"We owe it to the people of Northern Ireland and to future generations to make sure we get this right" I made a speech during the debate on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill in Parliament on Tuesday (20 October 2026). Read the full debate in Hansard Northern Ireland Troubles Bill - Hansard - UK Parliament

"Black history is British history, and that is certainly true in the context of our United Kingdom. That should not be a controversial or difficult thing to say" I made a speech during the Black History Month debate in Parliament yesterday (22 October 2026). Read the full debate in Hansard Black History Month - Hansard - UK Parliament

"Pubs play a role in so much of our culture, identity, heritage and history" I made a speech during the debate on the Heritage Public Houses Bill on Friday. Read the full debate in Hansard The debate was interupted by an statement to the House, so it took place over two sessions – as written up in Hansard below. Session 1 Session 2

Due to unexpected personal circumstances, I am not able to be present in Parliament to vote on the Second Reading of the Assisted Dying Bill. I am grateful to all those residents who have shared their views on this Bill with me and the many conversations I have had with local people about the consequences and impact of this Bill. Last year, I wasn’t able to secure a pair – a fellow Member of Parliament who would be voting yes but would not vote so as not to lose my no vote –

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 –

Record Funding for Staffordshire I am pleased to share that the Government has now confirmed that Staffordshire County Council is set to receive £14.97 million – the biggest ever single high needs capital allocation for our area. This represents a £4.26 million boost from last year and is part of a landmark £3 billion national investment into inclusive classrooms. This funding is a direct response to the need for more specialist places closer to home, and I am determined to e

Commonwealth Day 2026 Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons (11 March 2026)

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.