley and Woodley (lab)
- Grahame Morris, Easington (lab)
- Sammy Wilson, East Antrim (dup)
- Mims Davies, East Grinstead and Uckfield (con)
- Sir Stephen Timms, East Ham (lab)
- Damian Hinds, East Hampshire (con)
- Joani Reid, East Kilbride and Strathaven (lab)
- Gregory Campbell, East Londonderry (dup)
- Blair McDougall, East Renfrewshire (lab)
- Claire Coutinho, East Surrey (con)
- Polly Billington, East Thanet (lab)
- Danny Kruger, East Wiltshire (con)
- Tom Rutland, East Worthing and Shoreham (lab)
- Josh Babarinde, Eastbourne (ld)
- Liz Jarvis, Eastleigh (ld)
- Chris Murray, Edinburgh East and Musselburgh (lab)
- Tracy Gilbert, Edinburgh North and Leith (lab)
- Ian Murray, Edinburgh South (lab)
- Dr Scott Arthur, Edinburgh South West (lab)
- Christine Jardine, Edinburgh West (ld)
- Kate Osamor, Edmonton and Winchmore Hill (lab)
- Justin Madders, Ellesmere Port and Bromborough (lab)
- Clive Efford, Eltham and Chislehurst (lab)
- Charlotte Cane, Ely and East Cambridgeshire (ld)
- Feryal Clark, Enfield North (lab)
- Dr Neil Hudson, Epping Forest (con)
- Helen Maguire, Epsom and Ewell (ld)
- Adam Thompson, Erewash (lab)
- Abena Oppong-Asare, Erith and Thamesmead (lab)
- Monica Harding, Esher and Walton (ld)
- Steve Race, Exeter (lab)
- David Reed, Exmouth and Exeter East (con)
- Euan Stainbank, Falkirk (lab)
- Suella Braverman, Fareham and Waterlooville (con)
- Gregory Stafford, Farnham and Bordon (con)
- Helen Whately, Faversham and Mid Kent (con)
- Seema Malhotra, Feltham and Heston (lab)
- Pat Cullen, Fermanagh and South Tyrone (sf)
- Claire Hazelgrove, Filton and Bradley Stoke (lab)
- Sarah Sackman, Finchley and Golders Green (lab)
- Tony Vaughan, Folkestone and Hythe (lab)
- Matt Bishop, Forest of Dean (lab)
- Colum Eastwood, Foyle (sdlp)
- Anna Sabine, Frome and East Somerset (ld)
- Andrew Snowden, Fylde (con)
- Sir Edward Leigh, Gainsborough (con)
- Mark Ferguson, Gateshead Central and Whickham (lab)
- Michael Payne, Gedling (lab)
- Naushabah Khan, Gillingham and Rainham (lab)
- John Grady, Glasgow East (lab)
- Martin Rhodes, Glasgow North (lab)
- Maureen Burke, Glasgow North East (lab)
- Gordon McKee, Glasgow South (lab)
- Dr Zubir Ahmed, Glasgow South West (lab)
- Patricia Ferguson, Glasgow West (lab)
- Sarah Dyke, Glastonbury and Somerton (ld)
- Richard Baker, Glenrothes and Mid Fife (lab)
- Alex McIntyre, Gloucester (lab)
- Jeremy Hunt, Godalming and Ash (con)
- David Davis, Goole and Pocklington (con)
- Harriet Cross, Gordon and Buchan (con)
- Andrew Gwynne, Gorton and Denton (ind)
- Dame Caroline Dinenage, Gosport (con)
- Tonia Antoniazzi, Gower (lab)
- Gareth Davies, Grantham and Bourne (con)
- Dr Lauren Sullivan, Gravesham (lab)
- Melanie Onn, Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes (lab)
- Rupert Lowe, Great Yarmouth (ref)
- Matthew Pennycook, Greenwich and Woolwich (lab)
- Zöe Franklin, Guildford (ld)
- Diane Abbott, Hackney North and Stoke Newington (lab)
- Dame Meg Hillier, Hackney South and Shoreditch (lab)
- Alex Ballinger, Halesowen (lab)
- Kate Dearden, Halifax (lab)
- Paul Holmes, Hamble Valley (con)
- Imogen Walker, Hamilton and Clyde Valley (lab)
- Andy Slaughter, Hammersmith and Chiswick (lab)
- Tulip Siddiq, Hampstead and Highgate (lab)
- Neil O'Brien, Harborough, Oadby and Wigston (con)
- Chris Vince, Harlow (lab)
- Victoria Collins, Harpenden and Berkhamsted (ld)
- Tom Gordon, Harrogate and Knaresborough (ld)
- Bob Blackman, Harrow East (con)
- Gareth Thomas, Harrow West (lab)
- Jonathan Brash, Hartlepool (lab)
- Sir Bernard Jenkin, Harwich and North Essex (con)
- Helena Dollimore, Hastings and Rye (lab)
- Alan Mak, Havant (con)
- John McDonnell, Hayes and Harlington (ind)
- Lisa Smart, Hazel Grove (ld)
- David Taylor, Hemel Hempstead (lab)
- David Pinto-Duschinsky, Hendon (lab)
- Freddie van Mierlo, Henley and Thame (ld)
- Jesse Norman, Hereford and South Herefordshire (con)
- Sir Roger Gale, Herne Bay and Sandwich (con)
- Josh Dean, Hertford and Stortford (lab)
- Sir Oliver Dowden, Hertsmere (con)
- Joe Morris, Hexham (lab)
- Elsie Blundell, Heywood and Middleton North (lab)
- Jon Pearce, High Peak (lab)
- Dr Luke Evans, Hinckley and Bosworth (con)
- Alistair Strathern, Hitchin (lab)
- Sir Keir Starmer, Holborn and St Pancras (lab)
- Richard Foord, Honiton and Sidmouth (ld)
- Julia Lopez, Hornchurch and Upminster (con)
- Catherine West, Hornsey and Friern Barnet (lab)
- John Milne, Horsham (ld)
- Bridget Phillipson, Houghton and Sunderland South (lab)
- Peter Kyle, Hove and Portslade (lab)
- Harpreet Uppal, Huddersfield (lab)
- Ben Obese-Jecty, Huntingdon (con)
- Sarah Smith, Hyndburn (lab)
- Wes Streeting, Ilford North (lab)
- Jas Athwal, Ilford South (lab)
- Martin McCluskey, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West (lab)
- Angus MacDonald, Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire (ld)
- Jack Abbott, Ipswich (lab)
- Joe Robertson, Isle of Wight East (con)
- Richard Quigley, Isle of Wight West (lab)
- Jeremy Corbyn, Islington North (ind)
- Emily Thornberry, Islington South and Finsbury (lab)
- Kate Osborne, Jarrow and Gateshead East (lab)
- Robbie Moore, Keighley and Ilkley (con)
- Sir Jeremy Wright, Kenilworth and Southam (con)
- Joe Powell, Kensington and Bayswater (lab)
- Rosie Wrighting, Kettering (lab)
- Lillian Jones, Kilmarnock and Loudoun (lab)
- Ed Davey, Kingston and Surbiton (ld)
- Karl Turner, Kingston upon Hull East (lab)
- Dame Diana Johnson, Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham (lab)
- Emma Hardy, Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice (lab)
- Mike Wood, Kingswinford and South Staffordshire (con)
- Anneliese Midgley, Knowsley (lab)
- Sorcha Eastwood, Lagan Valley (all)
- Cat Smith, Lancaster and Wyre (lab)
- Alex Sobel, Leeds Central and Headingley (lab)
- Richard Burgon, Leeds East (lab)
- Fabian Hamilton, Leeds North East (lab)
- Katie White, Leeds North West (lab)
- Hilary Benn, Leeds South (lab)
- Mark Sewards, Leeds South West and Morley (lab)
- Rachel Reeves, Leeds West and Pudsey (lab)
- Shivani Raja, Leicester East (con)
- Shockat Adam, Leicester South (ind)
- Liz Kendall, Leicester West (lab)
- Jo Platt, Leigh and Atherton (lab)
- James MacCleary, Lewes (ld)
- Janet Daby, Lewisham East (lab)
- Vicky Foxcroft, Lewisham North (lab)
- Ellie Reeves, Lewisham West and East Dulwich (lab)
- Calvin Bailey, Leyton and Wanstead (lab)
- Dave Robertson, Lichfield (lab)
- Hamish Falconer, Lincoln (lab)
- Maria Eagle, Liverpool Garston (lab)
- Kim Johnson, Liverpool Riverside (lab)
- Dan Carden, Liverpool Walton (lab)
- Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree (lab)
