My Personally Speaking column in The Sentinel (4 June 2026) We live in the best part of the kingdom – in the heart of this island home of ours. We are strategically located between two of the UK's biggest cities, sitting on the M6 corridor, with a local train station that links directly to the capital – North Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme should be firmly on the map. This is a place of brilliant people, local businesses and institutions, and immense, untapped promise

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

My Personally Speaking column in The Sentinel (9 April 2026) The people of our com­munity spoke this month and elec­ted a new major­ity at the bor­ough coun­cil. I con­grat­u­late all those who won their seats and thank all those who weren’t suc­cess­ful, for their ser­vice and for put­ting their hands up to serve the com­munity. I will be work­ing every day to hold the bor­ough coun­cil to account so that we get the rep­res­ent­a­tion we deserve. Our area has a rich cul­ture

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

On 7 May, local people elected their new Borough Council The new Cabinet will be formed on 20 May. I’m asking them to join the calls of many in our community to listen - and back my demands on Staffordshire County Council to save Baldies Field. The Petition Reads: We, the undersigned residents of Newcastle-under-Lyme, call on the newly formed administration of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council (NULBC) to urge Staffordshire County Council to act to protect Baldies Field and

The Stoke on Trent & North Staffordshire Theatre Trust, which operates the New Vic Theatre, is set to receive a share of the Labour government’s £127.8 million investment in cultural venues. Our local arts and cultural spaces are at the heart of our community, bringing people together and celebrating what makes Newcastle-under-Lyme special. The New Vic is a pioneering example of the powerful cultural impact we have right here in Newcastle-under-Lyme. While storytelling in-the

It is clear for all to see that our young people have the talent and determination needed to build the industries that will power our future right here in Newcastle-under-Lyme – what has been missing is a government that matched that ambition. With the announcement that Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) has been named a national Technical Excellence College (TEC) , that backing is finally here. Being selected as one of just four hubs specialising in advanced manufa

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