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As your local MP, I can help you with, or offer advice on, issues such as; benefits, immigration, tax, the NHS, child maintenance and education.
I would love to hear from you about what you think my priorities should be as your MP and what matters most to you.
Please use the contact form to get in touch with me. Please remember to provide as many details as possible, including your name, address and full details of your issue.
I'm so pleased that we were able to secure another million pounds of government funding for Darwen Library Theatre. That means new seating, better lighting and rigging, an upgraded bar area and a new cinema style set up. These improvements will make the Theatre an even greater asset for Darwen. ... See MoreSee Less
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Four months. That's how long a Rossendale and Darwen resident was waiting after their Carer's Allowance was put under review at the end of February.
While under review, the payments stopped, which also reduced their Universal Credit, and their household lost a significant part of income overnight. The constituent rang the Carer's Allowance Unit every single week for an update. Every week they were told there was no news. The case was escalated twice and still nothing moved.
They got in touch with my office and we took the case up with the Department for Work and Pensions.
I am pleased to say the claim has now been reinstated in full. My constituent has received over £1,700 in arrears and their weekly payments have started again.
Carers do some of the hardest and least recognised work in the country. Nobody caring for a loved one should be left waiting months for an answer while their income disappears.
If you are stuck in a process that has gone quiet, sometimes an enquiry from my office is all it takes to get things moving. Contact my office via phone, email or though my website and I can take action on your behalf. ... See MoreSee Less
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I was at Marl Pits this week to see the new outdoor netball courts open. It was clear how much this means to the players, the coaches and the families who have given so much to the Rossendale Rockets over the years. Facilities like these are what make a place feel like home. They give people somewhere to come together, to stay active and to take real pride in where they live.
I am glad that the Pride in Place funding we have been able to deliver for Rossendale is being put to such good use here. My thanks go to everyone across the community who has helped make this happen. ... See MoreSee Less
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To me, delivering good growth for Rossendale and Darwen means vibrant high streets, public transport which gets people where they need to go and young people feeling like they can build a life for themselves without having to move away. ... See MoreSee Less
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I've been hearing from a lot of residents about the chaos being caused by roadworks on Newchurch road over the last 24 hours. The Borough Council and County Council have been working to sort out the immediate issues, and the traffic is now flowing reasonably well. However, I have concerns that when traffic gets heavier there will be further congestion. I will be calling on the County Council to make sure these lights are manually operated in order to get traffic flowing efficiency, and I will keep on the case to ensure disruption is minimised. ... See MoreSee Less
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One of the new Prime Minister's very first acts has been to take VAT off household electricity bills from 1 October. That means around £45 off the yearly price cap, and it comes on top of the £150 already taken off bills at the last Budget.
This is money back in people's pockets at exactly the time they need it. It shows that our new Labour Government is on your side: delivering real help that people will feel in their own homes. I will keep working to make sure everyone in our area gets the support they deserve. ... See MoreSee Less
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The mobile police station will be out and about in Darwen this week, these are the following times and areas.
Apologies for any short notice, it wasn't clear we had access to the mobile police station until very short notice.
If you have any concerns about your area please call in and we will do our best to help.
Tuesday - Tockholes near the Royal Pub, 13:30 - 16:30, Belmont near the Black Dog pub 17:30 - 20:30.
Wednesday - Town Centre 11:00 - 16:00, Birchall Avenue 16:30- 1930.
Friday - Town Centre 14:00 - 18:00, Whitehall Park 18:30 - 2030.
Saturday - Edgeworth 13:00 - 16:30, Chapeltown 17:30 - 20:00.
Sunday - Blacksnape playing fields 13:30 - 16:00.
🙂 🙂
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I would like to extend my congratulations to Andy Burnham as he becomes our new Prime Minister.
It means a great deal to see someone who knows the North West, and who understands towns like ours, walking into Number 10. I also want to thank Keir Starmer for his service, and for the way he has led our party and our country.
There was a lot in today's speech to welcome. The focus on the cost of living is exactly right, and it is what people here raise with me most. I was glad to hear a clear commitment to building more social housing, to better mental health support, and to helping more young people into good work. And the promise to reindustrialise our economy, and to push power and investment out of Westminster and into the places that can use it best, is the kind of change Rossendale and Darwen has needed for a very long time. The Reindustrialisation Research Group which I convened last week will provide a vital resource to this government in the cause of reinvigorating small towns like those of Rossendale and Darwen.
Andy Burnham's priorities are promising, but I will keep pushing to ensure that East Lancashire is invested in and supported with the resources it needs by this new government.
I look forward to working with the new Prime Minister to deliver for our area. ... See MoreSee Less
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