It was an honour to represent South East Cornwall on a recent cross-party delegation of Parliamentarians. My priority was to build relationships with the Japanese Government and businesses that invest in our local area and to encourage closer cooperation on strategically important issues.

The Government has launched a strategy to improve animal welfare. This marks a significant step forward and delivers on the Government’s manifesto commitment. It is also a change that many local residents across South East Cornwall have asked me to support.

Supporting our young people with SEND is a top issue in my inbox, whether that’s helping with school transport or establishing more specialist school places. I met with the Minister for Children and Families. I made it clear that we need our fair share of the new £3 billion in SEND funding.

2025 Wrapped

In South East Cornwall, it is estimated that 4,190 people experience sight loss to some degree. I recently spoke in Parliament with the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) about how vital early support is for improving patient outcomes. They have a helpline available on 0303 123 9999.

I am working with organisations to explore funding options that will improve infrastructure in South East Cornwall, and it’s always helpful to get further information from groups such as the new Infrastructure All-Party Parliamentary Group.

I attended the Global Cornish event in Parliament, which launched a movement aimed at reconnecting the Cornish diaspora with Cornwall’s culture and heritage, and to promote investment in Cornwall too.

Rural poverty affects all rural communities. In the past, there have been challenges in accurately measuring it, and I want your help to change that. I encourage everyone in South East Cornwall to submit evidence for the Labour Rural Research Group’s report on rural poverty.

What fair funding this mean for us? • £198.4 million for Cornwall in a new 4-year local government settlement. • 27% increase in funding over 4 years, whereas the Tories only increased funding by 6% between 2015/16 and 2019/20. • Multi-year settlement so Cornwall Council can plan for the future.

Our seasonal workers and their employers must be protected with fair rights that work for them. We also need an economy that is as strong in January as it is in July, which is achieved by putting the right investments in place like the Kernow Industrial Growth Fund.

Cornwall’s Labour MP’s secure £198.4 million for Cornwall in new 4-year local government settlement. Watch the video to hear more about my campaign 👇👇👇

We are coming to the end of the year with fantastic nativities going on across South East Cornwall, so I wanted to highlight how important the school-based creative arts are. There are a lot of good things happening to strengthen and build a broad, modern curriculum.

It is fantastic that Cornwall is receiving £20 million in revenue funding to fix existing problems and improve bus services. Tackling local transport issues remains a key priority of mine, so I am glad that this Government is supporting our communities by providing the necessary funds.

I am pleased to announce the winner of my Christmas Card Competition! It once again showed just how talented the children of South East Cornwall are.

It's clear that some of our roads need urgent investment so that drivers aren’t dodging potholes. The government understands just how important good quality roads are for rural areas like ours, and it’s fantastic to see that the annual roads cash was doubled at the Budget.

Volunteers work hard to remove what they can from local beaches. However, smaller fragments, raw plastic pellets and toxic biobeads that escape from local water treatment plants, mix with the sand and cause huge harm to local wildlife.

I continue to make it clear to the Government that South East Cornwall must benefit from devolution. It was valuable to meet with Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh MP alongside my Labour colleagues as we continue to negotiate hard in the best interests of Cornwall.

Swipe to read more about my campaign on fair funding for Cornwall

I’m pressing the Committee for a clear public justification for the increase in admin fees for the TamarTag, full financial transparency, evidence of any alternative options considered, a clear implementation timeline, and a plan for communicating with local users.

Great to visit the Millbrook Christmas Market recently, it was a brilliant way to start the festive season and support our fantastic local businesses. Thank you to all the organisers who made the market possible. We really do have a great community here in South East Cornwall.

It was great to speak with Historic England about the importance of protecting Cornwall’s unique identity. I continue to call for stronger recognition and promotion of Cornwall’s unique culture, language and history at historic sites, and I spoke with Historic England about addressing this issue.

It’s awful to see the flooding across South East Cornwall. My thoughts are with those affected by this devastating storm. You can check out Cornwall Council’s flooding page below for more information 👇👇👇 www.cornwall.gov.uk/fire.../keep...

In these turbulent times, Human Rights Day is an important reminder of how far we have come to protect our rights here at home and abroad, where human rights issues are still widespread.

I was recently helping to gift-wrap presents for David Pond’s incredible mission to Ukraine, where he’s donating them to an orphanage in Lviv. He’s driving them all the way there!

