At Home Office Questions, I raised the need for rural crime to be treated with the same seriousness as crime in our towns and city centres. For people in Newcastle-under-Lyme and across Staffordshire, a crime is a crime – wherever it happens. I welcome the Government’s approach to neighbourhood policing, but it is vital that rural communities see the real, on-the-ground benefits of it in practice.

The changes mean around 85% of estates are expected not to pay any more inheritance tax I welcome the Government’s announcement to raise the inheritance tax threshold for agricultural and business property – a change that will make a real difference for family farms here in Newcastle-under-Lyme, across Staffordshire and throughout the country. From April 2026, the threshold for Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief will rise from £1 million to £2.5 million

The Government has set out the biggest package of animal welfare reforms in a generation. I support these changes because they are practical, long overdue, and rooted in a simple principle – that how we treat animals reflects who we are as a society. Last week in the House of Commons, I spoke about why this moment matters – the ambition of these reforms and the way they are delivered. Raising animal welfare standards should go hand in hand with supporting farmers, rewarding t

Debate in the House of Commons (18 December 2025) Yesterday, I took part in the Christmas Adjournment Debate – an opportunity to reflect on the year in Parliament and to set out the priorities that matter most to people in Newcastle-under-Lyme. I used the debate to highlight the progress that has been made over the past year, including the real and tangible improvements since the closure notice was issued at Walleys Quarry, and the long-overdue action delivered on pension jus

Debate in the House of Commons (18 December 2025) Animal welfare and farming go hand in hand. As the Government prepares to publish its long-awaited animal welfare strategy, I made clear in Parliament that it must support – not hinder – farmers who already operate to the highest standards. Our farming community in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire deserves clarity, confidence and a strategy that works in practice.

'Quarries: Planning Policy' Debate in Westminster Hall (16 December 2025) Earlier today, I raised Walleys Quarry during a Westminster Hall debate on quarries and planning policy. What happened there exposed serious failures in the planning system and had a devastating impact on people in Newcastle-on-Lyme. While the site is now closed, the lessons must be learned – and the system fixed – so no community is ever put through this again. Read my Recent Walleys Quarry update for

Watch my speech in Parliament on the Budget (27 November 2025) During the Budget debate in the House of Commons, I set out why the announcements in the Budget matter for people across Newcastle-under-Lyme – from long-overdue justice for former miners, to lifting nearly 1,800 local children out of poverty, making progress on support for our family farms, backing our NHS staff, and marking one year since the closure of Walleys Quarry. This Budget won’t solve every challenge ove

UK Parliament Week is taking place from 24–30 November , and I’m inviting everyone across the constituency to get involved. It’s an opportunity for people of all ages to find out more about how Parliament works, how decisions are made and how each one of us can participate. This year, 44 organisations across Newcastle-under-Lyme  have signed up so far. Schools, youth groups and community organisations will be using their free UKPW resource kits to host workshops, games and di

I have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to press the case for members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS), including many here in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Since my election, I’ve heard from constituents who dedicated their working lives to powering our country through Britain’s coal industry – people who rightly expect fairness and recognition for their service. Since the Labour Government took office in July 2024, important progress has been made t

In House of Commons Business Questions (30 October 2025) In recent days and weeks, there have been disturbing reports of people being spiked by injection in Newcastle town centre. I’ve heard from residents who are fearful and angry — and I share their concern. No one should feel unsafe on a night out. Our town centre must be safe, welcoming and secure for everyone. Yesterday I raised this issue directly in Parliament during Business Questions to the Leader of the House, calli

Every young person should finish school with a clear set of options and the confidence to choose the path that’s right for them – whether that’s continuing in full-time study, taking up an apprenticeship, or gaining skills through high-quality training. For too long, our education and skills system hasn’t made that easy. The last government left too many young people without clear routes into good jobs, too many qualifications overlapping or undervalued, and too many colleges

Today marks an historic moment for justice and transparency in our country. This Labour Government has introduced the Public Office (Accountability) Bill , also known as the Hillsborough Law . This landmark legislation will ensure that public authorities are held to the highest standards of honesty and accountability – and that no family is ever left to fight the State alone in the aftermath of tragedy. The scars of Hillsborough , Grenfell , Windrush , and other devastating f

Mike Wood MP, Harry Redknapp, Adam Jogee MP, Lord Craig Mackinlay Today is World Sepsis Day . I recently attended a parliamentary drop-in session hosted by the UK Sepsis Trust  to mark the occasion. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s response to an infection spirals out of control. It’s sometimes known as the ‘silent killer’ because its early symptoms can be easily missed – yet it claims around 48,000 lives every year in the UK. The drop-in wa

At Prime Minister’s Questions earlier today, I raised the issue of persistent anti-social behaviour in Crackley, Bradwell and across Newcastle-under-Lyme. This Labour government is recruiting 13,000 extra neighbourhood police officers to take back our streets and keep our communities safe. I asked the Prime Minister to join me in pressing Staffordshire’s Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner, to make sure these extra resources are used effectively, to support our local p

In House of Commons Business Questions (4 September 2025) I raised the fantastic local RAF Association in Parliament as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. I have also written and Early Day motion, which you can view here .

My full speech in the House of Commons (21-07-2025) It was an honour to speak in Parliament in the debate on Victory over Japan Day, held shortly before the summer recess. The anniversary is a poignant moment to pay tribute to the men and women from Newcastle-under-Lyme, from Staffordshire, from across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth who served in the Eastern theatre of the Second World War, and to the veterans and families to whom we owe so much. This year’s mileston

Text of my letter to the Foreign Secretary: Dear Secretary of State, Re: Military Occupation of Gaza I am writing to you today to raise my grave concerns about the statements from the Israeli Government regarding their intention to occupy the Gaza Strip. The British Government must oppose any attempts at the permanent displacement of the  Palestinian people and any attempt, in any way, by the Israeli Government to militarily occupy Gaza. Such a move would stand in stark cont

I spoke in the final debate before Parliament’s summer recess to reflect on my first year as your MP.

A targeted approach to the Winter Fuel Payment is right – but it must also be fair to those in need and to tax payers. That’s why I welcome the Chancellor’s decision to reinstate Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners with incomes under £35,000. This change will mean over three-quarters of pensioners in England and Wales will receive the payment this winter – and it will make a real difference to many in Newcastle-under-Lyme and across the country. Since the original decision t

This week, FedEx announced its intention to close the depot at Parkhouse Industrial Park — a decision that puts around 400 jobs in Newcastle-under-Lyme at risk. The site has operated for over 35 years and is home to a workforce made up largely of long-serving, highly experienced local people. FedEx says it plans to replace five UK depots, including Parkhouse, with two new ‘super hubs’ in Warwickshire and Buckinghamshire. But for workers here, that amounts to being told to rel