Trump's reckless willingness to talk in such terms of the death of a whole civilisation, as with his reference to the Stone Age, must be understood as a threat to civilians and civilians infrastructure. He must step back from the brink - and be told to do so by UK govt.

'Antipodea lost 21 claims at the employment tribunal. We understand the company hasn’t paid any of the sums ordered by those tribunals' @mellino.bsky.social reports how a restaurant chain lost 21 tribunal claims – and not paid a single one www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...

Stronger Employment Rights need real enforcement to mean anything. The new Fair Work Agency launches today to do just that. ✊

It is incongruous and offensive to charge constituents for the opportunity to speak to their MP. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Minimum wage rates go up this week, giving a pay rise to 2.7 million people. This is good news for working people – now let’s get on and deliver the New Deal for Working People in full. 🌹 #costofliving

Minimum wage rates go up this week, giving a pay rise to 2.7 million people. This is good news for working people – now let’s get on and deliver the New Deal for Working People in full. 🌹 #costofliving

Low import tariffs have made the Teesside Freeport’s Private Customs Zone effectively redundant. Who knew? 🤔 And surprise, surprise: Mandelsonian disclosures from within the South Tees Development Corporation—raising fresh governance questions. 😱

The govt condemning Israel's death penalty law is welcome but this requires robust action. The bill is further evidence of the potential crime of apartheid. The UK should sanction those who have supported this bill and suspend the trade agreement with Israel.

Great news that a new secondary school for children with special educational needs and disabilities will be built in Middlesbrough. More info here 👇 www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/latest-news/...

I very much welcome the Home Secretary’s announcement of the inquiry into Orgreave. There were dreadful injustices meted out to the miners and their communities at the behest of the state. Hopefully this inquiry will deliver the justice and accountability that is long overdue.

The Crime and Policing Bill will create new police powers to restrict protest methods used by the suffragettes and anti-apartheid movement. If the govt will not withdraw this clause, there should be full debate and a vote on this proposal, for Members of the Commons.

In the past week, Royal Mail offices on Teesside have been in the top five in their region for delivery failure. If we're serious about improving performance, a fundamental rethink is needed. The obvious solution is to take Royal Mail back into public ownership - and quickly.

I support deferred maternity leave for mums with cancer. I am proud to support the work of @MummysStar who do invaluable work supporting families through cancer in or around pregnancy. 1/2

March for love, hope and unity this Saturday. Stand with Together Alliance @togetheralliance.bsky.social - and say enough is enough to the far-right. ➡️find out more at: togetheralliance.org.uk

I share concerns that the UK is being drawn further into this US and Israel-initiated conflict. This is mission creep without parliamentary authorisation.

MPs were briefed by @healthequitynorth.bsky.social on findings that inequalities between the North and rest of England have widened over the decade. Reducing ill health in the North is essential to tackling economic inactivity and boosting productivity. www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/health-for-w...

This week has seen World Social Work Day and I joined @basw-uk.bsky.social and @swu-uk.bsky.social with social workers from across the country to celebrate the work they do. #WSWD2026

Too many workers, immigrant or otherwise, are simply not paid enough and still need state support to make ends meet. Extending settlement entitlement from five to ten years is a bad policy in itself. But it would be disastrous against the objective of reducing child poverty.

This week I hosted @ginitastar.bsky.social, the @unsrapporteurfoaa.bsky.social. She discussed the Govts 'cumulative disruption' proposals to restrict protest rights. And she expressed concern they are unique and could be copied by more authoritarian govts.

Labour yet again supporting our steel industry and British manufacturing. 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98q8q4zl8qo

I voted against the increase in Higher Education fee limits today.

The US Pres is requesting UK military assets to police the Straits of Hormuz. This is the mission creep many have warned against. The govt must confirm the UK will not provide further military assets to this US war and MPs must be able to vote on any such proposal.

I’ve tabled a motion on improving enforcement of Employment Tribunal awards. @tbij.bsky.social found around 75% workers using the tribunal penalty enforcement scheme never receive their award. Let's ensure our new Fair Work Agency is effective and workers to get the money they're owed.

Delivery of the New Deal for Working People is a key test for this govt. The Chair of @labourunionsuk.bsky.social @joannethomas.bsky.social has written to the PM seeking assurances it will deliver the Employment Rights Act as promised. labourlist.org/2026/03/lett...

There was more than enough evidence available at the time to disqualify Mandelson. The PM now accepts he was wrong to appoint him. He must also accept Labour Together was and is poisonous and divisive - and needs to excise it from govt and the party. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The situation with Royal Mail deliveries is intolerable. If the private owners fail to do their job, then Royal Mail should be taken back into public ownership. I took part in an Urgent Question granted to my colleague Ian Lavery MP today.

