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Workplace rights boost moves closer

Dame Nia Griffith (Llanelli)

The Tories and Reform last night voted against plans to boost working conditions, including extending sick pay to 1.3 million of the lowest earners.

Labour’s Employment Rights Bill will update outdated employment laws and turn the page on an economy blighted by insecurity, poor productivity and low pay by:

Ending exploitative zero hours contracts and fire and rehire practices

Establishing day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers

Strengthening statutory sick pay.

We’re raising the floor on workplace rights to deliver a stronger, fairer and brighter future for the world of work in the UK.  Yesterday brought real change for workers another step closer.

Maternity Care Investigation

Sean Woodcock (Banbury)

I have welcomed the decision to include Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) in a major national investigation into maternity and neonatal services, chaired by Baroness Valerie Amos. This includes the Horton Hospital, in Banbury. What is the investigation? The review will cover 14 NHS trusts across England and aims to deliver urgent recommendations

The post Maternity Care Investigation appeared first on Sean Woodcock, MP for Banbury.

Patients in Portsmouth are benefitting from access to quicker care with Labour, with over 23,000 extra appointments delivered in just one year – part of over 5 million extra appointments delivered across England since Labour was elected.

Portsmouth Hospitals University National Health Service Trust delivered 23,533 more appointments from July 2024-June 2025, than for the same period in the previous year.

Local Labour MP, Stephen Morgan described the news as ‘a huge step in the right direction for patients in our community’ and that ‘once again it is a Labour Government fixing our treasured NHS’.

Thanks to Labour’s turbocharged efforts across the country – including more community care than ever before, stronger working between GPs and clinicians and record funding into the NHS – the government is reversing more than a decade of decline and poor access to services under the Conservatives.

The Government’s recent Ten Year Health Plan promised a shift from hospital to community, with more care in local areas like Portsmouth.

For families, this means quicker and more convenient appointments, closer to home and more time focusing on treatment and recovery.

The increased capacity across the country has also meant that despite ongoing pressures on the health service, local patients have continued to receive the urgent care they need.

The government inherited an NHS with some patients waiting as long as 18 months for treatment. It has set an ambition to cut the longest waiting times to 18 weeks by the end of the Parliament, as part of its Plan for Change.

Commenting Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:

“Patients in Portsmouth have told me for years that NHS waiting lists are too long and getting worse.

“These new figures show the Labour Government has a grip of this issue and is delivering the change we need to get our NHS back on its feet.

“There is still a long way to go, but I’m pleased to see that after just one year of Labour Government, things are heading in the right direction, and I hope that local residents begin to see and feel the benefit soon.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

“One year ago, I made a promise that we would deliver 2 million extra appointments in our first year – not only did we do this in just 5 months, but we have obliterated that target, carrying out over 5 million.

“That is testament to the relentless efforts of NHS staff across the country, alongside key reforms and the extra £26 billion we’re investing to get waiting times down for patients.

“Our 10 Year Health Plan will go even further for people in Portsmouth, driving care out of our busy hospitals and into local communities as we deliver the radical transformation required to fix our broken health service.”

Mr Morgan has long campaigned to deliver extra NHS appointments in Portsmouth to drive down waiting lists for local people. 

The post Portsmouth health trust delivers over 23,000 extra appointments after one year of Labour Government appeared first on Stephen Morgan MP.

Patients in Portsmouth North are benefitting from access to quicker care with Labour, with over 23,000 extra appointments delivered in just one year – part of over 5 million extra appointments delivered across England since Labour was elected.

Local Labour MP, Amanda Martin, described the news as ‘a huge step in the right direction for patients in our community’ and that ‘once again it is a Labour Government fixing our treasured NHS’.

Thanks to Labour’s turbocharged efforts across the country – including more community care than ever before, stronger working between GPs and clinicians and record funding into the NHS – the government is reversing more than a decade of decline and poor access to services under the Conservatives.

The Government’s recent Ten Year Health Plan promised a shift from hospital to community, with more care in local areas like Portsmouth. For families, this means quicker and more convenient appointments, closer to home and more time focusing on treatment and recovery. The increased capacity across the country has also meant that despite ongoing pressures on the health service, local patients have continued to receive the urgent care they need.

