Each December I look back on the year we’ve had in Nottingham South and in Parliament. This year has been particularly tumultuous for Nottingham, but I am always heartened by the way our community comes together to support each other.

After more than 13 years, Nottingham South residents are paying a heavy price for the failure of successive Conservative Governments and change is very much needed. 2024 will be a General Election year and people across the country will have the opportunity to vote for a fresh start.

I am proud that Keir Starmer has changed the Labour Party so that it is focused on the things that matter to you. I look forward to speaking to you about Labour’s long term plan plan to get Britains’s future back and our five full funded national missions. 

JANUARY

When Parliament returned in January, I spoke in the Chamber to make clear Nottingham’s solidarity with the Iranian people facing repression and tyranny. In particular, I urged the Government to intervene in the case of Mehdi Mohammadi Fard, the 19-year-old cousin of one of my constituents, facing the death penalty in Iran. Back in the constituency, I joined the British-Iranian protest in Old Market Square. 

Later in the month, I joined the APPG Kashmir meeting with the President of Azar Jammu and Kashmir, Barrister Sultan Mahmoud Chaudry, to discuss the ongoing human rights situation in the region and how we can support efforts to end the decades-long conflict. 

FEBRUARY

In February I joined the newly recruited University of Nottingham student engagement ambassadors on the streets of Lenton. It was great to hear that they feel that they’re making a difference and have had positive feedback from residents. 

The Community Engagement Ambassador initiative was set up in 2022 in order to build positive relationships in the community between all residents, as well as promote respectful behaviour and raise awareness of living in a mixed and diverse community. 

You can learn more about the Scheme here: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/accommodation/living-in-the-community/community-engagement-ambassadors.aspx

MARCH

Last March we saw the continuation of the largest strike disruption in decades. As working people are facing the largest fall in living standards in a generation, it’s unsurprising that our teachers, civil servants, NHS workers, and train drivers, felt they had to strike. 

The responsibility for the strikes lies squarely with the Government who, rather than getting around the table with unions, attempted to push through a law giving Ministers powers to order compulsory “work notices” to be issued to striking workers, who could be sacked for going on strike. 

On International Women’s Day, I spoke in Parliament to note the loss of my constituent, Fatoumatta Hydara, and her two daughters, three-year-old Fatimah and one-year-old Naeemah, who were killed in a fire started deliberately at their home in Clifton in November 2022. 

APRIL

During Easter recess, I joined in with litter picking, had a coffee morning with local residents and visited lots of local businesses and youth groups. 

I also had a Friday Night dinner with Nottingham’s Jewish community. I was delighted to join Mandy and Brocha Lent for a delicious Shabbat dinner alongside their children, Leo Brosh of the Jewish Leadership Council, Josh Cohen of Nottingham Trent Uni’s J-Soc and many other students and members of the Jewish community. 

MAY

In May, Mellers Primary School had their grand opening of their new extension for Focus Provision for Deaf Pupils. I was excited to see that one of their classrooms is named after my former colleague, Rosie Cooper, who introduced the British Sign Language Bill into Parliament and successfully steered it into law as the BSL Act 2022. 

JUNE

In June, our city was left devastated by acts of terrible violence. School-caretaker Ian Coates and University of Nottingham students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, all died in an attack which saw three others injured. It has been a shocking and desperately sad time, and my thoughts are with everyone who has been affected, but particularly the families and friends of those killed and injured. 

June also saw a parliamentary debate on the sad death of my constituent, Errol Graham, a severely mentally ill man who died of starvation after his disability benefits were cut off. Welfare officials failed to properly identify the risk of harm to Errol, and although the Minister set out the steps that the DWP are taking to ensure that other claimants get the support that they need, I will be continuing to push the Government to absolutely learn the lessons from this heartbreaking case. 

JULY

In July, I met with Donna Ockenden and Nottinghamshire MPs who have constituents affected by poor maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust (NUHT). We often meet to discuss and hear updates about the Independent Review into maternity care at NUHT. This month, MPs joined Donna and affected families in our constituencies, in successfully urging NHS England to expand the inquiry to “opt-out”, meaning all cases – almost 1,700 – will be examined unless families choose not to take part. 

