It’s been another busy week, both in Westminster and here at home in Stretford & Urmston. From strengthening our support for Ukraine and Sudan, to protecting our NHS, environment, and vital local services, I’m proud to be working every day as part of a Labour Government that is delivering real change and standing up for Britain’s future.
On Tuesday, Parliament heard a statement from the Defence Secretary, John Healey, on the war in Ukraine. The Palm Sunday attack on Sumy – a barbaric assault that tragically killed 35 people including children – was another grim reminder of the toll since Putin’s illegal invasion.
The Government is providing £4.5 billion in military aid this year – the highest ever – alongside £200 million of frontline supplies like drones and radar systems, and £160 million to repair battlefield equipment. I will always stand firmly with the Ukrainian people; both those fighting for their freedom and the refugees we have welcomed here in the UK. The Government’s mission remains clear: a just, lasting peace with Ukraine’s sovereignty and security guaranteed.
Also on Tuesday, the Women and Equalities Minister, Bridget Phillipson, made an important statement following the Supreme Court’s ruling that sex in the Equality Act means biological sex. This ruling is intended to provide clarity for service providers while ensuring the right to single-sex spaces in healthcare, prisons, sport, and support services.
It is crucial, however, that the rights and dignity of trans people are also protected. We must never allow one group’s rights to be pitted against another’s. Respect, safety, and inclusion are the foundations of any just society. We will always stand for both women’s and trans people’s rights – including by halving violence against women and girls within a decade and delivering a full ban on conversion therapy.
During the Easter recess, Parliament was recalled to safeguard the future of British Steel. The emergency legislation we passed in just one day has kept the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe open, saving thousands of jobs and protecting a vital national industry.
I was proud to be part of a Government that acted quickly to defend Britain’s ability to produce its own steel – essential for our national security. Following this intervention, the Industry Minister, Sarah Jones, confirmed on Tuesday that a full long-term steel strategy will be published this spring. Securing our steel industry after years of Tory neglect is a vital step to making Britain more resilient in an increasingly volatile world.
The poor state of NHS buildings remains one of the starkest reminders of the Conservative failure. During an Opposition Day debate on Wednesday, the Government introduced an amendment acknowledging the collapse of the Tories’ unfunded New Hospital Programme.
Labour’s Plan for Implementation will invest up to £15 billion in each five-year wave from 2030 onwards to deliver safe, modern hospitals – and crucially, new fiscal rules will ringfence NHS capital budgets. For too long, money meant for upgrading hospitals has been raided to cover short-term pressures. I’m proud that we are putting an end to this mismanagement.
People in Stretford & Urmston deserve better than crumbling hospitals and overstretched services. These investments will help ensure that our NHS is fit for the future – accessible, resilient, and there for everyone who needs it.
The national scandal of sewage pollution must end. In another Opposition Day debate, the Government set out its bold new Water (Special Measures) Act, which is now in force. This legislation introduces tougher penalties, gives Ofwat new powers to ban unfair bonuses, mandates emergency sewage reporting, and unlocks £104 billion of private sector investment to upgrade water infrastructure.
Like so many locally, I value our rivers, canals, and nature spots. Clean rivers, healthy ecosystems, and safe water supplies are basic standards we must expect – and I’ll continue campaigning to make this a reality.
On Thursday, two major international efforts were discussed in Parliament. Talks in London with the UK, France, Germany, and the US are helping coordinate the next steps to support Ukraine’s defence and build a durable peace. Meanwhile, the London Sudan Conference secured over £813 million in humanitarian funding to help those suffering in the Sudanese conflict.
The UK’s leadership in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and addressing the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan is something we should all be proud of. I join the call for a ceasefire and a civilian-led transition to a peaceful, democratic Sudan.
Back in the constituency on Friday, I joined the Environment Agency for a site visit to Urmston Meadows, which suffered devastating floods in January. We discussed what happened and how to better protect the area in future. The floods were a harsh reminder of the growing impacts of extreme weather, and I will keep pushing for stronger flood defences and action on climate resilience.
Afterwards, I visited The Dog House café at Barrowfield Farm – one of the businesses hit by the flooding – and was delighted to see them open and thriving again. It’s a wonderful spot for a brew before a walk on the Meadows!
Earlier on Friday I had joined local councillor Emma Hirst in visiting Old Trafford Amateur Boxing and Fitness Club to celebrate the installation of their new community defibrillator. A huge well done to Kevin Williams, who runs the Club, who raised the funds through local support. It’s a fantastic achievement that will help save lives, and I’m delighted to see an outdoor defib installed in the Old Trafford area.
Andrew Western MP