2020

A second Opposition Day debate was held on Wednesday 5 March on health inequalities following the publication of the Marmot report. Professor Marmot’s report found that for the first time in ​more than 100 years, life expectancy has essentially flattened overall since 2010, and has actually declined for women in the poorest areas of England. You can read the opposition motion in full below: 

On Wednesday 4 March, the fifth Opposition Day of this Parliament began with a debate on flooding. We tabled a motion which called for an independent review into the floods to look at all aspects including the response, funding, defences and prevention so to learn from the lessons to help mitigate the effect of future flooding. The Government voted against the motion and it was defeated by 227 voted to 328. You can read the opposition motion in full below:

On Wednesday 4 March 2020, I attended Marie Curie’s annual Great Daffodil Appeal parliamentary drop-in event. Launched in 1986, the Appeal is crucial in raising much-needed funds to enable the charity to continue providing nursing and hospice care, a freephone support line and information for people living with any terminal illness such as terminal cancer, dementia, heart failure, and motor neurone disease. 

I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Bruce George, who sadly passed away on February 24, 2020, aged 77. It was an honour to follow Bruce as the MP for Walsall South. Bruce made an important contribution to the life of Walsall and Parliament over 36 years, especially in his work as Chair of the Defence Select Committee and securing the rebuilding of the Manor Hospital. My thoughts are with his wife Lisa at this very difficult time.