My Personally Speaking column in The Sentinel (3 August 2026) Parliament is in recess and so I get to spend even more time back home in Newcastle-under-Lyme. As it does each year, Recess gives me the opportunity to visit local businesses, meet with community groups and, most importantly, speak to more residents about the issues that matter to you. It also comes at an important moment nationally – with a new Prime Minister and a new chapter beginning for our country. It’s a c

I have campaigned hard on road safety right across Newcastle-under-Lyme and I'll be bringing my Road Safety Bill to Parliament on the first day back after recess. Although being our MP means I don’t have operational powers, I have the power of my voice, and yours too, and I won’t stop speaking out and demanding a final resolution to this major safety issue for residents and commuters alike. In recent months, I have continued to hold Staffordshire County Council and National H

Today I responded in Parliament to the announcement of the proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Staffordshire Before today's announcement, I had already made clear – in every meeting with Ministers and every debate in Parliament – that the voices of the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme must be heard and respected in decisions that affect our community. The proposals put forward today on Local Government Reorganisation are completely unacceptable. They do nothi

My Personally Speaking column in The Sentinel (2 July 2026) One of the best things about being our MP is the chance to sit down with a cuppa and a slice of cake and hear from local people about what’s on their minds. That’s exactly what I did last Fri­day, when I held my latest cof­fee morn­ing at Aud­ley Cricket Club. Thank you to every­one who joined me and thank you to every­one who helped make it hap­pen – includ­ing those who baked a cake! Much bet­ter bakers than me… As

I took a file with your views on Local Government Reorganisation to The Office of The Prime Minister Last Thursday, I went to Downing Street to present a collection of your responses to my survey on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and all the correspondence I've received from constituents about LGR. The voices, needs, and concerns of the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme must be heard loudly and clearly – with me as our MP, they will be. I urge my colleagues to listen. I w

The ‘Eyes on Waste Crime’ campaign is launched as new research reveals the scale of illegal dumping blighting communities across England People across Newcastle-under-Lyme know better than most the devastating impact waste crime can have on communities. After years of industrial-scale dumping at Walleys Quarry, local families have seen first-hand what happens when criminals put profit before public health and our environment. That is why I am backing a new national campaign –

Alsagers Bank Primary Academy, Churchfields Primary School and Our Lady and St Werburgh’s Catholic Primary School are amongst the 813 schools receiving funding across the country. I am delighted to share the fantastic news that three of our local schools are being given the resources they need to thrive. Following the Department for Education's (DfE) announcement of the successful schools list – and with confirmation from Education Minister, Josh MacAlister OBE MP – I am deli

Today the Government has announced a £120 million Ceramics Industry Support Package When I wrote to the Chancellor earlier this year, I told her we were desperate. Our ceramics industry is world-famous, and is the beating heart of our local economy – and it was being overlooked. When the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme was announced, the word "ceramics" did not appear anywhere in it, and we made it clear that the ceramics industry could not be ignored any longer. I

I have written again to Staffordshire's Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner Ben Adams, pressing for urgent action on dangerous street racing that is blighting communities across Newcastle-under-Lyme. You can read the full text of the letter below: Dear Commissioner, Re: Speeding Hot Spots in Newcastle-under-Lyme I write to you again as numerous concerns have been raised with me this week regarding speeding in Newcastle-under-Lyme, specifically on London Road/ A34 throughout Cro

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

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

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

Presentation of the Petition in Parliament (24 February 2026) This week, I formally presented a petition to the House of Commons calling for the protection of College Fields in Madeley. For months, local residents have raised concerns with me about proposals that could restrict long-standing public access to this much-loved green space – including the possibility of fencing and other measures that would limit how the field is used. It quickly became clear just how strongly pe

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