If you need support this festive season, my website has emergency contacts & useful info for a wide range of local services: jeffsmithmp.com/2025/12/24/u...

Transport For Greater Manchester have launched a public consultation on the Draft Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2050 and the Delivery Plan. Have your say here: www.gmconsult.org/transport/tr...

I attended a Parliamentary briefing with campaign group, The New Hunting Ban, to hear about legislative recommendations to strengthen the Hunting Act. Great news that the Labour government is committed to action to ban trail hunting.

Earlier this month, I joined other Manchester MPs in writing to the government asking to confirm a substantial uplift in funding for our Council. I’m pleased a very positive financial settlement has been announced for Manchester City Council.

There are many ways you can support The Christie this Christmas, find out more on how to get involved here: www.christie.nhs.uk/the-christie...

Congratulations to Alicja Szmyd, from Old Moat Primary School in Withington, on winning the design competition for my Christmas card this year. And thank you to everyone that took part, I enjoyed seeing all your fantastic entries.

Labour's Youth Matters strategy is delivering mental health support for young people, with full national coverage of Mental Health Support Teams in every school by 2029: www.gov.uk/government/p...

The drugs (laws) don’t work. We need to remove barriers to research into psychedelic medicines. I took part in an interesting discussion at the PSYCH Symposium panel in London on how we can integrate them into our healthcare.

I joined our Withington Councillors to celebrate the opening of Southway Housing’s new homes at Makers Court. The development has transformed a brownfield site into 24 new apartments for social rent.

Labour is investing £3.5bn to halve rough sleeping and prevent thousands more households from becoming homeless: jeffsmithmp.com/2025/12/16/n...

The Met Office is forecasting periods of heavy rainfall for the next 24-36 hours. Members of the public can check for flooding and get advice here: check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk

The rain has stopped at Withington Baths Christmas Fair. Lots of stalls and fun all afternoon- inc Len Grant’s great artwork of local scenes

Withington Baths Christmas Market is on Sunday 14 December, 12-5pm. Come along for a festive day of crafts, stalls, food & drink, bauble painting, DIY wreath making and much more.

Need help understanding some of the Budget 2025 announcements? Take a look at this free and impartial Money Helper UK guide: www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/blog/ever...

It was fascinating to visit Manchester Biomedical University Lab, to learn about their exciting new research. I also discussed the importance of having a highly skilled and diverse workforce with international researchers from the university.

The House of Commons Education Committee has launched a new inquiry to understand how reading can be nurtured, they are looking for experts and academics in the field to contribute: committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evi...

Boosting childcare support for larger families Expanding free school meals Scrapping the two-child limit Labour is delivering on our mission of tackling child poverty jeffsmithmp.com/2025/12/10/j...

After requests from constituents about a bus stop blocking the pavement, West Didsbury Labour contacted TfGM who moved it to the back of the pavement, improving access for walkers, buggies and wheelchairs.

I have joined other Manchester MPs in writing to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to ask that the Government delivers a fair and substantial uplift in funding for Manchester City Council as part of the upcoming Local Government Finance Settlement.

The Government’s new Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, will clean up our air and waterways, create a circular economy, protect environmental security and improve people’s access to nature: www.gov.uk/government/p...

Sending best wishes to my constituent, Sophia Guo Yu, who is receiving urgent treatment in the USA for acute myeloid leukaemia. Her friends & family have asked I share their fundraiser: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-sophi...

Well done to everyone who took part in Parliament Week, the annual event to help young people learn about our democracy. I visited Manchester Muslim Prep School in West Didsbury and St John’s Primary in Chorlton for Q&A sessions with pupils - lots of excellent and thoughtful questions.

Congratulations to Olive & Thyme in Chorlton, who have been shortlisted as a finalist for the British Kebab Awards 2026, Best Value restaurant. You can vote for them here: www.britishkebabawards.co.uk/bka_vote

Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday, a chance to celebrate all the brilliant independent and local businesses in south Manchester. If you can, show your support this weekend and shop local.

Labour is expanding the Warm Home Discount to provide vital cost of living support for low-income households and pensioners across the country. In the North-West 280,000 more households will benefit.

St Clements Annual Christmas Fair is on Saturday 6th December, 11am-2pm. Free admission, various stalls, and a festive afternoon out for all.

