In House of Commons Business Questions (30 October 2025) In recent days and weeks, there have been disturbing reports of people being spiked by injection in Newcastle town centre. I’ve heard from residents who are fearful and angry — and I share their concern. No one should feel unsafe on a night out. Our town centre must be safe, welcoming and secure for everyone. Yesterday I raised this issue directly in Parliament during Business Questions to the Leader of the House, calli

I’m very concerned by recent reports of people being spiked by injection in Newcastle town centre. These incidents have understandably caused alarm among residents and visitors, and a number of constituents have contacted me directly to share their fears about safety on nights out. Everyone should be able to enjoy themselves without worrying about their safety. Our town centre must be a place where people feel safe, welcome and protected – not somewhere where fear or uncertai

Every young person should finish school with a clear set of options and the confidence to choose the path that’s right for them – whether that’s continuing in full-time study, taking up an apprenticeship, or gaining skills through high-quality training. For too long, our education and skills system hasn’t made that easy. The last government left too many young people without clear routes into good jobs, too many qualifications overlapping or undervalued, and too many colleges

My Personally Speaking Column in the Sentinel (23 October 2025) There aren’t many drivers around Newcastle-under-Lyme who don’t know the A500 Audley slip road – a stretch of road that’s become an accident blackspot. Near-misses and collisions are now all too familiar, and residents have every right to be worried about their safety. In recent months, I’ve heard from many people who use this junction every day. They’ve told me about cars ending up in ditches, about having to br

Today, I received confirmation from Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood MP, that safety improvements are being progressed at the A500 Audley Slip Road – a direct result of the pressure we’ve been applying locally and in Parliament. The Minister was responding to the letter I sent to the Secretary of State for Transport earlier this month, in which I urged the Government to step in and ensure action was finally taken to make this junction safe. In his reply, the Transport Mini

Walleys Quarry has been at the heart of community concern in Newcastle‑under‑Lyme for far too long. Residents have lived with the consequences of poor management and a lack of accountability, and it’s vital that progress continues to be made to restore the site safely and hold those responsible to account. Today, I have written to Mary Creagh CBE MP, the Minister for Nature, following her recent correspondence with Newcastle‑under‑Lyme Borough Council. In this, I reiterated m

Presenting the Petition to Parliament (14 October 2025) Yesterday, I presented a petition to the House of Commons on behalf of residents across Newcastle-under-Lyme calling for urgent action to improve safety at the A500 Audley slip road. This is an issue that local people have been raising with me for some time. The junction where the A500 slip road meets Alsager Road has seen far too many accidents and near-misses — and it’s clear that changes are needed to make this stretc

I’ve called on Staffordshire County Council to reverse its decision to cut funding for a vital Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) outreach programme led by Merryfields School in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The County Council’s £40,000 cut ended Merryfields’ outreach work supporting children with SEND in mainstream schools across our community. This is a programme that made a real difference – helping teachers and pupils to get the support they need to thrive. Merryf

This week, I wrote to the Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council about asylum accommodation, calling for clear communication with residents, an end to the costly use of hotels, and safe, suitable housing while claims are processed quickly. I also made clear my strong opposition to any use of local university accommodation for this purpose. 📄 Read my full letter here: