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Keep updated on the latest news, campaigns and my work on behalf of voters in the local area.
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Today, our Labour Government has launched the Fair Work Agency. That means for the first time, there's a body with real teeth dedicated to making sure your rights at work are actually enforced, not just written down somewhere nobody checks.
For too long, the rules existed on paper but bad employers knew there was little consequence for ignoring them. That changes now.
This follows the Employment Rights Act, which is already making a difference for working people: the end of the three-day wait for sick pay, new protections against exploitative zero-hours contracts, stronger rights for parents, and real barriers against fire and rehire tactics.
People in Rossendale and Darwen work hard. They deserve employers who play by the rules, and a government that makes sure they do. That's what today is about.
There's more still to deliver. But this is a real step forward. ... See MoreSee Less
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Happy Easter to everyone in Rossendale and Darwen! ... See MoreSee Less
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Great news for families in Darwen today.
The government has confirmed that Blackburn with Darwen will receive £2.6 million this year to support children with SEND, as part of the biggest single funding allocation of its kind in our country's history.
This money will go towards creating more specialist places in mainstream schools, so that children with special educational needs can get the support they need closer to home, without their parents having to fight for it.
For too long, families have had to battle every step of the way just to get the right support for their child. This funding is part of Labour's plan to change that, building an education system where every child can achieve and thrive, and where the right support is there as routine.
I'll be working with Blackburn with Darwen Council to make sure Darwen residents feel the benefits of this funding. ... See MoreSee Less
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It was fantastic to meet with the 1st Turton Scouts on Monday evening. They asked some great questions, and I was pleased to see their enthusiasm to join my campaign for a bus service to Edgworth. ... See MoreSee Less
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Frustrating to see Rawtenstall brought to total gridlock again despite Reform's empty promises to tackle temporary traffic lights. There is an election on Thursday in Hareholme and Waterfoot where local residents can vote Labour to send Reform a message that they need to listen to our calls for better, tougher and quicker responses to avoidable situations like this. ... See MoreSee Less
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Today I have some fantastic news to share: Bacup is getting a Best Start Family Hub at the Maden Centre.
Back in October, when the Government announced funding for Lancashire to open a new Best Start Family Hub, I wrote to Lancashire County Council and I asked them to make sure deprived areas within Rossendale were properly considered, not overlooked again.
Families in Bacup have faced real challenges since Sure Start centres were cut by the Conservatives, and for too long deprived communities have missed out on proper support. With our Labour Government investing in local services, those of us in Bacup will start to see and feel that change.
In December last year I visited the Maden Family Hub to see the great work they are doing and hear about what they need to enable them to accomplish even more. That's why I'm so pleased that the funding is going here - I know exactly what this will mean for families in Bacup.
The new Best Start Family Hub will bring together health visiting, parenting support, infant feeding advice, help for children with additional needs, and cost of living support, all in one place and free to access. ... See MoreSee Less
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For over a decade, governments haven't been on the side of British industry. That's changing.
Every year, £400 billion of public money goes on government contracts. It should be going to British businesses and British workers, and from now on, that's exactly what Labour is making sure happens.
The Government has announced the biggest shake-up of public procurement in a generation. Departments will now have to prioritise British firms in steel, shipbuilding, energy infrastructure, and AI. If a contractor isn't using UK steel, they'll have to publicly say why. And a new shipbuilding framework will keep contracts with British yards wherever possible.
These are the industries that built this country. Communities across the North have paid a heavy price when governments turned their backs on them. We're not doing that.
Good jobs, made in Britain, backed by your Labour Government. That's what this week's announcement is all about. ... See MoreSee Less
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My Week in Westminster
Although I only spent two full days in Westminster this week, I used that time to continue to advocate for Rossendale and Darwen, for our region and for families across the country.
On Tuesday, I held a debate on Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC), and joined the Terrorism and Security All-Party Parliamentary Group for a hearing with Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, on the challenges ahead in keeping our communities safe.
I also had the privilege of meeting Nik and Amisha, a family who have been personally affected by a rare placenta condition. Their story is a powerful reminder of why we need the NHS to be doing more to detect conditions like this earlier, and I'll be pushing for exactly that.
Later in the day I met with Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood to raise road safety concerns from my Safer Roads campaign, including the growing problem of fraudulent number plates being used to evade speed cameras. This is something I know from my consultations and surveys that many of you in Rossendale and Darwen feel strongly about, and I want to make sure our roads are safe for everyone.
I also met with Defence Secretary John Healey to discuss Typhoon aircraft. I am adamant that we must see Government investment into the production of Typhoon jets to secure jobs in Lancashire and the future of our nation's defensive capabilities.
On Wednesday, I spoke with the Miscarriage Association about improving care and support for people who lose a pregnancy before 24 weeks. No one should have to face that experience without proper care and compassion.
I also joined colleagues from across the Red Wall for a meeting with the Home Secretary.
Pictured: my meeting with Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood and Sarah Coombes, MP for West Bromwich, who has been campaigning against 'ghost' number plates for some time. ... See MoreSee Less
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United Utilities will be conducting sewer repairs on Bacup Road throughout next week, starting on Monday. This is going to cause quite a bit of disruption, so I will be keeping a close eye to ensure the works are on schedule, the lights are operated properly and that they're finished as quickly as possible. ... See MoreSee Less
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