July 2026 – In Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme

July marks two years since I was elected as your Member of Parliament, and what a month it has been. From being appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to DEFRA, to launching my Summer on the Doorstep campaign, to securing police drop-in sessions for Rossington, there is a lot to share!

Out and about in the constituency

This month I met with Mineworkers' Pension Scheme members from across the constituency at public meetings in Rossington and Dunscroft. I heard directly from members about what full justice on this issue actually looks like. I will now be writing to the government, setting out the concerns raised and continuing to push for the fair treatment MPS members deserve.

I'm really pleased to share that one of the first decisions made by Rossington's new Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board is to fund £1 swim sessions for Rossington adults and children at the local leisure centre. This is something residents told us they wanted, and the Board agreed unanimously at its very first meeting to make it happen. Access to affordable swimming is something I feel strongly about. I've been campaigning in Parliament for better water safety, and children from the most deprived communities are twice as likely to drown. Making swimming accessible on people's doorsteps is one of the most practical things we can do to help. I want to thank our ward councillors and the Parish Council, who have been funding subsidised swimming for residents out of their own budgets for years. Using Pride in Place funding now means their money can go towards other projects for the community.

After more than 3,000 residents signed a petition calling for a police presence at Rossington Police Station, I'm pleased that we've been able to secure drop-in sessions with South Yorkshire Police. A massive well done to the core team who took this forward, including Cllr Bob Anderson, Margaret Field and Parish Cllr Gaynor Spencer, who spent months out in all weather collecting signatures!

There has been good progress on my campaign to restore a more frequent train service at Hatfield and Stainforth, Thorne South, Crowle and Althorpe. Northern Rail have now done their part by producing a set of serious, costed options for improving services on this line. The campaign has moved into its next phase, with the focus shifting to working with our local mayoral authorities in South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire to explore how the options can be funded and delivered. I also attended the all-new Rail User Group at the Memorial Hall in Ealand. There is still work to do and I won't pretend this is a quick fix, but I remain committed to pushing this as hard as I can for our communities.

Having been your member of parliament for two years, I think now is exactly the right moment to get back to basics and hear directly from you. That is why this summer I am launching my Summer on the Doorstep campaign, where I will be coming directly to your door to find out what is working, what is not, and what you want to see more of from me as your MP. For those whose doors I do not make it to, I am also launching my own local area survey so you can still have your say. Over the last few weeks my team of volunteers and I have been out in Dunscroft, Thorne, Epworth, Rossington, Bawtry, Haxey, Crowle, Auckley and Moorends, with more sessions to follow in August.

I'm pleased to confirm that 7 new Mental Health Support Teams are being rolled out across the two ICBs that cover our constituency. These teams provide early mental health support directly in schools for children and young people aged 5 to 18, from one-to-one sessions to group workshops, identifying needs early and helping children stay in school. One of my pledges has always been to stand up for healthier lives and brighter minds for our residents, and I will be engaging with both ICBs to push for schools in Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme to benefit from these new teams.

In Parliament

I am delighted to have been appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Before becoming an MP, I spent over 25 years working in the water and climate industry, with much of my career focused on flood and drought resilience. I am incredibly honoured to now bring that experience to government. This role will also give me the opportunity to push for real change on areas like water safety, which has been a major campaign priority for me since entering Parliament. My number one priority will always be the people of Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, and I am determined to use this role to make a positive difference for our constituency and our country.

This month, this renewed Labour government announced that VAT on electricity bills will be removed from October, funded by scrapping the Digital ID programme. This will put around £45 a year back in people's pockets, on top of the £150 already taken off bills earlier this year. This is exactly the kind of immediate action we need, and I wholly support this move to help reduce bills this winter.

The Prime Minister has also announced a fundamental change to our education system by putting technical education on an equal footing with the traditional academic path. From age 14, students will be able to combine core subjects like English, maths and science with high-quality technical education linked to real jobs in their area. That means time with employers, real-world experience and a clear route into skilled work.

I also relaunched my Pitcher's Parliament Programme with a new and improved offer that now teaches students how to debate, how to vote and how Parliament works. I have also partnered with the Supreme Court so students can take a tour of the highest court in the land. If your child's school has not been yet, please get in touch. This month I welcomed Crookesbroom Primary and Hatfield Woodhouse Primary to Parliament as part of the programme.

Casework highlights

My team resolved 526 cases this month. A few that stood out:

·         Secured a refund for a resident who had been charged unfair tax penalties, after HMRC initially said nothing could be done.

·         Resolved a damp issue for an elderly resident after the council had failed to previously take action.

·         Secured a meter fitting for a resident after British Gas had failed to act, following intervention from my office.

If there's anything you think I can help with, please get in touch.