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14th September 2026 It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Barker. It is no surprise at all that my constituency has the second highest number of signatures to the petition. For at least six years now, Whitstable in my constituency has been plagued by frequent releases of sewage pouring out into our sea. Combined sewage overflows are supposed to occur only in the event of extremely heavy rainfall or storms, yet every single time a drop or two of rain falls from t

Rarely do we debate legislation that represents such a seismic shift in the relationships between individuals, the state, health providers and civic society. There is so much at stake. When Members believe strongly that a Bill is flawed and could be abused, resulting in serious harm, we have an absolute duty to implore others not to simply let it pass and hope for the best, but to consider it fully and deeply and to accept that our duty is first and foremost to protect lives.

01/09/2026 I'm sorry not to be able to join you for this evening’s event as today is the first day of Parliament returns after the long summer recess. I want to say thank you to SOS Whitstable for holding another forum in which residents get to share their experiences and frustration regarding the ongoing water crisis facing our constituency. And thank you to John Halsall for starting his new role with a great deal more interaction, communication and willingness to engage wit

In early June, I brought together leading voices from across the hospitality sector and Parliamentarians to confront the growing crisis facing the UK hospitality industry. I held this event because the sector’s voice must be heard. What I heard was an industry on its knees asking for fairness and a lifeline, following so many economic hurdles having been thrown at them all at once. They simply want their businesses to survive at this point. Following this event, I wrote to th

Back in 2017, residents were told that Canterbury's Emergency Care Centre closure would be temporary. Nearly a decade later, it has still not reopened, forcing many people to travel further for urgent treatment and placing additional pressure on neighbouring hospitals. Given that history, the fact that the Urgent Care Centre could close overnight from 8pm to 8am for an initial period of a year is deeply concerning too for our community. For a city the size of Canterbury and t

Response to the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation Last week, I questioned James Murray, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in light of the Amos report. He spoke again about the importance of listening to women... yet year after year, governments have failed to do exactly that. Women deserve better. As the first MP to speak about it in Parliament and co-founder of the APPG for Birth Trauma, this issue is deeply personal to me. I’ve been an advocate

The Women and Equalities Committee questioned Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities, on the work of her department. Following the release of the Ockenden report, I asked whether her department is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care on the issues raised by the review, and more broadly on maternal health and maternal deaths, particularly given the disproportionate impact on women with protected chara

Response to - The Independent Maternity and Neonatal Review of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust For those of us who have campaigned on birth trauma and maternity care, we always knew the Ockenden Review would be difficult reading. After speaking with campaign groups since the review’s release, many of us are still shocked by what this report reveals. Today, I asked the Minister to address the postcode lottery in maternity care and explain how the Government will buil