- Ian Byrne, Liverpool West Derby (lab)
- Gregor Poynton, Livingston (lab)
- Dame Nia Griffith, Llanelli (lab)
- Douglas Alexander, Lothian East (lab)
- Dr Jeevun Sandher, Loughborough (lab)
- Victoria Atkins, Louth and Horncastle (con)
- Jess Asato, Lowestoft (lab)
- Sarah Owen, Luton North (lab)
- Rachel Hopkins, Luton South and South Bedfordshire (lab)
- Tim Roca, Macclesfield (lab)
- Joshua Reynolds, Maidenhead (ld)
- Helen Grant, Maidstone and Malling (con)
- Josh Simons, Makerfield (lab)
- Sir John Whittingdale, Maldon (con)
- Lucy Powell, Manchester Central (lab)
- Afzal Khan, Manchester Rusholme (lab)
- Jeff Smith, Manchester Withington (lab)
- Steve Yemm, Mansfield (lab)
- Brian Mathew, Melksham and Devizes (ld)
- Edward Argar, Melton and Syston (con)
- Saqib Bhatti, Meriden and Solihull East (con)
- Gerald Jones, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare (lab)
- Blake Stephenson, Mid Bedfordshire (con)
- Greg Smith, Mid Buckinghamshire (con)
- Andrew Cooper, Mid Cheshire (lab)
- Jonathan Davies, Mid Derbyshire (lab)
- Vikki Slade, Mid Dorset and North Poole (ld)
- Susan Murray, Mid Dunbartonshire (ld)
- Peter Bedford, Mid Leicestershire (con)
- George Freeman, Mid Norfolk (con)
- Alison Bennett, Mid Sussex (ld)
- Cathal Mallaghan, Mid Ulster (sf)
- Henry Tufnell, Mid and South Pembrokeshire (lab)
- Luke Myer, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (lab)
- Andy McDonald, Middlesbrough and Thornaby East (lab)
- Kirsty McNeill, Midlothian (lab)
- Emily Darlington, Milton Keynes Central (lab)
- Chris Curtis, Milton Keynes North (lab)
- Dame Siobhain McDonagh, Mitcham and Morden (lab)
- Catherine Fookes, Monmouthshire (lab)
- Steve Witherden, Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr (lab)
- Graham Leadbitter, Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey (snp)
- Lizzi Collinge, Morecambe and Lunesdale (lab)
- Pamela Nash, Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke (lab)
- Torcuil Crichton, Na h-Eileanan an Iar (lab)
- Carolyn Harris, Neath and Swansea East (lab)
- Sir Julian Lewis, New Forest East (con)
- Sir Desmond Swayne, New Forest West (con)
- Robert Jenrick, Newark (con)
- Lee Dillon, Newbury (ld)
- Chi Onwurah, Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West (lab)
- Mary Glindon, Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend (lab)
- Catherine McKinnell, Newcastle upon Tyne North (lab)
- Adam Jogee, Newcastle-under-Lyme (lab)
- Jessica Morden, Newport East (lab)
- Ruth Jones, Newport West and Islwyn (lab)
- Dáire Hughes, Newry and Armagh (sf)
- Martin Wrigley, Newton Abbot (ld)
- Alan Strickland, Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor (lab)
- Jon Trickett, Normanton and Hemsworth (lab)
- Jim Allister, North Antrim (tuv)
- Irene Campbell, North Ayrshire and Arran (lab)
- Richard Fuller, North Bedfordshire (con)
- Ben Maguire, North Cornwall (ld)
- Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, North Cotswolds (con)
- Ian Roome, North Devon (ld)
- Simon Hoare, North Dorset (con)
- Alex Easton, North Down (ind)
- Luke Akehurst, North Durham (lab)
- Steve Barclay, North East Cambridgeshire (con)
- Louise Jones, North East Derbyshire (lab)
- Wendy Chamberlain, North East Fife (ld)
- Alex Brewer, North East Hampshire (ld)
- Chris Hinchliff, North East Hertfordshire (lab)
- Dan Norris, North East Somerset and Hanham (lab)
- Ellie Chowns, North Herefordshire (grn)
- Steff Aquarone, North Norfolk (ld)
- David Smith, North Northumberland (lab)
- Helen Morgan, North Shropshire (ld)
- Sadik Al-Hassan, North Somerset (lab)
- Rachel Taylor, North Warwickshire and Bedworth (lab)
- Sam Carling, North West Cambridgeshire (lab)
- Kemi Badenoch, North West Essex (con)
- Kit Malthouse, North West Hampshire (con)
- Amanda Hack, North West Leicestershire (lab)
- James Wild, North West Norfolk (con)
- Lucy Rigby, Northampton North (lab)
- Mike Reader, Northampton South (lab)
- Alice Macdonald, Norwich North (lab)
- Clive Lewis, Norwich South (lab)
- Nadia Whittome, Nottingham East (lab)
- Alex Norris, Nottingham North and Kimberley (lab)
- Lilian Greenwood, Nottingham South (lab)
- Jodie Gosling, Nuneaton (lab)
- Louie French, Old Bexley and Sidcup (con)
- Debbie Abrahams, Oldham East and Saddleworth (lab)
- Jim McMahon, Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton (lab)
- Alistair Carmichael, Orkney and Shetland (ld)
- Gareth Bacon, Orpington (con)
- Jade Botterill, Ossett and Denby Dale (lab)
- Anneliese Dodds, Oxford East (lab)
- Layla Moran, Oxford West and Abingdon (ld)
- Alison Taylor, Paisley and Renfrewshire North (lab)
- Johanna Baxter, Paisley and Renfrewshire South (lab)
- Miatta Fahnbulleh, Peckham (lab)
- Jonathan Hinder, Pendle and Clitheroe (lab)
- Dr Marie Tidball, Penistone and Stocksbridge (lab)
- Markus Campbell-Savours, Penrith and Solway (lab)
- Pete Wishart, Perth and Kinross-shire (snp)
- Andrew Pakes, Peterborough (lab)
- Fred Thomas, Plymouth Moor View (lab)
- Luke Pollard, Plymouth Sutton and Devonport (lab)
- Yvette Cooper, Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley (lab)
- Alex Davies-Jones, Pontypridd (lab)
- Neil Duncan-Jordan, Poole (lab)
- Apsana Begum, Poplar and Limehouse (ind)
- Amanda Martin, Portsmouth North (lab)
- Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth South (lab)
- Sir Mark Hendrick, Preston (lab)
- Fleur Anderson, Putney (lab)
- Georgia Gould, Queen's Park and Maida Vale (lab)
- John Healey, Rawmarsh and Conisbrough (lab)
- Mark Francois, Rayleigh and Wickford (con)
- Matt Rodda, Reading Central (lab)
- Olivia Bailey, Reading West and Mid Berkshire (lab)
- Anna Turley, Redcar (lab)
- Chris Bloore, Redditch (lab)
- Rebecca Paul, Reigate (con)
- Chris Bryant, Rhondda and Ogmore (lab)
- Maya Ellis, Ribble Valley (lab)
- Sarah Olney, Richmond Park (ld)
- Rishi Sunak, Richmond and Northallerton (con)
- Paul Waugh, Rochdale (lab)
- Lauren Edwards, Rochester and Strood (lab)
- Andrew Rosindell, Romford (con)
- Caroline Nokes, Romsey and Southampton North (con)
- Andy MacNae, Rossendale and Darwen (lab)
- Jake Richards, Rother Valley (lab)
- Sarah Champion, Rotherham (lab)
- John Slinger, Rugby (lab)
- David Simmonds, Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (con)
- Mike Amesbury, Runcorn and Helsby (ind)
- Dr Ben Spencer, Runnymede and Weybridge (con)
- James Naish, Rushcliffe (lab)
- Michael Shanks, Rutherglen (lab)
- Alicia Kearns, Rutland and Stamford (con)
- Rebecca Long Bailey, Salford (lab)
- John Glen, Salisbury (con)
- Alison Hume, Scarborough and Whitby (lab)
- Sir Nicholas Dakin, Scunthorpe (lab)
- Bill Esterson, Sefton Central (lab)
