Newcastle can’t afford the Tories – and told them so

Kidical Mass Cycling in Fenham

Spring is here but it has brought misery for many with the gas and electric bills soaring, inflation galloping ahead, National Insurance tax hikes, but benefits and wages either frozen or subject to below inflation rises. As a consequence, we have seen a major increase in foodbank usage, but a reduction in foodbank donations. Geordies are very generous but when we are facing huge cost of living rises it is inevitable that there is less to go round.

In the face of this onslaught the Conservative Government’s response has been totally inadequate. The Spring Financial Statement in March and the Queen’s Speech in May had nothing for working people. Labour has demanded an emergency budget with a windfall tax to get money off people’s bills as well as an employment bill (which the Government had promised) to help protect workers from unscrupulous employers like P&O. We needed a real plan for growth to get our economy firing on all cylinders, with a Climate Investment Pledge and a commitment to buy, make and sell more in Britain.

NHS North East Innovation Lab

The local elections were positive for Labour across the country and in Newcastle. Newcastle Central Labour, the whole of the shared wards Monument and Gosforth, Labour’s share of the vote rose from 52% to 55% sending a clear message to Boris Johnson! I campaigned in every ward in Newcastle Central with a Labour candidate and in target wards in Newcastle East.

I had Covid over Easter. Fortunately it was not series, but it did leave me unable to work effectively for a couple of weeks. The government wants to declare Covid ‘beaten’ but for many working people, for our NHS and for the vulnerable, the battle is still being fought! The Prime Minister’s refusal to take responsibility for his one rule for them approach to Covid restrictions is very distressing to the many who have made terrible sacrifices during the pandemic.

Unison Regional Conference

Backbench and Constituency Role

Ukraine continues to provide a significant amount of casework, unfortunately the delays and incompetence of the Home Office continues. I raised this in Parliament and Tony has spoken repeatedly with the Home Office regarding every case.
I spoke at a moving candlelit vigil for the Ukraine, outside Newcastle Cathedral.
I visited Washington DC as part of a British American Parliamentary Delegation to discuss National Security and Trade. We met with members of Congress, Senators, Government officials and third sector organisations. Two clear messages stood out – the US wants to partner with Britain to strengthen national security and improve supply chain resilience, but there will be no trade deal with the US if the Good Friday Agreement is undermined.
I hosted a Parliamentary Export Event jointly with the Department of Trade to encourage Newcastle businesses to export.
I continue to engage with the Prime Minister, Ministers, Government Agencies and others regarding families of constituents in the Ukraine, cuts to dementia research funding, conditions for social housing tenants, the Eldon Square war memorial, the importance of the Hadrian’s Wall trail in the West End and on behalf of an art gallery in dispute with their landlord.

Shadow Ministerial and PES Role

Following the Spring Statement we continued our analysis of Government R&D spending. Government is rolling back on the promises it made to increase spending. The Government also don’t believe in spreading the benefits of innovation and technology around the country. Funding is disproportionately
I continue to meet with science, research and innovation stakeholders.
I held two roundtables on Science policy one in Westminster with small businesses and another in Newcastle with research intensive universities

Bingo session in Blakelaw

Organisation

A lot of change in our office teams! Maddy has left as Parliamentary Researcher, we wish her well. Gareth is stepping into the role on a temporary basis and we have recruited Keir Lewis to start in June. Keir is from Newcastle/Hexham and currently working for a child poverty charity.
Lucy has joined us as Administrative Trainee, a one year post.

Media

Quoted regularly in national and local media including Metro Radio victims of sexual assault, Tyne Tees Around the House, Tyne Bridge, BBC Politics, Older Voices

Parliamentary Activity

From the Front Bench: 1

Sub-Postmasters: Compensation 22 Mar 2022;

From the Back Bench: 10

Points of Order Government’s Social Mobility Commission 28 Apr 2022 show proceeding ; Homes for Ukraine: Visa Application Centres 28 Apr 2022 show proceeding ; Topical Questions 28 Apr 2022; Football Governance 25 Apr 2022show proceeding ; Topical Questions – US-UK trade deal 21 Apr 2022; Easter Recess: Government Update19 Apr 2022; Global Migration Challenge 19 Apr 2022show proceeding show proceeding ; show proceeding Metropolitan Police: Strip-search of Schoolgirl 21 Mar 2022 show proceeding ; Levelling Up: Bus Services in Newcastle 17 Mar 2022; Executions in Saudi Arabia 14 Mar 2022

