Thank you for reading my newsletter. I’ll be circulating a newsletter at the end of every month to update my constituents – or anybody else who might be interested - about my recent work as an MP.

I raised the unacceptable state of Stepping Hill Hospital - which after fourteen years of government neglect and underfunding is quite literally crumbling - in the House of Commons this week. 

With rising numbers of shops shutting their doors and shoplifting and antisocial behaviour on the rise, Britain’s high streets are showing the signs of fourteen years of neglect. That’s why I am pleased to back Labour’s 5-point plan to support the Great British high street to thrive.

The issues plaguing Stockport station demonstrate the failures of privatisation and franchising. We need to take the railways back into public ownership and restore pride and dignity to the network again.

Stockport’s hospitality businesses and pubs are an essential aspect of the fabric of our community and the strength of our local economy. It is an unfortunate fact that the current economic climate poses huge difficulties for businesses in these sectors, contributing to Stockport constituency losing 25% of its pubs since 2010.

Data published today reveals the shocking extent of the dirty water crisis afflicting England’s waterways, with raw sewage discharges into rivers and coastal waters more than doubling to record-breaking levels last year.

As the Member of Parliament for Stockport I have seen a huge increase in the number of parents contacting me about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision.

Recent figures from the National Education Union reveal the huge cuts faced by schools in Stockport and across Britain since the Conservatives’ election in 2010.

I welcome the recent decision by Stockport Council to sign up to the Citizens Advice Council Tax Protocol, which commits local authorities to following a good practice guide when collecting council tax.

Angela Rayner MP and Navendu Mishra MP visited India in February to strengthen relations between Britain’s official opposition party Labour, and Indian business, faith, community and political leaders.

Recent data revealed to me by Stockport Homes shines a stark light on Stockport’s housing crisis.

I have been vocal in my criticisms of the Conservative Government’s mismanagement of our rail system and in my calls for reform. Please find some examples of my work holding the Government to account over its failure to ensure that private rail companies are delivering for Stockport below.

Like many Stockport residents, I am deeply concerned about the poor state of Stockport train station and the underperformance of Avanti West Coast, the rail company that manages the station, more widely.  I met with Avanti to raise these concerns and request that action be taken.

2010 was a watershed moment in the history of life expectancy in the UK. Decades of consistent life expectancy improvements came to a halt, inequality began to widen, and for some of the poorest in society, life expectancy even began to fall - something not seen in Britain for 120 years.

Like many Stockport residents, I am appalled by the current state of Stockport railway station, which has fallen into disrepair, particularly under the management of Avanti West Coast.

I attended an event in the House of Commons on 17 January 2024 hosted by Open Doors to mark the publishing of its annual World Watch List.

Stockport Labour renews calls for Local Plan as Liberal Democrat Council’s poor housing policy exposed again over Mirrlees Fields.

This month, Labour unveiled its long-term plan to tackle persistent school absence and drive high and rising standards in education.

NHS dentistry is in a state of acute crisis; a shocking 12 million people were unable to get an appointment with an NHS dentist last year – more than one in four adults in England.

I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year. It was great to begin December with a series of visits to independent businesses across the constituency, in celebration of Small Business Saturday.