Dear Newcastle February 2021

A month in and 2021 is proving hard going – fortunately there is also hope for the spring with the rollout of the vaccine. The UK passed the terrible milestone of 100,000 deaths from Covid19, a statistic that hides immeasurable suffering, grief and loss. Over the past few months we have cycled through tiers, lockdowns […]
This Brexit deal is Boris Johnson’s mess, but I will vote in the national interest
This Brexit deal is Boris Johnson’s mess, but I will vote in the national interest Tomorrow MPs will have about five hours to debate the Government’s 80 page “Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union Bill” which implements its 2000 page Brexit Deal. I have spent the last few days canvassing views on it […]
How Newcastle kids are missing out on online learning!
The school closures, may be good for public health, but are seriously affecting pupils’ learning and the ones bearing the brunt of it are those who are already very disadvantaged. The Institute for Fiscal Studies recently found that by the end of May children in the poorest families will have received a week and a […]
Thank you to everyone in Newcastle Central for re-electing me as your Member of Parliament.

Representing you is the best job in the world and it will be a privilege to continue stand up for you in Parliament. THANK YOU!
MPs Report April 2019

Dear Newcastle April 2019 I always feel Spring is really here when the clocks go forward and the cows return to the moor. But in Westminsterland, nothing much is changing. The Brexit train grinds on even as the buffers are moved. Either two or one and a half, depending on how you counted them, further […]
Happy International Women’s Day

Happy #InternationalWomensDay to everyone everywhere but especially in #Newcastle where we have such a great history of amazing, campaigning women! To celebrate International Women’s Day here is a Women’s Co-operative Guild of Newcastle-upon-Tyne banner. This banner was probably made shortly after the guild was formed in 1892 and is on display in our Working Lives gallery. Discovery Museum […]
MP’s Report: September 8th to October 12th 2018

Dear Newcastle Most of the last month has been “ConferenceTime” with MPs, accompanying media and lobbyists decamping from Westminster accompanied, in Labour’s case at least, by delegates and members from across the country. Labour’s conference was well attended, constructive and often inspiring. There were a number of significant policy announcements including on Child Care, workers […]
Today’s vote on Heathrow

As a member of parliament I am often faced with difficult choices and this is especially true for today’s debate on the National Policy Statement on Airports. A third runway at Heathrow raises very challenging economic, environmental and ethical considerations. I am glad we in the Labour Party are having a free vote – I […]
Dear Newcastle
I am deeply saddened and ashamed to think I may have constituents who fear they might not be welcome or indeed celebrated in the Labour Party because of their Jewish faith or heritage. The mural upon which Jeremy Corbyn commented six years ago was easily identifiable as being antisemitic and it had no place on […]
Dear Newcastle

Parliament has returned with the Autumn and it is the same subjects which are occupying Westminster minds – Tory infighting, Brexit and the economy. The Labour Party Conference showed a party united and determined to achieve a ‘jobs first’ Brexit, putting the economy first. The Prime Minister’s disastrous speech to Conservative Conference overshadowed the economic […]