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

Debate in the House of Commons (18 December 2025) Yesterday, I took part in the Christmas Adjournment Debate – an opportunity to reflect on the year in Parliament and to set out the priorities that matter most to people in Newcastle-under-Lyme. I used the debate to highlight the progress that has been made over the past year, including the real and tangible improvements since the closure notice was issued at Walleys Quarry, and the long-overdue action delivered on pension jus

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.