The government inherited an NHS with some patients waiting as long as 18 months for treatment. It has set an ambition to cut the longest waiting times to 18 weeks by the end of the Parliament, as part of its Plan for Change

Local Labour MP, Amanda Martin said: “For too long, patients in our community have been stuck on the Tories NHS waiting lists or struggling to get that healthcare that they need.

“There’s so much more to do, but these figures show clearly that this Labour Government is delivering for our community and, step by step, I hope that local residents begin to see and feel the benefit.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “One year ago, I made a promise that we would deliver 2 million extra appointments in our first year – not only did we do this in just 5 months, but we have obliterated that target, carrying out over 5 million.

“That is testament to the relentless efforts of NHS staff across the country, alongside key reforms and the extra £26 billion we’re investing to get waiting times down for patients. “Our 10 Year Health Plan will go even further for people in [add name of community], driving care out of our busy hospitals and into local communities as we deliver the radical transformation required to fix our broken health service.”

The post Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust delivers over 23,000 extra appointments in one year as patients in Portsmouth North benefit from quicker care with Labour appeared first on Amanda Martin MP.

Another fantastic Newcastle Allotment and Garden Festival in Exhibition Park

Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West)

Another fantastic Newcastle Allotment and Garden Festival in Exhibition Park showcasing amazing produce (zero food miles!) and crafts and celebrating growing, gardening, sustainability and wellbeing.

Newcastle certainly doesn’t lack for green fingered Geordies! 

 

Catherine’s Catch Up – 15 September

Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North)

As ever, if you live in Newcastle North and would like my support, please click here. For regular updates, you can find me on social media. Here is my update from a busy first couple of weeks back in Parliament. Leaving Government I have been proud to serve as Minister for School Standards over the […]
Judith with Sepsis UK, Lord Mackinlay and Harry Redknapp Judith Cummins, the Labour MP for Bradford South and Deputy Speaker of the House...

Preet Kaur Gill - My Weekly Update - 12 September

Preet Kaur Gill (Birmingham Edgbaston)

As part of the Prime Minister's reshuffle this week to ensure the government is delivering for working people across the country, I was delighted to accept a new role as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. I am incredible proud of the work I have done for the past year supporting the Department for Business & Trade as a PPS. We have delivered transformative legislation such as the Employment Rights Bill which delivers the biggest up

Meg's Weekly Round-Up: Friday 12 September

Dame Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch)

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

Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack

Liam Byrne (Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)

Workers in our region are very concerned about the cyber-attack on Jaguar Land Rover. As chair of the Business and Trade Committee, I...

An Update from your Local MP – 5th September 2025

Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill)






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Picture of Bell against a graffiti backdrop

Dear *|FNAME|*,

It was great to get out and about in the community over the summer months, holding pop-up surgeries, meeting with residents and visiting local charities. After an active summer, I am now back in Parliament for the short period before the start of conference season. MPs will be voting on a range of legislation over the next couple of weeks, including the Renters’ Rights Bill, the Employment Rights Bill, and new legislation on devolution.

PMQ on the Global Sumud Flotilla

This week, the Global Sumud Flotilla set sail to deliver aid to Gaza, where Palestinians face a horrifying manmade famine. When Israel illegally seized the Madleen, a British-flagged ship, in international waters earlier this year, our government did nothing in response. During PMQs, I challenged the PM to set out what steps ministers will take to protect British citizens aboard the Sumud as they seek to do what the international community has failed to do: break Israel’s blockade.

Keir Starmer stands at the despatch box in the House of Commons calling on the government for a fairer and faster compensation scheme for those affected by the Windrush scandal.

Protect the Clink Restaurant

Since opening in 2014, The Clink Restaurant at HMP Brixton has also frequently placed among the Top 10 restaurants in London on TripAdvisor. With the Clink Charity’s contract with HMP Brixton at risk of ending, I have written to the Ministry of Justice this week to call for “full and fair consideration” of their contract renewal bid. The charity, which trains prisoners in catering, has had a hugely positive impact on prisoner rehabilitation, with graduates of their programme 65.6% less likely to reoffend.

Give Metro Mayors Rent Control Powers

Hosting the Sickle Cell Society in Parliament

Hillsborough Law

Make Work Pay: Centrepoint UK

On the Picket Line with PCS Members


The post An Update from your Local MP – 5th September 2025 appeared first on Bell Ribeiro-Addy.

