I’ve been out campaigning in Gorton & Denton today. The response on the doors confirmed to me what all polling & fair analysis shows: this is a Labour vs Reform contest Labour in Manchester is strong not just in activists but in public recognition of the city’s progress. Together, we can win this

I stopped today at the Afghanistan panel of the Brothers in Arms memorial wall in Sunderland. British forces fought on the front line of Afghanistan. 457 were killed, including those from #Sunderland who we will never forget. Donald Trump’s comments are as appalling as they are wrong.

Labour announcement today: NHS waiting lists down by 86,000 in one month Reform announcement today: another failed senior Conservative has joined Reform are busy recruiting the people who got the country in a huge mess - Labour is busy clearing it up and renewing Britain

Well that was bracing: Boxing Day dip at Seaburn in support of St Benedict’s Hospice🥶 Class, daft atmosphere as ever. Well done to all who took part and thanks to all organisers. #Sunderland at its best. Defrosting now…

Another positive milestone for Sunderland. Thousands of jobs depend on making Electric Vehicles here. Labour is backing them. Why are Reform and the Tories putting jobs here at risk with their reckless opposition to green manufacturing?

The Govt have announced a Review into #mentalhealth conditions, ADHD & Autism: an important opportunity to recognise evidence on prevalence & how to meet varied needs of population Thoughts as an MP who worked in NHS MH services & who has been active on this in Parliament… 🧵

Wes Streeting on Reform’s Sarah Pochin: “She’s only sorry that she’s been caught & called out & she said the quiet bit loud. What we’ve seen in recent weeks/months is a return to 1970/80s racism. I think what she said was racist” #bbclaurak

It was great to see real momentum at the #LabourConference for the #NeighbourhoodNHS. 🙌 🗣 opened by @danielelkeles.bsky.social and remarks from @lewisatkinson.bsky.social 🤝 focus on local, joined up and fairer care 🏥 prevention and community at the heart of reform

Very pleased to see this - happening because of UNISON’s strong campaigning and the positive way @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social has engaged positively on the issue, including with MPs such as myself who raised SubCo concerns. A good day for one NHS team.

Drug-related deaths were at public health emergency levels even before this research which suggests they have been underreported. We must do more to improve access to drug treatment - to save lives and to reduce costs and harm to society. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article....

Great to be out with @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social campaigning in one of our marginal wards this afternoon. We need a campaigning deputy leader who can unite the party and defeat Reform: that’s why I’m proud to #BackBridget

Labour Deputy Leadership Given the geographical distribution of other leading members of the party & Government, it would not be acceptable to have a London Deputy leader. We need to represent and win across the whole of the UK. I’ll be looking to support a non-London woman.

Proud of our city, proud to be English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 What a night for #Sunderland on the world stage.

Sunderland remembers #VJDay 80 years on. An honour to be at the war memorial this morning to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Sunderland’s servicemen in the Far East. They included my great uncle Lally Mackintosh from the East End who fought in Burma.

Counting down to 3pm Saturday, I managed to work a cheeky #SAFC Premier League preview into a speech. The first time Mayenda’s views on Sam Fender have been discussed in the House of Commons 👀🔴⚪️

Happy #nationalmackemday, it’s a good one with another SAFC signing. Thanks to A Love Supreme for leading the commemoration of this important and historic day.

Improving #Sunderland - together 💪🔴⚪️ Fantastic response at my community clean-up, including from local charities, faith groups and businesses. We can make such a positive difference when we work together, as we did in the aftermath of the riot last year.

Get in Lucy Bronze! Forged in Sunderland 🦁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿💪

A big health policy day, the launch of the Government’s welcome 10 year health plan. The plan rightly emphasises empowering patients, so I chose to ask about how that applies in #mentalhealth. We need to improve #NHS MH access - and data about waiting times to help get them down.

Humanists are increasingly recognised in areas of public life: in education, in national services including Remembrance, in the NHS, 'yet humanist marriages are still not recognised, it is absolutely overdue.' @lewisatkinson.bsky.social

Fundamentals remain as #AssistedDying clocks up 100 hours Parliamentary consideration: - MPs know status quo is cruel & untenable - All passed amendments further tighten Bill (eg advertising ban) On analysis of votes today, I’m v confident it will pass at 3rd reading next Fri

Investment not decline. Stability not chaos. The decisions taken by Labour mean we are able to invest in the NHS, in security, in transport, in public services. We are investing to deliver change, so people are better off.

