It’s been another busy month representing Luton South and South Bedfordshire in Parliament and spending time across our constituency meeting with great people, businesses, and organisations. Read on for a snippet of what I’ve been up to!
The Budget
This week, the Chancellor delivered her budget, aiming to focus on the country’s main priorities- cutting the cost of living, cutting NHS waiting lists, and cutting government debt to strengthen the foundations of our economy.
Here in Luton South and South Bedfordshire, this will mean around 5,000 children benefit from the removal of the two child limit on Universal Credit, a freeze on rail fares and prescription charges, increases to the national minimum and living wage, lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, cuts to energy bills, and more.
I am glad the government have implemented measures to make lives better for working people, and I will continue to work to ensure people in Luton South and South Bedfordshire feel the benefits.
Remembrance
It was a privilege to support the 2025 Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal in the run up to Remembrance Day this year by visiting a local stall in Luton Point, joining the Poppy Ride in Parliament, placing a stake in the House of Commons Garden of Remembrance, and visiting memorials across the constituency.
On Remembrance Sunday our town came together to honour those from Luton, and across the UK and Commonwealth, who have given their service and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
The Royal British Legion does incredibly important work supporting members of our Armed Forces community and their families. Find out more about how you can support them here: Royal British Legion | Armed Forces Charity
Fighting for fairer funding for Luton Council
Luton saw local services decimated after years of underfunding.
I am glad the government are introducing a fairer funding system that will tackle deprivation – overhauling outdated funding formulas to account for local need and boosting funding for local services by £5 billion.
I have long fought for better funding for Luton Council and I will continue to push for Luton to get a fair settlement.
Parliament week
Great to see so many schools and youth organisations across Luton South and South Bedfordshire participate in this year’s UK Parliament Week!
Parliament Week is a brilliant opportunity to learn more about how Parliament works and how everyone can have their say on the issues that matter to them.
Lovely to visit 5th Stopsley Guides, St Margaret of Scotland Catholic Primary School and Foxdell Primary School, and join Riverbank Primary and Totternhoe CE Academy on their trips to Parliament.
I also joined care leavers for Luton Council’s Youth Voice Summit to discuss the importance of democracy, equality and fairness in politics, and sent video messages to many more schools across the constituency!
Discussing local housing concerns in Parliament
Constituents across Luton South and South Bedfordshire regularly contact my office regarding concerns around safe and affordable housing, and I know how prevalent of an issue this is across our constituency.
I recently spoke in a Westminster Hall debate to highlight the issues tenants and wider communities face due to unlicensed and improperly managed HMOs.
I asked the Minister to provide an update on how the government is supporting councils to invoke Article Four directions to manage HMOs and ensure tenants are not being taken advantage of.
Supporting Luton North MP Sarah Owen’s campaign to reform firework regulation
Residents across Luton South and South Bedfordshire regularly contact me about anti-social firework use and the issues it causes for our community.
I was pleased to support my neighbouring MP Sarah Owen’s ongoing campaign to reform firework regulation by meeting with the Fireworks Impact Coalition, including representatives from the RSPCA, Help for Heroes, Assistance Dogs UK and more.
Support the campaign by signing the petition to reduce the maximum noise level for consumer fireworks and offering your experiences in the RSPCA’s survey.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/738192?filters=418
Fireworks and animals survey | RSPCA – RSPCA – rspca.org.uk
If you are experiencing anti-social firework use where you live, I encourage you to report this to the Police via 101 and quote “operation starbar”. This information and data sharing helps to build a picture of where these instances are happening and how they can be tackled. If you have difficulty reporting these issues, please contact my office and we will pass on concerns to the council and police.
War in Ukraine
Russia is enduring significant financial pressure due to its illegal war in Ukraine. We must go further, though, and continue to impose maximum economic pressure to force Putin to the negotiating table.
It is vital that we move towards a ceasefire for the sake of the Ukrainian and Russian civilians alike who are suffering as a result of this war.
Watch my question to the Minister on this issue below.
Men’s Health Strategy
Great to join Wes Streeting, the Department of Health and Social Care team and colleagues in Parliament to mark the launch of the government’s new Men’s Health Strategy.
Brilliant to see a much-needed push to tackle men’s mental health challenges, improve physical health and reduce inequalities to ensure men and boys can live longer, healthier lives.
This includes:
- £3.6 million for suicide prevention projects
- Improved prostate cancer care
- £3 million for community-based men’s health programmes
- Expanded mental health support in schools
Abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners
The government has announced that Police and Crime Commissioners are set to be abolished in 2028. This move will save taxpayers millions and ensure vital funding is made available for frontline police services.
In Parliament I placed on record my thanks to Bedfordshire’s PCC, John Tizard, for his dedicated service to our community, and asked the Minister for more information on how the transition to new oversight of police and crime governance will take place in areas like Luton South and South Bedfordshire.
Opening Pumpkin Lane Nursery
It was a privilege to be invited to officially open Pumpkin Lane Nursery in Luton South and South Bedfordshire this month!
Pumpkin Lane is doing brilliant work to help make high quality childcare accessible for every family and give children the confidence, social skills and educational foundation to be ready for school.
This Labour government is delivering on its mission to break down barriers to opportunity by offering working parents 30 hours of government funded childcare, saving up to £7,500 per child per year, through nurseries like Pumpkin Lane.
Introduction of a Veterans Strategy
The government’s Veterans Strategy is part of ongoing work to renew the nation’s contract with those who served.
Here in Luton, we have over 3,000 veterans. This new strategy will offer them the support they deserve by unlocking £27 million for a new nationwide veteran support service, providing new funding for a dedicated wraparound homelessness service, investing in veterans NHS support, and much more.
Find out more here: Veterans support centres to be rolled out across the country as transformational strategy launched – GOV.UK
Supporting Luton’s young people at the Youth Proms!
Lovely to attend the Music for Youth Proms at the Royal Albert Hall!
So proud to watch Luton Youth Funk Band absolutely rock the stage and students from Hillborough Junior School singing beautifully in the choir! Students from Denbigh Primary School also performed the following evening and I am told they were fantastic.
Such a great atmosphere and showcase of the brilliance of so many young musicians from across the UK. It’s so important that all children get the opportunity to explore music and the arts, and events like this provide exactly that!
Apprenticeship opportunities for our young people
Lovely to meet with BBC Apprentices from across the Three Counties area in Parliament recently to hear about their experiences and some of the great opportunities open to our young people.
I’m proud that the government is recognising the value of apprenticeships and skills education, and ensuring our young people get the best opportunities through its new Youth Guarantee and target for 2/3 of young people to enter university, further education or a gold-standard apprenticeship.
Always pleased to see young people from our area accessing great education opportunities to set them up for good, skilled and well-paid jobs in the future!
Find out more about opportunities available here:
https://www.skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/training-choice/apprenticeships
Visiting Acorn Pharmacy in Dallow
Great to visit the team at Acorn Pharmacy in Dallow Road!
I heard more about the day-to-day operations of the pharmacy, as well as the vital services they provide to the local community.
We also discussed the important role pharmacies will play as part of the Labour government’s 10-year health plan to provide a neighbourhood health service.
Lovely to see the brilliant work they do firsthand caring for local residents!
