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  • Portsmouth to receive over £2,200,000 as record amount allocated to councils nationally to deliver more specialist places – enabling more pupils with SEND to attend their local school  
  • Local council to prioritise places in mainstream settings, delivering on Labour’s plans for every secondary school to have an inclusion base  
  • Marks significant next step in Labour’s once-in-a-generation SEND reforms to better support children and restore confidence of parents 

More children and young people in Portsmouth will be able to achieve and thrive at their local school, as the Labour government allocates the first round of more than £3bn to create inclusive classrooms across the country.  

Around £860 million will be allocated to every council in England – the biggest ever single high needs capital allocation – to create more inclusive physical spaces and drive a transformative expansion of Inclusion Bases, so that early specialist support becomes part of the fabric of mainstream schools.  

Portsmouth is set to receive a total of almost £2,248,000. 

To make sure all children and families in Portsmouth can benefit from truly inclusive schools, Portsmouth City Council will be required to sign a written agreement to prioritise increasing places in mainstream schools.  

Signing the agreement, Portsmouth City Council will need to adopt inclusive strategies that support positive outcomes for children, like reducing the number of children with SEND who need to travel long distances to school, and making sure every child who needs a place in an Inclusion Base can access one.  

Importantly, councils should also use their allocation to ensure sufficient special school and AP places for children and young people with the most complex needs, reflecting the vital role these settings play in providing support for some of the most vulnerable children.  

Where councils choose to spend their funding on special school places, they should set out clear evidence-based rationale for why this would better respond to local need – ensuring investment in places delivers for local families. 

This announcement follows the government’s landmark SEND reforms and is a significant step towards ending the postcode lottery of SEND support, so every child has access to a brilliant, inclusive education closer to home in Portsmouth.  

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

“I’ve been listening and engaging with parents, teachers and school staff on the challenges schools are facing and specifically the need for better support for children with additional needs.  

 “Labour’s significant investment is going to make this a reality, with over £2,200,000 going to the creation of new specialist school places and teacher training to meet a range of needs. 

“Brick by brick, Labour is building an education system where every child in Portsmouth can achieve and thrive.” 

Schools Minister, Georgia Gould said:  

“Just last month, we set out once-in-a-generation SEND reforms we’re now acting quickly to deliver the changes that make sure more children can thrive at their local school, with their friends.  

“Inclusion is a choice, one this government is proud to make, and the funding we’re backing councils with this week will help make it a reality.  

“Every school can, and will, have a bespoke environment that children with SEND – and their families – can rely on, ultimately rebuilding trust in the system and transforming outcomes for young people”  

The over £2,248,000 comes alongside £500 million per year allocated to nurseries, schools and colleges to help them deliver an improved inclusion offer. New estimates published suggest that the average primary school will receive around £14,000 through the Inclusive Mainstream Fund, on top of their core funding allocations, with the average secondary school receiving around £48,000 in 2026-27.  

Inclusion Bases enable pupils to move seamlessly between specialist support and mainstream classes, meeting a wide range of needs and importantly, building confidence and belonging.  

The local council’s high needs capital cash boost can also be used to make the school environment inclusive by design through adaptations to improve inclusivity and accessibility, like providing a more comfortable sensory environment by enhancing ventilation, acoustics and lighting.  

Following the publication of the schools white paper and Education Estates Strategy, the new funding allocation marks an important step to realising an inclusive education that delivers high standards for all pupils in every setting. 

The post City MP champions biggest single funding allocation to deliver more places for children with SEND appeared first on Stephen Morgan MP.

More children and young people in Birmingham Edgbaston will be able to achieve and thrive at their local school, as the government allocates the first round of more than £3bn to create inclusive classrooms across the country. Around £860 million will be allocated to every council in England - the biggest ever single high needs capital allocation - to create more inclusive physical spaces and drive a transformative expansion of Inclusion Bases, so that early specialist support becomes part of

Tribute to the late Idwal Davies BEM

Dame Nia Griffith (Llanelli)

Honour to speak about the late Idwal Davies BEM at the posthumous presentation of his British Empire Medal to his family by the Lord Lieutenant on Saturday.

So sad he passed away before it could be presented, but at least he lived to receive the announcement and our congratulations. Idwal’s family can be immensely proud of this award, in recognition of his enormous contribution to our community, particularly his work with the hospital friends and the veterans and his contribution to local history through his book.

He will be sorely missed, and as the title of his book says gone, but not forgotten.

Youth Guarantee Expansion

Jeff Smith (Manchester Withington)

Jeff Smith MP welcomes a major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation.

  • Major employment drive – backed by large and small businesses and celebrity chef Tom Kerridge – will reverse rising number of young people neither earning nor learning, after a 37 percent increase between 2021 and 2024.
  • Additional £1 billion to be invested in grants to help unlock over 200,000 paid jobs for young people, with Jobs Guarantee to be expanded to ages 18-24
  • New foundation apprenticeships in hospitality and retail, with up to £2,000 for employers to support 16-21-year-olds into work.

A major youth employment drive backed by £1 billion will help create 200,000 jobs for young people, alongside the biggest transformation of apprenticeships in a decade.

