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New initiatives will inspire the next generation of journalists and expand access to trusted news in schools.
Labour MP for Portsmouth North, Amanda Martin, has welcomed the launch of the Labour Government’s new Local Media Strategy, which will support trusted local journalism and strengthen communities across the UK.
The Strategy recognises the essential role local media plays in communities across the country, informing residents about local issues, scrutinising public decision-making and helping people stay connected to the places where they live.
Local journalism has faced significant pressures in recent years as the media landscape has changed rapidly and traditional revenue streams have come under strain. The Local Media Strategy sets out how government will work with the sector to help it adapt and thrive.
Central to the Strategy is a new Local News Fund worth up to £12 million over the next two years, allowing local media outlets in print, online, radio and television to apply for grants to support digital innovation and the transition to online-focused business models.
Funding will support digital tools, resources and infrastructure which can help the industry reach new audiences, develop new revenue streams and strengthen long-term sustainability.
Evidence shows that 37 local authority districts now have no dedicated local news outlet, leaving up to 4.4 million citizens living in local ‘news deserts’ which disproportionately occur in the most deprived urban areas.
A portion of the Local News Fund will therefore be targeted at reviving local news provision in areas where coverage has disappeared. This could include publishers expanding into neighbouring areas, reviving dormant titles, or creating new independent community-owned outlets.
The Strategy will also support the long-term sustainability of community radio, doubling funding for community radio stations to £1 million per year over the next three years.
To inspire the next generation of journalists, the government will launch a new Inspiring the Future campaign, initially in the North West of England, connecting local journalists and media employers with schools to promote careers in local media and strengthen media literacy.
The Strategy also promotes the ‘Newspapers for Schools’ News Library, an existing platform funded by the Department for Education which gives pupils and teachers in state schools across England digital access to a wide range of local and national news titles.
To strengthen transparency and accountability at the local level, a Regional Media Forum will be launched in the West of England to explore ways to improve the relationship between local journalists and public services.
The Strategy also commits to reviewing the system of statutory notices published by local authorities, ensuring communities continue to receive important information about decisions affecting their lives.
Finally, the government will work to ensure it makes greater use of local and hyperlocal media in public information and advertising campaigns, recognising their trusted relationship with audiences and their important role in communities.
Amanda Martin, Labour MP for Portsmouth North, said: “Local journalism isn’t just news, it’s the heartbeat of our communities. It keeps us informed about what’s happening on our streets, in our schools, and in the decisions that affect our daily lives.
“This strategy is a real step forward: by backing innovation, supporting community radio, and bringing news back to areas that have been left behind, the Labour Government is making sure everyone in Portsmouth has a voice and access to trusted reporting.
Strong local news means stronger communities, more accountable decision-makers, and a future where our towns and villages aren’t forgotten. I’m proud that this government is putting local journalism where it belongs, at the heart of our communities.”
Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: “This strategy will provide unprecedented funding for local media outlets to invest in innovation and infrastructure, almost tripling the size of funding for community radio, harnessing the power of local and national government and giving more young people access to free-high quality journalism and the opportunity to pursue careers in it.
“Because local media was and always has been a ladder of opportunity to help new voices break into journalism. This is not a nice to have. It is essential to a cohesive country.
“Our debate is too narrow and too small. We will change that. The strategy we publish today is the start – not the end point – and we recognise there is more to do. But it is the start of a new approach to local media, which nurtures it and places it directly at the heart of our government’s support for our country. Because the future of news is local.”
Chief Executive of the Society of Editors, Dawn Alford said: “The Society of Editors welcomes the government’s recognition of the importance of local media and the steps set out in this strategy to support innovation and encourage the next generation of journalists.
“Publishers and editors have been adapting to a rapidly changing media landscape for years, successfully reaching significantly larger audiences through digital platforms while continuing to inform the public, reflect local voices and hold decision-makers to account. In fact, some publishers are now reaching 80% of the local population their titles serve – more than ever before.
