Commons
Westminster Hall
14 July 2026
Coastal Communities: Isolation and Hidden Deprivation
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight West (Richard Quigley) for securing this important debate.
Blackpool is a town with huge potential and pride, but we are also a case study in what happens when national policy neglects the specific needs of coastal communities. The decline of trad…
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
13 July 2026
Topical Questions
Over the last two years, I have led the charge in asking for our asylum hotel to be closed. Last week, the final family and individuals left the hotel. Thousands have joined me in calling on Britannia to finally refurbish the Metropole hotel, which is a massive eyesore on our golden mile. Will the M…
Commons
Proceedings
15 June 2026
Defence Investment Plan
I am proud that Blackpool and the Fylde college in my constituency, which my hon. Friend has seen, has been selected as one of the five DTECs in England. That is part of a major national investment in skills. Given the significant opportunities that that brings to Blackpool, can the Minister confirm…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
15 June 2026
Russian Shadow Fleet
I warmly welcome the Secretary of State to his place. I know that he is man of integrity and decency; I have known him for over 15 years and I wish him the best of luck in his new role. I also join him in paying tribute to the men and women who organised and conducted this operation. They are the be…
Commons
Oral Questions
Health and Social Care
9 June 2026
Topical Questions
At the beginning of the year, Blackpool had the worst 12-hour A&E waiting times in the country, but thanks to the tireless work of local NHS staff, that has been reduced by 43%. However, we face some of the biggest challenges in the country with health inequalities, deprivation and the 21 millio…
Commons
Proceedings
4 June 2026
Russian Attacks on Civilian Infrastructure
I think almost all of us in this House believe that Russia must pay for the damage and devastation that it has caused in Ukraine. My constituents want to see the assets seized from the Russian state and its proxies being used to start supporting Ukraine both during and after this war. Will the Minis…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
4 June 2026
Children’s Social Care: Enduring Relationships Strategy
I warmly welcome today’s announcement, as many colleagues have done, and I congratulate my hon. Friend on his commitment to ensuring that children in care and care leavers have the same opportunities for love, support and belonging as every other young person. I know that it has been a personal ende…
Commons
Westminster Hall
3 June 2026
Seasonal Hospitality Businesses in Coastal Areas
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stuart. I thank the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East (Joe Robertson) for securing this important debate.
For too long, coastal towns such as Blackpool were overlooked by previous Governments in Westminster, so I am proud to stand here and represe…
Commons
Oral Questions
Energy Security and Net Zero
2 June 2026
Household Energy Bills
Blackpool is home to something special and remarkable: a pioneering eco community hub at Palatine library that offers free, independent energy advice and is helping residents to make sense of new technologies to reduce their bills. Since July 2024, when it opened, it has visited 1,300 homes, offered…
Commons
Debate
1 June 2026
Coastal Communities: Government Support
Similar to my hon. Friend’s constituency, Blackpool has some of the worst health outcomes in the country. A boy born in my constituency will live 10 years less than a boy born in Hampshire. That is my son, and many others across Blackpool, with a decade lost before they have even started their life.…
Commons
Oral Questions
Business and Trade
21 May 2026
Topical Questions
T6. I was delighted recently to host the hospitality Minister, the Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Kate Dearden), at the top of our iconic Blackpool tower, alongside our tourism CEO Kate Shane, to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 April 2026
North Atlantic Submarine Activity
Does my hon. Friend agree that, while the Government rightly continue to defend our people, interests and allies in the middle east, we must never lose sight of the war in Europe and our determination to always stand with Ukraine during this conflict?
Commons
Debate
13 April 2026
Southport Inquiry
I welcome the Home Secretary’s statement. My constituents expect Prevent to keep them safe, so can she reiterate what changes she will make to Prevent, as the Home Secretary in this Government, to help to stop an attack like this happening in the future?
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 April 2026
Middle East
The disruption in the strait of Hormuz is having a real, growing impact on ordinary working people across the world and in my constituency, where many are already struggling to make ends meet—something the Prime Minister and I discussed when we met a few weeks ago. Will he update the House and my co…
Commons
Oral Questions
13 April 2026
Topical Questions
My constituents in Blackpool South pay more in council tax for their housing than people with mansions in Mayfair. That is because, under the Conservatives, Blackpool council had to put its council tax up to the max just to get by. Will the Minister outline for my constituents how we can lower counc…
Commons
Westminster Hall
25 March 2026
Proposed Visitor Levy
It is a pleasure to serve under your leadership, Mr Efford. As chair of the all-party parliamentary group for hospitality and tourism, and as an MP for Blackpool—a town built on tourism—it is important that I share my insight on the proposed visitor levies or tourist taxes, formed by the close work …
Commons
Westminster Hall
18 March 2026
Royal Mail: Performance
As the proud son of a Blackpool postie, I declare my interest in this debate and refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I start by thanking all our posties in Blackpool and across the country for their vital service. Despite the privatisation of Royal Mail, they m…
Commons
Debate
17 March 2026
Youth Unemployment
I start by thanking my right hon. Friend for joining me at my jobs fair a few weeks ago, where more than 1,100 people secured work on the day. Some 900 are already in those jobs, working in our economy. That is Labour in action. I have spoken many times in this House about the need to support the ho…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
12 March 2026
Defending Democracy Taskforce
I put on record my sincere thanks to the Minister for reaching out after the incident involving me that occurred in Blackpool a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, since becoming a Member of this House I have received a barrage of constant threats, including death threats, from the far-right in my constit…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
12 March 2026
Business of the House
Five thousand people walked through the door of the Blackpool Winter Gardens the other week for my second annual jobs fair, which I was delighted to open with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. More than 1,000 roles were secured on the spot, 853 of which have already started, and thousand…
Commons
Oral Questions
11 March 2026
Royal Mail: Universal Service Obligation
I declare an interest as a proud son of a local postie. We know that this is not the fault of the workers; they work day in, day out to get letters out, but are being told to prioritise parcels. Like many Members, I tried to go to my local mail centre just before Christmas—I know that you do the sam…
Commons
Oral Questions
Treasury
10 March 2026
Topical Questions
Two weeks ago, I held an emergency cost of living summit in Blackpool, after record numbers of families, particularly single mums, contacted us in food crisis. They could not access the council’s discretionary fund. Will the Minister outline how the new crisis and resilience fund will ensure that fa…
Commons
Oral Questions
10 February 2026
Topical Questions
In Blackpool, around 75% of privately rented homes have damp or mould. It is a huge problem in our town, so I was delighted when the Chancellor announced £30 million in the warm homes plan. Can the Secretary of State outline for my residents when Blackpool will receive that money and when this plan …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
29 January 2026
Business of the House
Last year I hosted Blackpool’s biggest ever jobs fair. It showed just how strong the appetite is in our town for work, skills and opportunity. On 26 February, I am bringing it back, bigger than ever, in conjunction with the jobcentre and Blackpool Tourism Ltd, with 120 businesses offering around 2,0…
Commons
Oral Questions
Business and Trade
29 January 2026
Hospitality Sector
Hospitality in Blackpool is struggling. The cuts under the previous Government made Blackpool the most deprived coastal community and town in the country, but it has a solution: a new Blackpool tourism enterprise zone that expands our current enterprise zone along the promenade into the hospitality …