NHS spinout OPCI and barriers facing Medical Tech startup businesses
Great to meet NHS spinout OPCI to hear about their innovative clinical AI work and discuss the barriers facing MedTech startups in the North East and across the UK, and how we can build a stronger regional health innovation ecosystem.
The Peoples Kitchen
The Peoples Kitchen is a Newcastle institution – providing hot meals, warm clothing and toiletries to some of the most needy in our city for 40 years. It is entirely volunteer run and it was a privilege to meet them and see how they work together to support Geordies in hardship.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics for Britain event
Learnt a lot from Newcastle University’s Jamie McKeown when I popped into Parliament’s STEM for Britain poster event I heard how he is using maths to model the movement of moths which attack oak trees and can poison people!
Over reliance on a small number of US companies – undermines UK tech, data and digital sovereignty
With US-owned big tech like Palantir, AWS and Microsoft at the heart of the NHS and local government, I pressed the Prime Minister at this week’s House of Commons Liaison committee on the UK’s over- reliance on a small number of US companies that undermines the UK tech sector and our data and digital sovereignty […]
I have found in Newcastle much support for resisting further involvement in the war on Iran
At House of Commons Liaison committee emphasised to Keir Starmer the support I had found in Newcastle for his position of resisting further involvement in the war on Iran. Parliament TV: https://x.com/i/status/2036122341151830407
The Grainer Market – one of Newcastle’s special places
For English Tourism Week I visited one of my favourite places in Newcastle, the Grainger Market! Once Europe’s largest covered market and still thriving today. Fresh food, coffee, vinyl’s and much more. Video : https://x.com/i/status/20350431607709
Steel has shaped the North East for generations
Steel has shaped the North East for generations. I welcome the Government’s new Steel Strategy delivering: 1. £2.5bn investment on top of £500m delivered 2. backing British steel for infrastructure, energy and defence 3. tackling illegal dumping with new import tariffs
Refurbished Fleet Street bar in Pudding Chare
Good to visit Fleet Street a Heineken UK bar transformed by owners Andrew White and Michael Bray from the old Printer’s Pie. Despite the challenges many venues are facing with rising costs, it’s great to see places like this continuing to bring people together.
Critical telecoms infrastructure – concerns re use of Starlink telecoms which is owned by Elon Musk
Starlink is owned by Elon Musk who advocates civil war in the UK. OneWeb is part owned by the UK Government, both are satellite telecoms companies. I asked the Digital Minister whether our critical rural telecoms infrastructure was more dependent on Starlink or OneWeb? Parliament TV: https://x.com/i/status/2034285108585247139
Government’s decision not to join Israel and the US’s war on Iran
On Newcastle doorsteps there is overwhelming support for the Government’s decision not to join Israel and the US’s war on Iran. I asked the Minister whether US loosening of oil sanctions on Russia would enable it to better support it’s ally, Iran. Parliament TV: https://x.com/i/status/2033842760600408271