- Keir Mather, Selby (lab)
- Laura Trott, Sevenoaks (con)
- Gill Furniss, Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough (lab)
- Abtisam Mohamed, Sheffield Central (lab)
- Olivia Blake, Sheffield Hallam (lab)
- Louise Haigh, Sheffield Heeley (lab)
- Clive Betts, Sheffield South East (lab)
- Michelle Welsh, Sherwood Forest (lab)
- Anna Dixon, Shipley (lab)
- Julia Buckley, Shrewsbury (lab)
- Kevin McKenna, Sittingbourne and Sheppey (lab)
- Sir Julian Smith, Skipton and Ripon (con)
- Dr Caroline Johnson, Sleaford and North Hykeham (con)
- Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Slough (lab)
- Gurinder Singh Josan, Smethwick (lab)
- Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Solihull West and Shirley (con)
- Robin Swann, South Antrim (uup)
- James McMurdock, South Basildon and East Thurrock (ref)
- Pippa Heylings, South Cambridgeshire (ld)
- Dr Roz Savage, South Cotswolds (ld)
- Samantha Niblett, South Derbyshire (lab)
- Caroline Voaden, South Devon (ld)
- Lloyd Hatton, South Dorset (lab)
- Chris Hazzard, South Down (sf)
- Anna Gelderd, South East Cornwall (lab)
- Sir John Hayes, South Holland and The Deepings (con)
- Alberto Costa, South Leicestershire (con)
- Ben Goldsborough, South Norfolk (lab)
- Sarah Bool, South Northamptonshire (con)
- Paul Foster, South Ribble (lab)
- Emma Lewell-Buck, South Shields (lab)
- Stuart Anderson, South Shropshire (con)
- James Cartlidge, South Suffolk (con)
- Rebecca Smith, South West Devon (con)
- Gagan Mohindra, South West Hertfordshire (con)
- Terry Jermy, South West Norfolk (lab)
- Dr Andrew Murrison, South West Wiltshire (con)
- Darren Paffey, Southampton Itchen (lab)
- Satvir Kaur, Southampton Test (lab)
- Bayo Alaba, Southend East and Rochford (lab)
- David Burton-Sampson, Southend West and Leigh (lab)
- Bambos Charalambous, Southgate and Wood Green (lab)
- Patrick Hurley, Southport (lab)
- Lincoln Jopp, Spelthorne (con)
- Kim Leadbeater, Spen Valley (lab)
- Daisy Cooper, St Albans (ld)
- Noah Law, St Austell and Newquay (lab)
- David Baines, St Helens North (lab)
- Marie Rimmer, St Helens South and Whiston (lab)
- Andrew George, St Ives (ld)
- Ian Sollom, St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire (ld)
- Leigh Ingham, Stafford (lab)
- Dame Karen Bradley, Staffordshire Moorlands (con)
- Jonathan Reynolds, Stalybridge and Hyde (lab)
- Kevin Bonavia, Stevenage (lab)
- Chris Kane, Stirling and Strathallan (lab)
- Navendu Mishra, Stockport (lab)
- Chris McDonald, Stockton North (lab)
- Matt Vickers, Stockton West (con)
- Gareth Snell, Stoke-on-Trent Central (lab)
- David Williams, Stoke-on-Trent North (lab)
- Dr Allison Gardner, Stoke-on-Trent South (lab)
- Sir Gavin Williamson, Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge (con)
- Cat Eccles, Stourbridge (lab)
- Jim Shannon, Strangford (dup)
- Uma Kumaran, Stratford and Bow (lab)
- Manuela Perteghella, Stratford-on-Avon (ld)
- Steve Reed, Streatham and Croydon North (lab)
- Andrew Western, Stretford and Urmston (lab)
- Dr Simon Opher, Stroud (lab)
- Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Suffolk Coastal (lab)
- Lewis Atkinson, Sunderland Central (lab)
- Dr Al Pinkerton, Surrey Heath (ld)
- Nusrat Ghani, Sussex Weald (con)
- Andrew Mitchell, Sutton Coldfield (con)
- Luke Taylor, Sutton and Cheam (ld)
- Torsten Bell, Swansea West (lab)
- Will Stone, Swindon North (lab)
- Heidi Alexander, Swindon South (lab)
- Sarah Edwards, Tamworth (lab)
- Esther McVey, Tatton (con)
- Gideon Amos, Taunton and Wellington (ld)
- Shaun Davies, Telford (lab)
- Cameron Thomas, Tewkesbury (ld)
- Mark Pritchard, The Wrekin (con)
- Kevin Hollinrake, Thirsk and Malton (con)
- Claire Young, Thornbury and Yate (ld)
- Jen Craft, Thurrock (lab)
- Antonia Bance, Tipton and Wednesbury (lab)
- Rachel Gilmour, Tiverton and Minehead (ld)
- Tom Tugendhat, Tonbridge (con)
- Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Tooting (lab)
- Steve Darling, Torbay (ld)
- Nick Thomas-Symonds, Torfaen (lab)
- Sir Geoffrey Cox, Torridge and Tavistock (con)
- David Lammy, Tottenham (lab)
- Jayne Kirkham, Truro and Falmouth (lab)
- Mike Martin, Tunbridge Wells (ld)
- Munira Wilson, Twickenham (ld)
- Sir Alan Campbell, Tynemouth (lab)
- Carla Lockhart, Upper Bann (dup)
- Danny Beales, Uxbridge and South Ruislip (lab)
- Kanishka Narayan, Vale of Glamorgan (lab)
- Florence Eshalomi, Vauxhall and Camberwell Green (lab)
- Simon Lightwood, Wakefield and Rothwell (lab)
- Dame Angela Eagle, Wallasey (lab)
- Valerie Vaz, Walsall and Bloxwich (lab)
- Stella Creasy, Walthamstow (lab)
- Charlotte Nichols, Warrington North (lab)
- Sarah Hall, Warrington South (lab)
- Matt Western, Warwick and Leamington (lab)
- Sharon Hodgson, Washington and Gateshead South (lab)
- Matt Turmaine, Watford (lab)
- Adrian Ramsay, Waveney Valley (grn)
- Katie Lam, Weald of Kent (con)
- Gen Kitchen, Wellingborough and Rushden (lab)
- Tessa Munt, Wells and Mendip Hills (ld)
- Andrew Lewin, Welwyn Hatfield (lab)
- Andrew Bowie, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (con)
- Sarah Coombes, West Bromwich (lab)
- Edward Morello, West Dorset (ld)
- Douglas McAllister, West Dunbartonshire (lab)
- James Asser, West Ham and Beckton (lab)
- Ashley Dalton, West Lancashire (lab)
- Nick Timothy, West Suffolk (con)
- Órfhlaith Begley, West Tyrone (sf)
- Dame Harriett Baldwin, West Worcestershire (con)
- Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale (ld)
- Dan Aldridge, Weston-super-Mare (lab)
- Sir Alec Shelbrooke, Wetherby and Easingwold (con)
- Josh MacAlister, Whitehaven and Workington (lab)
- Derek Twigg, Widnes and Halewood (lab)
- Lisa Nandy, Wigan (lab)
- Paul Kohler, Wimbledon (ld)
- Dr Danny Chambers, Winchester (ld)
- Jack Rankin, Windsor (con)
- Matthew Patrick, Wirral West (lab)
- Priti Patel, Witham (con)
- Charlie Maynard, Witney (ld)
- Will Forster, Woking (ld)
- Clive Jones, Wokingham (ld)
- Sureena Brackenridge, Wolverhampton North East (lab)
- Pat McFadden, Wolverhampton South East (lab)
- Warinder Juss, Wolverhampton West (lab)
- Tom Collins, Worcester (lab)
- Michael Wheeler, Worsley and Eccles (lab)
- Dr Beccy Cooper, Worthing West (lab)
- Andrew Ranger, Wrexham (lab)
- Emma Reynolds, Wycombe (lab)
- Mark Garnier, Wyre Forest (con)
- Mike Kane, Wythenshawe and Sale East (lab)
- Adam Dance, Yeovil (ld)
- Llinos Medi, Ynys Môn (pc)
- Rachael Maskell, York Central (lab)
- Luke Charters, York Outer (lab)
Labour is protecting Leaseholders from unfair charges, and capping ground rents
Liz Kendall (Leicester West)
This week Labour has published its draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill.
