Today I wrote to the CEO of Travelodge following the deeply disturbing case of a woman who was sexually assaulted in her hotel room after a man was reportedly given both her room number and a key card by reception staff. The perpetrator has now been convicted and sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison. But serious questions remain about how this was allowed to happen and whether hotel security procedures are strong enough to protect guests — particularly women travelli

Allergy training to become compulsory across all schools in England, says government - BBC News Labour are bringing in stronger protections for children with allergies in school. New statutory guidance will make sure all schools have spare adrenaline auto-injectors, allergy awareness training for all staff, comprehensive allergy safety policies, and Individual Healthcare Plans for affected children. One in five allergy-related deaths among school-aged children in the UK occur

I have co-signed a letter to the CEO of the Football Association following appalling incidents of racism on several occasions. It is vital that the FA shows clear leadership in tackling racism, while social media companies must do far more to act when this abuse moves online. A zero-tolerance approach is essential. Racism has no place in football, a game that should be a force for bringing people together, not one that divides. This reflects my work with Fair Game to ensure f

This week I joined International Justice Mission to talk about the horrific issue of livestreamed child sexual abuse and the new AI-driven, on-device detection technology which could help stop it, preventing offenders from harming children and making the internet safer for everyone. I support the International Justice Mission in calling for all devices sold in the UK to include on-device safeguards that can detect and disrupt livestreamed child sexual abuse. Stop it before i

It’s Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and I want to take the opportunity to remind constituents far and wide that they are not alone. This week’s theme is Community because we know how important safe and supportive communities are for those recovering, those caring for someone in recovery, and for those to recognise eating disorders signs and support that person towards the help that they need. Beat will be sharing advice for how to get involved in your community, from how to

It is vital for my constituents, victims, their families, charities, and the organisations I work with that power is held to account. No matter who you are, everyone should be held to the same standard. I will keep pushing to ensure legislation and investigations are carried out in a timely way, so justice is delivered and victims remain at the forefront. It’s the right thing to do. Please watch the video below of my questions to the Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to

It's vitally important that children with special education needs get the right support at the right time, and so I welcome the White Paper on SEND, published yesterday by the Department of Education. You can find the white paper here https://consult.education.gov.uk/.../send-reform-putting.../ It's open to consultation, so we need to hear from you and your family. Make sure to have your say. For those who've booked a slot at my MP's SEND event on Thursday, I look forwar

I am proud to say that, alongside Harry’s Pals, yesterday saw the launch of my new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) focused on securing emotional support for parents and carers of children with life-limiting or life-changing conditions. APPGs bring MPs and Lords from across Parliament together to shine a light on issues that too often fall through the cracks — gathering evidence, listening to experts and families, and pushing for real, lasting change. When a child becomes

Today, we remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and all victims of the Nazi regime and of genocides throughout history. As we mark Holocaust Memorial Day, we honour those who were lost, and we recommit to building a brighter future.

Today, I stood with bereaved parents as they handed a letter into No.10 Downing Street, calling for stronger enforcement of online safety laws—action that could have saved their own children’s lives. Their message was powerful and courageous: regulate social media to save lives. They are calling for real technical oversight of social media, stronger powers for Ofcom, and the ability to hold global platforms to account—alongside an Under-16s Social Media Ban to better protect

Great to meet with Niall from Fair Game UK last week to chat about how I can support their mission for a fairer future for football. Fair Game wants to ensure football is a force for good, putting clubs at the heart of the communities they serve. For communities like ours in the Forest of Dean, grassroots football is vital for so many children, young people and adults—bringing people together and fostering a community spirit that unites and inspires. I’m really looking forwa

We all know the harm social media can cause to young people’s mental health, and it’s our responsibility to act to protect them. I regularly hear from parents who are worried about the impact unregulated social media is having on their children. Their concerns are real, and they’re shared right across the country. That’s why I’ve joined 61 Labour MPs in writing to the Prime Minister, urging him to do more to protect children and young people online. We support an Australia-st

On the 13th of November, I asked landlords and the public across the Forest of Dean to engage with me about the issues they have been experiencing and shared a live survey for them to complete. The survey can be found here: https://www.wixforms.com/f/7394715048662270982 Following this call for engagement, I wrote directly to landlords across the Forest of Dean to encourage further involvement. That letter was sent on the 18th of November and is available below. It's disappoin

Great opportunity for young people! National Grid is offering a range of paid apprenticeships across engineering, business, digital and more, with on-the-job training and recognised qualifications. If you or someone you know is looking to build a long-term career in the energy sector, this could be a great opportunity. Find out more and apply here https://jobs.nationalgrid.com/.../early.../apprenticeships

Happy New Year to everyone across the Forest of Dean! As we begin this new year, I’d like to share some of my priorities and what I’ll be working on for the Forest of Dean in the months ahead. You can read my article here: https://www.theforester.co.uk/.../the-view-from ... I am committed to serving the Forest of Dean on the issues that matter most to you, and to making sure our voice is heard in Westminster. I am wishing you all a very Happy New Year.

I would like to wish everyone across the Forest of Dean, and beyond, a very Merry Christmas. I am sending my best wishes for a happy Christmas and a good year ahead. The Forest of Dean’s strength has always been its people, and that’s never clearer than during this festive season. Thinking of you all during this special time—Merry Christmas!

Today I’ve written to the Home Secretary to express my full support for the government’s plans to strengthen the response to violence against women and girls. I know how vital it is that rape and sexual offence cases are handled by specialist, properly trained teams — and I strongly welcome the commitment to establish dedicated investigation teams in every police force. I also welcome the significant investment being made to support victims at every stage of their journey thr

I am excited to announce that the Winner and Runners-up for my Christmas Card Competition this year are… Winner: WILLOUGHBY from Huntley C of E Primary School Runners-up: RHYS from Heart of the Forest Community Special School , & RONNIE from Coalway Junior School Congratulations to our fantastic winner and runners-up! Their designs are fantastic—creative, colourful and full of Christmas spirit. These designs will be seen across the forest, the country and in Parliament! I w

Today I wrote to the Secretary of State for Justice to express my full support for the Government’s response to Sir Brian Leveson’s Review into Criminal Courts. Victims in the Forest of Dean — and across the country — are waiting far too long for justice. Some are being told their trials may not be heard for years. That is simply unacceptable. The reforms announced this week will: Put victims at the centre of the justice system Cut the courts backlog Stop people “gaming th

I fully support Labour’s plans to abolish Police & Crime Commissioners. For more than a decade, PCCs have added an extra political layer to policing without delivering the clear accountability that communities were promised. In many areas, including ours, the system has led to confusion about who is responsible for what, and whether these roles genuinely improve local policing. Labour’s plan is about restoring clarity, improving leadership, and ensuring the public get the eff