Family outing at @beamishmuseum.bsky.social, got to enjoy the old Grand Electric cinema from Ryhope for the first time. Beamish is one of my favourite places in the world, and a hugely important institution for ALL of the NE: proud to see them shortlisted for @artfund.bsky.social #museumoftheyear

Scenes. Premier League scenes! 🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🤩 #SAFC

Much better than my usual weekly trip down… #SAFC

Morning radio round on #AssistedDying. Parliament is continuing its long & sensitive debate of Kim Leadbeater’s Bill. I support the Bill which has the strongest safeguards in the world, because individuals should have the right to choice at end of life & the current law is untenable and cruel.

3pm KO now confirmed - it shouldn’t have taken this long. Now to sort travel. See you in Trafalgar Square & at Wembley #SAFC

Football is for fans. I have written to the EFL to make clear my frustration that #SAFC & #SUFC fans cannot finalise Wembley play-off final plans because the KO time is still TBC. Fans need to sort travel - and in many cases they also need to sort work & caring responsibilities.

See you here next Friday #SAFC 🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🙌

This is torture #SAFC

A statement from me on today’s global announcement by Nissan:

Ready. Nervous. Ha’way. #SAFC

#VEDay in Ryhope.

#LabourGain Congratulations Vicky Oakley and David Smith MP’s excellent North Northumberland Labour team

Congratulations Karen Clark, elected Labour Mayor of North Tyneside. Also, happy retirement to Norma Redfearn: a remarkable and hugely under-appreciated public servant en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norma_R...

Happy Easter to all those celebrating in Sunderland and around the world. Lovely to join with the congregation of St Andrews, Roker for their Easter Sunday service.

It’s a beautiful morning to be heading to Westminster to protect our steel industry.

Top quality reporting - another reason to support the BBC.

Sunderland is a music city - and our grassroots venues are key to that. Delighted to get them Government recognition from @chrisbryant1962.bsky.social - and commitment that he’ll make sure the voluntary arena/stadium gig levy is implemented to provide grassroots support @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social

As a pharmacist I am so pleased to comment on a #pharmacy funding settlement that begins to heal the wounds the last Government inflicted over so many years. I am incredibly proud of the faith Stephen Kinnock has shown in #communitypharmacy More details 👇 shorturl.at/u2QWh

Good to participate in the important debate on drug related deaths this afternoon. This is a public health crisis: 5,448 deaths a year, a number that greater availability of evidence-based treatment could reduce. I intend to be working more on this with colleagues in coming months.

This Government is committed to making work pay and putting more money in working people’s pockets. Today, we have brought a pay boost to three million workers worth £1,400 a year. #PlanForChange #MakeWorkPay

Lots of building happening and planned in Sunderland - this announcement is going to help make sure people here get the full economic benefit of the construction jobs.

💔 “Had we had more sympathetic assisted dying laws, I would still be here today.” These are powerful words from @lewisatkinson.bsky.social, who shares heartbreaking stories of people forced to die alone because of the current law. We must do better. Watch his speech 👇 #AssistedDying

Reform's mask has slipped. Fighting like cats in a sack, admiring Vladimir Putin and now defending private schools' tax breaks. They're not on your side.

“I’m a former NHS manager who sits on the assisted dying committee. I’m convinced we can craft a law that is both fair and secure,” writes @lewisatkinson.bsky.social. www.prospectmagazine...

Delighted to join girls at the Foundation of Light for a kick around to mark International Women’s Day. Thanks to all the brilliant women in Sunderland: past, present and future, you power our city and the bright future we have.

Another day of line-by-line scrutiny in Assisted Dying Bill Committee. V pleased my amendment was passed clarifying ‘all appropriate’ palliative & psychological care *must* be discussed with any terminally ill adult considering assisted dying. We have also passed amendments…🧵

♻️✈️ Sustainable Aviation Fuel 👷🏼‍♂️🏗️ Great to be with Wastefront & British Airways owner IAG for the groundbreaking of their new £100m tire-to-fuel site at the Port of Sunderland. 100 good jobs are being created: an example of how net-zero mandates are driving economic growth

Labour promised to deliver 2 million more appointments a year as the first step to tackle NHS waiting lists... and we’ve delivered by meeting our target—7 months ahead of schedule. Looking forward to meeting constituents on Saturday to discuss their experiences with the NHS in Sunderland.