This month we reached the first milestone of 100 days of a Labour Government. After 14 years we had a long to-do list and we’ve wasted no time in getting started, more on this below.

Yesterday was also the first Budget by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves and after we discovered the true scale of the damage left behind by the Tories, this was our opportunity to really focus on fixing the foundations of our economy to make working people better off.

Making work pay

Firstly, we made good on our commitment to ensure that there would be no increases in taxes on working people.

Ensuring work pays was at the core of the budget, as we have announced a pay rise for working people of over £3 million, driven by an increase to the National Living Wage in 2025. For the first time, this rise will be tied to the real cost of living.

In addition, the National Minimum Wage will rise for young people aged 18 to 20, increasing from £8.60 to £10 an hour. Apprentices will also see the largest pay bump, with hourly pay rising from £6.40 to £7.55. Together, these changes help us move closer to fair pay for everyone, at every stage of their life.

NHS

After the last 14 years of Tory chaos, I think we all know someone who is stuck waiting for essential treatment including operations and scans.

Yesterday, we announced the biggest investment in our NHS since 2010. This extra £25.6 billion over 2 years for the NHS, will make a real difference for those currently on waiting lists.

This includes £1.5 billion for new surgical hubs and scanners, £70 million for radiotherapy machines, and support for an extra two million NHS appointments, scans, and surgeries every year.

Education 

I have visited schools across Sheffield Heeley for years and have been told the same thing, they are struggling to make ends meet.

This will finally change, as we are promising to invest in our young people’s future. With an incredible and urgently needed £11.2 billion spending boost on education in England. This includes:

• £2.3 billion for the core schools budget – to recruit 6,500 teachers.
• An additional £2.1 billion to ensure our schools are safe and well-maintained
• £300 million to further education
• £1 billion uplift for special educational needs.

Going even further we are providing £6.7 billion in capital funding to rebuild our crumbling schools and to ensure our schools are safe and well-maintained.

This is a promise to every child that they will have access to the quality education they deserve, no matter where they come from.

SEND

In the Budget we committed £2.3 billion in new funding for schools, with £1 billion directed specifically toward Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). But I know from listening to families across our community that more than funding alone is needed—the SEND system simply isn’t delivering the support our children need.

The Secretary of State for Education is dedicated to working with families, schools, health, and local services to restore trust in SEND. We’re focused on ensuring mainstream schools have the resources to support children while creating specialist places for those who need them most. Together, we’ll build a system where every child can achieve and thrive.

Transport      

First up, we’ve frozen fuel duty—so no extra costs at the petrol pump. Plus, if you’re fed up with potholes (aren’t we all?), we’re investing an extra £500 million to fix a million more of them next year!

We’ve secured the Trans-Pennine upgrade to connect York, Leeds, Huddersfield, and Manchester with faster, more reliable electric rail services. By the end of this year, Manchester to Stalybridge will be fully electric, and by 2026, services between Church Fenton and York will be too—making travel in the North cleaner and quicker, and supporting our local economy.

We’re also investing £650 million into local transport to improve buses, trams, and regional connections. With an additional £200 million added to the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements, total spending for Metro Mayors is now at £1.3 billion, which includes renewal for the Sheffield Supertram. And to keep bus travel affordable, I’ve secured a cap on fares at £3 until December 2025.

Housing 

This budget is a big boost for housing, with over £5 billion invested next year to tackle the housing shortage and create more affordable homes. We’re upping the Affordable Homes Programme to £3.1 billion, bringing thousands of new homes to communities, and adding £3 billion in guarantees, to boost the supply of homes and support our small housebuilders.

We are putting the right policies in place to increase the supply of affordable housing. Local councils will now keep full receipts from Right to Buy sales, and we will reduce Right to Buy Discounts meaning more funds for new social housing.

Plus, we’re hiring hundreds of planning officers to speed up construction and investing £1 billion to remove dangerous cladding, addressing crucial safety concerns post-Grenfell.

These changes mean more affordable, secure homes across the country!

Injustices

This budget is about righting wrongs, especially for those who’ve been let down for far too long. We promised to transfer the Investment Reserve Fund in the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme to its members, and in this budget, we’re fulfilling that promise to ensure workers who powered our country receive the pensions they’re owed.

We’re also addressing two heartbreaking injustices: the infected blood scandal and the Post Office Horizon scandal. For the first time, we’re providing £11.8 billion to fully compensate those affected by the infected blood scandal, and £1.8 billion for victims of the Horizon scandal.

These funds are about doing what’s right, giving overdue support to those who suffered, and standing up for justice.

Crisis in the Middle East

This month was the first anniversary of the horrific attacks in Israel on October 7th . This was one of the darkest days in Jewish history since the holocaust.

The death and destruction we have seen in Gaza and now in Lebanon is intolerable. All parties must comply with international humanitarian law.

