It’s been another busy month across Luton South and South Bedfordshire and representing our constituency in Parliament.
Read on for a snippet of what I’ve been up to and some great local updates!
Luton Station update!
Great news in Luton South and South Bedfordshire this month as work to install lifts to the platforms at Luton Station has officially begun!
This is brilliant news and I’m so glad that following years of campaigning and many discussions with Network Rail and the Department for Transport, this much-needed work is finally underway.
If you have any questions or issues, please get in touch with my office by emailing [email protected]
Prime Minister’s Questions- ongoing UK support in Gaza
I am proud of the UK Government’s historic recognition of the State of Palestine and our ongoing commitment to pursuing lasting peace through a two-state solution.
Despite many positive steps including the agreement of a ceasefire and return of the hostages, we know that the situation is fragile. People in Gaza continue to suffer, remaining in catastrophic humanitarian conditions.
It is vital we continue to push for an end to the blockade on crucial aid, uphold international law, and support Palestinian-led governance in Gaza.
I was glad to hear the Foreign Secretary highlight these key issues as Chair of the UN Security Council recently, setting out clear steps to help stabilise the region and secure a peaceful future for Palestinians and Israelis alike.
The Prime Minister similarly reaffirmed these commitments following my question on this at PMQs, also highlighting the UK’s upcoming Peace Building Conference in March 2026. You can watch this below.
Happy 150th Birthday Luton!
This month we celebrated the 150th anniversary of Luton as a borough! In 1876 our town was officially made a municipal borough, governed by an elected council.
As a born and bred Lutonian, I was so pleased to join the celebrations marking this occasion- reflecting on the history of our town, looking towards everything we are still to achieve, and feeling immense pride in the community we continue to build.
Find out more about the history of our town’s borough seal, also introduced in 1876, here!
Update- Pride in Place!
The Government has given Luton £1.5 million from the Pride in Place Impact Fund to brighten up our town and increase pride in our neighbourhoods.
Local residents get to decide how this money is spent, so I ran a survey alongside Sarah Owen MP to ask for your ideas.
After receiving almost 600 responses from across Luton, I have written to Luton Council, as the delivery body for the funding, to feedback the views of my constituents in Luton South and South Bedfordshire.
Local postal services update
After running my survey on postal services in Luton South and South Bedfordshire last year, I met with Ministers and Ofcom to relay constituents’ concerns.
Unfortunately, I am aware that the standard of services is still not sufficient and many residents are experiencing significant delays.
Following further action to pass on your concerns, I was glad to receive the below message from the Minister responsible for postal services, Blair McDougall MP, to share with you.
Please do continue to get in touch with my office to share your experiences so I can build a better picture of the issues across our area and represent your views in Parliament.
See Blair McDougall MP’s message here!
National Apprenticeship Week
This month we marked National Apprenticeship Week, and it was brilliant to see the Government announce new measures to widen opportunities and accelerate apprenticeship starts.
These will deliver:
- A new university clearance-style system to match near-miss applicants with similar opportunities locally
- A simplified online platform to act as a one-stop-shop for information on apprenticeships
- Accelerated courses to ensure the workforce is ready to deliver major projects.
Great to see that in the 2024/25 academic year there were 150 more apprenticeship starts across Luton South and South Bedfordshire than the previous year. Under this Government we will ensure that keeps growing- with a recent £725 million investment set to deliver 50,000 more apprenticeship opportunities nationwide.
I was glad to meet with local apprentices in Parliament during National Apprenticeship Week to welcome this news and hear more about their experiences!
Legislation to modernise our UK elections
The government recently introduced the Representation of the People Bill 2026 in Parliament.
Alongside a range of other new measures, including new protections for candidates and against foreign interference, this Bill will expand the right to vote to 16 and 17 year-olds. Young people will also be able to register to vote from 14 years old, to prepare them to engage in future elections.
Here in Luton South and South Bedfordshire, we have a huge population of young people, so it is great news that they will have their voices heard at the next election and get a say in crucial decisions that will affect their future.
I want to hear from as many young people across our constituency as possible- tell me your views on this law, what else you need to know about it, how we can help young people get involved in our community, and more!
Get in touch by sending me an email or even writing me a letter to my office in Parliament.
Email address: [email protected]
Westminster address: Rachel Hopkins MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Good news! Energy bills are coming down
Household energy bills are set to fall by £117 from April!
Ofgem have announced a 7% reduction in the energy price cap, resulting in this £117 saving. This is on top of the expanded Warm Homes Discount, which is already saving over 12,000 households in Luton South and South Bedfordshire an extra £150 on their bills.
I know that the cost of living is the number one issue facing families across our constituency, so it’s great to see the Government’s actions putting more money back in the pockets of families.
New legislation to remove the two-child benefit cap
This month, new legislation to remove the two-child limit on Universal Credit officially passed in the House of Commons.
