As Remembrance Day approaches, our city pauses to honour those who served, and to reflect on what service truly means. For some, it meant putting on a uniform and travelling to the front line to defend our freedoms and those of others. For some, it means serving here at home: protecting our neighbourhoods, supporting vulnerable residents, or helping young people find a brighter future. Of course, nothing we do today can compare to the sacrifice made by those who served in conflict and never returned home. But the values they embodied: duty, courage, commitment to others, endure. Service takes many forms, but its spirit is constant: duty, sacrifice and commitment to others.
In September, I stood in Burslem Cemetery as a new cross was unveiled over the grave of Private Alfred William Holdcroft. Alfred survived the Battle of the Somme but later died from his wounds. For decades, his grave lay unmarked, until dedicated local residents led by Mike Lightfoot worked to ensure he was recognised and remembered properly. It was a moving moment – a reminder that remembrance is not confined to a single day but lived through the values we uphold and the people we honour.
Shortly afterwards, I met the relatives of Jack Baskeyfield VC, who lost his life at Arnhem. His family’s quiet pride spoke to the courage and determination that shaped our past and still defines so many in Stoke-on-Trent today. Our city has always produced men and women of courage; miners who risked their lives underground, nurses who served through war and peace, and volunteers who kept our community organisations running. The strength of Stoke-on-Trent has always been its people: practical, proud and willing to step up when others step back. That is why recent steps to strengthen support for veterans, matter. The Government’s new Valour Initiative, a £50 million programme bringing together housing, health and employment support, is a welcome step, as is the strengthening of the Armed Forces Commissioner to champion veterans when things go wrong. Those who served deserve dignity and support, not bureaucracy and delay.
That same spirit of service exists in the people who keep our communities safe today, including our Police Community Support Officers. PCSOs may not deploy overseas, but they serve on our streets every day: checking in on vulnerable residents, visiting schools, attending residents’ associations and building the trust that keeps communities strong. They are often the first point of contact for the public, a steady presence who prevent problems before they escalate. Their role is one of quiet vigilance, the kind of service that rarely makes the headlines, but which makes neighbourhoods safer and people feel cared for.That is why so many residents are deeply concerned about proposals being consulted on under the Conservative Police Commissioner that would remove PCSO cover after 9pm and reduce pay for many officers. These changes would weaken visible policing at precisely the time it is most needed, and some PCSOs tell me they would lose more than £4,000 a year. That is neither fair to them nor safe for our communities. We should value and support those who serve the public, not diminish their role or cut their income.
I have written to the Conservative Police Commissioner, Ben Adams, and his Deputy, Dave Evans to make my position clear. I have launched a petition calling for these proposals to be reconsidered. If you believe in keeping our streets safe and ensuring that our PCSOs are treated with fairness and respect, I encourage you to sign: https://survey.labour.org.uk/hands-off-our-pcsos .
Because honouring the fallen is not only about looking back, but also about how we conduct ourselves today. When we stand up for those who serve our communities now, we uphold the values defended by those who came before. As we mark this season of remembrance, let us commit ourselves to the same duty of care and respect. Lest we forget.