AUGUST

Over summer recess I spent time across the constituency, out and about, talking to local residents about their concerns. In Lenton and Wollaton East I visited Forever Stars Serenity Garden at Highfields Park, met with local residents at Palmer Court to discuss NHS waits, housing issues and anti-social behaviour, and visited the community-run Lenton Centre.

In Leen Valley, our Labour team visited the Foodbank at St Margaret’s Church on Aspley Lane to thank June and the team of volunteers. We then chatted to Bryan Court residents over coffee before heading out to hear from local businesses on Aspley Lane. Finally, a visit to EMAS Beechdale Ambulance Station revealed just how much pressure frontline NHS workers are facing.

In Wollaton West I had coffee with residents at William Olds Court talking small boats, NHS waits, potholes and much more. We met with Wollaton Sports Association to talk grassroots sport before heading over to St Leonard’s Church Hall for an open meeting with local residents alongside Nottinghamshire Police.

In the Meadows I had a coffee morning with residents at Kirkwhite Court, before visiting Meadows Library. At Green Meadows’ hub we discussed practical action to tackle climate change and fuel poverty. We then joined the lunch club at Queens Walk Community Centre after we’d caught up with Meadows Advice Group on the challenges they face supporting local people. Tenants and residents at Queens Walk pavilion were keen to discuss the developer’s plans for the former Toll Bridge pub site. At AMC Gardens we met locals growing or buying fruit, veg and flowers.

SEPTEMBER

In September, MPs returned to Westminster, and I joined Labour’s Shadow Culture, Media and Sport team as Shadow Minister for Arts, Heritage and Civil Society. The last few months have been spent meeting with and listening to arts, heritage and third sector organisations about their thoughts and concerns about the issues facing them.

I’m looking forward to working with the rich tapestry of organisations that are so vital to our national life and Britain’s future, including those in Nottingham South I have already visited, such as City Arts, Nottingham Playhouse and Nottingham Contemporary.

OCTOBER

In October, I was proud to speak at the Majority Black Led Churches Black History Month event at the University of Nottingham, noting that Black history is British history and Nottingham’s history. 

October also saw a fantastic Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. It was uplifting and inspiring to know a Labour government’s focus will be the interests of working people and I met with lots of arts, heritage, and civil society organisations, as well many Nottingham South constituents and lots of colleagues and friends, old and new. 

Back in Parliament, I spoke in Prime Minister’s Questions to ask Rishi Sunak how he, as a self-described ‘tech bro’, had been unable to locate and provide his WhatsApp messages to the Covid-19 Inquiry. In response, he told MPs he had ‘fully co-operated’ with the Inquiry.

NOVEMBER

In November, Parliament was prorogued and re-opened by the King’s Speech. I spoke in the debate on Building an NHS Fit for the Future, noting that NUHT was forced to declare a critical incident in October. An unprecedented number of people are on waiting lists because of this Conservative Government’s neglect and we need an election now so that we can change it. 

We had sad news in Nottingham as Nottingham Panthers’ Adam Johnson died at an ice hockey game in Sheffield. There was a huge turnout at the ice arena to pay tribute and sign the book of condolence. Once again, our city was united in shock and sadness.

DECEMBER 

In Nottingham, the new Central Library opened its doors and I managed to get a sneak peek at what is already an excellent resource and place to visit for everyone. 

However, the Tory Government’s failure to get to grip on unprecedented rising demand for social care and homelessness has pushed our Council over the edge, forcing it to issue a section 114 in absolutely devastating news for our city. Nottingham is paying a heavier and heavier price for 13 years of Conservative government. I will be working with local councillors to mitigate the impact this has on residents, and in Parliament fighting for proper reform of the social care system, real action to tackle homelessness, and funding for local services.

In both Parliament and Nottingham, we are all watching the on-going conflict in Israel and Gaza with utter horror. The scale of death and destruction since Hamas’s attacks on 7th October has been devastating and we all hope that on-going negotiations will succeed in delivering a cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages and provision of aid, and pave the way for a sustained ceasefire.