04/09/2026
๐๐๐ซ๐ค'๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐
๐ถThank you so much to everyone who congratulated my wife Alice and I for the news that we have another child on the way later this year, we're very happy.
Current casework stats:
๐ฅ Cases opened for residents: 331
๐ค Cases closed for residents: 499
โณ Total number of cases we are currently working on: 655
We've started to clear the backlog, please bear with us as we work through these cases.
Contact us and we will always try to help:
๐ง [email protected]
๐๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐
We said goodbye to Jade and Blase who have worked for me since 2024. Jade was an incredible caseworker who I know many of you had contact with and Blase was a fantastic Constituency Assistant who was often mistaken for a body guard at community events. I thank them for their service to the people of Leeds South West & Morley and wish them all the very best for the future.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐๐
I was pleased the Government has launched a landmark review and consultation on how firework use is regulated.
The antisocial use of fireworks is something residents have written to me about on numerous occasions. Itโs a concern Iโve raised with ministers consistently as your MP, so this consultation is very welcome.
Admittedly, itโs not the most straight-forward document the Government has produced. Thatโs why Iโll be rolling out a mini consultation this week, so that my constituents can send their thoughts directly to my office for us to pass on to the Government.
I have absolutely nothing against the professional displays that weโre lucky to have in Leeds South West and Morley. But persistent use of fireworks at all hours of the day traumatises some veterans, vulnerable people and pets, and needs to be regulated.
๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ-๐ญ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฎ
Like so many of my constituents, Iโm sick of fly-tippers. They are a blight on our community. Concerns raised over illegal waste dumping are common in my inbox, and itโs an issue that comes up regularly on the doorstep. Thatโs why Iโve called for much stricter punishments for fly-tippers ever since I was elected, including forcing those who make the mess to pay for cleaning it up.
Iโm delighted that the Government has launched the biggest ever crackdown on illegal waste dumping, by delegating more power to local authorities to deter, catch and punish these criminals. More power for them means more scope for me, as your MP, to press for action on your behalf.
West Yorkshire will be one of the first regions where these proposals to be implemented, so we'll be setting the standard to remind people across the country that illegal waste dumping is a serious and punishable crime.
This is a huge win for residents. Iโll keep up my work in this area to ensure the measures are implemented in full, and fly-tippers get the punishments they deserve.
๐ซ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ฐ ๐
๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐
๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐ซ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ฐ
I was deeply honoured to lay a wreath on the Falkland Islands on behalf of Nigel Bell, a local man and former Royal Marine. Nigel fought for our country during the Falklands War, alongside two friends, Michael โBlueโ Nowak and Paul Callan, both of whom lost their lives during the conflict.
Nigelโs wreath was dedicated to Blue and Paul, and he asked me to lay it at the Two Sisters Memorial which sits well above Stanley. The experience served as a powerful reminder that democracy is about people having the right to determine their own future, and it was a privilege to pay my respects to two men who fought and died for that right.
I was also honoured to meet some serving personnel at RAF Mount Pleasant, to gain a better insight into how we can make life easier for those who put theirs on the line. Thatโs the whole point of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme; to bring MPs and Lords with no prior military experience together to better inform our debates on defence and military.
Iโd like to pay tribute to local residents Ralph and Leeann, who led me up to the memorial in unfavourable weather conditions. I canโt thank them enough for taking the time to make the trek possible, and I was delighted to present them with some gifts from Andy Dalton on behalf of Morley Community Church.
I remain proud to stand by our Falkland Islander neighbours in their right to self-determination and will do so for as long as Iโm a Member of Parliament.
๐บ๏ธ๐บ๏ธ๐บ๏ธ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐บ๏ธ๐บ๏ธ๐บ๏ธ
Important news for Old Farnley as the Pride in Place board secured a much-needed boundary extension. My office has received concerns over the boundary map since its announcement, and Iโve been fighting for it to change ever since.
Over 2,400 people across Farnley on the Tong Estate, the Stonecliffes, and the Stonebridges are now within the area that will directly benefit from the ยฃ20m, among other places. The boundary change means huge community assets like Farnley Hall Park and Farnley Community Centre are now included too.
Iโd like to thank Jo, who has been amazing as chair of the board. She held 27 different events this summer, targeted at various demographics with the aim of getting as much input and feedback from residents as possible. That feedback influences what the money is spent on, so itโs really important to have your say. You can do that here: [LINK]
Iโm so excited about what the future holds for Farnley!
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฒ! ๐๐๐
Congratulations to the thousands of students who received their A-level, T-level, VTQ and GCSE results in August. As a maths teacher, I saw first-hand the hard work and determination that leads up to results day, not only from those studying, but also from the parents, guardians and school staff supporting them.
Results Day marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Itโs a day to be celebrated, regardless of what might or might not be in the envelope. Iโm looking forward to getting back to work with the Education Select Committee in Parliament, to keep fighting to fix our education system so that it works for everyone.
๐ค๐ค๐ค ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ค๐ค๐ค
What a month Iโve had out in the constituency and beyond. Some of the highlights in Farnley & Wortley include Flourishing Families Community Cookery session, Farnley Fest and visiting the Building Futures Together site.
I held meetings with important stakeholders and community groups from both Morley North and Morley South, all of whom share my drive in wanting whatโs best for our community. I held surgeries at the constituency office and at Churwell Community Centre, which were some of the busiest Iโve held all year, and Iโm grateful that my constituents know they can come to me when they need support.
In Ardsley & Robin Hood, I held my last surgery at West Ardsley Methodist Church before their long-awaited refurbishment, and I canโt wait to see the finished results. Theyโre currently in search for a temporary venue from which they can hold their weekly food bank, and my office will continue to support them in that search.
I hold my weekly surgeries across 13 different locations in the constituency and Iโm very grateful to everyone who hosts me.
You donโt need to come to a surgery for help though. Please just contact me anytime.
After making some structural changes, weโre beginning to make a dent in the unusually high number of cases Iโve alluded to previously. Thereโs still much more work to do so please bear with us, but donโt be deterred in asking for support:
๐ง [email protected]
