The Stoke on Trent & North Staffordshire Theatre Trust, which operates the New Vic Theatre, is set to receive a share of the Labour government’s £127.8 million investment in cultural venues. Our local arts and cultural spaces are at the heart of our community, bringing people together and celebrating what makes Newcastle-under-Lyme special. The New Vic is a pioneering example of the powerful cultural impact we have right here in Newcastle-under-Lyme. While storytelling in-the

It is clear for all to see that our young people have the talent and determination needed to build the industries that will power our future right here in Newcastle-under-Lyme – what has been missing is a government that matched that ambition. With the announcement that Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) has been named a national Technical Excellence College (TEC) , that backing is finally here. Being selected as one of just four hubs specialising in advanced manufa

Following the news of our new "Best Start" Family Hub in Knutton, I am delighted to share another major win for the next generation here in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) has been allocated over £2.7 million as part of the new FE College Condition Allocations. We should all be incredibly proud of our local college. As an "Outstanding" institution, it is already a thriving hub of learning, but for too long, the further education sector acro

For too many years, thanks to the inaction of those with the power to act, the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme were left living with the worst impacts of Walleys Quarry Landfill Site. Thankfully, since midday on Thursday 28 November 2024, Walleys Quarry Landfill Site has been closed and the operators have been run out of town. We will, of course, deal with them in due course. The Environment Agency have done an important job, making the site safe and beginning the work of the

I am delighted to have received official confirmation from Ministers that the Newcastle Family Hub is formally becoming a Best Start Family Hub. This marks a major step in improving early years and SEND support for people and families across Newcastle-under-Lyme. The news came in a joint letter from the Minister for Early Education, Olivia Bailey MP, and the Minister for Public Health, Sharon Hodgson MP. They confirmed that the Newcastle Family Hub in Knutton is part of the f

30 March 2026 A member of my family had surgery earlier this month, and as Parliament is now in recess for the Holy days of Easter; it’s my turn to help with the associated caring responsibilities. As such, it is a matter of regret that I am not able to attend the panel tonight in person. I am sorry that I wasn’t consulted by the District Borough Council about the date of the panel because if I had, I would have been able to make alternative suggestions that would have faci

One of the best parts of being an MP is getting out to see the people and businesses that make our community tick. An even greater part is being able to showcase those wonderful businesses – so vital to not just our area’s success, but to the country’s – to Ministers and those in the heart of Government. Yesterday, I was delighted to welcome the Minister for Industry, Chris McDonald MP, to Chesterton to visit Ibstock. It was a fantastic opportunity for the Minister to see the

Record Funding for Staffordshire I am pleased to share that the Government has now confirmed that Staffordshire County Council is set to receive £14.97 million – the biggest ever single high needs capital allocation for our area. This represents a £4.26 million boost from last year and is part of a landmark £3 billion national investment into inclusive classrooms. This funding is a direct response to the need for more specialist places closer to home, and I am determined to e

In October last year, following the announcement of £262,449 in Government funding for Best Start Family Hubs, I wrote to Staffordshire County Council’s then Leader, Cllr Ian Cooper, to welcome the investment and to seek clarity on how it would be used to support families in Newcastle‑under‑Lyme. After a recent visit to The Peter Pan Centre with Education Minister Georgia Gould MP – seeing strong early years and SEND practice and hearing directly from parents about the barrie

My Personally Speaking column in The Sentinel (12 March 2026) Every child and every parent deserves to walk to school safely, without the fear that they may not make it to the school gates. Every teacher should know that the route their pupils are walking to get to the classroom is not paved with obstacles and danger. This goes for all of us who live here, work here and learn here. Sadly, far too often, the roads and infrastructure around our schools fall short of that simple

On Wednesday I welcomed the Education Minister with responsibility for SEND, Georgia Gould OBE MP, to the Peter Pan Centre for Children with Special Needs. The Centre is an excellent model of best practice, supporting children through their early years right here in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The dedication and expertise of the staff is second to none, and it was important that the Minister saw first-hand the difference that high-quality early support can make. During the visit, t

Presentation of the Petition in Parliament (22 January 2026) Today, I presented a petition to the House of Commons on behalf of residents of Newcastle-under-Lyme, calling for urgent action to improve road safety on the A525 and Crewe Road in Madeley Heath, outside Meadows Primary School. The petition was brought forward following long-standing concerns raised by parents and residents, and after a deeply worrying incident in December in which a local parent was knocked down wh

Raising the Issue in Parliament With snowy and icy conditions continuing across Newcastle-under-Lyme, and further severe weather forecast as Storm Goretti approaches, I raised concerns on the floor of the House of Commons last night about the failure to grit roads and keep residents safe. Point of Order in the House of Commons (7 January 2026) When I travelled from Newcastle-under-Lyme to Parliament earlier this week, the weather was already very bad following heavy snowfall

Visiting Specsavers on Castle Walk (19 December 2025) Just before the festive break, I was pleased to visit Specsavers on Castle Walk to congratulate the team on winning the Professional Services Award at the LoveNUL Business Awards. The LoveNUL awards celebrate the people and businesses that power our local economy – and this recognition is a real testament to the professionalism, care and dedication shown by the Specsavers team here in Newcastle-under-Lyme every day. During

Yesterday, following widespread disruption caused by icy and untreated roads across Newcastle-under-Lyme, I wrote again to Staffordshire County Council to raise serious concerns about how winter gritting and road safety were handled. I had already raised concerns about winter gritting and preparedness ahead of the festive season, precisely to avoid the situation many residents have experienced. You can read that earlier update here: Snow Across Newcastle-under-Lyme: Gritting

Ahead of the festive season, I wrote to Staffordshire County Council to ask what preparations were in place for winter weather and gritting across Newcastle-under-Lyme. While none of us can control how much snow falls, we can plan properly and respond properly. That is why I raised these concerns in advance, rather than waiting until severe winter weather arrived. On 18 December, I received a response from the Chief Executive of Staffordshire County Council outlining the Coun

Over the past week, many residents have contacted me about proposals to install fencing around College Fields, the field next to Madeley School. The field forms part of the school estate and has been used informally by the wider community for many years. Recent instructions for fencing to be installed would restrict public access, which has caused significant concern locally given the long-standing community use of the land. Last Friday, during my constituency surgery, I met

It has now been over a year since the closure notice was issued at Walleys Quarry – 147 days after I was elected. While it is sobering to reflect on how long local people were forced to live with the impacts of the site, the position today is significantly better than it was before the closure notice was issued. The closure notice has delivered a clear improvement for those who live, learn and work in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and there is no doubt that it was necessary. Latest P

Staffordshire will receive an additional £54.8 million in incentive funding to tackle potholes and improve road conditions, as part of Labour’s record investment in fixing Britain’s broken roads. This is a major boost for our county, and it will make a real difference to the everyday journeys people make to work, to school, to local shops and to see family and friends. This extra funding is on top of the £147 million in baseline roads funding already allocated to Staffordshi

I am delighted to announce the winners of my Christmas Card Design Competition. Pupils from across Newcastle-under-Lyme sent in their submissions, and with so many thoughtful and creative designs, it was incredibly difficult to narrow the entries down to just three. Seeing the imagination and talent of pupils from across our community has been a real highlight, and I’m grateful to every school that encouraged their pupils to take part. The top three designs were: 1st Place –