The role of gold in financing the horrors we are seeing in Sudan, including through illicitly financing arms imports, cannot be underestimated. The UK must take action to stop illegal gold trade from fuelling this brutal conflict.

It's been another busy week as MP for North Herefordshire - here's quick update on what I've been up to!

Even before the Mandelson scandal, and the current spectacle of a tiny number of Peers blocking the will of the majority of elected MPs, it was clear the HoL needs urgent reform. Labour promised to do so in their 2024 manifesto. So why won't the govt get to work on this?

Lawyers, genocide scholars, the ICJ, and the UN Commission of Inquiry state the Israeli govt's actions in Gaza amount to genocide - so why does the UK still maintain there is no plausible risk of genocide, in the face of overwhelming evidence? Why does the UK continue to be complicit?

Really moving to join cross-party MPs at the “Not Today Cancer!” event last night in honour of the amazing cancer awareness campaigner Nat Dye MBE. Such a brilliant tribute which was deeply touching and comedic in equal measure while raising funds for @macmillancancer.bsky.social.

In trying to avoid releasing material which may be embarrassing for the UK govt or offensive to the sensitivities of one Donald Trump, the govt has set up a process which risks hugely delaying the release of papers relating to Mandelson's appointment.

The PM already seems to have turned a blind eye to Mandelson's relationship with Epstein in order to cosy up to Trump, & the govt's actions today further prioritise a relationship with the US over transparency with the British public. We need urgent action to clean up politics.

The brave Iranian protestors deserve the UK's full support in their fight against the horrific regime - and this includes the UK committing not to support or enable actors such as the US in violating international law through any actions in Iran.

Absolutely brilliant to take part in the massive action day on Saturday in Gorton and Denton, having loads of positive conversations with residents who will be voting Green on Feb 26! Only the Greens can stop Reform in this by-election. Join us today: join.greenparty.org.uk

The Rafah crossing has reopened - but only barely. Despite 20,000 sick Palestinians waiting to leave Gaza for medical treatment, only around 50 will be permitted to leave each day. No aid will be allowed through to Gaza. No foreign journalists will be allowed in either.

Happy Friday everyone - here with another quick update on what I've been up to as your MP this week!

Massive congratulations to Hannah, an absolutely brilliant Councillor, Green Party member, and Mancunian dedicated to delivering the best for Gorton and Denton residents! Hugely looking forward to campaigning with Hannah tomorrow and as much as possible over the coming weeks!

There is huge local effort in North Herefordshire to tackle agricultural pollution in the Wye & Lugg - but we need proper government support for the solutions local people want: farmer-led landscape recovery projects; more funding and teeth for the EA, and a WPZ for the Wye.

Peers in the HoL must not block progress on the Assisted Dying Bill by dragging proceedings out unreasonably. Peers have a duty to engage in legitimate scrutiny, not filibuster until a Bill falls. It's elected MPs in the Commons who represent the people, not a handful of unelected Lords.

Policy must be based on evidence to be effective – so why, given agricultural pollution makes up 40% of the pollution in our waterways, did the government’s Water White Paper dedicate only a single page to addressing it?

"While this plan is clearly better than the swinging cuts and mess we saw under the Conservatives, this is not the retrofit revolution Labour promised while in opposition." Read my full op-ed on the Warm Homes Plan here: www.insidehousing.co.uk/comment/comm...

Together with cross-party MPs in the River Wye catchment, I wrote to the Minister for Water and Flooding to request a meeting to discuss how we can make progress in restoring the Wye and tackling flooding. We cannot stand by whilst the Wye continues to decline.

It's clear that funding must match the realities of the areas where funding is needed - so why, under the so-called 'Fair Funding Review', will areas like Herefordshire see funding slashed and a removal of remoteness adjustment for all areas but social care?

Today we remember all of the victims who were murdered in the Holocaust and pay tribute to the survivors who share their stories so we may continue to learn from its horrors. May their memories be a blessing. #HolocaustMemorialDay

My constituent has been waiting over five months to get a response from DWP about his UC case - really unacceptable. And this is by no means the only case. I challenged the Minister to ensure that DWP responds to the public - and MPs - within reasonable timescales.

Delighted to join @samaritans.bsky.social in Parliament to mark #BrewMonday – Samaritans’ takeover of so-called “Blue Monday”. The truth is that people can struggle on any day of the year, and I pledge to work with Samaritans to ensure support is always available.

Disgusting remarks from Donald Trump - an insult to the memories of the more than 400 British soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan and to their families. Absolutely vile to belittle and deny that sacrifice.

Happy Friday everyone - here with another quick update on what I've been up to as your MP this week!

Among the horrifying testimonies emerging from Iran is the use of sexual assault as a weapon of repression against detainees. The UK govt urgently must raise these accounts in their conversations with Iranian representatives & lay out steps to support the safety of protestors.

After months of delay, the Warm Homes Plan was finally published yesterday. While the Plan is a very welcome step in tackling fuel poverty and upgrading our housing stock, there is still much more to do to make our homes truly fit for the future.

