I welcomed new Government reforms giving councils greater freedom to support local and UK businesses and keep public money circulating in communities like Redditch. The changes, set to come into force in early 2026, remove outdated restrictions that prevented councils from considering local economic benefit when awarding certain contracts. Serving on the Parliamentary committee scrutinising the reforms, I described them as practical, common-sense changes that will help counci

I will raise serious concerns in the House of Commons on 19 January about failures in support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Worcestershire. I will question the Government on repeated failures by Worcestershire County Council to meet its statutory duties, following reports from parents of long delays, poor decision-making and a lack of accountability. I have also called for a debate on Government intervention powers whe

I welcomed new Government action to tackle illegal “ghost” number plates, which criminals use to evade ANPR cameras and commit serious offences, including county lines drug activity affecting Redditch and the surrounding villages. The crackdown introduces tougher penalties, including penalty points, vehicle seizure for repeat offenders and restrictions on the manufacture and sale of illegal plates. Co-sponsoring the legislation alongside Sarah Coombes MP, I said ghost plates

I have met with UKHospitality Chair Kate Nicholls OBE in Westminster to discuss support for local pubs, cafés, restaurants and hotels across Redditch and the Villages. The meeting focused on the importance of hospitality to local jobs, high streets and community life, as well as pressures facing businesses ahead of the 2026 business rates revaluation. I shared feedback directly from constituency businesses, drawing on my professional background in the tourism sector. I stress

I have written to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, urging renewed cross-government engagement with the families of those killed in the Birmingham pub bombings of 21 November 1974. Nearly fifty years on, families continue to seek truth, accountability and reassurance that their concerns remain a priority. I highlighted frustrations over limited progress and the absence of a statutory public inquiry, stressing the need for transparency and ind

I welcomed the Government’s new £50 million VALOUR programme to transform support for veterans in Redditch and the Villages. Drawing on conversations with local veterans, I said too many have been “passed from pillar to post” and deserve joined-up support that works around people, not bureaucracy. VALOUR will bring housing, employment, health and mental wellbeing services together through local centres, backed by dedicated field officers working with councils, the NHS and cha

I have called for urgent intervention over “unacceptable” Royal Mail service failures affecting residents in Inkberrow. After more than 200 constituents reported missed and severely delayed deliveries - including NHS appointment letters arriving after appointments had passed - I have written to communications regulator Ofcom demanding action. Problems were particularly acute over the Christmas period, despite repeated assurances from Royal Mail that services would improve. De

I wrote to Worcestershire County Council demanding clear answers over gritting and road safety failures during recent snow and icy conditions. Following widespread reports from residents across Redditch and the Villages, I raised concerns about untreated roads and pavements, skidding vehicles and hazardous junctions, causing particular anxiety for vulnerable people. I stressed that my intervention is not a criticism of frontline gritting teams but focuses on planning, priorit

I visited Church Hill Middle School to meet pupils, staff and Principal Laura Jarvis, discussing the school’s positive improvement journey and future priorities. During a student-led Q&A session with the School Council and Head Pupils, I answered thoughtful questions about Parliament, local decision-making and how young people can make their voices heard. I praised pupils for their confidence, curiosity and civic awareness, describing them as “a real credit to the school.” Hi

I welcomed the Minister for the Armed Forces, Alistair Carns MP, to Redditch for a visit celebrating the strength of the local Armed Forces community. Together we visited 37 Signal Regiment, meeting reservists, soldiers and staff to discuss training, modernisation and the Regiment’s vital role in defence communications. The visit also included joining members of the Royal British Legion for the dedication of the “Jarvis Room” at Bridley Moor & Batchley Social Club, recognisin

I joined MPs from across Parliament in calling on the Prime Minister to urgently introduce statutory regulation of the bailiff sector to protect vulnerable residents. In a joint letter, MPs warned that the lack of legal oversight allows intimidating and aggressive practices to continue, despite bailiffs regularly dealing with people in financial difficulty. The letter cites evidence from debt charity StepChange showing that more than half of those subject to bailiff enforceme

I thanked hundreds of local school children across Redditch and the Villages for entering this year’s Christmas card competition. The winning design is by Maggie from Woodfield Academy, which will feature on the front of my constituency Christmas card. Runners-up Alice from St Pete’s Catholic Middle School, Jacob from Walkwood Middle School, Ivana from St Thomas Mall Catholic First School and Henok from Picture Oak School will also be featured. I also thanked sponsors 10 Pin,

I updated residents on the campaign against plans for a 51‑person HMO on the former Hotel Rafiya site in Winyates Green. I praised local residents and the Winyates Green Residents Association for submitting nearly 500 objections to Redditch Borough Council, calling the proposal “completely unsuitable and inappropriate” for the area. I urged planning officers to use their delegated powers to reject the application without it going to committee and pledged to attend any plannin

I backed the Government’s Railways Bill, which will create Great British Railways to bring track and train services under one public body, improving reliability and accountability for Redditch passengers. I welcomed a £3 billion national bus funding boost, including £15 million for Worcestershire, to expand routes and introduce zero-emission buses. I also praised a record £148.7 million investment to repair potholes and improve local roads. I stressed that these reforms will

I welcomed the Government’s historic Child Poverty Strategy, which will lift 2,350 children in Redditch out of poverty by scrapping the two-child limit and expanding support for working families. The strategy includes free school meals, breakfast clubs, increased childcare support and higher wages. I praised these measures for making life easier for struggling families and giving every child a better start in life. I will continue working with local organisations to ensure fa

I celebrated Small Business Saturday by meeting local entrepreneurs, including The Redditch Craft Bakery and Rusty’s Collectables, highlighting the vital role small businesses play in keeping Redditch’s high streets vibrant. I praised the dedication of family-run shops and independent retailers, noting that Redditch has nearly 4,000 small and medium-sized businesses. I highlighted recent government support, including energy bill cuts, expanded apprenticeships and increased fu

I met with Chief Fire Officer Jonathon Pryce KFSM to discuss local fire and rescue priorities in Redditch and the surrounding villages. They discussed recruitment, community fire safety, home visits and joint working between fire and police services. I praised firefighters for their vital work and highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships to keep communities safe. I welcomed the opportunity to deepen engagement and ensure residents benefit from improved emergen

I hosted a well-attended Coffee Morning at the REDI Centre, fulfilling my pledge to be accessible and listen directly to residents. Over 30 local people attended, raising issues including the rise of Houses in Multiple Occupation, dangerous driving, parking pressures, anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping. I committed to raising these concerns with the council, police and health bodies to push for practical solutions. I thanked attendees for sharing their experiences and conf

I joined West Mercia Police on patrol in Redditch town centre as part of the government’s “Winter of Action” initiative. The campaign targets shop theft, street crime and anti-social behaviour, with increased uniformed patrols and partnership work to protect shoppers, retail workers and visitors. I accompanied officers to see how they are tackling prolific offenders and supporting local businesses. I praised the work of neighbourhood policing teams and pledged to continue wor

I welcomed the Government’s announcement that every Best Start Family Hub in Worcestershire will have a dedicated SEND practitioner from April 2026, building on the vital work of local community groups. This expansion means families of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities will get expert, early support, helping to break the cycle of delayed intervention. The hubs will act as a one-stop shop for families, offering speech and language sessions, parenting pro