I've written to Staffordshire County Council following the inclement weather causing flooding across Newcastle-under-Lyme today. Read the full text of the letter Dear Leader, Re: Roadworks on Friarswood Road I write to you from a very wet and stormy Newcastle-under-Lyme. The heavy rain, and storm that brought it, has been forecast for the last several days and yet that rain, and the subsequent flooding, has hit our town hard over the last few hours. I have had reports from lo

My Personally Speaking column in The Sentinel (22 October 2026) HARDLY a week goes by without con­cerns about anti­so­cial beha­viour com­ing across my desk. It lands in my inbox, I hear about it on the door­step, when I’m out and about in town and across our con­stitu­ency. Local people want our com­munity to feel safe and wel­com­ing, and they are right to want that. But let’s be clear, they also want to know that something is being done to make it hap­pen. With that in min

I've written to Staffordshire County Council to ask why it is pressing ahead with roadworks on Friarswood Road while the sinkhole at Brook Lane remains unresolved and Friarswood Road is being used as a key diversion route. Residents are already facing delays because of the ongoing closure of Brook Lane, with many telling me journeys on the morning commute that should take minutes are taking much longer. I share their frustration and cannot understand why further disruption is

Adam Jogee MP at Manchester Airport Marking the New Direct Route Last week, I presented my petition in Parliament, on behalf of hundreds of people in Newcastle-under-Lyme, calling for a direct train to Manchester Airport. Today, West Midlands Trains has confirmed that this new direct service will begin running from May 2027 Today’s announcement is a brilliant step forward for the connectivity of our area, for families heading off on their holidays, and for the offer we presen

"No child, no parent, no carer, nobody in Newcastle-under-Lyme or anywhere else in England should be at risk of injury, serious injury or indeed death when on the journey to school in the morning or from school" I introduced my Road Safety Plans Bill to Parliament last week. The Bill would require local authorities with responsibility for road infrastructure, like Staffordshire County Council, to prepare and publish road safety plans tailored for every school within their are

I have written to Staffordshire's Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner Ben Adams, seeking urgent clarity following reports that he is considering the sale of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, together with the outsourcing of the Service's Training, Learning and Development function. The recent fires we have seen in our region and across Staffordshire, have been a stark reminder of just how much our communities rely on a fully resourced, well-trained and properl

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