Labour is listening to people’s issues surrounding SEND. The Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould MP, will be hosting online roundtables, where attendees can share their views on a range of proposals from experts. I encourage as many people as possible from South East Cornwall to attend.

What a great evening at Liskeard Lights Up!

Did you know that Santa Trees in Liskeard won the Downing Street Wreath Competition last year? Mother and daughter duo, Margaret and Helen, are truly spectacular at what they do!

Small Business Saturday was a good reminder that we should be supporting local as much as we can all year round! Please visit local businesses if you can, it can make a real difference to a local person who runs one of the many wonderful retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in our area.

Attending the National Emergency Briefing in London made it clearer than ever that improving family finances is directly linked to this energy transition.

The fair funding review is looking at the way the government allocates money to councils. That’s why I am calling for the government to properly address Cornwall’s needs as part of the fair funding review so that we can unlock economic growth for South East Cornwall.

I was honoured to attend a fantastic fundraiser at the Official China Fleet Country Club recently, which raised over £9000 for the club, who offer vital support and advice to many across our area.

Casework Updates from November

Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which raises awareness about the benefits of an inclusive society for all. I’ve met with disability campaigners to listen to their concerns, and helped children with SEND to use accessible transport to get to school.

To end UK Parliament Week, I visited schools across South East Cornwall, encouraging our young people to get involved in politics because they are key to shaping our future. Political change is something that we build together and our children are at the heart of this.

Meur ras to all the organisers, volunteers from the Cornish class at Callington, businesses and community groups who brought the Cornish Language Trail to life in Liskeard this weekend. It was a brilliant way of getting people involved in Kernewek. I certainly learnt some new vocabulary!

Before the summer, I called on the UK government to demonstrate clear leadership for ocean action by ratifying the High Seas Treaty. This is the first time in history that the high seas, are part of an international agreement and I am glad this vital legislation is progressing through Parliament.

Today, on World AIDS Day, we remember those who have lost their lives to HIV-AIDs. It is incredibly important that we continue to fight against the stigma attached to the disease and work to achieve better healthcare.

This Budget starts rebuilding our Cornish economy. Cornwall has a leading role to play in the UK’s economic future, and the new Kernow Industrial Growth Fund puts us front and centre. To hear more about what the Budget means for local people in South East Cornwall, watch the video 👇👇👇

This Parliament will see the biggest fall in child poverty on record. That's what you get with a Labour Government

It was a real pleasure to meet with the Cornwall-based team at Tête-à-Tête. Their mentoring and creative vision are opening up the arts, and their work is helping bring bold, imaginative performances to new audiences right here in our communities.

I’m proud to have worked with the other Cornish Labour MPs and this Labour Government to deliver change for Cornwall that puts local people in charge of local services. I have always pushed for improvements in local services because I know we need better access to support in every part of our area.

I am proud to welcome the Government’s commitments to strengthen recognition for Kernewek.

It was great to be back down in Cornwall earlier this week to launch the UK Critical Minerals Strategy with Minister for Industry, Chris McDonald.

I will continue fighting hard for farmers across our area. You are the life and soul of our rural communities, putting food on the table and playing a vital role in national food security and are the backbone of South East Cornwall's rural economy.

The Autumn Budget showed that the Government is taking steps to support Cornwall. The Chancellor announced lower business rates for 21,290 eligible retail, hospitality, and leisure properties across Cornwall, a move that will help ease pressure on businesses and protect jobs.

Watch the video to see what the Budget means for South East Cornwall 👇👇👇

Cornwall has so much industrial potential, from critical minerals to renewable energy. It is great that the Government recognises the skills and resources we hold and is investing £30 million in our Cornish industry through the Kernow Industrial Growth Fund.

Cornwall powered Britain's last industrial revolution and now we have the chance to help drive the next green one. Monday's statement in Parliament on the UK Critical Minerals Strategy showed that Cornwall, our home, is right at the centre of plans to shape the country’s future.

Great to meet the Chancellor with my Cornish Labour colleagues ahead of today's Budget. We set out the priorities that matter to residents in our towns and villages and made a strong case for investment across Cornwall.

Political decisions are taken by those who turn up and get involved. That's why I am so thrilled that this week is UK Parliament Week!