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) 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.

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

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

Questions to the Leader of the House (11 September 2025) Thousands of women across the United Kingdom were coerced into giving up their babies for adoption between the 1940s and 1970s. I called on the government to preserve adoption records so families can be reunited, and to issue a long-overdue formal apology to the women and families whose lives were devastated by these practices. Anyone in Newcastle-under-Lyme affected by historic forced adoptions can contact my office at

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

It was a privilege to visit the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of those from Newcastle-under-Lyme, from Staffordshire, from across our country, and from every corner of the Commonwealth. Eighty years on from VJ Day, we remember the men and women who gave everything so that we could live in freedom. Their service and sacrifice remain an enduring inspiration. We will remember them.

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.

Signing the car at Wolstanton Retail Park EV Charging Point On Thursday I had the privilege of becoming the first MP to sign the Bon VoyCharge campaign car , as it stopped off at the Wolstanton Retail Park EV charging station here in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The campaign – led by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) – is calling for better access to electric vehicle (EV) charging at the places people actually visit: tourist attractions, hotels, leisure faci

The leasehold system in England and Wales has been broken for too long. Too many leaseholders face unfair ground rents, hidden charges, poor service from managing agents, and limited control over their own homes. We’re determined to change that The Government has launched a major public consultation  on the next phase of leasehold reform. 📣 This is your opportunity to help shape the future of leasehold in this country. Have your say before 26 September 2025: https://consult

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

To mark the recent St George’s Day celebrations, I was honoured to lead the St George’s Day and English Affairs debate in Parliament — a chance to reflect on what it means to be English, to celebrate our history, and above all, to recognise the people who make our country what it is today. As I said in my speech: “England’s greatest asset is its people. Hard-working, God-fearing, decent folks who don’t walk by on the other side but turn up to be counted.” From the NHS to our

Yesterday I spoke in the House of Commons in a debate to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War — a tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and determination of the Greatest Generation. In my speech, I reflected on the hard-won triumph of democracy over authoritarianism, nationalism, and fascism — and why the sacrifices made by so many must never be forgotten. From the veterans of Newcastle-under-Lyme, across the United Kingdom, and throughout the Commonwealt

After the recent blackouts in Spain and Portugal, in the Commons, I asked the Minister for Energy, Michael Shanks MP, how we’re protecting our electricity grid from foreign-owned smart tech that could be used against us. With technology increasingly run by third parties abroad, we must stay vigilant – because our grid isn’t just about power; it’s about protecting people in Newcastle-under-Lyme and across the United Kingdom. Cyber threats to our energy infrastructure are real,

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of leading a debate in the House of Commons calling on the Government to back the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) with a new wave of funding to help transform lives in former mining communities across our country. A Proven Model for Change The CRT was established by the last Labour Government in 1999 to deliver economic, social, and health improvements in places like Newcastle-under-Lyme that bore the brunt of deindustrialisation. Twenty-fi