Thanks to the Wilsonian Sailing Club in Hoo for inviting me to the Medway Dinghy Regatta that they hosted at the weekend. It was great to meet everyone at the club and be shown around their facilities.

What a great Medway Armed Forces Day at Chatham Historic Dockyard in my constituency. Thank you to everyone who took part to celebrate the important contribution the Armed Forces makes to our community. And thank you to all who serve or have served, and their families.

From reintroducing the Terminally Ill Adults Bill to supporting local habitat restoration, here are some highlights from last week.

Last week, inspired by the great work that Oscar Acoustics Innovation Centre in Halling have done to achieve ‘Sownd’ Certification, I asked the Housing Minister to consider the benefits of incorporating acoustic performance standards and audio-inclusivity into building regulations and guidance.

A dignified resignation from Keir Starmer this morning that allows us to move forward together in the national interest. Keir was a committed public servant, but I believe Andy Burnham is now the right person to lead this country and will be supporting him in any future Labour leadership election.

Last week, I spoke in Parliament to welcome legislation to lower the voting age to 16 and make voter registration easier, as well as asking if the Secretary of State had considered adding a ‘none of the above’ option to ballot papers to increase democratic participation.

Thanks to the RSPB, Church Commissioners for England, and Minister for Nature Mary Creagh and her Defra team for hosting a National Estate for Nature visit to St. Mary’s Marsh on the Hoo Peninsula. It was great to hear new earthworks and solar pumps are preserving this nationally important habitat.

Superb victory for Andy Burnham in Makerfield. Hope restored.

From asking the Prime Minister to support co-working spaces to meeting with local veterans, here are some highlights from last week.

A privilege to meet with veterans working in the Royal British Veterans Enterprise manufacturing company and be presented with a plaque after fundraising for RBVE at the Great Tommy Sleepout. Thanks to CEO Lisa Farmer OBE for hosting me. Find out how RBVE support our veterans here: rbve.org.uk

It is a great privilege to have come second in the ballot for Private Member’s Bills. After giving the matter a great deal of thought, I will be reintroducing the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. You can read my full statement on this here or on my website: buff.ly/I78DfUX

Great to catch up with Strood West Labour councillors Sharon and Mark at the "Together in Strood" summer festival organised by the Strood West Convening Group and Bligh Primary and Leigh Academy Strood. I was a bit obsessed with Beaufighter the 3 month old goat.

Amazing time at Intrafest this afternoon, celebrating the best of Medway bands and fantastic food and drink. Big thanks to Jody, Patrick, Rob and everyone at Intra Community Trust. So proud to have such a vibrant community in my constituency!

It was great to meet with Carers UK in Parliament earlier this week as part of Carers Week. Unpaid carers do an incredible job supporting loved ones in Rochester and Strood and across the country, and we discussed how we could improve support for all family carers.

Great time in Makerfield supporting Andy Burnham. Love the Northern Soul campaign materials (if not the weather!)

Thanks to Minister Kate Dearden for meeting with me and other MPs to discuss our campaign for a Guest Beer Agreement and other support for breweries and pubs. A Guest Beer Agreement would allow more local pubs to stock beer from independent breweries like Moot Brew in Halling in my constituency.

From opening a new Healthy Living Centre to supporting local breweries, here are some highlights from last week.

Great to visit the Lower Thames Crossing Skills Hub in Gravesend and meet currently unemployed young people learning skills for a career in construction. Some of those I met taking this opportunity were from Rochester and Strood, and you can register interest in future courses here: buff.ly/gewBQkX

Great to see the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 trophy in Parliament as a member of the APPG for Cricket. The UK hosting the Women's T20 World Cup is a fantastic opportunity to encourage more women and girls to take up cricket. Looking forward to an exciting summer!

Many thanks to Deputy Headteacher Sarah Ryan for giving me a tour of Bligh Primary School in Strood last week. It was great to see the work the school is doing to support the local community, including through its school larder and uniform bank programmes.

"Social mobility is about making sure that everyone, regardless of where they were born, can succeed."" 🏠✨ @laurenedwardsmp.bsky.social highlights how our research is driving evidence-based policymaking in Parliament and beyond.

Tempted to use my #PMQ on Wednesday to call for a parliamentary inquiry into the decision to go to lunch today at Lord's.

It was an honour to cut-the-ribbon and unveil a commemorative plaque at the James Williams Healthy Living Centre in my constituency. Based in the Pentagon Centre, it’s already providing accessible healthcare for local people and is a fitting tribute to James, Medway’s late Director of Public Health.

As Co-Chair of the Skills Commission’s Earning or Learning inquiry, I was proud to launch the 'Earning or Learning: A New Agenda for Youth NEET Reduction' report, which offers a practical and ambitious roadmap for reducing youth unemployment. Read more here: buff.ly/SCktGhW

Thanks to Nikki Mouse Designs for adding her beautiful bee art to my constituency office window. It’ll be on display this month and into July as one of many window paintings between Rochester and Chatham, commissioned by Child Friendly Medway for Sir David Attenborough’s 100th Birthday.