For too long, leaseholders and homeowners with unadopted estates have paid through the roof for
substandard service from unscrupulous managing agents and freeholders.
Every year, homeowners pay £600 million to freeholders. And in 2024, service charges reached an
average of £2,300 a year, increasing well above inflation.
Labour’s Bill will take direct action on the cost-of-living crisis for leaseholders.
The Government is capping ground rent at £250 a year, and moving to a peppercorn after 40 years.
The legislation also establishes commonhold as a default tenure, bans new leasehold flats, and creates
a route for leaseholders who want to transition to commonhold to do so.
More plans are also in the works to make it easier for leaseholders to enfranchise, and to ensure that
managing agents and freeholders are held to account for poor practice.
Every week I see in my constituency inbox the costs which homeowners are forced to pay for
substandard service. Working people deserve managing agents and freeholders who work for them,
and that is exactly what Labour’s Bill will achieve
The post Labour is protecting Leaseholders from unfair charges, and capping ground rents appeared first on Liz Kendall.
MP joins Premier League and literary greats backing campaign to get Portsmouth reading
Stephen Morgan (Portsmouth South)
- Nation-wide campaign kicks off aimed at reconnecting people of all ages with a love of reading
- Local MP joins footballer, author and actor ambassadors to promote power of reading
- Builds on Labour government action to boost reading including new reading test, multimillion-pound investment to support the teaching of reading and writing and access to books
Children, families and communities in Portsmouth will benefit from the power of reading as the Labour government and National Literacy Trust kick off the National Year of Reading.
The campaign ‘Go All In’ aims to tackle the worrying decline in reading for pleasure, especially among young people which has dropped to its lowest level since 2005, with just one in three 8-to 18-year-olds saying they enjoy reading in their spare time and teenage boys affected the most – in 2025, just 25% of boys aged 8-18 said they enjoy reading, compared to 39% of girls.
The year aims to address this challenge head on bringing together everyone from families and schools, to libraries, business and ambassadors to connect people of all ages with the joy –and varied benefits – of reading for pleasure.
Stephen Morgan MP is calling on Portsmouth to Go All In and read about the everyday things they love – from playlists and football to films, food and family time – in whatever way that works for them, whether reading a novel, an e-reader, a comic, or an online blog.
Premier League star Leah Williamson, authors Cressida Cowell, George the Poet, Micheal Morpurgo and Julia Donaldson, as well as social media star Jack Edwards alongside Richard Osman and Joe Wicks are just some of the ambassadors who will use their voices and platforms to encourage the nation to get reading.
Labour’s Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, formally launched the campaign at Emirates Stadium, the home of Arsenal Football Club, highlighting how passions such as football can ignite a love of reading and lead to amazing jobs.
Commenting, Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, said:
“As screen time climbs and attention spans fall, this Government and the National Literacy Trust have launched a national campaign that will get Portsmouth reading. I know that parents and carers across our city will support this timely opportunity.
“That’s why I am inviting families across Portsmouth to join the national effort to reignite passion for reading within our community. It is right that we commit to putting focus back on the valuable skill that is reading and ensure that every child is able to thrive.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:
“My love of reading was sparked when I was a child, thanks to my grandad and getting lost in stories like The Chronicles of Narnia. I want every child to feel that same joy, whether their passion is football, fantasy, or physics.
“Reading unlocks so much of children’s education, which is why reversing the decline in reading for pleasure must become a national mission.
“Our Plan for Change is making sure every child and young person has access to a wide range of books and supporting families to make space for shared reading to give children the best start in life.
“I’m asking families across the country to read together for just 10 minutes a day. It’s a simple step that can lay the foundations for strong literacy skills, helping kids to be school ready and on track to achieve and thrive.”
Reading is linked to a range of benefits including stronger writing skills, improved wellbeing and confidence, as well as increased creativity and imagination, but there are still too many children being held back from achieving their full potential with over a quarter leaving primary school not reaching the reading age of an 11-year-old.
This grows to 40% and 59% respectively for children from white-working class backgrounds and those with special educational needs.
The campaign builds on the action already underway by government to drive high and rising standards in literacy through its Plan for Change.
This includes a new mandatory reading test for all pupils in year 8 so children who struggle with reading are identified early and get the support they need to catch up, and millions invested to support the teaching of reading and writing and open up access to a wider range of books in schools.
From national moments to local reading activities, the year will offer events and celebrations reaching into every corner of society.
Highlights include national storytelling week, creative writing competitions, parent and baby community sessions, and ‘In conversation’ events with bestselling authors like Celia Rees, with more to be announced throughout the year.
The campaign is spotlighting the vital role volunteers play in supporting literacy projects, by recruiting 100,000 new volunteers to join the national effort and creating more opportunities for people to join in, whether organising a book event in for the local community or helping adults to read for the first time.
Libraries, schools, early years settings, booksellers and the criminal justice sector will receive resources and training, while members of the public can create their own materials to help encourage reading for pleasure and ensure every child is given the best start in life.
The post MP joins Premier League and literary greats backing campaign to get Portsmouth reading appeared first on Stephen Morgan MP.
Great to visit Leonardo UK in Newcastle
Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West)
Great to meet with Leonardo UK.
The North East is home to a growing community of highly skilled engineers, and it’s fantastic to see Newcastle strengthening its role in the defence and engineering sector.
Proud of the talent we have here in the North East!
George Freeman introduces his Flooding Bill to Parliament
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk)
George Freeman introduces a Bill to tackle the scourge of inland flooding with reforms to areas of responsibility, planning, funding and mapping.
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)
I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision about the responsibilities and duties of certain authorities and agencies in respect of inland flood prevention; to make provision about the powers of local flood authorities and Internal Drainage Boards; to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the funding of local flood authorities and Internal Drainage Boards; to provide for the designation of Internal Drainage Board pumps as critical national infrastructure; to require the Secretary of State to prepare and publish a report on the potential merits of establishing a Flood Compensation Fund to support homeowners whose primary residence has become unsaleable as a direct result of flooding; to make provision about flood reinsurance schemes; to make provision about the responsibilities of developers and water companies in respect of the provision of drainage for new housing developments; to make water companies statutory consultees for certain planning applications; to place a duty on fire and rescue services to respond to flood events; to make provision about national and local digital mapping of flood incidence and risk; and for connected purposes.
Mr Speaker, when you hear “Norfolk” and “floods”, I imagine that, like most, you think of coastal flooding, salt marsh flooding, storm tides eroding our cliffs, river flooding and the broads, but not inland flooding from surface water run-off overloading drains and sewers, which is all too often overlooked, and which is why I am introducing this Bill.
Like many, Mr Speaker, you are probably wondering why Mid Norfolk is flooding. It is Breckland; it is dry, sandy, and inland—the clue is in the name—and it should not be flooding, but over the last decade or so we have seen a spate of inland surface flooding in 23 of my 130 villages, and the problem is increasing every year. Why? Yes, climate change. In 2022-23, we had the wettest October, November, December, January, February and March on record, but there is also a lack of maintenance of council highway culverts, a lack of maintenance of farm ditches, inadequate funding of internal drainage boards—who, by the way, have been doing a really good job since about 1560, when they were created—and local flood authorities, and the relinquishing of riparian rights. I am sorry to say that I think the Environment Agency is rather more focused on rivers as habitats, than as channels for getting water off the land. However, these issues are happening in many areas. Why is there a problem in Mid Norfolk?
The big factor in Mid Norfolk is new housing. Along the A11 corridor, in the last 10 or 15 years, we have seen 5,000 houses built at Thetford, 5,000 at Attleborough, 3,000 at Wymondham, and 1,000 at Silfield. A 5,000-house new town is planned at Snetterton, and in commuter villages like Yaxham, Mattishall and Ellingham, big national developers and their agents like Gladman are using—or abusing—the five-year land supply to land-bank, and then to dump massive commuter housing estates on the outskirts of towns and villages without making proper infrastructure investment, against the wishes of the local council, the local plan and communities, who are too often powerless.
