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I am really proud that the UK was the first country worldwide to ban fur farming in 2000 in England and Wales and in 2002 for Scotland and Northern Ireland, and I agree we need to be doing as much as possible to ensure that our commitment to protecting animals is upheld. Our Government has recently published the opinion on the responsible sourcing of fur by the UK’s expert Animal Welfare Committee and the summary of responses to the call for evidence on the fur trade in Great

I appreciate and share the concerns of everyone who contacted me about climate change and ecosystem degradation and recognise that we are already seeing some of their impacts here in the UK, such as through more frequent flooding and extreme weather. Our Government’s recent national security assessment on global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse underlines the seriousness of the risks you highlight. The findings make clear that environmental degradation is not only an

Brachycephalic, or flat-faced, animals have become more popular pets in recent years. Their flatter features can cause many health concerns, including breathing difficulties, spinal problems, skin conditions and dental and eye issues. I strongly support our Government’s work to improve animal welfare. I also appreciate the crucial role the RSPCA plays in helping shape our society’s attitudes towards animals and their welfare. Our Government works closely with the UK Brachycep

I have long supported ending the use of snare traps in England, and I therefore wholeheartedly support our Government’s pledge to achieve this, as I think it is vital that all animals are properly protected as part of our strategy. Snares are imperfect and indiscriminate traps that regularly cause unnecessary suffering and harm to animals. Not only do they hurt the animals they are set to catch, but there are reports of other animals and pets being caught in, injured by, or s

I am inspired by the many great repair and reuse initiatives up and down the country, where people are empowered to repair their own products and learn skills for the future. However, I know that far too often, products are made with components that will fail and either cannot be repaired or can be fixed only by the original manufacturer. I want to see us build things that are made to last. For too long, our economy has been stuck in a linear mindset, where the full costs of

I wholeheartedly share our Government’s ambition to improve health outcomes for people living with neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, and I have seen first hand just how difficult living with these conditions can be. I was actually lucky enough to attend an event in Parliament a while back in honour of World Parkinson’s Day and meet with people affected by the condition. I know that there are nearly 153,000 people living with Parkinson’s and it is an unpr

Thank you to everyone who got in touch with me about wildlife crime and the recent Parliamentary drop-in. Whilst my schedule meant I was unable to pop in, I was really grateful to everyone who got in touch as this is an issue really close to my heart. I deeply share your concerns about the use of catapults and absolutely agree that catapults should not be used against wildlife, property or people. I know as of late the misuse of catapults has been causing great concerns to c

I believe the climate and nature crises are the greatest long-term global challenge we face. Our environment shapes who we are as a nation, and underpins our economy, wellbeing and sense of place. When the environment thrives, so do we. I believe that Britain is a land of remarkable beauty, and our countryside must be protected. One of my favourite things to do when I’m back home in Redcar is to walk along the sea front or across the moors (and swim in the sea!) just so I can

Thank you so much to everyone who got in touch with me about the Marie Curie event in Parliament to raise awareness about end-of-life care. I pay tribute to the fantastic work of Marie Curie in providing dedicated care, and to the hard work of their volunteers and staff. I was lucky to be able to stop by and meet with the team from Marie Curie at the last party conference, and it was truly inspiring. Their nurses and staff provide incredible end-of-life care, supporting famil

Thank you to everyone who got in touch to invite me to Plan International UK’s event on gender equality worldwide. Whilst I was unable to attend this event, please know this is an issue really close to my heart, and I’ve been so grateful recently to work alongside some brilliant women all over Redcar to support the work they do, like at the Inspiring Women’s Conference and the Junction’s recent Sip and Support empowerment event. It’s vital to remember just how much work the

Thanks to everyone who got in touch with me about action to tackle plastic waste. I know this is a real issue, so I wanted to outline my thoughts on the matter. I share your concerns about how much plastic is thrown away each week. That is why I am so pleased the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has made it one of their key priorities to end a throwaway society and work towards a zero-waste economy. Plastic, as those who wrote in to me are very l

Have you written in to me to support or oppose a ban on social media for under 16 year olds? See my view here and have your say in our Government's national conversation.

Thanks to everyone who got in touch about the recent WaterAid event in Parliament. It is unacceptable that approximately 2.2 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water, while 3.4 billion are without safely managed sanitation and 1.7 billion lack basic hygiene services at home. I know that global health is an international development priority for our Government, and I welcome that improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), is a key part of this agenda. For e

I was very sorry not to be able to attend Kinship’s most recent parliamentary reception, but I know that the event provided an insightful opportunity to hear from experts in the care sector, as well as those with lived experience of kinship care. This is an issue really close to my heart, and I was proud to set up the first cross-party kinship carers taskforce in 2018, which is now an All Party Group shaping kinship care policy. Kinship carers are remarkable people who step

Thank you to everyone who got in touch with me to let me know about the most recent meeting of the Motor Neurone Disease APPG. Whilst I was unfortunately unable to attend, I did want to outline my thoughts on MND and what we can do to improve research into this horrific disease. I sympathise deeply with all those living with motor neurone disease (MND) or supporting a loved one, and have experience myself of how awful this disease really is. We must improve care for people wi

Thank you to everyone who got in touch with me about our Water White Paper and the state of our water. I agree 100% that every family in this country deserves clean water from their taps, seas safe to swim in, and fair and affordable bills. I support the upcoming Water Bill, which is a central part of our Government’s programme and a priority for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It will be an opportunity to progress an ambitious, coherent reset of the l

Thank you to everyone who got in touch with me about improving endometriosis care. I was honoured to stop by Endometriosis UK's recent event in Parliament to hear about the launch of their new report on endometriosis care in the UK. This is a campaign really close to my own heart, and it is always amazing to speak to the incredible women who refuse to give up in the fight for their health. Far too many women with endometriosis face long waits for diagnosis and treatment.

Thank you to everyone who contacted me about the Animals (Low Welfare Activities) Abroad Act. I do not want to see the abuse of animals in any circumstances. Some animals abroad are subjected to considerable suffering and unacceptable practices to provide entertainment for tourists. Many individuals may not be aware of the conditions these animals experience. I want tourists to be supported to choose higher welfare activities when on holiday to help protect animals. Business

The true measure of a society is how it supports those who are most vulnerable. People living with dementia should always have access to care that is dignified, dependable and centred on what matters most to them. High‑quality palliative and end‑of‑life care is essential for maintaining comfort, supporting informed choices and providing families with stability during difficult moments. Everyone who needs this support deserves to rely on the highest standard of care. Nearly on

Thanks to everyone who contacted me inviting me to attend the event, ‘From Roadmap to Reality: Implementing the UK Strategy to Phase Out Animal Testing’, in Parliament back in February. I wanted to outline my stance on animal testing as I think it’s really important. I understand the animal testing plan will support work to end animal testing wherever possible, rolling out alternatives as soon as it is safe and effective to do so. This roadmap will ensure government, busines