July marks one year since you elected me as your voice in Parliament, and I cannot begin to describe the honour and privilege I feel representing you – the good people of Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove. During that time, I have met so many incredible people, businesses, charities and organisations – and it’s clear you all love our area and want it to thrive. Thank you for welcoming me so warmly.
Together, we’ve shared both moments of pride, and moments where we have had to confront real challenges.
We continue to celebrate our city’s centenary year – and what a year it has been – honouring our last 100 years whilst looking ahead to the next with hope and ambition. I smiled wildly when thousands descended on our Mother Town for the Lemmy Statue unveiling. That tribute to one of our city’s most iconic sons not only showcased our local pride, but it also demonstrated the power of cultural regeneration. It showed how – with the right vision – our towns can be as vibrant as many of us will remember. That’s why I am pleased this Labour government has signed off millions of pounds to bring real change to Burslem and Tunstall.
That contrasts, though, with the real tear-jerking moments we have shared. Meeting loyal workers from Royal Stafford and Moorcroft alongside the brilliant GMB Union was emotionally tough. Between them, we counted over a thousand years of skills and experience – and we cannot let that go to waste.
Thankfully, TG Green and Will Moorcroft stepped in, saving both iconic names. Energy prices, though, remain a serious issue. That’s why I have campaigned alongside my North Staffordshire colleagues for government support – and our Industrial Strategy can, and should, help us through this crisis.
Communities like ours are also starting to feel the benefits of bold national changes. And let’s be clear – these changes are only happening because we have a Labour government in office. Our area is one of the first across the country to pilot free breakfast clubs in a number of schools so that children start each day with a full stomach, ready to learn. And from next year, 6,730 children across Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove will receive free school meals. This is crucial in our efforts to tackle child poverty – the very issue that motivated me to enter politics.
The public services we rely on are getting back on their feet. Investment in our NHS has brought down waiting lists for the past seven months. The way we get around our city will be easier too. Buses are vital around here – they connect us with our friends, our loved ones and we need them to get out and about – so this long overdue investment is most welcome. The Spending Review also confirmed our local transport grant will quadruple over the coming years, and we are seeing greater investment to fix our broken roads. I also want people to feel they have more money in their pocket. That’s why I am pleased that nearly 14,000 residents across our area are now benefitting from increases to the National Living and Minimum Wage – worth up to £1,400 more a year for those in full-time work.
This is what real change looks like: practical, visible, and rooted in the needs of ordinary people. It shows what’s possible when we listen, invest, and act with purpose. As my second year as your MP begins, I look forward to us working together as a community to bring about the real change that we need and deserve. Of course, we’re not done yet. The challenges facing our communities are deep-rooted, and change will take time. But if this year has shown us anything, it’s that Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove is a tough and resilient community, and we will continue to move forward together, with pride, determination, and a clear vision for the future.
I’m incredibly proud to represent this place. And I’m just getting started.