This week I challenged the chancellor over the impact of potential changes to business rates on local businesses, who are already dealing with National Insurance hikes;

Thanks to CAMRA for coming down to Parliament. We have so many great pubs in our area, and I really support their drive to make sure they continue to thrive at the centre of our communities. #CAMRA #HazelGrove #LisaSmartMP

Thank you to Stockport Sign Post for Carers who invited me to meet them this week and get an overview of the current landscape regarding carers in Stockport and how they are supporting them. A great team doing really important work. #SocialCare #HazelGrove #LisaSmartMP

Financial education is a particular passion of mine, and I was delighted to hear that the national curriculum will be improving this. However, it is critical that schools and teachers get the support to do this, and I challenged the Secretary of State for more details on this.

Ahead of the Remembrance services across the UK and our area over the next few days, I laid a remembrance cross for Hazel Grove at Westminster this week. #WeWillRememberThem

Local businesses, particularly small businesses, are the beating heart of the British economy. I challenged the Chancellor to be honest with small business owners about the cost of potential changes to business rates in the budget. #HazelGrove #LisaSmartMP #BusinessRates

Thanks to everyone who came along to my MP advice surgery on Saturday, and it was good to meet up with the team at Bredbury Library where one of the ward surgeries was taking place, as well as bump into Niki Meerman, who does so much in our community.

Thank you to the Fire Brigades Union Greater Manchester, for their support. I wrote to the Government to challenge them on their funding, clear national standards, and facilities for in-depth investigations. Firefighters need and deserve our support.

“Lisa Smart, who remains very much a fan of PR …” I feel seen.

Thanks to Network Rail for coming down on Friday. We discussed a range of issues, both about passenger and freight transport. The old signal box at Romiley Station is finally due to be taken down, and we looked at what can be done to improve the station and access to it.

Just over a week ago I spoke to Dementia Support about their Sage House Model of care. In our constituency, there are currently around 1,572 people living with a dementia diagnosis, representing approximately 1.66% of the local population. Understanding their needs is vital.

This week I ensured the issue of unfair adoption pay was highlighted again, intervening in a House of Commons debate to point out the unfairness of the system towards self-employed adopters.

Among the visitors to Westminster this week were the Boaz Trust, and Manchester-based charity tackling homelessness. Thanks very much to them for the insight and understanding #BoazTrust #Westminster #LisaSmartMP

I took the opportunity this week to raise the matter of Adoption Pay in a debate in the House. The Parental Leave Review is still ongoing, and this is critical to get self-employed people the same rights as those in paid employment. #Adoption #Fairness #LisaSmartMP

A pleasure to be in the Commons to mark the 75th anniversary of the rebuilding of the Chamber at Westminster #75th #Westminster #HouseOfCommons

Thank you to Radiotherapy UK, who came in to Westminster this week to talk to us about their #CatchUpWithCancer campaign

This week I visited the North West Ambulance Service 🚨, seeing those on the front line of getting paramedics to those in need, and finding out how we can do more to make that easier.

We hear about the big cyber attacks, but last year 612,000 businesses and 61,000 charities were targeted across the UK. I stood up on behalf of those business and charities under threat, to hold the Government to account on this national security threat #CareerInCyber

I was at the North West Ambulance service this week – incredibly valuable seeing their work close hand, and learning what needs to be done to make it easier to get paramedics to people who need help. #HazelGrove #LisaSmartMP

My excellent colleague Tom Morrison led a debate in Parliament this week about local government funding in the North. Crucial to this is the Government stepping up to the plate on social care funding, rather than leaving it for a three year review to conclude. #SocialCare

New housing is desperately needed, but it's vital that that housing actually meets the needs of those who want to get on the housing ladder. That's affordable housing with infrastructure, not developer-led housing for profits.

Thanks to everyone who made me so welcome at the Be Internet Legends assembly @StMarysMB in Marple. Kids need to learn how to use the internet safely, and @TheParentsZone and @GoogleUK are helping teachers and kids to stay safer online.

People had hope for this Labour Government, but are being let down by decisions that don't match up to that hope. It's possible to make sensible decisions on spending money today that will save money tomorrow.

On Question Time last week, I talked about the impact that decisions like the National Insurance hike have had on local businesses, who are struggling to employ new staff, and on those staff, who are paying out more in taxes.

It was a privilege to be at the Mellor Art Society's 25th Anniversary last week, meeting some incredibly talented artists, and looking back at how much they have contributed to our community over the last quarter of a century. Thanks everyone #MellorArt25 #HazelGroveMP

It was great to visit St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy on Friday as part of the Be Internet Legends programme, which offers UK primary school teachers free online safety resources. Thanks to all the teachers and kids for making me feel so welcome #BeInternetLegends

The Labour Government's Local Plan for Stockport was published last week. Over one third of the green belt in Stockport has been redesignated as "grey belt" with fewer protections. And allocations for thousands of homes have come forward on those former grey belt sites.