I want to make it clear that I am not against house building, or all developers. We have excellent local developers in Norfolk, like Abel Homes, which builds excellent homes and estates in many of my towns and villages. They are not the problem. The problem is the rush to dump massive commuter estates on the outskirts of towns and villages, and the scale of new housing without adequate infrastructure investment.
In 2020, my eyes were fully opened to the scale of the issue. I spent Christmas week helping residents in my villages to clear out sewage water from their houses, and on the telephone lines to try to get Anglian Water to send tankers to pump out the villages. The problems continued, and in 2023, Mill Lane, Attleborough, was hit by a significant flooding event affecting 100 homes. Spare a thought, please, for Lynn and Hans Short, who live next to the culvert, which was, by the way, wrongly installed by Anglian Water before it handed over the riparian responsibilities. Lynn and Hans have been flooded in four out of the last five years. That is why I have set up the Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership, worked with the county council to set up the Norfolk Strategic Flood Alliance, ably led by Henry Cator and Fiona Johnston, convened our first Norfolk flood summit last year, and established and supported local flood action groups. My first instinct was not to come to Parliament or Government for help, but to lead locally.
Something has become very clear, not least through the case study of Mill Lane, Attleborough, where a culvert was built under the river, inappropriately blocked with a grille that was never properly checked, and is at the wrong angle, so that it piles up waste, flooding the houses next to it. We ended up having to put together a multi-agency taskforce. We removed 30 tonnes of debris from the whole river. There was an illegal housing development lower down the watercourse, inappropriate development, and a lack of catchment work all the way through. It was a huge multi-agency project, but this is happening all over the country. Norfolk is only sixth in the top 10 inland flood counties, and that is why there are, I think, four new flooding all-party parliamentary groups in this Parliament. MPs across the House recognise the issue, and given the new house building target of 1.5 million homes in the next three years, it will only get more serious.
I pay tribute to the new flood Minister, the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice (Emma Hardy), who is present, and Peter Bonfield for his flood review. I welcome the comprehensive spending review funding announcement of £2.6 billion for flood and coastal erosion management to protect 65,000 homes. The insurance sector tells us that 18 million homes will be at risk—one in four—over the next 10 to 15 years, and flooding is costing £66 billion a year to the economy.
We will not solve the problem unless we really deal with the fundamental, structural, systemic problems causing misery and chaos around the country. Inland flooding is often overlooked, as funding goes to the higher-profile coastal areas, rivers, towns and cities. There is a serious lack of clear responsibility; there are over 30 agencies in Norfolk alone that have responsibility for flooding. We must deal with the disempowering of local bodies, such as internal drainage boards. Local flood authorities have no power or funding. There is continued building on floodplains without adequate infrastructure. There is no enforceable requirement to upgrade existing drainage, and no funding for drainage upgrades because most section 106 money goes on important local services. Residents in district council areas where there is an IDB are seeing funding for flood services cut.
There is tonnes of data, but no proper mapping of where and when floods are likely to happen. We have the technology and the data to do that mapping, but we do not use it. The vital Flood Re scheme is limited in time and scope, and is set to expire. There is also an insurance, mortgage and saleability time-bomb in our housing market. Sadly, there was nothing to deal with those issues in the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, despite multiple amendments being tabled, including in the other place.
The Bill that I am introducing has been designed with and around the advice of frontline bodies, and deals with the practical reality of flood prevention in four key areas: responsibilities, funding, planning, and national and local data and flood mapping. I developed it in a spirit of non-partisan, practical politics, to embolden the Minister to take this opportunity to make the key reforms that are essential if we are to avoid a growing crisis worsening to calamitous levels.
I thank the many agencies and organisations in the water sector that have helped—in particular, local residents Liz Witcher in Watton, Hans and Lynn in Attleborough, and others too numerous to mention. I thank my councillors, agencies such as the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance, and Aviva, a great local Norfolk insurance business on the frontline of this crisis. Most of all, the Bill is shaped by and for those poor people, up and down this country, who, like Hans and Lynn Short at Mill Lane, Attleborough, live in fear of going through the hell of their homes being flooded, not through any fault of their own, but because the system has failed them.
The planning, drainage, sewerage, insurance and flood-prevention system has evolved without design. No single body or person is responsible; that is the problem. The system is not fit for purpose today, let alone for three years’ time, when 1.5 million new homes are set to be built. We were all sent here to make the system work for the people who pay their taxes, pay our wages and expect us to deliver. We owe it to them and to the next generation to fix this. That is how we repair public trust in our politics and in this Parliament. The Bill is designed to help the Minister do just that. I commend it to the House.
Question put and agreed to.
Ordered,
That George Freeman, Nick Timothy, Jerome Mayhew, James Wild, Terry Jermy, Lee Pitcher, Helen Morgan, Dr Roz Savage, Steff Aquarone, Adrian Ramsay, Blake Stephenson and Dr Ben Spencer present the Bill.
George Freeman accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 10 July, and to be printed (Bill 368).
Campaign win for Barking MP as government announce a leasehold ban and cap on ground rents
Nesil Caliskan (Barking)
The Member of Parliament for Barking, Nesil Caliskan, is celebrating a government announcement on ending leasehold and cap on ground rents: “Since I became the MP for Barking, I have been fighting against dodgy developers and housing management companies who have been ripping people off,” she said. “It is clear the system is broken.”
The government has announced a total ban on new leaseholds, with current leaseholders given the choice to switch to commonhold as part of the new Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill. There will also be a cap on ground rents of £250, drastically reducing the cost of homeownership for people across the country.
Nesil Caliskan has called out developers, freeholders and housing managing companies across Barking for their exploitative practices and unaffordable service charges. Last year, for example, she slammed HomeGround, a freeholder in Barking Riverside linked to many allegations of poor transparency and exploitative fees: “They have made the dream of homeownership a living nightmare for so many families in Barking & Dagenham.”
Commenting on the wider reforms, Nesil Caliskan MP said: “Freeholders and management companies have exploited the basic need of people to have a roof over their head for too long, charging sky-high fees for poor service.
“I have seen families living with no heating or hot water and elderly people forced to climb flights of stairs because the management company failed to do basic lift repairs.
“I’m glad that now people in Barking & Dagenham will be able to have a say over their own futures, and we are seeing the back of this feudal system.”
New action to protect Llanelli leaseholders backed by local MP
Dame Nia Griffith (Llanelli)
Dame Nia Griffith has welcomed the UK Labour Government’s announcement that ground rents will be capped at £250 a year, calling it a “long overdue step that will make a real difference to leaseholders in Llanelli.”
The Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, confirmed the cap as part of a wider package of measures.
Dame Nia said the change will bring relief to families in the area who have faced unfair and escalating charges in recent years.
“I have spoken to, met with and campaigned alongside many local residents who have been disadvantaged by this scandalous practice for far too long. This cap will save some families hundreds of pounds a year and finally puts an end to one of the worst injustices of the leasehold system. It is a long overdue step that will make a real difference to leaseholders in Llanelli.”
Alongside the cap, the UK Government has published the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, which will strengthen the rights and protections of more than five million leaseholders who are set to benefit from stronger controls, powers and protections in a change that fundamentally rewires homeownership across England and Wales.
New leasehold flats will also be banned and homeownership strengthened thanks to groundbreaking legislation that will give people control over their homes and calls an end to the feudal leasehold system which dates to medieval times.
Forfeiture, whereby leaseholders can lose their home and the equity they built up by defaulting on a debt as low as £350, will also be abolished and a new process to make it easier for existing leaseholders to convert to commonhold will be introduced where homeowners will receive a stake in the ownership of their buildings and greater control over how the building is managed and the bills they pay.
Llanelli’s Member of Parliament added:
“This important action to support leaseholders with the cost of living comes after years of inaction and neglect.
“This is fantastic news for many leaseholders in my Llanelli constituency who have been trapped in an unfair system for too long. I’m proud that a Labour Government has been able to deliver on this where the previous Tory Government failed. It was a promise that we made in our General Election manifesto in 2024 and I’m delighted that this is now a promise that we are delivering on.”
