NE cultural orgs like @TheatreRoyalNew @NTR_PROJECTA & @inharmonyNE West Newcastle Symphony Orchestra open arts to working class & regional talent. But they are over-subscribed &/or funding is threatened. I asked for a debate on how Govt will make Arts more…
The Horizon Post Office Scandal is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in this country
The Horizon Post Office Scandal is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in this country. Sir Wyn's report confirms that the compensation schemes for postmasters are a mess. I asked the govt if they would sort out the process…
Bicentenary of the founding of Robert Stephenson & Co. – the importance of celebrating our city and region’s industrial heritage – I asked what the Government was doing to support this
On the bicentenary year of the founding of Robert Stephenson and Company's factory in Newcastle, the world's first locomotive factory, I led a debate on the importance of celebrating our city and region's industrial heritage, asking what the Govt was…
Sudan – a consistent and humane approach is urgently needed
The Sudanese diaspora in Britain & Brits in Sudan are particularly impacted by the conflict there. My office is receiving desperate casework which recalls the chaotic evacuation of Kabul. I asked the Foreign Sec to work w the Home Office…
Afghan refugees – who supported our Forces – may be made homeless
Tories claim they will move resettled Afghans from hotels to "perfectly suitable #housing". I asked how, given Newcastle has a desperate shortage of housing. The Minister couldn't rule out making homeless the very Afghan refugees who risked their lives supporting…
Black children systematically treated as adults & denied basic rights
The @ChildrensComm found police are strip searching children as young as 8 & not following the rules. I asked the Minister about Adultification in our justice system where black children are systematically treated as adults & denied basic rights. Didn't…
Tories in 13 years have cut £300 million from Newcastle City Council Council’s budget and totally failed to provide the services people need
After 13 years of Tory economic failure what #NewcastleCentral desperately needs – is change. In the #NorthEast real terms wages are on average 3% lower today than when Labour left office in 2010. Prices have gone up. Wages have not.…
Only a Labour Government, supporting the partnership between management, workers and trade unions, can achieve lasting success for our postal services
I asked the Minister what was his vision for the future of postal services, given the reduction in letters and stagnation of parcel delivery. Labour will work with @RoyalMail and postal services to deliver the vital goods and services and…
Bus passengers rightly complained about atrocious levels of services
#NewcastleCentral #bus passengers have complained to me about atrocious levels of services eg elderly & frail forced to wait for hours at bus stops without info. I asked the Transport Secretary to meet me to sort it out – she…
Tory Budget for the rich
Newcastle paid a heavy price for Tory economic austerity – services slashed, wages cut. Now the Chancellor is borrowing billions to gamble on tax cuts & boosting oil companies’ profits. I asked him to apologise for making Newcastle poorer and…