I had the opportunity this week to question to new Foreign Secretary on our support for international law in bringing justice against the Russian perpetrators of the war in Ukraine. Justice must be done to support the brave, resilient Ukrainian people. #Ukraine #ICC #LibDems

The Government is taking three years to review social care funding  – ignoring the completely unsustainable pressure this is putting on local services. I'm putting the pressure on the Government to do more, sooner. #SocialCare #LocalGovernmentFunding #LibDems

This week I: Celebrated the amazing women at the African Women's Arts Cultural Heritage Seminar, held at the Hat Museum to mark Black History Month. 🎉

I am horrified and appalled by the hideous attack outside the Heaton Park synagogue. My thoughts are with the victims and their families, our emergency services and our Jewish community in Greater Manchester and beyond.

It's a huge honour to be asked by Ed to take on a more strategic role as Cabinet Office spox. The battle lines for the next General Election & the future of our country, are being drawn. It's a vital time to be working with the leader on our party's strategy and positioning.

This week I stood up to ask Parliament about the impact that the delays to prosecutions for crimes like sexual assault are having on people like local resident Louise. It is situations like this which have driven our new policing policy launched today. www.libdems.org.uk/news/arti...

In Westminster this week, I was delighted to see the publication of the APPG on Financial Education 💳🎓 report – improving this is a particular interest of mine.

I've just been talking to the MD of Northern, Tricia Williams, about railway station accessibility, especially Romiley and Bredbury. #accessibility #Northern #BeeNetwork

It was great to be at the opening of the new building at Stepping Hill recently, and I aim to make sure that the Government provides the funding needed to deliver more, better facilities which local patients deserve. www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/st...

It’s been a cracking final week of the summer recess. This week I:

One of my earliest cases as an MP was getting a bus pass for a child who was having to walk miles to and from school every day, because of where he and his mother had been moved. I’m proud to back @manchestereveningnews.co.uk's campaign to make these children’s lives and education a little easier.

With the bank holiday weekend coming to a close, here’s a quick recap of what I got up to last week and last weekend: ☕ Popped into the Jean Byers Community Hub Coffee Morning in Bredbury, enjoying a brew and speaking with residents about local issues that matter to them.

Earlier this week, I visited Bredbury Asphalt Plant to meet workers and the Rail Freight Group. Rail is not just vital for passengers – it also plays a crucial role in logistics, helping businesses cut carbon emissions and ease congestion on our roads. #LisaSmartMP #HazelGrove

💛 We’ve passed a major milestone! Since I was elected last July, my office has now opened over 10,000 support cases for residents across #HazelGrove Constituency. Every case matters – whether it’s freeing trapped pigeons, or supporting a family fighting to stay together.

This week I: Went to Compass Point in Offerton, to mark the VJ Day celebrations in style, and attended the service for VJ Day at St Mary’s Church in Stockport, with veterans and MP colleagues Tom Morrison and Nav Mishra.

I was at Piccadilly this week, together with my colleague Tom Morrison, to hear about TfGM's plans for improving Liverpool–Manchester trains, and what this means for better connections across Greater Manchester, particularly to Stockport and the Hazel Grove constituency

It was great to sit down with some of the key business people from our area this week, and to talk to them about their concerns – and their ambitions – to bring jobs and investment into the community. #LisaSmartMP #BusinessLeaders #ItsTheEconomy…

I attended the VJ Day memorial service at St Mary's in Stockport, with colleagues from the council and the chamber, and indeed across the political spectrum. It was a privilege to honour, meet and remember those who served our country so proudly. #VJDay

Thank you to everyone at Compass Point who came out this week ahead of the VJ Day celebrations, and did a wonderful job of flying the flag. It was such a pleasure to meet you all. #LisaSmartMP #VJDay

This week I wrote to the Home Secretary and the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation to challenge the Terrorism Act 2000. Peaceful protest is a fundamental pillar of any liberal democracy, and this legislation is denying people that right.

Rachel Bresnahan is just a phenomenon. I couldn't be prouder of the woman who took over my role as councillor for Bredbury Green and Romiley, not just for the work she does as a councillor, but everything else she does, as this report on ITV News shows. zurl.co/VNoqZ

Its A-level results day today. Good luck to everyone who is getting theirs. Well done in all your efforts, and good luck with whatever you go on to do next! #ResultsDay #ALevelResults zurl.co/OW1kk