The Courts and Tribunals Bill has many good aspects but includes denying defendants the right to a jury trial. There's no proof this will reduce the case backlog. There are better ways to do so. I can't support this as it's drawn. I'll abstain and urge the govt to amend the bill.

Last night I voted to expand free school meals to half a million more children. This will lift 100,000 out of poverty. In Middlesbrough & Thornaby East this will benefit up to 9,690 children locally. 1/2.

My latest monthly newsletter is now available to read online via my website here - andymcdonaldmp.org/february-202... Alternatively you can sign up to receive it directly via email here - andymcdonaldmp.org/newsletter-r...

From the right to strike to the right to a fair trial, the ECHR defends working people - so I'll defend the ECHR. Great to discuss with the Trades Union Congress and @libertyhq.bsky.social in Parliament.

Israel has introduced major legal changes to facilitate further confiscation of Palestinian land. I have joined MPs urging a total ban on trade with Israeli settlements and for further sanctions against settlers and settler groups. caabu.org/news/news/11...

119 UK Parliamentarians call for further sanctions on Israel and a total ban on all trade and interaction with illegal Israeli settlements in letter to @yvettecooper-mp.bsky.social following yet further illegal Israeli government measures in the occupied State of Palestine. caabu.org/news/news/11...

There are over 200 Israeli settlements, housing 750,000 settlers, in Palestine. The Israeli Cabinet has approved land registration which will dispossess thousands more Palestinians. The govt must impose meaningful sanctions that match the scale of Israel's illegal actions.

It is imperative we have a robust system to keep children safe online. This was raised with me just yesterday by students at Middlesbrough College during a hugely engaging visit. The govt has now launched a national consultation on the topic - take part gov.uk/government/c...

Through TVCA we have the power to bring our buses under public control with a model for Tees Valley similar to the Bee Network in Greater Manchester. Tees Flex could never come close to what a fully integrated bus franchising could deliver for the public.

A pleasure to speak to students at Middlesbrough College today as part of Colleges Week 2026 about my work as MP for Middlesbrough & Thornaby East. Lots of really interesting and engaging questions on local, national and international topics.

This is a war started by the US which breaches international law - now the Iranian response threatens the region. The lesson of Iraq is regime change - however brutal that regime - has civilian consequences. We must de-escalate and negotiate - not support another US war.

Gorton & Denton was a disaster. It's far too easy to say 'govts lose by-elections'. It would be a huge mistake to put it into that framing The public are saying we're not connecting and they're not happy with the delivery to improve their lives. I spoke to @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social.

My thoughts on the Gorton & Denton by-election result.

Today I asked if the Govt will report to MPs the findings of the best value process for TVCA. There are continuing concerns regarding finance, governance, and audit. So I asked them to bring forward conclusions and any further steps proposed for MPs to discuss.

Healthcare in Gaza should be protected under international law but has been destroyed by Israel. With aid prevented and patients trapped, I said UK diplomacy isn’t enough. And I asked what trade measures, arms controls, sanctions, and concrete consequences UK would deploy.

Energy bills will fall in April because the government has delivered on its promise. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Since 2010, 12,000 firefighter jobs have been cut. Stations closed. Crews stretched. They deserve proper equipment, safe crew levels and funding restored to pre-2010 levels. I back @fbunational.bsky.social's call for urgent investment in our fire and rescue services.

Many graduates leave owing £70, £80 or even £100k. Higher education is a public good, yet we assume every degree means high earnings, when many don't. We must rethink a system which is now failing.

The PM eventually put Peter Mandelson 'outside Labour's tent.' But, yesterday, I asked whether what was known by the govt at the time of his US ambassador appointment, will be made public? People deserve transparency.

It was a pleasure to attend the Building Bridges in Divided Communities event in Middlesbrough this week. There were many powerful and moving contributions from speakers and attendees, sharing ideas and stories about how we can work together to find common ground.

I have launched a survey to ask how we should spend £40mfrom Labour's Pride in Place programme in Thorntree and Park End and lots of people have now submitted their responses - but we need as many as possible. Please share your views here: www.andymcdonaldmp.org/pride-in-pla...

Israel’s land registration is annexation, driving settlement expansion and settler violence. It violates international law, including UN and ICJ rulings. The UK must act—statements do not impact Israel; immediate and wide-ranging sanctions are necessary. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The Employment Rights Act becoming law marks the biggest leap forward for workers’ rights in a generation And it's the first big step in delivering the New Deal for Working People. This is about rebalancing power at work and raising standards across the economy.