It comes as apprenticeships starts amongst young people are down 40 percent in the last decade and almost one million young people are not earning or learning – a rise of 248,000 between 2021-2024.

  • A new Youth Jobs Grant, through which businesses will receive £3,000 for every young person they hire aged 18-24 who has been on UC and looking for work for six months. This is expected to support 60,000 young people over three years.
  • Expansion of the Jobs Guarantee to a wider age range, from 18-21 to 18-24, to create more than 35,000 extra subsidised jobs. This brings the total to be supported through the scheme to over 90,000 in the next three years.
  • An Apprenticeship Incentive of £2,000 for each new employee aged 16-24 taken on by an SME. As part of wider reforms, this will drive progress to our target of creating 50,000 more apprenticeships.
  • Further reforms to the Growth and Skills Levy to prioritise young apprentices, secure value for money and give school and college leavers more opportunities than ever to build careers in cutting edge industries.

It is the latest step in the Government’s commitment to ensuring every young person aged 16 24 has the opportunity to earn or learn. These changes are backed by an additional £1bn, taking the total investment into the Youth Guarantee and the additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy to £2.5 billion over the next three years. This will support almost one million young people and help deliver up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.

Take 5 Breweries - Five Points

Dame Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch)

Take 5: Five Points. First brewing in 2013 at The Pembury Tavern, Five Points – and its XPA - is a local favourite.
18 March 2026
George Freeman highlights the scale of flooding and impact on insurers

George Freeman intervenes in a debate on the impact of flooding in rural communities to highlight the shear scale of the insurance problem risking serious economic damage to our economy and, as such, is an issue of national importance.

George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. On the point of insurance, I have just come from chairing a meeting with Aviva—a great Norfolk insurer, the biggest insurer of houses in the country. It made the point to me that this is the tip of a major iceberg of uninsureability, unmortgageability and then unsaleability, and that the Treasury should be looking at this as a major problem on the balance sheet of this country. It is a Horizon Post Office-sized scandal in its scale, risking serious economic damage to our economy. Does my hon. Friend agree that that elevates this issue to one of national importance?

Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Stamford) (Con)

I was not aware of just how drastic insurers see the situation, but it does not surprise me, based on what I see in my communities. I know that my hon. Friend has worked consistently on the issue of flooding, so I take him at his word that we need to be looking at that problem more seriously.

Hansard

George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)

The Minister has mentioned Aviva, one of Norfolk’s great companies and the biggest insurer of houses in the country. Has she seen its recent report, in which it calculates that about 4.78 million houses are at serious risk of flooding over the next 10 years? I congratulate her on securing the funding in the autumn, which I think was going to protect 60,000 houses, but does she agree that the Treasury should be thinking very deeply about the scale of this challenge in the context of national resilience?

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Emma Hardy)

The hon. Member prompts me to mention the biggest ever, greatest, most fantastic and largest investment in flood defences that this Government have just announced. On a more serious note, yes, Aviva did talk to me about that report, as he would imagine. We had a conversation about it and, without straying too much out of my remit and into planning, I believe that such conversations are ongoing with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Hansard

The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, speaks at a press conference about the situation in the Middle East The war which began between Iran and the US and Israel on 28 February is rightly a concern for people across Bristol South and our country. In this post, I will outline how the Government is responding. In a press conference on Monday 16 March, the Prime Minister Keir Starmer set out his three priorities for while this conflict persists. Firstly, he has rightly made protecting British lives...
Image: Alongside Judith, attending were Labour MPs Anna Dixon (Shipley), Imran Hussain (Bradford East) and Naz Shah (Bradford West) and Conversative MP Robbie Moore (Keighley and Ilkley). The cross-party group of Bradford MPs met with Yorkshire Water chair Vanda Murray and CEO Nicola Shaw. A cross-party meeting of Bradford's MPs, organised by Judith Cummins MP (Bradford South) tore a strip off Yorkshire Water's chief executive and chair over its dismal performance, incompetence and attempts...

This government is focused on the issues at hand

Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett)

The last week has been incredibly worrying overseas and in the middle east. The escalation of air strikes in and from Iran have led to several UK residents overseas being stuck. Increasingly there have been reckless strikes from the Iranian regime targeting Gulf allies, including strikes on bases, on airports and on hotels which directly […]

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.

SMALL BUSINESS STRATEGY PUBLISHED

Liam Byrne (Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)

Small businesses across Hodge Hill and Solihull North, across the country, are facing pandemic-level pressures but without the emergency support. The Business and Trade Committee report published today exposes: £112bn owed in unpaid invoices 38 stores closing on high streets every day   Energy costs nearly doubled since 2021   Crime adding 10p to every shop transaction. Local cafés need to sell hundreds more items monthly just to survive. Hair salons face £25,000 extra costs. High streets...

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.

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. 

The Third Runway: A Monument to Mediocrity

Kit Malthouse (North West Hampshire)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kit Malthouse 1st February 2025

Dan Jarvis' Christmas Message

Dan Jarvis (Barnsley North)

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

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

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

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

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

ICC FILES ARREST WARRANTS

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

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