We’re unlocking opportunities for every child

Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett)

The start of September is a busy time for parents. As children return to the classroom, I know many families in my constituency will be rushing around to make sure that they have everything ready for the new school year. It’s a good time for MPs to reflect on what more the Government can do […]

Jeff Smith, Labour MP for Manchester Withington, has today welcomed the government’s landmark expansion of 30 hours’ funded childcare, calling it “a game-changer for working families in Manchester Withington.”

Despite inheriting a broken system, this Labour government has delivered the largest ever expansion of government-funded childcare, with over half a million children set to benefit this month alone.

The expansion is a key part of Labour’s Plan for Change – delivering practical support for families, boosting local economies, and helping parents stay in work.

From today, parents will be able to access an all-new online platform BestStartinLife.gov.uk to offer support beyond the nursery door, with everything they need to give their children the best start in their early years and beyond.

In the months ahead, the site will expand with new guidance and content, becoming a go-to destination for families navigating the early years and beyond – so they can play their vital role in getting their children school-ready.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

“Today shows what change looks like – mums, dads and carers with pounds back in their pockets, children getting the best start in life, and the British economy given a whopping boost.

“It was never going to be easy, but against all odds we’ve delivered through our Plan for Change.

“And this is just the beginning. My vision for early years goes beyond this milestone. I want access to high-quality early years for every single family that needs it, without strings and without unfair charges.

“Over the next few years, that is my commitment to parents.”

MP for Manchester Withington, Jeff Smith, said:

“After years of neglect and rising costs under the Conservatives, Labour is finally delivering for families in Manchester Withington. Parents and carers here have told me this support is a game-changer – helping them to stay in work, easing the cost of living, and giving every child the best possible start in life.”

“I know just how much this support really means – parents able to stay in work, children thriving in high-quality early education, and staff proud to be part of something transformative. It’s a huge step forward for families in Manchester Withington, and I am proud to back it.”

26 August 2025
Freeman welcomes findings by Parliamentary Commissioner on Standards

August 27 2025. 

Sunday Times story June 28th re Parliamentary Questions 

‘After extensive communications with the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner over the summer, I am delighted that the Commissioner has decided that the media story of June 28th alleging inappropriate lobbying following my parliamentary questions in the House on greenhouse gas regulations (GHG), does not provide sufficient grounds for a formal investigation.  

The Commissioner has reiterated that the lobbying rules do not prohibit Members asking questions or advocating for sectors or issues of public interest, even where they themselves may have a financial interest, as long as the rules on registration and declaration are followed. As was the case with my questions. 

Full details of my questions, the background to them and my explanation to the Commissioner and constituents on why they and my advocacy of UK GHG satellite tracking is in the public interest are detailed is below.

I appreciate the diligent work of the Commissioner and look forward to continuing to serve my constituents, Parliament and as reinstated UK Trade Envoy with renewed focus, free from the burden of these unfounded claims.  

I am extremely grateful for the support shown by so many of my constituents, Parliamentary colleagues from all parties in the House, and the UK Science community, during this process.’ 

Details of the questions tabled.

I have always taken compliance with the standards of the House and the Code of Conduct of ministers and Members of Parliament very seriously and do my utmost in trying assiduously to ensure I comply with the many evolving rules and guidance notes. That is why I immediately referred myself to the Parliamentary Commissioner on Standards (PCS) who is empowered by the House to adjudicate on matters of conduct and make recommendations to the House.
 
After extensive correspondence with me, I am delighted to report that the PCS concluded that the media story does not provide adequate evidence of any wrongdoing. The commissioner has written to me to say that he will not be launching an investigation.
  
I believe it will be helpful to explain in detail why I tabled the questions I did, and why I followed the guidance at all times.
 
The specific allegations. 
The media piece alleged two specific breaches of the Parliamentary Code of Conduct:
•   Breach of Section 3, Para 4 of the Parliamentary Code of Conduct (on lobbying) by inappropriate tabling of Parliamentary questions.
•   Breach of Section D8 of the Parliamentary Code of Conduct by inappropriate use of my Parliamentary office and facilities.
 
