The last week has been incredibly worrying overseas and in the middle east. The escalation of air strikes in and from Iran have led to several UK residents overseas being stuck. Increasingly there have been reckless strikes from the Iranian regime targeting Gulf allies, including strikes on bases, on airports and on hotels which directly put British lives at risk.
It is a fast-moving situation, and I know that a lot of people will be concerned at the developments, particularly those with loved ones who have been caught in transit or are currently in middle east territories.
I commend the Government for the reaction to the events, having worked strategically to aim to divert the conflict away from Gulf allies. As we all wait for further details to unfold, it is important for the Government to remain adaptive and responsive to an ever-pressing situation and the first duty of Government is clear, to defend the UK.
More than this I am supportive of the Governments calls for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution to all ongoing conflicts.
Alongside the human cost of conflict, the issues in Iran also present an economic concern for our national economy and those of many of our allies.
This week also saw the Chancellors Spring Statement, a mid-point between budgets to take stock of Government spending and a chance to update government plans. The government has been clear, setting out its fiscal policies against the backdrop of being tackling the cost of living that people are experiencing.
It’s no secret that people feel worse off: over the final years of Conservative rule, we all had to endure huge rises in living prices, inflation hitting upwards of eleven percent and interest rates rising to a fifteen year high which pushed a lot of families to the brink.
Since the General Election, the Labour government has been working consistently to change this and there have been many changes to welcome.
Real wages have risen more in the first eighteen months of this government than they did in the first ten years under the Conservatives.
Interest rates have been cut six times since July 2024, making the cost of borrowing cheaper, reducing the cost of mortgages for many and saving families over £1,300 on a typical new fixed-rate mortgage.
We have also taken measures to make energy cheaper, slashing £150 of the average energy bill.
Alongside these, we have also taken action to bring down everyday costs – freezes to prescription charges and rail fares help put more in people’s pockets. Regionally, the mayor has also taken action to keep subsidising bus fares, alongside recently announcing a £2.50 cap on metro travel and the Northumberland line, making it easier to travel around our great region.
But more so than measurable numbers benefitting the way we live, the Labour Government has also retained its commitment to invest in our communities, delivering the highest levels of public investment in national infrastructure for four decades.
This is crucial as we look to continue fixing broken systems that have plagued families for years on end, such as the Special Educational Needs system, known as SEND.
This month, the Education Minister, Bridget Philipson set out the ambitious vision and far-reaching package of reforms that Labour wants to bring to our school system: to build a school system where every child can achieve and thrive. This matters hugely to my constituents.
In the last week of January, I held a meeting packed full of parents of children who have been failed by the SEND system, each one of them had a story to tell and shared with me the improvements they would like to see.
This Government is listening and as we move into the formal consultation on SEND I will be holding a further local meeting to discuss the proposal and to feed back views on them.
Far from the narrative that critics would like to suggest, this government is focused on the issues at hand.
Nationally, we continue the process of renewal, putting more money in people’s pockets and tackling systemic issues.
Internationally, we will continue to play our part in advocating for lasting peace and de-escalation.