This week I was based in the constituency, which meant I could get to the office for around 8.30am. I had a catch up with the office manager before jumping on to the weekly Ministers meeting with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. This meeting is essential to the workings of the department and gives the ministers and their parliamentary private secretaries a chance to report back on MP surgeries and local issues.
I had lots of paperwork and office related tasks to complete before the team meeting in the afternoon. We have this meeting to bring together the staff from both the Blyth Valley office and Westminster to discuss upcoming events, casework and media. In the evening I visited Elsdon Avenue church in Seaton Delaval to meet with the Beavers, Cubs and Scout leaders. There was a great atmosphere in the session and these groups are fantastic for young people to develop life skills such as leadership, teamwork, resilience and making lifelong friendships. The young people can go camping, have sleepovers and experience new adventures alongside learning. I spoke with Brian about the impact lockdown had on them, I was pleased to hear they are now seeing increased numbers joining the groups. They currently have spaces for young people in all sections to join, which cover ages from 6-14yrs. I want to personally thank Brian, the volunteers and the children for a brilliant visit and for doing so much for the local community. I am looking forward to attending more events in the future.
Tuesday, I spent the morning in Cramlington to chat with residents about their priorities ahead of the general election. I did not have as much time as usual as I was heading to Westminster on the train in the afternoon to be in parliament ready for the Spring Budget. I got to London around teatime and had a quick catch up with Tim Harding, Head of Government Relations & Public Affairs at Catapult in Blyth. It is always fantastic to hear about the projects and opportunities in our area.
The following day I arrived early in the London office for a call with the Long-Term Plan for Towns stakeholders to discuss the strategy for the new deal board. It is massively exciting for Blyth and the town centre with huge investment happening right now. Since 2019, my residents in Cramlington, Seaton Valley, and Blyth have received significant funding for our cultural assets including:
- £16.5 million pounds Blyth Marketplace Culture Hub and Market improvements which will contain:
o An exhibition space dedicated to local art
o An independent three-screen cinema
o Children’s play provision
o A performance area/stage
o Food and beverage offering
- The Culture Hub project is scheduled to be complete by August 2025.
- Headway Arts Covid recovery fund £90,250.
- Isabella heap, East Cramlington Local Nature Reserve, and Valley Park QEII commemoration schemes.
- Tall Ships £170,000 Culture and heritage funding.
- Theatre N16 Group £61,000 Culture and heritage funding.
- Seaton Delaval Hall £316,000 Historic England Fund, with a further £160,000 culture recovery fund.
- Plus over £17,000 awarded to grassroots football clubs and schools in 2023 for pitch upgrades.
There is much to be excited about in our area.
From here I attended PMQs for the Spring Budget. Taken together with the measures at the Autumn Statement, the now 4% cut to the National Insurance you pay means someone on the average salary will save around £900 a year. £720 for the average bricklayer, £1,054 for the average nurse, and £1,270 for the average teacher or police officer. We’re Supporting half a million families through changes to Child Benefit Charges by raising the threshold and halving the rate at which Child Benefit is withdrawn, benefiting some parents by an average of £1,260. By April 2026 we will also end the unfairness for single earner families. We are extending the temporary 5p cut in fuel duty rates for a further 12 months and have cancelled the planned inflation increase. Supporting our drivers. Saving motorists an average £250 per car since this cut was introduced in 2022, a £3.1 billion tax cut for drivers! The VAT registration threshold will be increased from £85,000 to £90,000 from April 1st. We are supporting and reforming the NHS with £2.45 billion for next year and a new £3.4 billion productivity plan, saving money, freeing up clinicians’ time to focus on patients, and cut wait times. For pensioners, the state pension will rise by 8.5% next month - more than double the current rate of inflation. Inflation is now expected to be down to 2% or less by the summer.
The choice is clear – you can stick with the plan that is working under the Conservatives which will deliver a brighter future for the country or go back to square one with Keir Starmer and Labour, who can’t say what they’d do, because they don’t have a plan. Labour would fill the economy with mass migration to artificially bump up GDP, while we are bringing genuine support for workers and businesses across our nation.
I then had a meeting with the Environmental Audit Committee before leaving to catch a train at Kings Cross. When I got to the station, all the trains had cancelled and after waiting a good while, I returned to my accommodation.
The following morning, I got on an early train from London back to the constituency, due to issues with travel I then missed a World Book Day visit to Seaton Sluice first school which was terribly disappointing and I had to rearrange a meeting with Cllr David Ferguson to discuss facilities for Seaton Sluice Football Club.
In the evening, I campaigned in Wideopen, this town will be a part of the new Cramlington & Killingworth seat to which I am a candidate for the next election.
Friday morning, I took my nephew on a visit to the new welding centre by the Port of Blyth, and at their construction centre in Seghill where school leavers are able to learn valuable skills that will set them up for future careers. For many young people in our area, university may not be for them, however these courses can provide excellent pathways into employment in some of our fastest growing sectors.
Their free construction taster sessions are perfect if you’re aged 15+ and thinking about what’s next after you leave school:
- Multi Skills
- Electrical
- Plastering, dry lining, and interior systems.
In the evening I met with Lisa Mavin, her family and friends at the services club to launch a petition for stronger sentences for those who drive under the influence, speed, drive negligently and causes death. I will be supporting the families of Corey and Connor with their petition, and I will be looking to host a Westminster Hall debate on the subject with urgency.
The weekend was spent with family and friends before getting ready to head back to Westminster on Monday morning. As always, should you wish to contact me or if you would like to arrange a face-to-face or telephone surgery, please call 01670 338435 or email [email protected]