Specific details.  The specific allegation - that in tabling the Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs) cited I breached the lobbying rules and made inappropriate use of my Parliamentary position & office - is seriously misleading and unfounded for several reasons: 
1.   The company did not at any stage ask me to table questions. I decided to table questions on the importance of the Earth Observation (EO) sector in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions monitoring and asked for their technical advice on the detailed wording of the WPQ.
2.   The questions I tabled were of interest to the whole space, Earth Observation, climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions tracking sectors, and were neither intended to secure, nor did secure, any financial or commercial benefit for the company, who are already a global leader in methane emission tracking. 
3.   I specifically didn’t mention or advocate for the Company in any of my questions. The company already has an established relationship with the government.
4.   I specifically ticked the box which said “tick here to disclose any interest” which I believe indicated that, as the code makes clear, having an interest is not in itself a disqualification from asking a question, and that it is not an offence to table PQs which are of general interest to a client or connected party as part of a sector. I understood that the offence would have been to ask a PQ designed to secure a specific commercial advantage for a specific business, and to be paid so to do. Which is absolutely not what happened.
5.   The questions I tabled were of general interest and benefit to the space, climate change, cleantech and regulatory sectors in the UK, and would have been of direct interest and benefit to a number of other companies and organisations in the relevant sectors, who would have read them.
6.   The questions I tabled concerned issues I’d raised many times elsewhere in my parliamentary and ministerial work, and are consistent with my general advocacy of the Earth Observation sector.
7.   The company specifically did not pay me to table any Qs.
8.   In fact as my correspondence and contract with them shows, I went out of my way to specifically make very clear that I could not and would not engage in anything that could be construed as lobbying under the Code of Conduct, and our contract and correspondence is palpably clear that this was specifically agreed NOT to form part of my work.
9.    I have been careful not to use my Parliamentary office for meetings.
10.  All my correspondence with them was on my non-parliamentary Gmail and not on the Parliamentary server.
 
For all these reasons I absolutely did not believe that my actions constituted a breach of the Parliamentary Code of Conduct. As the Commissioner has now also concluded in finding no evidence of any wrongdoing.

  • My motive in tabling the question.  Having made clear that I did not in any way table the WPQ for the Company I want to explain why I did table the Q. For a number of reasons:
  •  I wanted to highlight to the new ministers and officials in the new government, and to MPs and Peers in the new Parliament, my interest in and expertise in space as a key sector for UK economic growth. WPQs are widely monitored.
  • I wanted specifically to highlight the role of the space sector in helping tackle climate change (contrary to the widespread and dangerous perception that the space sector is a high emissions playground for billionaires and space tourists) and the Earth Observation sector in helping both identify, model, mitigate, manage and tackle global climate change. 
  • Within UK space policy there is a longstanding tension between those who advocate the need for the UK to have a ‘fully integrated’ space program (satellite manufacturing, launch, satellite management and servicing, finance, insurance and military and defence capabilities) and those who argue for a more selective strategy based not on a major fully integrated UK HMG space program expenditure commitment but instead on harnessing UK regulatory freedoms and USPs in insurance, regulation, standards. I am firmly in the latter camp and was keen to signal the same to a new parliament and ministers. 
  • During my time as a minister, I put the emphasis of the UK space policy on using our global regulatory reputation and post-Brexit freedom to show leadership in setting global regulatory standards. Having led and launched the Earth Space Sustainability Initiative with Lloyds of London, I was keen to highlight the proven opportunity of using regulation to create a UK usp in this high growth market.
  • To highlight the importance of UK leadership in the emerging global and European frameworks for GHG emissions tracking and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM) policy field in advance of international climate talks.

 
For all of these reasons I believe my questions were in the public and national interest, as well in the interests of the general UK space, EO, cleantech and regulatory sectors.

I have longstanding track record of advocacy for science and technology. I have been speaking and raising science, technology and environmental questions in the House related to the  allegations since I was first elected. Since my maiden speech in the House of Commons in 2010 when I said ''As someone who came to politics after a 15-year career in creating new technology businesses, I hope to be able to put my experience to good use in that area.”

Throughout my 14 years of work on science and technology as a minister and backbencher in my parliamentary career, I have been a vocal advocate and champion for the science and tech sectors. If you were to look back through Hansard, and do a google search, there are multiple occasions where the subjects raised in the article are issues I have spoken about over the years.  Between 2010 and 2024 I have published over 50 articles, OpEds, comment pieces, book chapters - including in my book Britain Beyond Brexit - on the central place of UK science and technology in driving economic recovery.  Specifically, I have actively advocated for the role of UK regulatory leadership in space generally and in setting measurable metrics and standards for a more commercial approach to achieving GHG emissions reduction and Net Zero without losing economic prosperity.