I attended the National Emergency Briefing in London last week, to hear the latest evidence from leading experts on the climate and nature crisis, and call for a national information campaign. It was nice – as always - to catch up with Phil Korbel from the @carbonliteracy.bsky.social

Thanks to Energy UK, Citizens Advice, National Energy Action & Scope for hosting a drop-in on energy bills. Useful to hear about support for households struggling with their energy bills this winter. You can contact these organisations or my office for advice if you’re struggling.

Withington Public Hall & Institute have launched a crowdfunder to raise money for essential upgrades and improvements. You can find out more on how to support our brilliant local venue and donate here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/wphi-upgrade-improving-our-community-space

Manchester City Council have launched a community WhatsApp group called Family Friend, to give cost-of-living support, as well as practical help. More info here: www.manchester.gov.uk/ff-whatsapp

Thanks to the volunteers from Chorlton & Didsbury Foodbank doing their annual collection at Tesco East Didsbury. If you’re shopping on Saturday please help them out with one or two of the items they need most.

Banning plastic wet wipes is a major step forward in protecting our rivers, beaches and wildlife. 11 billion wet wipes are used every year - this Labour government is taking action to clean up our waterways.

The Environment Agency held a public drop in event in Didsbury to update local residents on the work completed at the River Mersey following the New Year floods. I attended with Cllr Simcock to discuss the repairs and ongoing plans.

I joined The Thick Of It’s Alex Macqueen in Parliament to hear about a campaign to end the global debt crisis affecting millions worldwide. Their video is really worth a watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQLH...

This Labour government’s removal of the two-child limit will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, rising to around 550,000 alongside other measures announced this year, such as the expansion of free school meals.

On Thursday, Ladybarn Community Hub are hosting a seasonal gathering with food, a tombola and quiz- free and open to all!

For too long, ticket touts have ripped off fans. Labour is making it illegal to resell tickets for live events above the original cost: jeffsmithmp.com/2025/11/26/j...

At Transport Questions, I asked the Minister what the Government are doing to improve rail travel for my constituents in Manchester.

For the first time since the ‘90s, Labour is freezing national rail fares. That will mean savings for people across the country. Read more here: www.gov.uk/government/n...

I met Historic England in Parliament to mark the launch of this year’s Heritage at Risk Register and learn about how we can work with communities to save ‘at risk’ places – including the four churches in Manchester Withington on the register.

Parliament’s annual Evidence Week brings together the public, researchers, and MPs to discuss how evidence is used and scrutinised at Westminster. It was good to meet leading researchers and scientists, covering issues on the environment and net zero, health, AI and innovation.

I joined Anthony Nolan in Parliament to talk about their stem cell donation campaign. Research shows younger donors give patients the best chance of survival, so they’re encouraging more people aged 16-30 to sign-up. More information here: jeffsmithmp.com/2025/11/20/s...

As COP30 continues, cutting emissions from transport is essential. Nationally, public EV chargepoints have increased 23% in a year, and the Government is investing £2.5bn to expand low-emission public transport and support greener travel choices. 🔗 www.gov.uk/government/n...

Radiotherapy UK held an event in Parliament, where we discussed radiotherapy cancer treatment in Manchester Withington, and why radiotherapy must be made a priority in the upcoming National Cancer Plan

As COP30 continues, the UK’s message is clear: climate action means lower bills, more jobs and energy security. Through Labour’s Clean Power Mission and Great British Energy, we’re scaling up renewables to power Britain’s future. ⚡ 🔗https://www.gov.uk/missions/clean-energy (1/5)

I'm all for the Lords revising the work of the Commons and improving legislation before it receives Royal Assent. But, 587 amendments from seven peers isn't scrutiny. It's wrecking the clearly expressed will of the elected House of Commons. Those peers responsible should be ashamed.

Saturday was the official ‘opening’ by the Lord Mayor of the new artwork at Mauldeth Road station. A fantastic design by Caroline Coates, celebrating local wildlife including flora and fauna from the parks in Ladybarn.

🌍 As COP30 continues, I’m sharing how climate action is being delivered nationally and here in Manchester. Labour’s £2.65bn investment in flood defences includes funding for the River Mersey to help protect local homes. 🔗 jeffsmithmp.com/2025/02/17/l... (1/4)

🌍 As COP30 enters its final week, the focus is on turning words into action. The Labour Government’s Climate Plan shows how clean energy can cut bills, create skilled jobs, and secure our energy future. #COP30 #ClimateAction #CleanEnergy [1/3]

I attended VisitBritain’s #StarringGREATBritain showcase in Parliament — highlighting how our world-class tourism, culture and creative industries are bringing billions into the UK economy and supporting jobs in communities across the country. 🎬✨