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Amanda Martin MP has welcomed the Government’s new national plan, Protecting What Matters, which sets out a long-term strategy to strengthen social cohesion, restore pride in communities and protect the country from those who seek to divide it.
The plan outlines how the Government will work with local communities, schools, faith groups and organisations to build stronger, more confident communities across the UK. It recognises that social cohesion is central to national resilience and security at a time of increasing global instability and rising social tensions.
The strategy focuses on three key pillars: Confident Communities, Cohesive Communities and Resilient Communities.
Measures under the plan include major investment through the Government’s Pride in Place programme, which will deliver £5.8 billion to nearly 300 communities across the country, alongside support for youth services, sports programmes, community-led school partnerships and local media. Paulsgrove and Landport in Portsmouth will both receive £20million in Pride in Place funding over the next 10 years.
The strategy also includes new action to strengthen integration and promote shared values, including improved citizenship education, expanded English language provision, and greater support for faith and belief groups that play a vital role in local communities.
In addition, the plan sets out new steps to tackle hate and extremism, including stronger action against antisemitism and anti-Muslim hostility, better oversight of extremist activity in institutions, and measures to address online harms.
Amanda Martin MP said: “Britain has always been strongest when we stand together. Across our communities there are countless people who quietly give their time and energy to make their neighbourhoods better places to live – from volunteers and community groups to faith organisations and local charities.
The Government’s Protecting What Matters plan recognises the importance of that work and backs communities with the support and investment they need to thrive. By investing in local areas, strengthening integration and tackling hate and extremism, we can build a more confident, cohesive and resilient country.
I look forward to working with local organisations and residents to ensure our community benefits from this plan and continues to be a place where people look out for one another.”
The Government has emphasised that the plan is a starting point rather than a finished programme, with continued engagement planned with communities, local authorities and civil society organisations to help shape future policy and strengthen social cohesion across the country.
Amanda Martin MP is encouraging local community groups, schools and faith organisations to engage with the initiative and share their ideas on how the programme can support communities locally.
The post Amanda Martin MP welcomes Government plan to strengthen community cohesion and resilience appeared first on Amanda Martin MP.
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.
Stephen Morgan MP has met with Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock MP following this week’s announcement that the Government will be bolstering the NHS’ dental workforce by thousands.
With Portsmouth previously having been identified as a dental desert, and the University of Portsmouth now being eligible to bid for these new dental school places, Mr Morgan met with the Minister for Care to discuss the potential of this dentistry expansion for the city.
As evidence indicates that dental students tend to practice near where they trained, increasing dental school places has the potential to increase the availability of NHS dentistry in Portsmouth through increased appointments and practices if new places are allocated to the University of Portsmouth’s Dental School, which will officially open this June.
Commenting, Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, said:
“It was a pleasure to be able meet with the Minister responsible for dentistry this week to discuss the necessary expansion of places of dental schools, especially for Portsmouth.
“Improving access to NHS dentistry for Portsmouth people has always been a priority of mine in the work I do both locally and in Parliament.
“That is why this week’s announcement on expanding dental school places is so crucial. It was helpful to discuss these issues directly with the Minister and what it will mean for Portsmouth patients.
“Training more dentists and allowing greater numbers of those qualified overseas to practise, will put more patients in Portsmouth in dental chairs to receive care when they need it most.”
Commenting, Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister for Care, said:
“No one in the 21st century should be left in a situation where they cannot access a dentist.
“That is why today’s announcement is crucial, as training more dentists and allowing greater numbers of those qualified overseas to practise will put more patients in dental chairs, receiving care when they need it most.
“These investments show this government is serious about rebuilding NHS dentistry and laying the foundations to make it fit for the future.”
The post Stephen Morgan MP meets with Minister for Care following announcement of new dental school places appeared first on Stephen Morgan MP.
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

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in Wales. It places pressure on the NHS and is a major driver of health inequalities, with prevalence highest in more deprived communities.
The evidence is clear that quitting smoking delivers immediate and long-term health benefits, reduces financial strain on households, and improves overall wellbeing.
On #NoSmokingDay, quitting smoking is one of the biggest gifts you can give yourself.
You don’t have to do it alone. Free NHS support across Wales makes quitting up to 3 times more likely to stick.



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.
In Parliament today I asked the Secretary of State for Defence, will Canada be asked to join the JEF? You can Listen to my question and the response from the Secretary of State below.
The post Defence Question 02/02/2026 appeared first on Emma Lewell 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.
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.