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

My Question in the House of Commons Chamber (10 March 2026) Today in Parliament I highlighted the disgraceful state of our roads in Staffordshire. I hear daily from constituents across Newcastle-under-Lyme about the damage done to their vehicles, the manoeuvres they are forced into to avoid dangerous potholes and the unpleasant experience of simply getting from A to B. Staffordshire County Council's performance is rated amber, and it is clear to all across the County, especia

Presentation of the Petition in Parliament (24 February 2026) This week, I formally presented a petition to the House of Commons calling for the protection of College Fields in Madeley. For months, local residents have raised concerns with me about proposals that could restrict long-standing public access to this much-loved green space – including the possibility of fencing and other measures that would limit how the field is used. It quickly became clear just how strongly pe

On Wednesday I welcomed the Education Minister with responsibility for SEND, Georgia Gould OBE MP, to the Peter Pan Centre for Children with Special Needs. The Centre is an excellent model of best practice, supporting children through their early years right here in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The dedication and expertise of the staff is second to none, and it was important that the Minister saw first-hand the difference that high-quality early support can make. During the visit, t

My Personally Speaking column in The Sentinel (12 February 2026) Last week, I brought my first Bill to Parliament. It was prompted by something straightforward: if we’re aiming to build 1.5 million more homes, and working to build our future – from schools to hospitals and everything in-between, we should be doing that in a way that backs British workers and British industry. That matters in Newcastle-under-Lyme and across North Staffordshire, where skilled labour like brickm