Labour is giving thousands of pubs, clubs and music venues a 20% cut in business rates. For too long, these venues have been disappearing from high streets. This will help protect the local venues that bring communities together across Rochester and Strood. 👉 Read more: buff.ly/A28adjL

🌹 VOTE LABOUR TODAY in the Cuxton, Halling and Riverside by-election for Medway Council. Polling station open until 10pm and don't forget your voter ID! 🌹

I’ve written for KentOnline on the concerns residents across Rochester and Strood have raised about fireworks misuse. I welcome the Government’s consultation and will continue to listen to residents and push for action. Read the full piece here 👇 buff.ly/yEgngnT

Earlier this month, I spoke with BBC Politics South East about Andy Burnham's ability to build strong relationships. Following this week's appointment as Prime Minister, I believe his collaborative approach and experience bringing people together will serve him well in the role.

Labour is taking immediate steps to give families breathing space on the cost of living. From January 2027, Andy Burnham’s Government will cap bus fares at £2, a change that will make a real difference for people across Rochester and Strood and shows the new Prime Minister is listening.

Delighted that the new PM has announced VAT on household electricity bills will be cut from 5% to 0% from October, helping families with rising bills and providing breathing space this winter. This will put money back in people’s pockets, funded by savings from the cancelled Digital ID programme.

Today marks a significant moment as we welcome a new Prime Minister. Andy Burnham's first speech set out priorities to rebuild trust in politics, make Government work better and put communities at the heart of decision-making. I look forward to ensuring Rochester and Strood’s priorities are heard.

Thanks to all who attended my Strood West coffee afternoon with Cllrs Sharon Jackson & Mark Jones to chat about how we should spend the £20m Pride in Place Government investment over the next 10 years. Reminder that the deadline to apply to Chair the Neighbourhood Board is on 22 Jul: buff.ly/IC7wAgr

Thank you to all the residents, and the Police Cadets, who joined the litter pick and gardening session I co-hosted today with the Friends of Rochester Churchfields and Esplanade. What an amazing community of volunteers we have! Find out more about FoRCE at esplanadefriends.org.uk

Last week, I spoke in Parliament to welcome the Government’s Waste Crime Action Plan and asked about tackling older illegal waste sites like Brambletree Wharf. I welcome action being taken to clear these sites and will continue to push for action to address the issues affecting residents here.

From discussing local GP concerns with the Care Quality Commission to asking how the new waste crime strategy can help clear Brambletree Wharf, here are some highlights from last week.

Could you lead our Pride in Place programme in Strood West? We’re recruiting a Chair for our new Neighbourhood Board to decide how £20m of Pride in Place funding should be spent in the local area. Find out more and apply here by 22 July: buff.ly/IC7wAgr

Great to be on BBC Politics South East this week. We chatted about my assisted dying bill, hospice funding, EU Entry/Exit checks at Dover, Andy Burnham, and the Bayeux Tapestry. Watch 10am on BBC1 this Sunday.

Following concerns raised by myself and others, I welcome that Grain Fire Station is no longer being considered for closure. Earlier today, I wrote to the Kent Fire & Rescue Chief Executive for further information on the potential impact on the Hoo Peninsula of other changes still being considered.

Thanks to Total Politics for inviting me to speak on the "Skills for Growth" panel at their Westminster Fringe on "The Future of Work" this week. It was an engaging and wide-ranging discussion on everything from apprenticeships to devolution and the need for better support for small businesses.

Lovely to meet my constituent Tracey to talk about her organisation "Sense about Science" as part of Parliament's Evidence Week. It was great to chat about young people and skills and how we can work together to tackle the NEET crisis locally.

A really encouraging launch for the ‘Vision 2035: Advancing Higher Education in Medway’ report. It’s great to see the excellent universities and colleges in the constituency deepening their collaboration alongside Medway Council to plan for the future. You can read the report here buff.ly/qHPHesM

Great to see the progress that’s been made on construction of ‘The Docking Station’. A partnership between the University of Kent, Medway Council, and Chatham Historic Dockyard, this digital creative industries hub will provide new opportunities and support local economic growth.

From supporting local education, apprenticeships, and skills, to raising concerns about fire station closures, here are some highlights from last week.

Great to meet with Mark and Lewis from CC Cousins and hear more about the fantastic work they’re doing to bring together local employers to support young people. You can find out more about their upcoming Career Compass event on 19th October here buff.ly/PmaeSeI

Fantastic to attend the launch of The Commissioner’s House at the Historic Dockyard Chatham in my constituency last week. Well done to Sir Trevor, Richard, Nigel and the team for a superb restoration thanks to many funders, including the Dept. for Media, Culture and Sport.

What a fantastic ICC Women's T20 World Cup, hosted right here in England and Wales. I got to see a few England and Australia matches before they met in the final yesterday at Lord's, with a record breaking crowd of over 28,000 in attendance. It has inspired me to pick up my bat again!

Great to meet Royal Mail apprentices at Medway Mail Centre in Strood today and hear their views on the value of apprenticeships. It was also an opportunity to raise with management the delivery issues in the constituency, and I will be meeting with them again soon to discuss how to resolve these.

From supporting our Armed Forces to visiting the site of a new creative industries hub, here are some highlights from last week.

Thanks to the Wilsonian Sailing Club in Hoo for inviting me to the Medway Dinghy Regatta that they hosted at the weekend. It was great to meet everyone at the club and be shown around their facilities.

What a great Medway Armed Forces Day at Chatham Historic Dockyard in my constituency. Thank you to everyone who took part to celebrate the important contribution the Armed Forces makes to our community. And thank you to all who serve or have served, and their families.

From reintroducing the Terminally Ill Adults Bill to supporting local habitat restoration, here are some highlights from last week.

Last week, inspired by the great work that Oscar Acoustics Innovation Centre in Halling have done to achieve ‘Sownd’ Certification, I asked the Housing Minister to consider the benefits of incorporating acoustic performance standards and audio-inclusivity into building regulations and guidance.

Last week, I spoke in Parliament to welcome legislation to lower the voting age to 16 and make voter registration easier, as well as asking if the Secretary of State had considered adding a ‘none of the above’ option to ballot papers to increase democratic participation.

Thanks to the RSPB, Church Commissioners for England, and Minister for Nature Mary Creagh and her Defra team for hosting a National Estate for Nature visit to St. Mary’s Marsh on the Hoo Peninsula. It was great to hear new earthworks and solar pumps are preserving this nationally important habitat.