Thank you to the hundreds of people who completed my 2025 Cramlington and Killingworth constituency priorities survey. It was great to have so many people sharing their experiences and priorities from right across the constituency on both national and local priorities for this year.

This feedback, alongside ongoing discussions and engagement with my office helps me to ensure that the voices from Cramlington and Killingworth are heard in Parliament and that I am raising the matters relevant to people.

Responses

The Economy and Cost of Living was the highest concern both nationally and locally. Nationally the biggest issues raised in addition were Health and Social Care and Immigration and Borders.

Locally, as well as the Economy and Cost of Living, Crime and Safety and Transport and Infrastructure were the key priorities.

The responses to the survey reenforce what I see raised with my when speaking to residents, at my surgeries and in my mailbox from constituents.

Action to tackle key priorities

Economy and Cost of Living

Securing growth and a stable economy is at the centre of the Government’s Plan for Change. The Plan for Change includes in its six steps delivering Higher Living Standards across the country, so that working people have more money in their pocket. This was my promise to constituents at the election and since being elected, I continue to work in Parliament towards this.

I have supported measures within Parliament to increase the National Living Wage, to Make Work Pay and through measures such as rolling out free breakfast clubs for primary aged pupils, cutting the cost of school uniforms and providing better protections for those living in rented accommodation which all help towards tackling the cost of living.

I have attended conferences and spoken alongside trade unions on the importance of good paid work and Labour’s New Deal for Working People which will deliver real change for working people.

Locally, my team and I have supported constituents in accessing financial support, welfare, debt and addressing housing issues in the office and at my surgeries. I have also worked with and visited businesses to discuss investment in our area and supporting growth locally.

Transport

I know that access to good, reliable transport is critical for getting around, whether to work, to see family and friends or for education. Our constituency is diverse with a mix of towns and villages, each with their own transport challenges.

I have spoken in Parliament about access to buses, especially in rural areas, and how these are a critical lifeline for many residents. I am working with the North East Mayor Kim McGuinness on implementation of the Better Buses Bill and devolution agenda, bringing buses into public ownership and ensuring one cohesive network across our constituency and region, and I have met with Nexus on the rollout of the new metros.

I have met with National Highways and the North East Combined Authority to discuss Moor Farm Roundabout, and met in Parliament with the Roads Minister, as well as questioning the Secretary of State for Transport on investment in Moor Farm and Seaton Burn.

I have also spoken about the welcomed additional investment to tackle potholes and welcomed the announcement for the third runway at Heathrow, which has long been a campaign for Newcastle Airport and will open up additional investment opportunities for our region.

It was great to attend the opening day of the Northumberland Line and travel from Seaton Delaval to Newcastle on our new line. I have also engaged with Northern about concerns with accessibility.

Health and Social Care

I welcome that the government have already achieved the goal of reaching over 2million additional NHS appointments in the first six months, helping to tackle the backlogs and delays that too many constituents have faced.

I have spoken in Parliament about the importance of addressing these issues and have met with local professionals working at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington and visited local GP surgeries and pharmacies.

I welcome that the government is rolling out 700,000 extra dentist appointments and continue to work to ensure that there is good access to local healthcare across the constituency.

Immigration

Immigration was raised as a key national issue, although less so locally and I have spoken in Parliament about my concern with the previous government’s Rwanda scheme and the amount of money that this wasted without delivering any deterrent.

The government is taking action to address concerns on immigration. Since July, over 19,000 people without a right to be in the UK have been removed with enforced returns up 24% since last year and a 23% increase in foreign criminals removed. Alongside this, there has been action to address illegal working with a 73% increase in enforcement activity and arrests.

The government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill is introducing new counter-terror style powers to tackle people-trafficking gangs and will give law enforcement agencies stronger powers to take action to disrupt, investigate and prosecute organised criminal people smuggling gangs.

Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour

Anti-social behaviour, and especially off-road bikes, were raised as areas of significant concern.

I have met and continue to meet regularly with the Police and Crime Commissioner and local authorities to discuss concerns in this area and ensure Cramlington and Killingworth is receiving the attention and resources required.

I welcome that the government, after years of police budgets being slashed, are investing in neighbourhood policing to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour to keep communities safe, with North East Police Forces seeing an additional £100million being provided in funding.

Next Steps

With the outcome of the survey, as well as ongoing engagement with residents whether on the doors, at my surgeries, coffee mornings, further surveys and from contact from constituents, I will continue to work on the priorities that matter locally to residents across the Cramlington and Killingworth constituency.

Please keep an eye out for further surveys and ways to engage and if you don’t already, please follow me on my social media and sign up to my newsletter to be kept up to date on my activities.

As always, please do get in touch and share your views!

Graphic Attribution – Vecteezy