“A strong local media sector is essential to democratic society, and we look forward to working with government and industry partners to ensure it continues to thrive and serve communities across the UK.”
News Media Association Chief Executive, Owen Meredith said: “The government’s focus on the sustainability of local journalism and its importance to communities through the package of measures announced in the Local Media Strategy today are very welcome. As reader habits change and the way we all access local news evolves with technology, ensuring publishers are properly rewarded for their investment in local journalism is vital, rather than the lion’s share of the value being siphoned off by Big Tech.
“We are particularly pleased to see a clear commitment to make better use of trusted local news environments – which reach 77% of UK adults – for central government advertising, as well as a new £12 million fund to boost local news provision. We are also delighted to be supporting a new campaign aimed at inspiring young people to take up a career in local news media.
“The Strategy also rightly identifies a need to improve transparency in local public bodies – maintaining a strong link between public notices and local news media will be critical to the success of that important work.”
The government will begin implementing the Local Media Strategy immediately, with further details on the Local News Fund to be announced in the coming weeks.
The post Amanda Martin MP welcomes new Labour Government Local Media Strategy to back trusted journalism appeared first on Amanda Martin MP.
This Government’s first priority in response to intense escalation in the region surrounding Iran over recent weeks has been to protect British nationals, British interests and British partners.
Last week, HMS Dragon departed from HMNB Portsmouth, located here in our city, to protect RAF Akrotiri against Iranian attack. I pay tribute to all British Armed Forces personnel taking action across the region to protect our allies and defend British interests, including those aboard HMS Dragon.
However, I am aware from conversations with constituents that there is concern over the potential economic and supply chain impacts of the ongoing situation within the Middle East.
This Government understands the anxiety felt across the UK around these circumstances. The longer the Iran conflict lasts, the worse it will be for the cost of living here in Britain
That is why the Government remains committed to assessing risks, situation monitoring and collaborating with international partners to ensure that potential impacts on people here are reduced as much as is possible.
Whilst global oil prices have surged over fears that conflict could lead to lengthy disruption to energy supplies, Britain’s economy is now better placed to withstand a shock to energy supply than when with faced with similar circumstances following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Additionally, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, has expressed both willingness and readiness to support a coordinated release of the emergency stockpiles of oil reserves held by the International Energy Agency if necessary.
Ultimately, this Government’s priority must be to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ensure market stability. Although this is not a simple task, the Prime Minister has been engaged in ongoing discussions of a viable plan to achieve this.
The Prime Minister’s stated directive has been to involve as many partners as possible within these discussions, which will require discussion with Gulf partners and the US. This must be done to ensure a credible plan is reached.
Earlier this month, the Government published its current guidance and information on economic and supply-chain developments, which can be found here.
Although unfolding circumstances within the region surrounding Iran present potential turmoil international economic and supply chain stability, this Government remains absolutely committed to collaboration and action to protect Britain against major disruption.
Stephen Morgan MP
The post Economic impacts of Middle East conflict – An Update appeared first on Stephen Morgan MP.
Have you got what it takes to lead the new Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board? This important role is all about making sure that local people are in control of a new £20m funding award for the Biddick Hall area. Attached is a Role Description. If you wish to put yourself forward as Chair of the new Neighbourhood Board, please read it very carefully and then get in touch with me as soon as possible. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference!
The post Pride In Place Neighbourhood Board Chair: Role Description appeared first on Emma Lewell MP.
Many thanks to Alan & Jane Howarth, Links and all who helped for great entertainment this evening with Cor Curiad, Brook Fox & the legendary Mal Pope, with Ffion from Furnace comparing, to raise money for hospital facilities following Alan’s treatment.


I wrote a piece in Labour List about acting on public anger towards water company failure. You can read it by following the link below or by reading the text here. Labour List Article Like many Labour MPs I have had a lot of emails encouraging me to watch “Dirty Business”, the Channel 4 docudrama
The post Labour must prove it understands public anger over water company failure – and act on it appeared first on Sean Woodcock, MP for Banbury.
