My Personally Speaking column in The Sentinel (18 December 2025) Christmas has a way of revealing who we really rely on to keep daily life moving. When pressure rises, deadlines tighten and expectations are high, it is the same groups of people who step up – often without fuss, and often without recognition. At Christmas, more than at any other time, the country leans on shop workers, delivery drivers and postal workers, carers, NHS and social care staff, cleaners, warehouse

My Personally Speaking Column in The Sentinel (20 November 2025) One of the best things of being our local Member of Parliament is getting out across Newcastle-under-Lyme to meet the people and businesses that drive our local community and our local economy. In recent weeks, that’s included visits to Meighs & Westleys in Holditch and Broxap in Chesterton – two examples of the many long standing businesses rooted in our community. At Meighs & Westleys, or the Westley Group, I

My Personally Speaking Column in the Sentinel (23 October 2025) There aren’t many drivers around Newcastle-under-Lyme who don’t know the A500 Audley slip road – a stretch of road that’s become an accident blackspot. Near-misses and collisions are now all too familiar, and residents have every right to be worried about their safety. In recent months, I’ve heard from many people who use this junction every day. They’ve told me about cars ending up in ditches, about having to br

My Personally Speaking Column in the Sentinel (25 September 2025) This month, I had the pleasure of visiting The Victoria – known to many as The Little Vic – to present Julie, Sarah, and their brilliant team with the award for Newcastle-under-Lyme’s Best Pub 2025. Over the summer, I held my Newcastle-under-Lyme’s Best Pub 2025 competition to celebrate the places that bring us together, support jobs, and play a vital role in our local economy and community life. Pubs are more

My Personally Speaking Column in the Sentinel (28 August 2025) Where we live, whether there are enough school places for our children, if GP surgeries and NHS services can meet local demand, how we improve transport connectivity across the community and how we protect the green spaces that make Newcastle-under-Lyme special – all of these things are shaped, in part, by the Local Plan. Earlier this year, Newcastle-under-Lyme District Borough Council submitted its draft Local Pl

My Personally Speaking Column in the Sentinel (31 July 2025) On Sunday night, the Lionesses made history – again. As they lifted the Women’s European Championship trophy for the second time in a row, it wasn’t just about the result – it was about the pride in our country, the sense of togetherness, and the memories being made in living rooms, pubs and parks up and down the country. It captured something many people felt in that moment – and that Chloe Kelly put simply and per

My Personally Speaking Column in The Sentinel this week Last week I visited Walleys Quarry landfill site, to see the works underway and the progress being made by the Environment Agency for myself. We all know how much Walleys Quarry has dominated the conversation in Newcastle-under-Lyme. After everything our community has been through – the odour, the anxiety, the unanswered questions, and the years of ignored concerns – it was important to witness the restoration efforts fi

My Personally Speaking Column in The Sentinel this week Today marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day – a significant milestone in our national story and a moment of deep reflection. Across Newcastle-under-Lyme, people have come together to honour this occasion with pride and respect throughout this week. From school assemblies to wreath-laying ceremonies, and with today’s service at St Giles’ Church and the lighting of a beacon, our community has shown real appreciation for the

My 'Personally Speaking' column in The Sentinel today One of the best things about my job is the opportunity to visit schools across Newcastle-under-Lyme. When I do, one thing always stands out - the potential in every room. Each child I meet represents the future, carrying the hopes and dreams that reflect the very best of our community.   We owe it to the next generation to make a simple but powerful promise: that we will equip them with the tools they need to thrive. Our r