As an ex youth worker, I’m buzzing to see the Youth Matters strategy launch. It's been directly shaped by local young people, including the 18 who came to Parliament and met Lisa Nandy, and those who took part in my youth consultation. The last Government slashed services, we are investing in them.

Another day, another Reform UK racism scandal at Staffordshire County Council. This is not leadership. If Councillors cannot meet basic standards of behaviour, they cannot be trusted to run a Council. www.itv.com/news/central...

Good news that Ian Cooper has resigned as leader, but he should also resign as Councillor. There’s no place for racism in public office. Martin Murray must address the issues facing his party in Staffordshire, including Peter Mason’s unacceptable comments. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Speechless. Imagine going from being a Conservative PPC (with ambitions to be the PM) to shilling for a murderous government stealing thousands of children from Ukraine (and the rest of the war crimes). Clearly not just the Reform Party who need to improve their candidate vetting/standards 👀

This #SmallBusinessSaturday get yourself down into town to support our independents. We have SO many incredible businesses, and your support is crucial in the run up to Christmas. Popped into Studio Fresh myself to pick up a little something!

Think everyone in Stafford's might look the same this year...

The OBR has been making us poorer for over a decade. They've underestimated the impact of public spending (cuts) on growth. That has helped lead to a doom loop: Cuts -> Lower growth -> lower revenues -> missed borrowing target -> more cuts etc. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

LOVED having St. Johns Primary in Parliament! They were brilliant and showed exactly why giving young people the chance to explore our democracy matters. They got to meet Armed Forces Minister, Al Carns, who was buzzing to meet some of the children of the many Armed Forces personnel in Stafford!

UK Parliament Week is officially my favourite week of the year! 2,400 children and young people took part locally, learning all about democracy and getting their voices heard. I especially loved joining Baldwin’s Gate Primary for their debating workshop. Thanks to Mr Bowen and the children!

70% of the additional spending from removing the two-child limit will go to families who are in work. This is targeting support for low-income working households who are being priced out of a decent standard of living despite doing everything asked of them.

Only right to have the country's best college down in Parliament for the Association of Colleges event. Stafford College does so much for our young people, our economy, and our community, and it was great to celebrate their work and catch up on their plans for the future!

Beaconside roundabout update: Yes, it is still not finished. Yes, we have had six Prime Ministers and the rebuilding of Notre Dame in the time it's taken so far. And yes, I have taken it up with the Prime Minister, because this level of delay is not acceptable.

I’m launching a new campaign calling for solar panels on all new large car parks and commercial buildings. This roofs-first approach would cut bills for local businesses, protect our green spaces, and keep Stafford leading the way on clean energy. If you agree, add your name: bit.ly/MPSolarPetit...

Thanks to the brilliant local businesses who joined my roundtable with Staffordshire Chambers. We had a really constructive discussion on local government reorganisation, town centre redevelopment, local transport, and the impact of roadworks on our businesses. Plenty to take back to Parliament!

Sport isn’t just about fitness, it builds confidence, resilience, and supports mental health. Yet too many young people still miss out. I’m glad to see the Secretary of State recognising the benefits of PE as part of the curriculum review, so we can make sure every child has the chance thrive.

Access to period products is a basic need, but too many care-leavers end up in period poverty after finishing education, which in turn can mean they struggle to access other services. I recently raised the need to make sure care leavers have access to period products as part of wraparound care.

It's National School Meals Week! To celebrate, I joined pupils at Burton Manor for dinner, a chat, and some epic pudding! Every child deserves access to a nutritious meal that supports their health & wellbeing, and I’m grateful to the staff who make sure children are well fed and ready to learn.

Great catch up with Network Rail & Avanti West Coast at Stafford station. We talked through the plans for the next stage of the Gateway project, and wider development in the area. Was good to hear that work is already underway on the project plan. I’ll keep fighting for investment for Stafford!

Today we come together to remember those who served, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Remembrance isn’t just about looking back; it’s about how we live up to the values of service, duty, and community every day - something I am committed to all year round.

Buying or selling a home should be exciting, but it’s usually stressful, complicated, and even heartbreaking when a sale falls through. That’s why Labour is working to fix the system, so buyers and sellers have the right information upfront, fewer delays, and less chance of a sale collapsing.

Really interesting visit to Royal Stoke Hospital with other Staffordshire MPs. Like County Hospital, it’s developing real strengths in its specialisms. I was really impressed by the cutting-edge robotic surgery, which is helping to make operations quicker, safer, and with faster recovery times.

Residents aren't cash cows, and if you're paying for a service you should get it. Too many people are being let down by rising fees, poor service, and bad communication. I raised this in Parliament, calling for more transparency. I’ll keep sticking up for leaseholders until we get this sorted.

Popped into the Sun Inn to meet the new manager Sam, who’s got some great ideas for the pub’s next chapter. It’s a brilliant spot, with a fantastic beer garden for the summer and two lovely fires for the winter. Well worth a visit if you’re in town!

Huge congrats to Balti Palace in Eccleshall on winning Best Restaurant in Staffordshire at the TMIICHA awards! Lovely to celebrate with the team and wider community. My go to curry is a Lamb Rogan Josh - what about you?

"I have had six landlords, nine flatmates, [and] two section 21 eviction notices....It is the first moment in my lifetime that I am aware of a piece of legislation materially impacting my life in a positive way. I think this is what enfranchisement is supposed to feel like."