By The Council House by Thomas Nugent, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=106196164 Over the past decade,...

Update on Gaza

Liz Kendall (Leicester West)

On 29th July, the Prime Minister held an emergency cabinet meeting on the situation in Gaza.

I support the statement the Prime Minister made, after the meeting, confirming that the U.K will recognise the state of Palestine at the UN in September, unless the Israeli government takes significant steps.

I condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians seeking to meet their basic needs of food and water in the strongest terms. These actions will not bring the hostages home. The war must stop. 


Whilst it’s welcome that more aid has been allowed into Gaza in recent days, it is simply not enough.  


The UK has dropped aid via air drops, but this is not enough. 


The Israeli government must allow aid to enter Gaza, without restriction. The Israeli government must agree to a ceasefire, not a pause.

The government will continue to work with our allies and with agencies to work towards the goal of long-lasting peace, stability and security that both Palestinians and Israelis deserve.

Please find a transcript of the Prime Minister’s speech here: www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-words-on-gaza-29-july-2025

The post Update on Gaza appeared first on Liz Kendall.

July Newsletter

Mohammad Yasin (Bedford)

Dear Constituent,

After a busy few months in Parliament, today is officially the first day of recess and I’m looking forward to having a decent stretch of time to spend out and about in the community meeting residents.

I’ll be delivering my annual report over the coming weeks and I’d like to extend my huge thanks to our volunteers who will be helping me with this big task to ensure every household across the Bedford and Kempston constituency receives a copy: our local councillors and I couldn’t do this without you.

Yours sincerely,

Mohammad Yasin MP

Constituents get in touch

Since my last newsletter, my office has received nearly 1,500 emails and opened nearly 800 cases.

The biggest topic for campaign and policy emails was of course the welfare reforms contained in the Universal Credit Bill, which passed its third reading last week. I have been clear on my view, that we must ensure changes are made the right way and by working with those who will be effected.

In the constituency

Since my last newsletter, I have had the pleasure of attending the following meetings and visits around the constituency:

  • A local Youth Empowerment Project, working to support young people through volunteering and apprenticeship opportunities.
  • Bedfordshire Great Ouse Valley Environmental Trust (BedsGOVET), who continue to provide me with updates on their excellent work monitoring water quality in the area. is the voice of Bedfordshire’s concern about the alarming state of pollution in the River Great Ouse through our county.
  • Rivertree Free School opening, which will provide much-needed places for children aged two to 19 years old from across Bedford Borough, whose needs have been identified as requiring specialist educational placements. I welcome this state-of-the-art specialist school in our area.
  • St Martin’s Church’s summer fayre.
  • Armed Forces Day celebrations in Harpur Square.
  • The Kenyan Community Bedford summer barbecue at the Addison Centre in Kempston.
  • The Shaheedi Sports Council of Bedford’s Annual Sports Day in Kempston alongside Kempston councillors. The energy was electric as hundreds of residents and teams from all over the country came together to compete in a fun packed day.
  • FLAG Bedford for their coffee morning at Priory Methodist church, speaking with people about my role as an MP, and the work the group does to support adults with disabilities in Bedford.
  • Link to Change coffee morning, an opportunity for stakeholders to come together and discuss the fight against child sexual exploitation here in Bedford. The statistics for our region are sobering. It is vital for us as a community to be able to talk openly about the challenges our young people are facing locally.
  • Transfiguration Church – Kempston for its summer fete.
  • Bedford Boat Club its fantastic 75th anniversary celebrations BBQ.
  • Eid Mela at Addison Howard Park, celebrating its 10th anniversary. This Mela is a huge success, bringing the community together with food, music, and rides for kids.
  • Castle Newnham school, where I was shown around the sports and music facilities. We discussed the huge potential to improve these facilities and encourage more young people into the arts and sport.
  • Ridgeway School’s Eco Committee to learn more about the work they’re doing towards becoming more sustainable and environmentally aware. Congratulations to the school for recently being awarded the Green Flag initiative, in recognition.
  • ACCM 2024/25 ‘Adult Learning Programme’ celebrations for students, in recognition of their success and achievements. I was honoured to play a part in presenting the award certificates.