I was very pleased to support this legislation and hugely welcome the positive impact it will bring by helping 5,000 children and their families in Luton South and South Bedfordshire.
This policy is set to lift 450,000 children out of poverty nationally by the end of this Parliament, delivering on the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and set our young people up for better futures.
Ongoing support for Ukraine
This month marked 4 years since the beginning of Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Our message in Luton South and South Bedfordshire, and across the UK, remains simple- we stand with Ukraine and its people.
I was glad to join Luton branch of Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain to commemorate this anniversary and stand in solidarity with those that bravely continue to fight for Ukraine’s freedom.
We saw an incredible showcase of Ukrainian photography and art- reminding us of the strength of the Ukrainian people in the face of this cruel invasion.
I’m proud to see the UK Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine- providing over £10 billion total military support, continuing to sanction the Russian regime, offering a safe place through the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and working with Coalition of the Willing partners to secure a lasting peace.
Visiting AKG’s Luton branch
Very interesting to visit AKG’s Luton branch, learning more about the great work they do supporting people in our town back into employment.
AKG is a key delivery partner of the DWP’s Restart Scheme, which helps people into secure, sustainable work. Their wider approach offers wraparound support with many interconnected issues that can be barriers to employment including health issues, language skills, homelessness, domestic violence, and more.
I was glad to see their understanding of the issues young people can face in accessing employment. Their work is incredibly valuable for our town, and it’s great to see the positive outcomes they are securing.
Read my column for Luton News this month to hear more about the visit!
Road safety debate
I was glad to participate in a debate on road safety in Parliament recently, welcoming the Government’s Road Safety Strategy and highlighting some local concerns in Luton South and South Bedfordshire.
Tackling drug driving is a key issue, with the number of fatal collisions involving drugs rising by 70% from 2014-2023. I’m glad to see the Government’s decisive action on this, introducing additional powers for police to act at the roadside and new testing methods.
Watch my speech below!
St Brigid’s Day!
Lovely to join Luton Irish Forum for their St Brigid’s Day celebrations recently, celebrating Irish women past and present in Luton and the huge impact they’ve had on our social and cultural life.
We enjoyed delicious afternoon tea, fantastic Irish dancing, and congratulated Noelette on serving an impressive 20 years as LIF’s CEO!
A big thank you for inviting me and for all the brilliant work Luton Irish Forum does in our community!
Huge reforms to the SEND system
The Government has unveiled its new plans to transform SEND education, backed by a landmark £4 billion investment.
We know that for far too long the system hasn’t worked for children, parents or teachers.
We’re changing that, ensuring children can access the right support earlier, closer to home, and without a fight.
The new plans include:
- Personal plans for every child that needs support
- £1.6 billion to improve mainstream inclusion, with an inclusion base in every secondary school
- £200 million to ensure teachers in every classroom are trained to meet the needs of children with SEND
This is just the beginning, with lots more key measures announced. Read more here:
The government wants your thoughts on the proposals. Have your say in the consultation, running until the 18th May.
Visiting Shri Guru Ravidass Sangat
A huge thank you to Shri Guru Ravidass Sangat in Luton for inviting me to join their 649th birthday celebrations of Shri Guru Ravidass Ji!
It was a pleasure, as always, to join the community in their celebrations and to reflect on the teachings of Shri Guru Ravidass that are based in equality, compassion and social justice.
These values are clear in the great voluntary and community work undertaken by our Ravadassian community, which I’m always proud to see.
Thank you for such a warm welcome!
Improving transport links to support jobs and development in Luton South and South Bedfordshire
In Luton South and South Bedfordshire we have many exciting upcoming developments that will drive crucial growth and investment in our area and open up new job and apprenticeship opportunities for young people.
Following a productive meeting recently, I was glad to ask the Transport Secretary for more information on how the Government is ensuring our transport network supports young people to access these vital opportunities. Watch this below!
Clean power investment for Luton NHS sites
Delighted to see that the Government’s new clean power investment is set to deliver funding for two NHS sites in our area!
- £78,752 for Charter House in the town centre
- £2,949 for Luton Treatment Centre in Vestry Close, Dallow
Under this Great British Energy programme, NHS facilities will enjoy new clean energy technologies and improved energy efficiency- helping to cut bills.
This is great news for our town, meaning less money is wasted and more vital resources go directly into frontline services.
New National Cancer Plan
The Government this month announced its new National Cancer Plan, setting a target for the fastest improvement in cancer outcomes this century.
Under this plan, 75% of patients diagnosed from 2035 will be cancer free or living well after five years. This will be delivered through:
- Faster diagnosis through a £2.3 billion investment in additional testing capabilities
- Tailored support plans and more treatment provided through specialist cancer centres
- Cutting edge technology including robot-assisted surgery
I was glad to join Cancer Research UK in Parliament ahead of the plan’s launch to pledge my support and hear more about their great work.