Meeting the Pope! Finding Harbottle and award-winning jam

Never a dull moment in this job – and I love it.

But although no two days are the same – my aim is. I am here to serve North Northumberland, and to play my part in bringing hope and dignity to the people of this constituency, country and beyond.

One minute I’m shaking hands with the Pope, the next I’m meeting Sandy, the Mad Jam Woman of Morpeth!

Meeting the Pope – what an incredible honour!

Finding Harbottle in the Vatican

Meeting Morpeth’s Sandy Higson – award-winning jam maker

Cutting the ribbon for Amble’s new banking hub

Washington DC visit as Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief

Door knocking with Geoff, our brilliant caseworker

My new show on Lionheart Radio, with the excellent Richard Dale

North Northumberland food and drink in Parliament

Flood defence funding, PIP review and help with heating oil

March 2026

I’m encouraged by continued progress towards building a country that works better for everyone, including several announcements relevant to our communities in March 2026.

• North Northumberland will receive more than half a million pounds for flood defences.
• The Youth Guarantee will invest £2.5 billion to help nearly one million young people into work, education or training.
• The Government has launched the first full review of Personal Independence Payments (PIP), so those with direct experience can shape improvements.
• Low income households using heating oil will receive extra help through the new Crisis and Resilience Fund, including £53 million for vulnerable oil heating homes.

Rail fares, social media protection for children, cracking down on child cruelty

March 2026

While much of the focus has understandably been on the Middle East this week, the work at home continues too.

• As part of the plan to build an affordable railway that the public can rely on, we have halted decades of soaring rail fairs with the first rail fair freeze in 30 years, easing the cost of living for many passengers in North Northumberland.
• We’ve launched an ambitious consultation to explore measures to keep children safe across the internet which considers minimum social media ages, restriction of AI chatbots features, and overnight curfews. Have your say until 26 May (link to the consultation is in the first comment).
• Child cruelty offenders will face tougher and lasting consequences with the new Child Cruelty Register. Adults who subject children in their care to heartless crimes such as neglect and abandonment will be more closely monitored by police and face similar restrictions as registered sex offenders.

Energy prices, innovative farming fund, ending online abuse quickly

February 2026

Have you heard how we’ve been cutting bills and supporting change in North Northumberland? We have:

• Taken £117 off the energy price cap – and potentially your bill – on top of giving the £150 Warm Homes bill discount to 6m homes.
• Set aside £1bn for community energy projects, so that by 2030, every community in the UK will have the opportunity to own a local energy project.
• Opened up £345m for farming innovation, technology and infrastructure so that farmers are supported to scale up and try new things
• And updated legislation in Parliament so we can tackle online abuse as soon as the social media consultation ends, instead of having to wait for months.