In Westminster

Turning to Parliament – 

In Parliament I welcomed the Government’s focus on prevention through the roll-out of Best Start family hubs. In Bedford, we have seen the benefits of integrated services building on the Sure Start legacy, with the Allhallows family hub set to open soon in Bedford town centre. I invited the Secretary of State to visit the hub to see how joined-up youth and family services can support children, prevent antisocial behaviour and give every child the best start in life.

On matters of conscience, I recently voted against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at its Third Reading. While I appreciate that this is an issue on which sincere views differ, I remain convinced that legalising assisted dying without first delivering universal, high-quality palliative care risks compounding existing inequalities. My full statement on this vote was shared publicly, and I’m grateful to the many constituents who took the time to share their perspectives with me. The Bill is now being considered in the House of Lords.

You will have heard that I no longer hold my trade envoy role. I am grateful for the messages of support that I’ve had from some of you, but I can assure you it is very much business as usual continuing to support my constituents as a visible and accessible Labour MP for Bedford and Kempston.  

I understand the whipping system is an important part of government – I did not take the decision to vote against the Universal Credit Bill lightly, and I know the Government will not have taken their decision lightly either when they asked me to step down as envoy.  

Having had numerous discussions with concerned constituents, colleagues, and advocacy groups, one thing was universally agreed – the current system is not fit for purpose. it is crystal clear that it was the Conservative Government which broke it, and they have no answers to fix it. I look forward to the upcoming work of the Timms Review to look in detail at ways that PIP and UC can be reformed, and will follow further progress of the Universal Credit Bill closely.

This month marks one year since Labour’s return to government, following fourteen years in opposition. Whilst there is still a way to go, I want to note what the Labour Government has achieved so far in delivering our manifesto commitments, after inheriting one of the worst economic legacies in living memory.

One year into office, the Labour government has begun delivering on its promise of change, laying strong foundations across national security, economic stability, and secure borders. Defence spending is being increased to 5% of GDP by 2035, Armed Forces personnel have received the largest pay rise in two decades, and a new Border Security Command is targeting criminal smuggling networks. Labour has also stabilised public finances, controlled inflation, and secured major trade deals with the EU, US, and India—boosting British jobs and industries.

Labour has prioritised economic growth by raising the minimum wage, launching a landmark Employment Rights Bill, and initiating the largest investment in housing and infrastructure in a generation. Over £100 billion in private investment has been attracted, creating 380,000 jobs, while a new industrial strategy supports key sectors like steel and automotive. In the NHS, record funding has helped reduce waiting lists and deliver millions more appointments, with a major health plan aiming to shift the system toward prevention and digital care.

On public safety, Labour is restoring neighbourhood policing with 13,000 new officers and tougher powers to tackle antisocial behaviour and theft. In education, reforms include expanding free school meals, improving teacher recruitment, boosting school attendance, and investing in childcare and skills. Labour is also driving forward the clean energy transition, lifting the onshore wind ban, launching GB Energy, and investing in nuclear, carbon capture, and home insulation—cutting bills and creating jobs.

Labour’s first year marks a shift towards stability, opportunity, and long-term renewal across the UK. While it has been a bumpy ride at times – the Labour Government is still delivering the best pest policy agenda of all the political parties. The Tory leadership is still floundering and have no answers or contrition for the Economic crash; record NHS waiting lists, Record-high immigration post-Brexit and for leaving the country in dire straits, gaping holes in our National security and our Armed Forces undermined.

The Reform Party is experiencing the difficulties of putting their politics of grievance into policy and all they have offered is Unfunded tax cut plans for the wealthy, Threats to NHS with proposed insurance-based model, huge cuts to welfare, disability employment rights under their “DOGE reforms.

I am very much looking forward to a break from Parliament and focusing on constituency matters. I will spend the summer in our community engaging with constituents and businesses and getting ready for conference season.

The post July Newsletter appeared first on Mohammad Yasin MP.

Nesil Caliskan, the Labour MP for Barking, has criticised the local NHS on their proposal to close the birth centre at Barking Community Hospital.

The closure would mean women in Barking and Dagenham would be required to travel to Newham University Hospital, which in its last inspection was ‘requires improvement’.

Nesil Caliskan MP told us:

“The proposals to cut services maternity services at Barking Community Hospital come as Secretary of State, Wes Streeting, announced an investigation into maternity services across the country.”

Nesil Caliskan MP for Barking has launched a campaign to save the local birth centre and is calling on residents to share their views and experiences by completing a survey.

