Food poverty is reaching crisis point up and down the country, including here in the North East. The North East has the second highest rate of child poverty in the UK at 35% (behind London at 39%). This includes the UK’s biggest increase in child poverty from 2014/15 to 2018/19 (rising from…

The week from the 8th-14th February marks Heart Unions week, a week dedicated to raising awareness and celebrating the role unions have played in protecting their members. The role of unions have been more important than ever throughout the pandemic. The attack on workers’ rights has become more aggressive than…

Thank you to everyone who voted in my Local Hero award this year. Over 30 groups or individuals were nominated for the award this year, a testament to the incredible community spirit here in Wansbeck. While all the nominees are heroes in our eyes Natalie & Johnny Kerr are worthy…

2020 has been an extremely difficult year for all of us mentally, physically and financially. But during this tough time we have also seen the incredible spirit of the community, and what we can do when we come together. Perhaps the most stark example of this came over half term,…

Wansbeck Constituency Labour Party have launched there christmas campaign to ensure that every child in Wansbeck receives a toy this christmas. After a tough year for everyone, this is a fantastic idea that will hopefully make what is often a very difficult time for people that bit easier. If you…

Important notice on Pension Credits According to Independent Age, there an estimated 1634 pensioners living in Wansbeck who are entitled to pension credits but do not receive them, amounting to an unclaimed £2,700,000. For many, receiving pension credits can be the difference between being in poverty and being able to…

The result of the vote last night over whether or not children should be provided with free school meals over the half term and Christmas break has quite frankly left a sickening taste in my mouth. Not only is it a disgrace that Conservative MPs voted for children to go…

Seven years ago, the Prime Minister bemoaned efforts to introduce wind energy into the UK, snidely remarking that turbines “failed to pull the skin off a rice pudding”. Instead he suggested we do more to harness the potential of shale gas as a future solution to our energy needs. Fast…

At times it has felt like it would not be possible, but over the past few weeks the government’s total inability to control the spread of Covid-19 has become even worse. A failing test and trace system alongside a complete breakdown of effective communications has led to a number of…

The measures announced by the Chancellor in his so called Winter Economy Plan leave much to be desired. As the virus surges across the country, especially here in the North East, the economy finds itself entering another perilous period. As anxiety builds for families facing a bleak winter now was…