As soon as we entered Government the Prime Minister reiterated our call for an immediate ceasefire. The fighting must stop, the hostages still detained by Hamas terrorists must be released immediately and unrestricted aid must be allowed to reach the people of Gaza and our priority in Lebanon is for an immediate ceasefire so all civilians can return home.

Overhaul of workers rights

This Government has set the ball rolling on the biggest transformation to workers’ rights for a generation.

We introduced the Employments Rights Bill which will update and modernise outdated legislation as part of a broader commitment to kickstart economic growth, benefitting both working people and businesses.

Employees will have greater job security by the closing of legal loopholes such as unethical ‘fire-and–rehire’ practices, which presently leave employees worse off at the hand of an employer.

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Visiting a Bikeability Lesson with Chris Boardman

During Cycle to School Week, I was out in Preston with Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman, to talk about the importance of Bikeability, which equips more than 5 million children across the country with the skills and confidence to cycle on today’s roads.

Learning to cycle confidently and safely is so important, and it was great to see how children are being taught these vital skills and to hear so much enthusiasm from a new generation of cyclists.

Road Safety Strategy

I recently met with road safety experts to discuss how to make our roads safer for all. This is stage one of our new Road Safety Strategy – the first in over a decade.

We know that there is more work to be done, and we are determined to prevent more tragic deaths on our roads.

Independent Waterways Commission 

After 14 years of neglect under the Conservatives, Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas are in an unacceptably poor state.

Recent published data show that record levels of sewage were pumped into Britain’s rivers in 2023. The number of sewage discharges in the Sheffield Heeley constituency skyrocketed by 58%, to 487 sewage spills in 2023, compared to 308 in 2022.

The UK and Welsh Labour Governments have launched a new Independent Water Commission to review the water industry and ensure we bring in the regulations necessary to clean up our waterways.

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Opened Siemens New Factory

I was delighted to be invited to open the new Siemens world-class rail manufacturing factory alongside Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, which will help build new Piccadilly train lines.

The site will be transformational to the small town of Goole in Yorkshire, supporting thousands of new jobs in the supply chain.

This investment will help contribute to a first-rate public transport network system.

New support for Windrush victims

Victims of the Windrush scandal will be better supported to apply for compensation through a £1.5 million fund.

The Home Secretary has set out the first steps that the Government is taking to ensure justice is finally delivered for victims of the Windrush scandal. She has committed to working more closely with communities affected, and to appointing a new Windrush Commissioner to hold the Government to account on the delivery of the recommendations in the Wendy Williams Lessons Learned Review.

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Investment in electric buses 

I’m delighted that the Go Ahead Group has invested £500 million and ordered 1200 new electric buses, which will start to be used in the next three years.

This will drive green growth, create over 2000 new jobs and improve bus journeys up and down the country – as well as helping with the transition to green energy.

Carbon Capture investment 

We want the UK to be a global leader in renewable energy in our mission to become net zero.

The Government has announced £21.7 billion for two new revolutionary carbon capture sites, located in the heart of Northern England.

This will unlock thousands of new jobs across Teesside and Merseyside and bring in billions of private investment into these communities.

We will make sure that growth is enabled in every part of the country.

South Yorkshire Bus Franchising Consultation

Deregulation has taken a toll on our local buses. Sudden changes to the bus network mean that people can’t see loved ones, go to appointments or school.

Buses are a lifeline. In Parliament, I have announced the Better Buses Bill which will hand power over to communities in every corner of the country.

I am delighted that the Mayor Oliver Coppard has now taken the leap forward to move to public consultation on plans to bring buses under public control.

The consultation is now open and closes in January. See below for more details and to have your say.

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Increased fines for fly tipping

No community should have to put up with fly tipping and suffer due to the selfishness of a small few.

I have spent time speaking to communities who have significant issues with fly tipping who have little faith that the issue is going to be tackled.

Sheffield City Council has increased the amount those who are caught fly tipping are fined to a maximum of £1000.

I’m glad to see that the Council are treating this seriously and more enforcement undertaken against those that are responsible.

Emmaus Catholic School Visit

One of my favourite bits of the job is visiting local schools and chatting to kids.

I really enjoyed visiting Emmaus Catholic School to join kids in assembly and hand weekly certificates out to children!

There were too many questions to get through in one assembly but they were intrigued about every aspect of the job, including worrying if I have enough spare time!

A61 consultation

Many of you will be aware that the Council have been consulting on changes to the A61 Chesterfield Road which aims to improve bus journeys, tackle congestion and enhance facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.

I know that many residents and businesses raised concerns and objections to some of the proposals that were shared. As a result of this, the consultation was extended by a further three weeks. The consultation is now closed but I will ensure to keep you updated with the finding of the consultation and the next steps.

Gleadless Valley Masterplan

The first meeting of the Gleadless Valley Regeneration Board has taken place. This Board has been established following the decision to pause and refresh the Masterplan.

I attended this first meeting and will be attending future meetings and will be working closely with the Council to ensure that a new plan is developed as soon as possible and crucially a delivery plan is also created.

I will also provide you with updates with any significant developments.