Great to join the ADHD All Party Parliamentary Group’s event in Parliament for ADHD Awareness Month. Events like this help to break down stigma and make sure Parliament is listening to the voices of people with lived experience. It was brilliant to catch up with Jemima and Lisa from Stafford too!

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we’re wearing it pink in Parliament to raise money and awareness for life-saving research. 1 in 7 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and early detection makes all the difference.

Is your estate managed by Trinity Estates? I’ve taken residents’ concerns straight to their CEO in Parliament, from poor communication to rising costs and delays in maintenance. Watch the video to hear what I raised with him - and keep me updated on any improvements in your area!

Racist views like this have no place in Britain, and the fact she thinks it’s acceptable to say this just shows how low Reform will go. Between her and the Conservatives abhorrent plan to deport millions of people, this week has felt particularly grim in politics.

Good to catch up with Deputy Commander Kelly Wareing of Staffordshire Police. I raised concerns I’ve been hearing, and we discussed recent incidents and what the police are doing. I was updated on their active investigations, and want to assure everyone that there is robust work going on.

It's very rare that 99% of people agree on something! But in my recent survey, 99% of people supported an Urgent Treatment Centre at County Hospital in Stafford. This gave me great momentum to take forward my campaign for this vital service, and I look forward to discussing it with the Minister.

The new Institute of Technology at Stafford College, built under the brilliant leadership of Georgina Barnard, is opening doors for the next generation. If we want more women in STEM, we need to ensure they have visible role models - I was proud to raise this point on behalf of Georgina.

A brilliant night in Birmingham for the #GlobalInvestmentSummit Dinner! I was delighted to introduce Craig Jones of GE Vernova to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, as I continue to campaign for support and investment into our superb local industry.

I strongly oppose the removal of 24/7 care from Jubilee Court. I am aware that some elderly residents were placed there specifically because of on-site support, so taking it away risks their safety, dignity, and independence. I’ve written to the Council urging them to rethink their proposals.

Your regular reminder that scrapping ILR for people who have come here and played by the rules, which is what Lam proposes here, is a position supported by 3% of the public

Too many small businesses are being left out of pocket because bigger firms delay paying their bills. It’s unfair, and it’s holding our local economy back. That's why we want to see tough new rules that make sure local businesses are paid on time. www.expressandstar.com/news/local-h...

A survivor from Stafford waited 5 years for justice. The trial was pushed back, and back, and back. No one should have to live under that cloud for so long. We can’t change what happened, but we can fix the system that’s still failing victims. I support the Government's work on getting this right.

Great to attend the RBL Poppy Appeal launch at the Gatehouse Theatre! The performances the children from Castlechurch Primary School & Tillington Manor Primary School gave were wonderful. Make sure to pick up a poppy over the next few weeks to help raise money for such an important charity.

Today, on #WorldMentalHealthDay, I want to thank the amazing staff at St George’s and everyone working in mental health services. Having visited the Crisis Centre and Parent & Baby Unit, I’ve seen their care, dedication, and compassion first-hand. We’re so lucky to have these teams in Stafford.

Schools and youth groups, this one’s for you! UK Parliament Week runs from 24th–30th November, and I’d love for you to take part. Teachers and youth leaders: sign up at ukparliamentweek.org.

What an admirably clear statement from the Jewish Leadership Council, especially when all of those involved must surely have been dealing with so many other urgent challenges in safety, security and grief + shock today before having this further divisive and distracting intervention to address too.

Exciting news! I’ve launched my first ever Small Business Awards! So, if you’ve got a favourite chippy, pub, hairdressers, tradesperson, or any small business that you think is going above and beyond – I want you to let me know and nominate them. Submit your favourite here: bit.ly/Stafford-MP-...

Devastating to hear of the attack at Heaton Park synagogue on Yom Kippur. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and the wider Jewish community.

Celebrating this INCREDIBLE progress at County Hospital and Royal Stoke! With the hard work of staff, and investment from the Government, we are seeing real progress. I know there’s still work to do, particularly in urgent care, and I’ll keep campaigning for an Urgent Treatment Centre in Stafford.

Every year, 17,000 children see their mums go to prison. Only 9% are cared for by their dads, leaving 15,000 at risk of falling through the cracks. After meeting with Soroptimists about mothers in Drake Hall Prison, I asked what steps are being taken to make sure these children are supported.

Knock knock! There’s no better way to understand local issues than chatting to people directly. Thanks to all the residents in Parkside who took time out of their days to chat with me and my team. The key issues were parks, immigration… and of course roadworks!

Every year, 17,000 children see their mums go to prison. Only 9% are cared for by their dads, leaving 15,000 children at risk of falling through the cracks. After meeting with local Soroptimists about mothers in Drake Hall Prison, I asked the Minister what's being done to support these children.

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Schools and youth groups, this one’s for you! UK Parliament Week runs from 24th–30th November, and I’d love for you to take part. It’s a fun, hands-on way to learn how Parliament works. Sign up at ukparliamentweek.org to get a free kit with lesson plans, activities, and a pop-up ballot box!

In the UK, 53 million tyres are disposed of every year – around 500,000 tonnes of rubber going to landfill. I popped by ReGen Earth to see the good work happening locally. Amazingly, they have a renewable solution to this problem – great for the planet and for creating good jobs in our community.