Update for leaseholders across Newcastle North
Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Why I’m backing the National Year of Reading
Amanda Martin (Portsmouth North)
Parents across Portsmouth know that they are their children’s first teachers.
Long before a child sets foot in a classroom, it’s at home that things take shape – their babbling language, their growing curiosity, and their stretching imagination.
And as Portsmouth’s avid readers recognise, books can be the fuel that powers children’s development.
That’s why Labour has made 2026 our National Year of Reading – a mission not just for schools and libraries, but for all of us, and part of our Plan for Change. Because if we want children in Portsmouth to love books, we need to show them that we love books, too.
Children who read regularly do better in school, have broader vocabularies, and even experience improved mental health and wellbeing. And yet, in recent years, the number of children reading for pleasure has fallen. In fact, only one in three children say they enjoy reading.
It’s a decline that rings alarm bells loud and clear – and it’s on every one of us to help turn it around: government, schools and parents alike. As your MP, I know I have a responsibility too.
So that’s why I’m backing this national effort and encouraging constituents to make time for reading – even just 10 minutes a day – in our homes, on the sofa, on the bus.
Our habits are contagious and if our children see us captivated by a story, they’ll want to discover the magic for themselves. As a former teacher in our city I know first-hand how books can inspire, educate and fuel our young peoples imagination.
But I know not every family in Portsmouth finds reading easy. Not every home can be filled with books. Not every parent feels confident reading aloud. And time can be tight – money even more so.
But this National Year of Reading is about support and opportunities. We’re working with the National Literacy Trust to help schools, libraries and community groups get more reading into daily life.
Reading is the key that unlocks every subject. You can’t excel in science, history or even maths without the ability to read and understand complex ideas. But even more than that, reading builds empathy. It allows children to step into someone else’s shoes, to understand different experiences, and to imagine different futures.
In an age of distractions – with much talk about rising screen time and shrinking attention spans – we need to make a conscious choice. The truth is, children in Portsmouth still love stories – that hasn’t changed. We just need to make space for those stories to be heard.
So let’s start today. Let’s make reading visible again. Let’s talk to children about what we’re reading. Let’s make reading something joyful.
The National Year of Reading is a call to action – but more than that, it’s an invitation: to rediscover our community’s love of reading, to connect with our children, to lead by example.
The post Why I’m backing the National Year of Reading appeared first on Amanda Martin MP.
Preet Kaur Gill - My Weekly Update - 23 January 2026
Preet Kaur Gill (Birmingham Edgbaston)
Meg's Weekly Round-Up: Friday 23 January
Dame Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch)
NHS waiting lists continue to fall
Jeff Smith (Manchester Withington)
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust sees waiting lists fall by 8,630 since the election.
Across England, the NHS saw the waiting list fall by more than 86,000 in November to 7.31 million, as new data shows staff faced record demand in 2025.
The progress came despite the NHS’s busiest ever year, with 27.8 million A&E attendances in 2025 – over 367,000 up on 2024, with 2.33 million attendances in December alone.
In the year since the Elective Reform Plan was launched, Labour have brought in record investment and real modernisation to cut waiting lists – including creating more evening and weekend clinics, new and expanded community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs, crack teams of experts being sent to 20 hospital trusts across England with the highest levels of economic inactivity, and cutting unnecessary appointments by sending patients “straight to test” rather than multiple clinic visits.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
We said our elective reform plan would get waiting lists down, and one year on that’s exactly what it’s delivering. Along with record investment, we’re doing things differently to get patients seen quicker, back to work and living their lives.
By sending crack teams into hospitals to supercharge care, opening more community diagnostic centres longer and later, and cutting wasteful spending, we’re turning the tanker round and patients are starting to feel the difference.
It will be a long road, but together with NHS staff, we are fixing our health service and making it fit for the future and beyond.”
Manchester Withington MP Jeff Smith said:
“NHS staff in Manchester have worked hard to help shrink the waiting list while seeing a record surge in patients last year. The Labour government is fixing our health service so patients in Manchester can get the care they need more quickly, while building an NHS that is fit for the future”.
Call for Public to Share their Experiences of Maternity Services
Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Baroness Amos, Chair of the independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, has issued a public Call for Evidence, asking women and families to share their experiences of maternity and neonatal care in England.
The Call for Evidence is designed to ensure that the voices of women and families, including fathers, partners and non-birthing partners, are heard. The investigation seeks to understand the full range of experiences of maternity and neonatal care.
Responses to the Call for Evidence will be used to inform the development of national recommendations to shape the future of maternity and neonatal services in England. The Call for Evidence consists of two surveys: one for women and people who have been pregnant to share their experiences of maternity and neonatal services; and one for people who have supported someone through pregnancy.
The Call for Evidence is open to the public until 17th March 2026. Responses can be submitted here: matneoinv.org.uk/call-for-evidence
It has been designed to allow everyone to have the chance to respond. It is available online, with easy-read versions, translation into seven languages, and a postal option for those who prefer not to respond online. Interpreter support and one-to-one interviews are also available for people who would like additional help to respond.
This is an important opportunity for women and families to share their honest experiences of maternity care and drive improvements to the system for all. I encourage everyone who has used maternity services to make your voice heard.
The post Call for Public to Share their Experiences of Maternity Services appeared first on Bell Ribeiro-Addy.
Making the case for Heartlands Hospital Refurbishment
Liam Byrne (Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
December Newsletter
Mohammad Yasin (Bedford)
Dear Constituent,
As another year draws to a close (where has the time gone!), I want to take a moment to wish you all a restful Christmas and New Year. Serving our communities here in Bedford and Kempston is an absolute privilege, and as always, I will strive to be a strong voice in Parliament for us all in 2026 and beyond.
I’m excited to see what the new year has in store, and I look forward to everything we can achieve together.
Yours sincerely,
Mohammad Yasin MP
Constituents get in touch
Since the start of the year, my office has created over 7,200 new cases for constituents, receiving nearly 17,000 emails, as well as letters and phone calls, and issues raised at my drop-in surgeries.
Being here to listen, and offer my help and support, is my first priority as your MP. My team and I will always do all we can to help, or direct people to alternatives on issues that we can’t assist with ourselves.
In addition to casework, constituents have been writing in on a lot of important campaign issues this month. Many of you have recently written to me about animal testing, and actions to reduce its use in the UK.
Like many of my constituents, I am committed to phasing out animal testing in the long-term. I welcome the Government’s new animal testing strategy which was published in November 2025. Nobody in this country of animal lovers wants to see suffering. I recognise the urgency of the transition away from animal testing and I am determined to support meaningful change.
Phasing out the use of animals in science and product development must be supported by reliable and effective alternative methods, so this strategy aims to create a system that drives their use. I welcome £60 million allocated to establish a hub to bring together data, technology and expertise, promoting collaboration between researchers, and to create a separate new centre to make the path to regulatory approval for new alternatives as straightforward as possible. I am also pleased that £15.9 million has been committed by the Medical Research Council (MRC), Innovate UK and the Wellcome Trust to advance promising ‘human in vitro models’ of scientific testing.
However, as this strategy is implemented, I recognise some animal research will continue. I understand Ministers will focus on supporting well-justified and designed animal research where alternatives do not yet exist. I believe this strategy is an important step forward for animal welfare in the UK. Through our scientific excellence, we can deliver real benefits for animal welfare and advance innovative research that improves lives. I am pleased to note the strategy has been welcomed by groups including the RSPCA and Cruelty Free International.
Although it will likely take many years of scientific and technological effort to fully replace animals in testing, a great deal of progress can still be made in the short-term. The Government is working closely with experts from across the many fields involved, including regulators, academics, industry and civil society organisations, to ensure this strategy remains up to date and focused on the key issues. I am optimistic about moving towards a future where animal testing is only ever a last resort.
In the constituency
- I shared the news that Universal Studios has received the green light, with the Special Development Order granted and set to come into force on 12 January! I’m delighted at this decision, and what it means for the region.
- I wrote to Marks & Spencer CEO Stuart Machin following news that M&S was considering returning an M&S Food Hall to Bedford. I advocated for a town-centre location, and made clear that many of my constituents would welcome the store’s return.