Fuel suppliers in Norfolk are cancelling orders for domestic heating oil in response to the Middle East crisis, raising concerns that rural households could be left without fuel. The issue disproportionately affects rural communities where homes are not connected to the gas grid and rely heavily on oil boilers for heating. In parts of East Anglia, as many as seven in ten areas depend on heating oil.
George Freeman MP said:
“This is a massive problem for rural areas like ours and one I have repeatedly raised in Parliament through my campaign for Fair Funding for Rural Areas.
“Many homes and villages are simply not connected to the gas grid and have no choice but to rely on heating oil. For households with young children, the elderly or disabled, the prospect of suppliers cancelling deliveries is a serious concern which Ministers must address urgently. They cannot simply sit in Whitehall watching events in the Middle East unfold — they must move quickly to prevent a crisis.
“I warned last week that an energy price spike could be one of the consequences of the unilateral US–Israeli attack on Iran, potentially pushing the UK economy back towards recession — as we saw during the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. As in previous energy price surges, rural communities like Mid Norfolk are hit hardest.
“If necessary, the Government should use reserve powers to commission additional tanker capacity to ensure supplies reach communities at risk of running out. Without swift action, panic buying could quickly turn into a serious shortage and an even bigger crisis.
“With so many villages and homes in rural areas not able to be connected to the gas main, therefore mostly dependent on oil for heating their homes, they have no choice or freedom to switch between other energy resources. At the same time it makes little sense that we are restricting our own North Sea resources while importing from overseas. This approach continues to hit rural communities far harder than urban areas.
“Soaring costs are already clobbering households, pubs, businesses, charities and public services. Drivers feel the squeeze every time they fill up — and for most people in Norfolk a car isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline.
“It is time for Ministers to recognise the realities of rural life and the rural economy — and take decisive action.”
George Freeman MP has long campaigned for the fairer funding of rural communities, arguing that rural areas are overlooked by Whitehall officials who focus too much on policies designed for cities and urban communities. Government data published in January 2026 shows that households in rural areas had a higher rate of fuel poverty at 12.3 %.
Fighting for A Rural Premium and Fairer Funding for Rural Public Services | George Freeman
I have joined colleagues in parliament in writing to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs about the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. We have called for further sanctions on settlers and a total ban on all trade and interaction with illegal Israeli settlements.
You can read the letter below.

I’ve launched my 2026 Clapham & Brixton Hill constituency survey to help identify local issues and understand what matters most to Clapham & Brixton Hill constituents. My 2026 survey covers a range of issues from housing and transport to safety, public services, and the local environment and is open until Friday the 27th March.
This is your chance to make your voice heard. Your views will guide my work in Parliament over the next year to ensure local concerns are front and centre. The survey takes just 5-10 minutes to complete.
👉🏾 Take the survey here:
https://bit.ly/CBHSurvey2026
As your local MP, I’m always keen to hear about the issues affecting you and how I can help improve our area. Every response helps build a clearer picture of what’s working, what isn’t, and where attention is most urgently needed. By sharing your thoughts, you’ll help shape my priorities on everything from community safety and local transport to green spaces, schools, and support for families. Whether you’ve lived here for decades or you’ve only recently moved in, your perspective is invaluable.

If you have neighbours, friends, or family in the constituency who might also want to share their views, please pass the link on. The more voices included, the stronger and more representative the results will be.
The post Clapham & Brixton Hill Constituency Survey 2026 appeared first on Bell Ribeiro-Addy.
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.
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.
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.”
The post December Newsletter appeared first on Mohammad Yasin MP.
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.
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
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.
The post Toby Perkins MP supports Chesterfield Hedgehog Rescue and Rehabilitation appeared first on Toby Perkins Labour MP.