It is always an honour to plant a stake in the Garden of Remembrance in Parliament, on behalf of the City of Durham. Lest we forget.

It was an absolute honour to help break ground on the new campus development at Houghall College. This new, sustainable scheme will deliver state of the art facilities to deliver agricultural and land-based skills well into the future. I cant wait to come back and see how it’s coming along!

Great to speak to NE school pupils at the Climate Education event organised by SOS UK, The Ministry of Eco Education, hosted by Durham Uni. The enthusiasm was fantastic & it's clear there is real determination from local schools & young people themselves to do their bit tackling the climate crisis.

Young people are being exposed to harmful content online, normalising sexual violence against women & girls. So, as part of the Online Safety Act & the Crime & Policing Bill, we’re ending the depiction of strangulation during sex. 1 step that this Labour govt is taking to keep women & girls safe.

My thoughts following the horrific attack on innocent rail passengers last night!

So what happened with the Big Votes in the Lords on the Employment Rights Bill? Unelected Tory and Lib Dem Lords passed amendments that undermine Labour's Manifesto - on Day 1 rights, Guaranteed Hours and Repealing the TU Act Over to MPs now, to stand up for workers & their mandate from the public

Exciting!!!!!

What a fantastic start to Friday at a 'Mature Movers' class put on by the brilliant Claire Smith in Newton Hall. Such a welcoming group of people - and they certainly made me realise that I must prioritise some time for well-being activities and exercise! More 👇🏻.

Always a pleasure to catch up with WASPI - Women Against State Pension Inequality Campaign when the brilliant campaigners are in Parliament. My support for them is unwavering and I'll be by their side for as long as they need me. 💜🐝💜

Stopped by the Advice Saves 2025 reception to learn more about their report which highlights key issues facing the independent advice sector. AdviceUK provided life-saving advice to 2.8 million people last yr, supporting them with issues relating to issues from housing, debt & welfare - 👏🏻

Humbled to meet Esther Ghey & hear about the Phone Free Education campaign she started following the murder of her daughter, Brianna in 2023. We must do more to ensure the well-being & education of pupils are prioritised & protected from the harms mobile phone use can bring.

It was particularly special to see the suicide memorial quilt from the North East in Parliament this week. The quilt offers such a unique way of remembering the lives of people lost to suicide, and I want to thank all of the local families who have been involved. More ⬇️

Huge recognition has to go to @jimdickson.bsky.social , @marykfoymp.bsky.social and Bob Blackman MP for their tireless work on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. 🚭

I was genuinely honoured to be asked to host the Pink Ribbon Tea event in Parliament this week. Many of you will know I have my personal experience with breast cancer, so whenever I can speak to people and encourage them to take up their screening or self-checking - I’m going to do it! More ⬇️

So good to drop in to a packed out @pcr-uk.bsky.social event yesterday on behalf of my constituents. It is clear men are dying needlessly because we don't screen for prostate cancer. A targeted programme for those at highest risk could save thousands of lives. I'm so glad to support the campaign!

Today we will be hearing from @clairehanna.bsky.social, @robinswannmp.bsky.social and @elliechowns.bsky.social for our inquiry into the potential use of call lists. 📺 Watch live from 3.30pm: www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Great time at Esh C of E Primary last week to chat to Head - Mr Park & see their brekkie club in action, As 1 of the first schools to offer a free brekkie club it was fab to see pupils get the best start in the morning. I also said hi to years 5 & 6 & had some Qs about parli! Thanks for having me.

Just a quick note of thanks to all of the council workers, emergency services, powergrid personnel and members of local communities for the work they’re doing clearing up the mess this dreadful storm ☔️ 💨 has caused across the county so far. More 👇🏻.

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It was really useful to meet with @samaritans.bsky.social while I was at conference, particularly as I was keen to know more about their campaign for the Government to implement mandatory suicide prevention training for emergency responders, such as police officers, paramedics & firefighters. More ⬇️

The amount of contact I receive from constituents regarding access to prostate cancer screening is ever increasing, so I was only too pleased to spend some time at the Prostate Cancer Research stand at conference this week to find out more about how I can support their campaigns. More ⬇️!

When I am at Labour Party Conference I always try to drop by the stands which constituents have contacted me about, particularly when the topic is important to them. I caught up with @dementiauk.bsky.social yesterday…more 👇🏻.

This is welcome news protecting our prison officers in workplaces & huge credit should go to Claire & The POA who have pushed the govt. The work doesn’t stop here, all prison officers deserve to have adequate protective kit at work & I’ll campaign for as long as it takes to get that in place.

Thank you to Believe Housing Limited Chief Executive, Alan Smith, for meeting with me yesterday. We had a useful discussion around the pressures that the social housing sector is facing and he also took time to update me on cases my office have been working on with Believe. More 👇🏻.

The last time I visited Notch in Durham was the day after the 2024 Miners' Gala when I refuelled myself with a fabulous Sunday lunch - so it was lovely to call in and meet Emilio and Dan earlier today and remind myself of how gorgeous the food is. The owners are canny too! 😉🍸🌮🍹 More 👇🏻.

