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

One of the best parts of being an MP is getting out to see the people and businesses that make our community tick. An even greater part is being able to showcase those wonderful businesses – so vital to not just our area’s success, but to the country’s – to Ministers and those in the heart of Government. Yesterday, I was delighted to welcome the Minister for Industry, Chris McDonald MP, to Chesterton to visit Ibstock. It was a fantastic opportunity for the Minister to see the

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

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

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

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