Great to host the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) in Parliament to brief MPs from Kent and Sussex on the campaign to introduce a Guest Beer Agreement in England. This would help more independent brewers get their beer in local pubs and boost local economies.

I was delighted to meet former Australian PM Julia Gillard at a recent meeting of the APPG for Flexible and Family Friendly Working. It was great to hear what the UK can learn from Australia’s experience of parental leave reform – we must be more bold and ambitious in our policies.

Thanks to St. John’s Church in Chatham for hosting my most recent constituency surgery last week. If you have a problem or concern you would like to raise with me, or would like to get in touch, please visit: buff.ly/iu7Vgyy

From supporting local food and drink producers to tackling youth unemployment, here are some highlights from last week:

Happy Kent Day everyone! Great to celebrate our county's day with the Speaker of the House of Commons and fellow Kent MPs.

Today I was delighted to once again work with Produced in Kent to host "A Taste of Kent and Medway" in Parliament. This event highlighted the best of our region's food and drink producers and two fantastic Rochester businesses - Jaggers Gin and Trufflus chocolate. A big thanks to everyone involved!

The new five‑year plan for local NHS services aims to ease pressure on hospitals by moving more care closer to home. Your voice matters - please consider completing the survey by Monday 1 June to help shape future NHS investment. Take part here: buff.ly/lYvYjPb

Another productive week in Parliament and across Rochester and Strood - from supporting local businesses and charities to discussing major infrastructure projects and national priorities. Here are some of the highlights from my most recent round-up:

Lovely visit to meet Julie and team from Holding On Letting Go at Goodyear House near Wisdom Hospice. They are a fantastic Rochester-based charity that supports bereaved children and their families across Kent. Support their volunteers and latest fundraising campaign at buff.ly/TiyeBO0

The “Signs of Youth” project is back. Medway Council is inviting children to design new signs to help keep our area cleaner and greener. A great chance for young artists to get creative. Designs due Tuesday 1 September. More info here: buff.ly/58obsVw

Thank you to all the local businesses who joined Tuesday’s Lower Thames Crossing supply chain roadshow in Rochester. Great to see such strong engagement. With so many SMEs across Kent, it’s vital they benefit from this major project. More info: buff.ly/W9EjjYY

Thank you to Headteacher Tracey Baillie and staff at Cedar Children’s Academy in Strood, for inviting me to open their expanded nursery. One of the first 300 schools to receive a Government early years grant - with £370m more committed to support expansions nationwide.

Many thanks to Uniper for arranging for me to meet some of their apprentices at the Isle of Grain power station today. It was great to hear from local young people building skilled careers and share ideas on how we can strengthen apprenticeships nationally.

I’ve written a new column for "Local Authority" on how global conflict is driving volatility in oil prices, and why this uncertainty strengthens the case for investing in green and renewable energy to protect families, businesses and support long‑term growth. Read the column here: buff.ly/uTZkE9A

It was wonderful to meet Her Royal Highness Princess Anne at the Hospital of Sir John Hawkins in Chatham Intra to raise the Royal Navy flag - a great way to celebrate Chatham’s proud naval heritage.

Today I’m publishing a new contribution with colleagues in the Tribune Group, setting out how we can deliver real economic renewal over the next three years. Read my article "No town left behind: inclusive growth across the UK" in @renewaljournal.bsky.social at the link below 👇️ buff.ly/YvP6tEm

From meeting local apprentices to opening a new nursery in Strood, here are a few highlights from last week:

Thank you to everyone who attended the Medway Marmot Place Partnership NEET Summit in Rochester. I spoke about Government investment to support young people into employment, education and training, and was pleased to meet Prof Sir Michael Marmot following Medway’s designation as a “Marmot Place”.

Fantastic to celebrate the launch of the Taste of Kent Awards 2026 at the University of Greenwich’s Medway campus, meeting producers from across Kent and Medway and showcasing the incredible local food and drink. Entries are now open for Kent and Medway food and drink businesses: buff.ly/GY60JsR

Today we mark the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, an important time to remember the courage and sacrifice of those who served during WWII and honour the generation who secured peace in Europe - something we must continue to strive for amid ongoing conflicts in Europe and beyond.

New funding is available for community‑led projects in Medway. Medway Council has launched the Medway Together Fund, with three funding streams now open to support local initiatives and strengthen communities across Rochester and Strood. Find out more and apply: buff.ly/7yw6Tro

Campaigning in Goose Green ward with Southwark Labour Leader Sarah King and excellent ward candidates Portia and Liam. Vote Labour in Southwark on 7 May 🌹

Great to be out supporting friends in Brent ahead of the local elections on Thursday 7 May. Vote Labour for Mili, Matt & Tina in Harlesden & Kensal Green 🌹#BrentLabour

What a great Sweeps Festival we had over the weekend in Rochester. Thanks to everyone who visited and all who made it such a success!