“Expecting mothers in Barking and Dagenham deserve to give birth in a safe, local facility.

“Instead, the local NHS are proposing to direct pregnant women outside our Borough, to Newham Hospital which is currently rated ‘requires improvement.

“This indicates the scale of the problem for maternity services and the appalling state they have been left in by the previous Government.

“I have already raised my concerns in Parliament and will continue to make representations to the local NHS.”

MP Column | It’s All Downhill From Here

Dave Doogan (Angus and Perthshire Glens)

At this stage in the electoral cycle at Westminster any new government, especially one with a 160-seat majority, should be at the peak of...
Friday 20 June 2025 marked a joyous and inspiring celebration of World Refugee Day at the Change Centre in Dundee, where eight refugee football teams from across Dundee, Glasgow, Perth, and Angus competed in the inaugural World Refugee Day Cup Football Tournament. The event was the vision of Sandy Greene, Chief Executive of ScrapAntics in ... Read more

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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. 

After a good kicking at elections, the usual and heavily anticipated response from the ruling party is that we are listening. But this isn’t going to wash. Labour needs a reset.


Sir Keir Starmer has shown strong leadership internationally and he needs to start showing the same leadership in our own country and stop the Government pussyfooting around. He should take a leaf out of Donald Trump’s book by following his instincts and issuing some executive orders. This is leadership from the front.


Where are the child abuse inquiries where the victims are still seeking justice? Telford-style inquiries should be set up immediately in the towns and cities where grooming gangs are running rings around the authorities.
There should be an immediate introduction of digital ID cards, required for employment and accessing public services. This is the only way to stop illegal immigration.


Free our public services from the pressures of Covid debts so they have the finances to deliver on our priorities by writing them off. Our schools and hospitals can be lifted from the shackles of debt in the way quantitative easing was used when Gordon Brown brought stability during the banking crisis. This would be a game-changer.


People are fed up with being told how to run their lives by people looking down their noses at them. We have a huge problem with our messaging; it is failing to hit the mark. Slogans on meeting our net zero targets are a prime example. They are meaningless for people who are facing rising energy costs and purchasing an electric car is an unattainable luxury.
The language needs to shift to the guarantee of green energy in order to get free hot water and cheaper electricity bills. Building on our security by making Britain self-reliant in energy production.


While the Government is busy talking to itself the voices of those on the outside are not being listened to. The realities of living in areas where there have been no big transport projects or huge development investments needs to have a voice around the table. Our lives are very different from the metropolis, our choices, and opportunities, less, our facilities are more remote or non-existent.

The demands raised by the new Labour MPs from the post-industrial towns, where infrastructure is poor and there have been years of disinvestment, and where large numbers voted for Brexit and have now switched to Reform, must be taken off the to-do list and urgently actioned. We know this works.


Ros Jones, the re-elected Labour mayor of Doncaster, made reopening Doncaster airport her number-one priority. The Government committed £30 million investment and she was rewarded at the ballot box.


While over half the country voted for Brexit, there isn’t a single person sitting in the Government who backed the EU leave deal. Where are the voices of the 40 Labour MPs who argued in favour of respecting the referendum? The number of government ministers representing leave-voting constituencies is insignificant.


Both Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher brought in people who were not like them, possibly people that they didn’t even like, and they were certainly people they sometimes disagreed with. This Government needs to step outside its comfort zone. Sir Keir needs to spend more time travelling the country quietly listening to what people are really thinking. This is a sign of a confident government.


Now we need to be honest with ourselves and address the issue that has hung like a weight around our shoulders since the early days of this Government, the Winter Fuel Allowance has now become our poll tax problem. We have lost the pensioner vote because of this; I hear the anger. To serve as the Government that listens, we should be immediately raising the threshold to the higher income tax level, and it is an executive order that my constituents in Bassetlaw would all welcome.


When Harold Wilson first became prime minister in 1964, the country had been left in a ruinous state with an £800 million deficit. Tough decisions were taken, including freezing a pensions rise, and there were concerns about rising immigration. A by-election disaster led to a reset. A Labour MP at the time commented: “The prime minister was becoming just a technician. [The by-election] forced him to remember what it was to be a political leader.” Wilson went on to win a landslide less than a year later. Sir Keir can take lessons from his approach

The post Starmer must stop ‘pussyfooting around’ – Jo White appeared first on Jo White MP.

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.

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)

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