Meeting up with Urban Green

Written Questions: 95

Newcastle University student research

Backing Fans Foodbank collection

Meetings

Unison Northern Labour Link Forum, R3 Insolvency & restructuring, Aaron Booth, National Assembly of Zambia, Mirwais Yasini Afgan Parliament, North East Culture 2022, Hadrian’s Wall Lady Gibson & Joyce Quinn, APPG Africa, APPG Universities, CHAMP St Patricks Day, Patchwork Foundation, Minister of Defence Mozambique, Riverside Community Health Project, Integrated Covid Hub Innovation lab, Nuns Moor litter picking, Nazir Afzal book interview, National Down Syndrome Policy Group, Areil Armony Pittsburgh University, Gingerbread Single Parents Day, Lt General Roly Walker, Renters Reform Coalition, Lockheed, UkCloud Investment, Chanel 5 at 25, Adrian Smith Royal Society President, Frances Haugen, Tate Britain Life Between Islands, Mobile UK PSTI Bill, National Centres for Universities & Business, English Tourism, Newcastle Bangladeshi Association, BAPG Delegation to Washington – Ambassador Karen Pierce, Atlantic Council Roundtable, Department of Labor, Department of State, USTR, House Armed Services, Association of Marshall Scholars, Senate BAPG, House Foreign Affairs Committee, AFL, Members of Congress, US Capitol tour, Commission on Security & Cooperation in Europe; Chris Day Newcastle University, Joint Ex-Service Association, WithyouWithme, Institutes of Technology, Archax, Engineering UK, Guide Dogs, Better Business, Diabetes Uk,

Town Moor exhibition at Wylam Brewery

Fair Game, Vodafone, Taxi & Private Hire Awards, Support War Memorials, Royal Society of St George, Lyttleton Theatre, Police & Crime Commissioner, Jesters Forgotten Stories of North East Comedy, Blossom Festival Exhibition Park, Barbara Borts, South Africa High Commissioner Farewell, Vaisakhi, Alzhiemer’s Research, APPG Creative Diversity, Big Bang in Parliament, APPG University Group, People’s postcode lottery, BP, Make UK, Atkins graduate Rail apprentice, Bloom, Blakelaw Social Club bingo, NUFC vs Liverpool, UNESCO Jazz Day Globe, Reflection Day Hindu Temple, Northern Stage, Wastes & Strays Exhibition Wylam Brewery, Science Museum Directors Dinner; Rockaway Blockchain investor summit, Newcastle University Folk Degree celebration, Grassroots football

Visit to Bloom – a business enabling smaller companies to seek public contracts

Speaking

Newcastle University Science Fair, Royal Society Pairing Scheme, Hewlett Packard digital manufacturing, Royal Society pairing Scheme mock committee, ITV Tyne Tees Around the House, SME Roundtable How to drive private sector R&D, Newcastle University virtual visit to Parliament, Parliamentary Export event, Renaissance Long Term prosperity, COP26 Innovation Roundtable, International Longevity Centre Work for Tomorrow Awards, Creative Majority Kings College, New Statesman & GW Pharmaceuticals Life Sciences & Making the UK a science superpower, Candlelit Vigil for Ukraine Newcastle, NUCASTLE opening event, Older Voices Elder’s Council, Yonder interview re Sky, Association for Black Engineers, Liverpool City Region APPG, Bob Hughes memorial, Chair APPG Diversity in STEM, National Innovation Centre for Data & Turing Institute debate levelling up, One Big Iftar Diversity Hub, Commemoration of Rwanda genocide, Newcastle University Community Based research in politics, University Roundtable – Universities as drivers for economic growth, New Statesman Levelling up in Action, Yonder interview Sky

Dear Newcastle May 13th 2022

Newcastle can’t afford the Tories – and told them so

Backbench and Constituency Role

Shadow Ministerial and PES Role

Organisation

Media

Parliamentary Activity

From the Front Bench: 1

From the Back Bench: 10

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Dear Newcastle May 13th 2022

Newcastle can’t afford the Tories – and told them so

Backbench and Constituency Role

Shadow Ministerial and PES Role

Organisation

Media

Parliamentary Activity

From the Front Bench: 1

From the Back Bench: 10

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