Fab to see Fraser & Chris to officially open their new venture. You may know their popular indoor market store Bear Bottom, but after they spied a vacant unit on the Riverwalk they decided to expand their offering across the city. Next time you’re in their neck of the woods make sure you stop by! ☕️🍰

It was great to meet with TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak and Durham Unison members at Redhills today to discuss jobs, pay and protecting public services! It’s always my pleasure to stand alongside hardworking reps who support local workers and their communities.

The APPG on Smoking & Health’s Co-Chair @marykfoymp.bsky.social wrote to the Guardian 📰 making the case for a polluter pays levy on tobacco companies 🚭. £700m per year direct from industry (not taxpayers!) to fund smoking cessation services. What’s not to like! 🙌 🔗 Read here: shorturl.at/O8bBv

I've seen horrific footage of murder of Charlie Kirk many times, as well as surveillance footage showing the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska. This is a clear failure of online platforms to prevent the spread of such harmful content as mandated by the Online Safety Act 2023.

A major issue facing bus operators is lack of engineers available locally to support the maintenance of their fleets, but we have fab colleges in Durham with budding apprentices. I also can’t get my head round fact NW drivers are paid more than NE drivers, despite working for same company!

I know a reliable rail service is important to my constituents, not just for work and education but also for those who may be elderly or disabled - why should they not be able to get direct services from Durham? Particularly since Durham station is the second most used in the North East!

This afternoon I took part in the rearranged General Debate on Public Transport Inequality. I'll share a few clips from my contribution over the next day or so, but I thought I'd start with a section on buses 🚌 as I know many people got in touch regarding the same services. Take a look 👀.

I GOT IN!!! 🎉 It was a slog but I squeezed into Transport Qs. I'm pleased the Minister will meet with me to ensure when reassurances are given for ‘equivalent’ services to be put in place by transport operators - they actually follow through and make it happen!

Urgh; 20th out of 24 in Treasury questions this morning. I dont know why I get excited when I’m drawn! 😫😣 Hopefully I’ll get in on behalf of businesses in Durham. 🙏🏼

The Employment Rights Bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation in a generation. It must be delivered in full, with a minister dedicated to the brief.

Good luck to everyone taking part in the Great North Run today. Whether you’re running for charity or for a personal challenge - I hope you have the best day. Like most years, me and my family will be at the bottom of the John Reid Road with supplies for runners as they pass. 🏃🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️

Ice pops, jellies & a cheer for all the #GNR runners today. You’ll find us just before the John Reid Road 🏃🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏅🥇

Lovely to call at The Station House after my market stall yday & raise a glass to their recent success being named CAMRA NE Pub of the Year. In Oct they hear if they’re in final 4 pubs in the running for the overall title - they get a great big YES from me!Good luck Chris, Susie & the whole team. ❤️🍻

A brilliant market stall today. My team & I had so many chats on topics from private parking companies, council services, policing, anti-social behaviour, student loans, digital skills, flags, opportunities for young market traders, support for local businesses 💷, students - & Asian hornets 😱!

Fab time last night at Redhills for special screening of the movie Pride, organised by the DMA and TUC NEYH to fundraise for Durham Pride. Lush to be surrounded by likeminded comrades to celebrate the friendship & solidarity forged between mining & LGBT+ communities which grows as the years pass!

Excited for my market stall on Sat. I am running a survey at the moment on private parking company practices, do stop by & complete one if you’ve fallen foul to one of the companies that operate our car parks. Even if you simply want to swing past for a chat I’d be thrilled to speak to you.

Of course I added my name to this👇🏻

🚘PRIVATE PARKING COMPANIES🚨 I hear regularly from constituents who have had dealings with private parking companies - and frankly some of the practices and behaviour is appalling. survey.labour.org.uk/parking

Getting over the disappointment of the public transport debate not going ahead yesterday evening by trying to speak in a debate on access to defibrillators, this morning. More 👇🏻

It was lovely to meet Steve and Rob from The Glendenning Arms in Witton Gilbert and hear about all of the work they are doing to build a thriving community pub. Knitting Club anyone?! 🧶🍷 I worked behind a bar as a student so it’s good to know I can still pull a decent pint! 🌹🍺😉

Great to meet Liam and Jimmy and see the difference Wheels 2 Work make across Durham helping people get into and stay in work 🛵🚲 People of all ages use their service and are able to take jobs they couldn't if they had to rely on buses! 👀🙌

Reform MPs have voted against new rights and protections for you at work again, and again, and again. They say they’re on the side of working people – but their actions say otherwise.

When Parliament returns there’ll be a General Debate on Regional Transport Inequality. I’ve already submitted my intention to speak & I’m beyond frustrated with endless emails I receive from public transport users re the poor quality, unreliability & cost of our buses and trains in City of Durham. 👇🏻

Best of luck to the brill young people in City of Durham picking up GCSE & VTQ 1/2 results today. I hope it is a day of celebration for you all, but remember, if your results aren't what you hoped for your teachers will support you & there are many different exciting options to take after school.

I’ve been contacted about Palestinian students unable to take up their studies in Durham due to strict rules around biometric data which cannot be produced in Gaza.The students, who have lost everything, have achieved scholarships to study so that they may return to rebuild 🇵🇸 for the future.