- I opened a new restaurant, Bites of Punjab, on Cauldwell Street opposite Bedford College. It’s been great to see the recent growth of new businesses and the continued success of long-standing businesses in Bedford and Kempston.
- I attended the 25th Annual Christmas Tree Festival at St Paul’s Church, raising funds for Bedford Hospital and St Paul’s Church charities.
- I visited the Addison Centre Christmas Fayre in Kempston to support local artists and stallholders.
- I attended the Bedford Borough Council Speaker’s Civic Carol Service at St Martin’s Church, which supported the church’s food bank through collections.
- I joined the Linking Lives Befriending Service at Woodside Church. Loneliness affects not only older adults but also young people in an increasingly virtual world. Weekly visits or phone calls can be a lifeline. Thank you to the incredible volunteers for giving their time to this service, it captures the true spirit of Christmas.
- I met with members of Red Flag Awareness at Biddenham School, a student-led campaign created through the Harpur Trust’s “Ready2Lead” programme, where students develop campaigns on issues they care about. The group is raising awareness about the impacts of domestic abuse; delivering assemblies, speaking with local leaders, and highlighting that nearly half of teens have experienced controlling or violent behaviour in relationships. We discussed the importance of open conversations about wellbeing and healthy relationships with young people.
- I visited M&J Group (Construction & Roofing) Ltd’s Training Centre to see the opportunities being created for young people and career-changers in Bedford and Kempston. The company, with 81 local staff, is investing in high-quality skills, apprenticeships, and training, and its Bedford training centre has already helped 25 young people start skilled careers in roofing, with plans to expand.
- I took part in a community litter pick around Moor Lane Skatepark alongside Cauldwell Councillors Atiq, Sultan, and Thapar, as well as local residents. We tackled a lot of litter and gave the skatepark a much-needed Christmas clean.
- I attended the Salvation Army Christmas carol service, enjoying the brass musicians and the festive atmosphere. The Salvation Army do incredible work in supporting people experiencing homelessness and serving the community.
- I joined Bedford Foodbank at the rail station for an evening event supported by Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership and Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership to raise money and awareness. I’m really thankful for the volunteers who work all year round to run the foodbank, and to those who stopped by and donated.
- I attended the Bijoy Dibosh – Bangladesh Victory Day flag-raising celebration in Harpur Square, invited by Cllr Ralley Rahman, to mark the birth of an independent nation. I joined Cllr Akbor (Mayor of Kempston Town Council), Cllr Thapar, PCC John Tizard, and local residents in observing the day.
- I attended the official opening of Kumar’s Kitchen at 50 Ram Yard in Bedford. I wish the new business every success.
In Westminster
I’m proud that the Employment Rights Bill has passed through Parliament and will become law before Christmas. Some of the watershed measures this Bill delivers: 1. Banning exploitative zero hours contracts, 2. Sick pay for all from day one, 3. Expanding paternity, parental and bereavement leave, 4. Strengthening protections for pregnant women, whistle-blowers and victims of sexual harassment, 5. Making flexible working the default, 6. Repealing Tory anti-union laws. Unions and workers have long campaigned for these vital rights. Finally, working people will enjoy more security, better pay and dignity at work thanks to this Bill.
I spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor, highlighting the East of England APPG’s “Opportunity East: One Year On” report to showcase our region’s potential. I discussed major investment opportunities including Universal Studios and East West Rail (while maintaining my objection to house demolitions), addressed housing shortages, and focused on water security, warning about the East of England’s projected 800-million-litre-per-day water shortfall by 2050. Water, sewage capacity, and other infrastructure must be central to planning, objected to any development on Kempston’s flood plain, and welcomed the Minister’s response emphasising sustainable growth.
I asked a question in the DWP session about Social Security and Disability to the Minister, Sir Stephen Timms, regarding how the Government plans to tackle age discrimination in the workplace. I raised the issue after hearing from a constituent in their mid-50s who was struggling to find a job due to adverts seeking applicants with under 15 years’ experience. I highlighted that men and women in their 50s can feel vulnerable to this “hidden” discrimination, noted that age discrimination is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010, and pointed out practical support available through the Equality Advisory Support Service and 50 Plus Champions across the Job Centre network.
I welcomed the Government’s new Child Poverty Strategy, a historic plan that will make a real difference for families in our community. The strategy aims to lift over 550,000 children out of poverty, including nearly 3,000 in Bedford and Kempston, by ending the two-child limit, boosting support for working parents with upfront childcare costs, extending free school meals to more families, introducing free Best Start breakfast clubs, ending the use of Bed & Breakfasts for homeless families beyond six weeks, and investing in councils to reduce unsuitable temporary accommodation. I emphasised that these steps must be measurable, which is why I asked the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, how progress will be tracked. I stressed the need for clear, transparent data to ensure families are genuinely lifted out of poverty and children are moved out of temporary accommodation, so that every child truly has the best start in life.
I raised a question in Parliament with the Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones, about the urgent need to protect women and girls from online misogyny and violent pornography. I highlighted progress locally in Bedfordshire, including Clare’s Law disclosures increasing by 250% in two years, trauma-informed training, improved responses to complex domestic abuse, and the doubling of Domestic Violence Protection Orders. I also drew attention to national issues, citing Baroness Bertin’s Independent Pornography Review and Ofcom guidance under the Online Safety Act, which show widespread exposure of young people to misogynistic content, deepfake abuse targeting women, and harassment of public figures. I asked what measures the Government will take to ensure tech companies properly protect women and girls online, emphasising that local progress in policing and safeguarding cannot be undermined by unsafe online spaces.
I attended a Parliamentary Reception on wearable technologies in diabetes care, invited on behalf of Julia Hammac (General Manager, UK & Ireland at Abbott Diabetes Care). I learned how wearables can improve outcomes for people living with diabetes and align with the NHS 10-Year Plan for technology-enabled, preventative healthcare. The event brought together MPs, NHS leaders, clinicians, and innovators, and I heard directly from users about how technology supports diabetes self-management, which is particularly important given that diabetes prevalence in Bedford and Kempston stands at 9.56%.
I welcomed the news that the UK and EU will reinstate the Erasmus scheme, allowing students to study for a year at a partner university abroad while paying the same fees as local students. Joining Erasmus+ in 2027 will expand opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to study and train abroad, and will also benefit educational, youth, and sport staff.
I met with carers from Bedford, organised by UNISON, to hear about the impact of the proposed changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) rules. I heard firsthand how these carers, who look after our parents, grandparents, and loved ones daily, face low pay, exhausting workloads, and constant anxiety due to visas tying them to employers. I highlighted that the proposed ILR changes would deepen their insecurity and push dedicated workers to the brink. I’m grateful to UNISON and the carers for sharing their stories and I’m committed to continuing to raise these concerns in Parliament.
During a statement on the Local Government funding settlement, I pressed the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Alison McGovern, to go further, asking her to make a special case for additional funding for Bedford Borough, particularly given the Universal Studios announcement and the new pressures it will place on local public services and infrastructure. I was pleased that the Minister agreed to meet with me to discuss this directly, and I will be arranging that meeting in the new year. I noted that the settlement is a strong start – £40 million for Bedford, a 20% increase in spending power, and a clear break from Conservative neglect – but emphasised that I will keep pushing to ensure Bedford gets the support it needs for the opportunities ahead.
I welcomed the Government’s new Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, praising its bold measures to better protect children from misogyny and abuse. The strategy’s focus is on healthy relationships, consent, and early prevention, aiming to keep the next generation of girls and boys safer while steering boys and young men away from harmful online influences. I noted concerning statistics: nearly 40% of teenagers in relationships experience abuse, and over 40% of young men hold positive views of online influencers who promote misogyny. I welcome the £20 million investment to empower teachers and families to challenge dangerous attitudes, promote positive role models, and tackle harmful myths about women and relationships.
A word from my work experience students
This month it was a pleasure to be joined by Louis and Selim for a week’s work experience. I hope it was eye-opening, and that you both learnt a lot about the behind the scenes of an MPs office. Both lads have written up some lovely reflections on their week. If you are interested in work experience with my office, please email me for more information!
Louis:
“I was extremely lucky to be selected to undertake a week’s Work Experience shadowing our local MP Mohammad Yasin, gaining key insights into the world of politics as this is a career I would be interested in pursuing.
