This week the Government has launched a comprehensive 18-month review of the UK’s parental leave and pay system to make it fairer, more flexible, and easier to use.
The review will examine maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave, aiming to support modern families and improve gender equality in the workplace. It responds to concerns that many parents, especially fathers, cannot afford to take leave under the current system. This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen workers’ rights, including making flexible working the default and introducing day-one leave entitlements.
On Tuesday, Parliament also debated the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill. The Bill aims to strengthen the social security system, support people into work, and protect those who cannot work. The Bill ensures that 200,000 people with severe disabilities will no longer face Universal Credit reassessments, which I know will be a welcome relief to many constituents. It also increases the Universal Credit standard allowance above inflation for the first time, benefiting over six million households.
There is no point pretending that the Bill passed smoothly – constituents will have seen the various concessions made to secure its passage, and I welcome the work that will be done by the Timms Review to coproduce reforms to Personal Independence Payments and develop a system that protects those who cannot work and supports those who can work to do so.
PIP has an important role to play in this, given it exists to meet the additional costs of disability. Backed by a £1 billion investment in tailored employment support, the Government aims to create a fairer, more compassionate, and sustainable welfare system focused not on what people cannot do, but what they can.
On Wednesday, the Government progressed with its commitment to improve service life by establishing an Independent Armed Forces Commissioner. The Commissioner will act as a direct point of contact for personnel and their families to raise concerns—such as housing, childcare, and equipment—outside the chain of command.
Empowered to investigate issues, make recommendations, and report to Parliament, the role will enhance accountability and champion the welfare of service members. The Bill was debated on 2 July 2025, and we will ensure that this becomes law as quickly as possible.
I also attended an event organised by Breast Cancer Now to launch their report setting out the urgent changes needed to ensure people living with incurable secondary breast cancer can access new, clinically effective treatments now and in the future.
Breast Cancer Now is concerned that the current drug approvals system puts people living with this disease at a disadvantage, compared to the old system.
This could result in them being unable to access new treatments as recently happened with Enhertu for HER2-low secondary breast cancer.
Over 300,000 people added their name to Breast Cancer Now’s petition calling for Enhertu to be made available on the NHS in England. Despite this, it was still rejected for use.
I spoke to Breast Cancer Now about working together to call on the government to ensure people living with secondary breast cancer can access new treatments to give them more time to live. I met with people affected by secondary breast canvcer at the event to learn more about their experiences, and will be working with Breast Cancer Now to call on the government to ensure people living with secondary breast cancer can access new treatments.
For me, the big news of the week came on Thursday, with the unveiling of the new 10-year NHS plan. It will introduce three fundamental shifts in how our NHS works. From Hospital to Community, from analogue to digital and from sickness to prevention.
This is not just a quick fix; it is a fundamental rewire of the NHS to serve generations to come. The plan will establish neighbourhood health centres, reform GP and dental services, and make it easier to access same-day care. It will also digitise frontline services with tools like AI scribes and enhanced NHS app features to reduce admin and empower patients.
Finally, it aims to build a healthier society by promoting better nutrition, expanding access to weight-loss treatments, and working with businesses to support public health.
There was also a backbench business debate on the issue of mobile phone theft. The Government is taking firm action to tackle rising mobile phone theft, which surged by over 40% in the final year of the previous Government.
Measures include new police powers to search premises for electronically tracked stolen phones and stronger collaboration with tech companies to prevent theft and support investigations. A national summit in February brought together key stakeholders to improve data sharing and understand the role of organised crime, with a second summit planned soon.
The Government has made clear it will take further action if progress is not made, as part of its broader mission to make streets safer and restore public confidence in policing.