July: a busy summer
July marked a full year since I was elected to serve as your Member of Parliament for Erewash, and what a whirlwind year it’s been! This job has been the honour of my life. While it demands long days, weekend work and lots of train journeys back and forth, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Representing Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Sandiacre, Breaston, Draycott, Risley and Stanton-by-Dale is an immense responsibility. Every month, I try to ensure your voices are heard in Parliament and your lives are made better at home.
This July has been a particularly busy one. Parliament rose for summer recess towards the end of the month, giving me the chance to return to Erewash full time. I’ve been knocking on doors, catching up with constituents, chasing casework and, of course, dealing with the never-ending flow of potholes.
Fixing the everyday
We started the month as we often do: with yet another pothole report. The infamous crater near the ASDA roundabout in Long Eaton had reappeared, just months after its last botched repair. As frustrating as it is to deal with repeat issues, my team contacted Derbyshire County Council again, and I’m pleased to report that repairs were carried out swiftly this time. But it shouldn’t take repeated complaints to get a proper job done. I will continue pushing for long-term solutions instead of quick fixes.
This sort of local concern is something my team and I deal with every single day. In July alone, we supported people with a wide range of issues. Here are just a few of the wins we secured this month:
- Helped a family suddenly served with an eviction notice to secure emergency housing from the council.
- Chased a passport that had been stuck in the system for four months and got it processed in time for a family holiday.
- Unblocked a serious problem with unpaid child benefit.
- Had the aforementioned Long Eaton Asda island pothole repaired AGAIN.
- Secured compensation from the DWP for a mother who was wrongly denied benefit payments for weeks.
- Got a dangerously fallen tree removed from Quarry Hill Road within 24 hours of being reported.
- Convinced a social housing provider to install a new bathroom for a resident.
- Working with the council to get the Colin Bloomfield sunshade in West Park restored.
- Reported an illegal business in Sandiacre and kickstarted enforcement action.
- Successfully concluded a year-long battle to get proper SEND provision in place for a local child.
- Got a social housing provider to write £250 off of a residents’ rent arrears as compensation.
- Got the council to agree to clear weeds and repair brickwork in West Park.
- Supported an Ilkeston resident’s enquiry into his wife’s care costs.
- Managed to get some thermal insulation installed for a private renter in Sandiacre.
- Got a parking fine company to bring a fine down for an elderly resident.
- Got compensation from the DWP for a blind resident regarding their personal independence payment appeal.
Some of these cases are resolved quickly, while others take months of quiet persistence. But every one of them matters deeply to the people affected. That is what public service should be about.
One year on
On 4th July, I celebrated a full year as your MP. Looking back, we’ve achieved so much. We’ve helped hundreds of local families, campaigned for more visible policing, visited every secondary school in Erewash, and backed local businesses and workers. We’ve extended free school meals, introduced breakfast clubs (including one of the country’s first at Chaucer Juniors), fought for more council houses and voted to ban no-fault evictions.
I’ve been proud to support national policies that put fairness and opportunity at the heart of our economy. I’ve voted to renationalise the railways and British Steel, to end zero-hour contracts, and to improve rights for renters. Locally, I’ve continued to champion Erewash’s manufacturers and employers, from Toyota and Rolls-Royce to the Long Eaton Guild of Furniture Manufacturers.
It’s been a relentless pace. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Better NHS, safer streets
Health and safety have both featured prominently this month. I visited Old Station Surgery in Ilkeston, which has secured £2 million in investment to expand space, cut waiting times and provide more appointments for local people. This follows a wider set of NHS improvements for our area, including the re-opening of the Urgent Treatment Centre for walk-ins and new scanners at Ilkeston Community Hospital. These are small signs that our long-term plan to rebuild the NHS is beginning to bear fruit.
Our national £29 billion NHS investment plan is now in motion. We are streamlining the NHS app, creating neighbourhood health centres, boosting GP access and rolling out mental health support and nutritional advice in schools. This is about more than treating illness. It is about building a healthier country from the ground up.
I also chaired important discussions with university leaders and Ministers. We focused on the challenges facing Britain’s universities, a sector I care deeply about after a decade working in one. Our higher education sector is a national treasure, but it’s under strain. I was pleased to chair a major meeting in Parliament with Skills Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith and senior university figures to push for fairer funding and better staff conditions.
Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour
In Ilkeston, concerns about anti-social behaviour have been rising. That’s why I met with Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni, alongside senior officers and council leaders, to press for a more proactive policing approach. In fact, during our meeting in the Market Place, the police had to break up a fight right in front of us. It was a vivid reminder of the urgency of the situation.
As part of our long-term plan, 35 new police officers will be hitting the streets in Derbyshire this year, each assigned to specific neighbourhoods. Thanks to new Respect Orders introduced under the Crime and Policing Bill, we now have the powers to properly deal with anti-social behaviour. These orders set clear conditions for offenders, and if breached, they come with real consequences.
We continued efforts to keep streets safe in other ways too. My team shut down an illegal car repair business in Sandiacre and tackled the growing problem of homes of multiple occupancy (HMOs) in areas such as Bennett Street in Long Eaton. I’ve raised serious concerns with both the borough and county councils about whole streets being swallowed up in rapid, unchecked developments.
Championing families and fairness
One of the announcements I was most pleased to share this month was the rollout of our new Best Start Family Hubs. One of these centres will be coming to Erewash. It will offer families the support they need, from early years guidance and SEND navigation to mental health advice. These hubs will replace much of what we lost when Sure Start centres were closed, and they will transform lives.
We also saw a major expansion of the Warm Homes Discount. This will help 1.8 million more families nationwide, including nearly 200,000 in the East Midlands, to get £150 off their energy bills this winter. It’s a vital lifeline. I’ll keep pushing for longer-term fixes to Britain’s broken energy system.
Culture, creativity and community
Not everything is policy or potholes. Sometimes, it’s about celebration and community. I was thrilled to attend the grand opening of the Canaan Trust’s new women’s home in Long Eaton. This inspirational space was made possible through over £1 million of fundraising and support from across our area. The kitchen was built by Long Eaton Appliance Company, and the sofas were handcrafted by local furniture-makers. It was a true community effort.
I also chaired another productive meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the British Furniture Industry. We discussed training, tariffs and apprenticeships. As chair, I will continue advocating for local manufacturers, who are so vital to our economy.
On the cultural side, I voiced support for grassroots music. Having once gigged my way through university, I know how tough things are for indie artists and small venues. Let’s not lose this rich part of our national life. Buy tickets, wear the merch and support your local scene.
Meanwhile, on the doorstep in Draycott, we had some great conversations with residents. The weather did try to wash us out, but we made up for it with a well-earned panini and flat white at Pumpkinz Coffee House.
Making democracy work better
One of the biggest changes this month was the decision to lower the voting age to 16. This was a promise I was elected on, and I’m proud to see it delivered. I know the sceptics, but as a former teacher, I’ve seen first hand how engaged and thoughtful 16 and 17-year-olds can be. If they can pay tax, work and serve in the Armed Forces, they deserve a say in their future.
We’re also making voting more accessible. We will now accept bank cards and digital ID, modernise the registration process, and crack down on foreign donations. These steps will make our democracy fairer and more secure.
Looking ahead
As Parliament breaks for recess, I’ll be spending the summer full time in Erewash. I’ll be running surgeries, following up on casework, knocking on doors and preparing for a busy autumn in Westminster. If there’s something you need – whether it’s housing help, a school place, support with the DWP or just someone to point you in the right direction – my team and I are always here to help.