The week started with writing up a Select Committee debate briefing on a local or national issue. I was able to highlight key work done in our area regarding Town Centre regeneration, and explained some new ideas on how to make the area safer and drafted questions to be raised to Ministers
Tuesday began with an exciting trip on the underground before walking up the stairs to see The Houses of Parliament. Once inside, we were given an indepth tour of the entire building, exploring the House of Lords and meeting the Leader of the Opposition in the Lords. The afternoon included sitting in on a Treasury Select Committee and further getting to know the work of our MP and those around him.
An unfortunately cancelled train didn’t stop us from making Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, also getting to see Mr Yasin ask a question regarding the safety of women and girls in our country. Observing MPs debate and critique each other was an incredible experience – waving at the Prime Minister while he ate his Christmas Lunch was also a highlight!
Thursday followed with another day in the Constituent Office. The first task was to plan a youth constituency survey on Universal Studios, asking important questions regarding their top priorities for the project, transport and any concerns. I was then given the opportunity to write a response email to a constituent concern regarding fireworks – this was a great learning opportunity to see how the MP communicates with constituents.
The final day of the experience consisted of a trip to Biddenham International School, to listen to a new initiative created by their Sixth Form students regarding domestic abuse, and accompanying Mr Yasin to meetings around Bedford.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the week and am very grateful to have been given this unique opportunity. I have learned many new aspects to politics and further increased my confidence in the subject. Learning how to write important reports and gaining experience surrounded by the building of Westminster have been enjoyable and will be useful for my future aspirations. My favourite part of the experience was watching Prime Minister’s Questions from the gallery and my days in Parliament, surrounded by key political figures and seeing first hand the everyday workings within politics, as well as spending time with Mr Yasin and getting to know him and all the hard work he does. I would strongly recommend this opportunity to anyone interested in politics as seeing how your representatives work and carry out their roles is an incredible experience. I would like to thank Mohammad Yasin MP and all his staff for making me feel so welcomed and giving me the opportunity to carry out this fantastic work experience.”
Selim:
“Over the past week I’ve been lucky to work in Mohammad Yasin’s offices, alongside his brilliant team and another sixth-form student. Every day was different, I got stuck into policy research, preparing briefings and surveys. It was a real eye-opener into how political communication and constituency work actually happens behind the scenes, and it really deepened my understanding of how theory connects to public service.
Visiting Parliament on Tuesday was a highlight. I’d been before, but the tour amazed me all over again. Standing in the Lords Chamber, spotting MPs and peers, taking in the intricate, beautiful architecture and artwork, then working in an MP’s office inside Portcullis house for the rest of the day gave me a unique perspective on how Parliament works behind the scenes. Later, watching the Treasury Committee in action really showed me how impressive parliamentary democracy can be.
Wednesday started with a cancelled train, but made it just in time to see Mr Yasin raise a question on tackling violence against women and girls online. After that came Prime Minister’s Questions, where I saw the lively exchanges between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. We explored Westminster afterwards, which was just as memorable, I even spotted Sir Keir Starmer enjoying his lunch.
Thursday brought us back to the office for a closer look at the daily rhythm of an MP’s work. We were given a few research tasks and draft responses to work on, then sat down with a member of staff who talked us through their own approach and gave feedback on what we’d prepared. It gave me a glimpse of the core of the office’s operations: the meticulous attention to each constituent’s concern and the ongoing balancing act between many tasks. By the end of the day, I had a much clearer sense of how an office stays on top of things, and how even small, careful contributions help keep everything moving.
On Friday, Mr Yasin was in Bedford for constituency meetings. We joined him at multiple times, including one meeting with the Redflag Awareness group; a brilliant team of sixth-form students working to raise awareness of domestic violence. Their dedication and enthusiasm inspired me and demonstrated to me the critical role that youth can play in influencing community discussions.
I learned this week how crucial empathy, precision, and clarity are in political communication. Being trusted to contribute to worthwhile projects, witnessing how even little efforts can benefit constituents, and, of course, visiting parliament were what I most loved. I now have a complete understanding of what it means to represent a community because of the combination of local involvement and legislative perspective.
One issue that really stood out for me, and which I am deeply passionate about, is the challenge of mental health among young people. Many face pressures from education, social media, and uncertainty about the future. Awareness has grown, but access to timely support remains uneven. Tackling this is about making sure young people can thrive, feel heard, and take part fully in society without feeling disillusioned or detached.
I’m deeply grateful to Mr Yasin and his team for this invaluable opportunity. It has strengthened my desire to contribute to public life and to support the vital work being done in our community, and it’s really reinforced my ambition to go into politics.”
The post December Newsletter appeared first on Mohammad Yasin MP.
Security and Dignity at Work: Labour's Employment Rights Act
Karin Smyth (Bristol South)
Banbury Museum Petition
Sean Woodcock (Banbury)
The closure of Banbury Museum would be a devastating blow for our town. I have created this petition to urge Cherwell District Council to find alternative funding, so the museum can continue to serve our community. Please see the petition below: https://www.change.org/p/save-banbury-museum-and-gallery-urge-cherwell-to-source-alternative-funding
The post Banbury Museum Petition appeared first on Sean Woodcock, MP for Banbury.
Time to unwrap some welcome Budget measures
Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett)
Judith congratulates Bulls on Super League Promotion
Judith Cummins (Bradford South)
Giving Children in Bassetlaw the Best Start in Life
Jo White (Bassetlaw)
Sure Start was life-changing for so many people in Bassetlaw, transforming the lives of children by putting in place family support in the earliest years of life. Sure Start, introduced by the last Labour government, helped level the playing field for children from lower income families, with research showing that children who attended a Sure Start centre were much more likely to perform better at school.
The previous Government cut community services, scrapping Sure Start, leaving a gaping hole in family services. When they left government, one in four families with children under five couldn’t access local children’s centres, rising to one in three lower income families. Speaking to local families in Bassetlaw, I hear time and again an ask for more support around SEND, youth services, and early development.
I welcome the news that the Government are building on the proud legacy of Sure Start, and reviving family services by rolling out 1,000 ‘Best Start Family Hubs’ by April 2026, including here in Bassetlaw.
Best Start Family Hubs will be a one stop shop for parents needing support, including on difficulty breastfeeding, housing issues or children’s early development, and other services such as:
- Activities for children aged 0-5
- Domestic abuse support
- Early language support
- Health Visiting
- Infant Feeding Support
- Midwifery/maternity services
- Parenting Support
- SEND support and services
- Youth services
The post Giving Children in Bassetlaw the Best Start in Life appeared first on Jo White MP.
MP Column | It’s All Downhill From Here
Dave Doogan (Angus and Perthshire Glens)
World Refugee Day 2025: Celebrating Community and Inclusion with the First Ever World Refugee Day Cup Football Tournament in Dundee
Stephen Gethins (Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
A good catch-up with Edwin and Andrew from Neighbourhood Watch
Wendy Morton (Aldridge-Brownhills)
It was great to call into Neighbourhood Watch in Pelsall again and catch up with Edwin and Andrew.
We discussed a range of local issues across the Rushall, Shelfield, Pelsall, and Brownhills Neighbourhood Watch area. Our focus was on how we can work together as one community to address these challenges.
It was also fantastic to hear about Project Phoenix – a pilot community-run initiative launched by Walsall Council! This project is dedicated to building a stronger community right across our Borough, and I’m really keen to see the positive impact it will have.
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.
It is the honour of my life to be re-elected as your MP for South Shields
Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields)
Last week I was sworn in as the MP for South Shields for the fifth time, and each time it strikes me how incredibly honoured I feel that you have put your faith in me as the first female MP to represent you in Parliament. It was a truly historic night as the UK elected […]
The post It is the honour of my life to be re-elected as your MP for South Shields appeared first on Emma Lewell MP.
ICC FILES ARREST WARRANTS
Brendan O'Hara (Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Toby Perkins MP supports Chesterfield Hedgehog Rescue and Rehabilitation
Toby Perkins (Chesterfield)
The post Toby Perkins MP supports Chesterfield Hedgehog Rescue and Rehabilitation appeared first on Toby Perkins Labour MP.