I’ve had an incredibly active and rewarding month, both in Westminster and here at home in the constituency.  

In Parliament, I attended the “We Own It” Passenger Railway Bill drop-in session. I have always supported that our railways should be run for passengers and rail workers, not for private shareholders.

Public transport must be reliable, accountable and affordable, and I will continue backing legislation that puts people first.

Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander announced the next train companies set to be brought under public control in 2026, which includes West Midlands Railway and Chiltern.

I have been engaging with rail staff and West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker to ensure everyone knows what will be happening and to get any queries to take back to the department. 

Mental health remains one of my top priorities through my work on the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention. This month, I attended the Suicide Crisis Alternatives reception in Parliament, where I had the opportunity to speak to families and frontline organisations calling for better crisis intervention.

Too many people in need are still falling through the gaps. The research provided was interesting and once again reaffirms that we must provide the support and compassion needed before crisis and not after tragedy.

Back in Stourbridge, I joined St John Ambulance at their “Save a Life September” training session in Merry Hill, where I practised CPR and met cadets from across the Dudley borough.

Basic first aid is something we should all feel confident with, and I’d encourage anyone who can to take part in similar training.

Although just outside my constituency, I also visited Pepper’s Pet Rescue in Halesowen. As someone deeply committed to animal welfare, I was inspired by the dedication of the team here.

I will always stand up for stronger protections and support for rescue organisations like theirs.

I was pleased to see that West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker attended Parliament for the launch of the West Midlands Growth Plan.

We need real investment, good jobs and better infrastructure across our region, and this plan is certainly a step on that path.

I also took part in the Dudley Policy Conference alongside local MPs and council leaders to discuss regeneration and delivery.

September also saw the Government announce the Hillsborough Law in Westminster, a long overdue step towards truth and accountability for those devastatingly affected by public injustices.

Finally, I must mention what was a successful Labour Party Conference season. I am proud to support policies announced by ministers, committing to stronger workers’ rights, greater devolution and power to communities, guaranteed primary school libraries and a continued ban on fracking. 

The message of the conference was clear; at a difficult time where division in society is being stoked and stirred by bad-faith actors, we must come together to see the progress we all desire.

Respect, tolerance, and understanding are some of our greatest traits in Britain, and we must remind ourselves of the good we do when we lead with kindness and empathy for each other.