The Post Office’s counter and shop within TJ Jones on Pydar Street will close on 6 October. Truro city centre needs a Post Office; it is an important part of our high street and community. For many, it is a place to access cash, with the Post Office stepping in as banks withdraw from towns and cities. It offers essential services, from collecting pensions and returning parcels to renewing passports and driving licences. At a time when more services move online, Post Offices

On 28 August I held my second Politics Summer School, which was hosted at Truro College. 28 young people aged 15 – 19, living or studying in the Truro and Falmouth constituency, spent the day learning how politics works and how they can get involved in public life. Attendees heard about the work of MPs and councillors, took part in a cross-party panel discussion chaired by University of Exeter lecturer Katya, and met local journalists to learn about the role of media in dem

I invited our new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, down to Cornwall and was glad when he wanted to visit Colwyn Farm near Perranwell within the first month of his premiership. Farming Minister, Stephen Morgan and Tom Bradshaw from the National Farmers’ Union also joined. The Prime Minister made some announcements about the action the Government is taking to relieve the pressure on farmers, who are dealing with the effects of one of the driest summers in living memory. That inclu

This Summer Recess I have been around the constituency holding ‘Tea with MP’ events to see what issues communities in Truro and Falmouth are dealing with. I was able to get out and visit residents across Budock Water, Gerrans and Portscatho, Mylor Bridge, and Carnon Downs. Residents raised issues including local policing, mobile library services, water quality, SEND provision, NHS dentistry and social housing. I have already followed up with Devon and Cornwall Police, South

Back in July, I attended Lys Kernow for the dentistry summit. It was good to catch up with councillors and health leaders to discuss the issues with dentistry in Cornwall, which has very poor access to dental care. We live in a dental desert, and so many people have contacted me about this increasing issue. In Cornwall, more than a quarter of practices that previously offered NHS treatment have stopped doing so, and between 2017 and 2026 there has been a 26.9% reduction in NH

I attended the original People's Emergency Briefing in Westminster Hall and have since attended many screenings across the constituency. I have also written to the new Prime Minister about the issues it raises. When I go to the showings, I do talk about the actions the Government is taking and planning. Ed Miliband’s pledge for our power to be carbon-free by 2030 is important for our national security so we aren’t relying on other countries for our energy, as well as for tac

Andy Burnham is making the same pledge that Tony Blair did in 1999 to end rough sleeping - and he’s put a hard deadline on getting everyone in by Christmas. The rough sleeper count on one night in November last year in Cornwall was 65 people, but we know there are more that weren’t found by the volunteer counters that night. The plan will be backed by a £442 million package to help local authorities rise to the challenge. Cornwall will get £3.8 million to make it happen.

When people take on a social tenancy, many are handed an empty box and must find the money for carpets, furniture and essential appliances such as a cooker and fridge. These are necessities, but the cost of providing them can be overwhelming for those with very little. This month I hosted a Housing Summit in Truro with social housing providers from across Cornwall, advice services, charities and campaign groups to discuss how to tackle furniture poverty and reduce the costs p

From January, this Government will cap single bus fares at £2, making it more affordable to travel across Cornwall. I know there is more to do - particularly on transport for people at college and in training - but this cap will help and is a good first step. On 23 July, I held a Bus Summit in Falmouth for those whose apprenticeship, work experience, training or studies have been disrupted by a lack of transport. The system across the country in rural areas to travel to compu

Despite attracting millions of visitors with its beautiful beaches, restaurants, gardens and unique culture, Cornwall remains a place where many local people struggle with unaffordable housing, insecure and seasonal employment, limited access to healthcare, and expensive or unreliable transport. In a Westminster Hall debate on Coastal Communities: Isolation and Hidden Deprivation, I, alongside Cornwall’s other Labour MPs, argued that Cornwall’s beauty can often hide the har

Earlier this year, a court ruling put at risk the hourly payments that help cover the costs volunteers incur when they drop everything to rescue people in trouble at sea. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency had planned to remove those payments from September. But after intervention by the Coastguard volunteers, who have been brilliant, MPs for coastal areas including myself, the Maritime Minister, Keir Mather, has stepped in and paused the change. Volunteers will continue to r

Great news: Falmouth Ambulance Station is set to save £70,000 in energy costs thanks to the state’s energy company GB Energy paying for solar panels for the roof of their station. GB Energy are also funding solar panels on Falmouth Hospital. This is a great way to save the NHS and schools money as well as to help the climate.

Those that know me will be aware of the campaigning that I have been doing on the possible link between military helicopters (particularly the Sea King) and rare cancers like multiple myeloma. I have been struggling for two years as an MP to get information from the MOD about how many serving personnel and veterans have contracted these cancers, and it has been challenging. Hence, I am pleased that this study has, finally, been set up. It will look in totality at how many peo

This month I held an online workshop with constituents navigating the personal independence payments system (PIP) to feed into the Timms Review. The experiences people shared made it clear that the system is not working. I’m very grateful to everyone who attended, and for the courage and articulacy they showed in recounting very difficult experiences. What they told me completely backs up the initial interim review findings that the process is fundamentally flawed and dehuman

I recently attended Cornwall Council meeting to receive the Dowr Glan petition and talk about water regulation, ownership and South West Water. Thames Water has been teetering on the brink of special administrative receivership and being taken under government control for months now. As part of the membership of the Environment Food & Rural Affairs Committee, we interviewed them twice. Andy Burnham has talked about public control of water companies. Thames would be a great te

The Government has taken British Steel into public ownership to protect the future of steel production in the UK. The Bill to do this came into force on 16 July. Steel plays a really important role in the UK economy; it is used in critical infrastructure and national security. Including marine and renewables, which are so important for us in Cornwall. The steel industry supports around 33,000 jobs in the UK. This follows wider support for the UK steel sector, such as the UK S

In Parliament, I hosted a drop-in event for Citizens UK on this Government’s new Named Community Sponsorship programme. Brilliant volunteer organisations such as Falmouth and Penryn Welcome Refugees are already doing great work and have shown how this model can work nationally. It reflects the best of the Great British spirit, with communities coming together to welcome refugees and help them build their future. When people arrive through schemes such as these, they are sup

My priority is to make sure the people of Truro & Falmouth and the rest of Cornwall feel the benefit of this Labour government no matter who is leading it. Since 20 July, Andy Burnham has been our Prime Minister. He is the first Prime Minister to belong to the Labour and Co-operative Party and it’s good to see more Co-operative representation at the top. I have already started to work with Andy Burnham regarding Cornwall - what we need for our economy, our young people, our N

I am concerned that Cornwall Council has turned nighttime street lighting off in some parts of Falmouth. The town has a busy nighttime economy, and I want everyone to feel safe getting home after midnight. I have asked Cornwall Council to reconsider their decision to turn off the lights unless the Town Council pays – because lighting provided by the local authority should fit the area. I have launched an online petition asking Cornwall Council to reconsider its decision to tu

Across the country, more communities are stepping in to take ownership of places that matter to them, from pubs to sports clubs and youth centres. Many of these projects are flourishing, but too often it has been against the odds. Over the past decade, thousands of valued local assets have closed, leaving big gaps in community life. That is why the Government’s recently announced £61 million Community Right to Buy Fund is so important. It is there to help communities step in