Absolutely ludicrous that Trump has invited Putin and Netanyahu to sit on the Board of Peace for Gaza - the future of Gaza must be decided by Palestinians, not lorded over by foreign leaders with no respect for international law.

If you're wondering how seriously Starmer takes the responsibility of PMQs, today he chose to completely dodge my question about water pollution and support for farmers - and instead rant about America, nuclear weapons, and cocaine. Utterly ridiculous behaviour.

It's clear that the government's strategy of attempting to appease Donald Trump has roundly failed; when you cede ground to a bully, you only embolden them further. It's time for the UK to show some genuine backbone in the face of the US President's aggression and unreliability.

Rural constituencies like North Herefordshire have specific needs when it comes to SEND provision - making it more than disappointing when plans for a new specialist school in the county were cancelled last year & replaced with grossly inadequate funding allocation.

Since 2020 the world's billionaires have accumulated enough additional wealth to end global poverty 26 times over. This inequality is staggering and utterly outrageous. We urgently need national & global action to reverse this & address the distortion of politics caused by extreme wealth.

I met with the Minister of State for Care last week to press him on the crisis in social care & the urgent need for more funding for Herefordshire Council. The govt’s current proposals will significantly reduce funding per head over the coming 3 years - this is simply not acceptable.

Vladimir Putin, a war criminal and dictator, has reportedly been invited to join the Board of Peace for Gaza - a sheer mockery of the horrific situations in Gaza and Ukraine, where the paths to peace remain fragile at best and countless lives hang in the balance. news.sky.com/story/putin-...

Donald Trump treats the international stage like a schoolyard playground, attempting to bully and brute force other countries into compliance with his imperialist agenda. The UK cannot continue to appease an erratic, unreliable leader under the guise of a "special relationship."

The Iranian people, and women and girls in particular, have spent many years putting their lives at risk to protest against the repressive regime. We must stand in solidarity with them in their fight for the fundamental human rights of freedom of expression and right to protest.

Ridiculous that young people, who are not able to drive as a means of transport, are so often excluded from conversations around concessionary bus travel. We need free bus travel for young people, disabled people, and the elderly as standard - not based on a postcode lottery.

I absolutely welcome the govt's new law making it illegal to create non-consensual intimate images - and I also recognise that legislation is only as good as its enforcement. We must ensure Ofcom's investigation is conducted swiftly; justice for victims cannot wait.

Another discredited Conservative has landed on the shores of Reform UK: Nadhim Zahawi. I wonder if he will last longer there than he did as Chairman of the Conservative Party - just three months.

The danger those protesting in Iran face is nothing short of horrific, with hundreds killed already. The international community must stand in solidarity with the protestors and make clear the Iranian regime cannot kill and target their own citizens with impunity.

On Monday, Trump ran roughshod over intl law - the UK took no action. On Tuesday, Trump threatened a NATO ally - the UK took no action. Today, the UK supported Trump's military operation in the North Atlantic. When will this govt stop appeasing Trump and stand up for the rule of law?

'It's clear that international institutions have to evolve' @elliechowns.bsky.social challenges Labour's subservience to Trump's resource imperialism- calling for a renewed approach to international cooperation, peace and security

It is not enough for the government to simply condemn the establishment of more illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank; the UK must take concrete action. Ban all trade with illegal settlements and refuse to have anything to do with the proceeds of crime.

While families across Britain try to cope with freezing January temperatures, the govt yet again puts off publication of the urgently needed Warm Homes Plan. Six million households in England live in fuel poverty; we cannot wait any longer to tackle this issue.

In the first 6 days of 2026, FTSE 100 CEOs have made more money than the average UK worker will earn in an entire year - unacceptable inequality as millions of Brits struggle with cost of living. We need to tax wealth & income fairly to invest in a fairer future for everyone.

Of course Maduro's repressive regime must be held accountable - but the US's unilateral attack on Venezuela is not about democracy. It is about oil imperialism. The UK must stop pandering to Donald Trump and roundly condemn the illegal action taken by the US.

It shouldn't have taken the govt over a year to listen to farmers' concerns. But there are still problems - and loopholes - with the APR policy. Govt should listen to and work with farmers to ensure a sustainable future for farming.

My amazing constituent Abi has created this beautiful scarf in Climate Stripes colours, going through the entire process of shearing and dyeing the wool, spinning it, and finally knitting the stunning final product! Incredible skill and care - thank you so much Abi!

Merry Christmas everyone - here's to another year working hard for North Herefordshire!

Really inspiring to visit Lee's Place, which provides hot food every night for people in Hereford who are homeless. If you'd like to help out, you can donate to their Christmas appeal and help provide a hot meal or essential supplies for those in need: communitypower.enthuse.com/cf/a-place-a...

Great to join River Action for the launch of their Agricultural Water Pollution strategy in Parliament - such an important issue and very close to my heart!

If we are to truly grasp the nettle on the issue of agricultural pollution in the Wye, we need a Water Protection Zone - I pressed the government to meet with me and other local MPs to discuss how we can progress implementation of this.