After promising the people of Blackpool I would secure the closure of our asylum hotel, I am proud to say that after two years of relentless campaigning the government has listened. The Metropole Hotel will cease operating as asylum accommodation before the end of July.
This is welcome news for our town, especially after the previous Conservative government broke its promise that the hotel would only be used for three months.
I have been clear since it opened in 2021 – the Metropole should never have been used in this way. It has placed unacceptable pressure on local services, damaged confidence in our town, and left vulnerable people in unsuitable accommodation.
I made a promise to residents to end this arrangement when I was elected in 2024 and I have kept it.
Those currently staying at the Metropole will now be supported through a managed transition, into more appropriate asylum accommodation outside of Blackpool, while their claims are processed.
The Metropole is a historic part of our identity and a cornerstone of our tourism heritage. Like the thousands who backed my campaign, I want to see it restored to its rightful role – supporting jobs, attracting visitors, and driving the regeneration our town deserves.
Local people have been heard. Now I will keep pushing to ensure the Metropole’s next chapter delivers for Blackpool.
WE DID IT.
The government has announced they will make infant formula cheaper - saving families hundreds of pounds.
The Prime Minister @keirstarmer measures to curb the cost of living will help families buy more affordable baby formula.
Money back in parents’ pockets with loyalty points and vouchers.
Changes are part of the government’s upcoming Child Poverty Strategy to give every child the best start in life.
Parents will save up to £500 a year as government action on how baby formula is displayed will help them choose the lower price infant formula that is right for them.
A message from your MP this #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek 🗣️
This year’s theme is “Action” – reminding us that understanding mental health is important, but it’s what we do with that understanding that truly makes a difference.
Awareness is vital, but real change comes when we take action too.
As Mental Health Awareness Week comes to a close, lets remember that mental health is prevalent this week, next week and every week. 💜
If you or someone you know is struggling, visit my directory to find contacts for local mental health services and support: /directory.
After I nominated the charity for a £2,000 donation from @bactauk , the UK's leading trade association representing the amusement's industry, I popped along to visit STAR to see more of the incredible work they’re doing and how this funding will make a real difference to constituents in the area.
At their centre in Claremont, I had the chance to spend time with members enjoying arts and crafts and chatting over a brew in a warm, welcoming space. STAR may not have much but volunteers and staff do so much with it – from hosting their busy workshops to tramsforming their once-neglected yard into a vibrant garden where people grow flowers and vegetables, and remember loved ones through memorial benches and plaques.
STAR also supports the community through their charity shop, selling items from their Sherbourne Road base and online, or distributing them to those who need them most.
A huge thank you to Simone and her fellow volunteers for welcoming me into their safe, inclusive and uplifting environment. Their dedication is making a real difference to people’s lives across Blackpool. 🗼
If you are in a position to do so, please consider donating to this fantastic charity, and if you are in need of support on your mental health recovery journey, contact STAR at [email protected]
For 14 years Blackpool was a poster child for government failure.
We have lived through the consequences of decisions made in Westminster. We have felt sharply the pressures of insecure work, poor housing, rising living costs and overstretched public services and we have felt forgotten.
But if Blackpool became an example of how badly politics can fail people, it can also be an example of what happens when government gets it right.
We have the opportunity to make Blackpool the poster child for our country’s success and prove that when Blackpool succeeds, Britain succeeds.
📺 Watch my full speech on YouTube now.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, the theme is action. Raising awareness matters, but real change only happens when we act.
In Blackpool, we see every day how mental health is shaped not just by access to treatment, but by poverty, insecurity, isolation and whether people feel hopeful about their future.
Good mental health is built in safe homes, decent jobs, supportive schools, community spaces and knowing you are not facing life alone.
Mental health matters every day of the year, and all of us have a role to play in building a healthier and more compassionate Blackpool. ❤️🩹
If you need support, you can find contact details for local mental health services on my website at /directory.
Last week, I visited Stanley Primary School as part of their brilliant Mystery Reader programme. The children didn’t know who was coming to read to them – thankfully they seemed quite happy when I arrived! 📚
Initiatives like this are really close to my heart because they help foster excitement around reading, storytelling and community involvement from an early age.
I read We’re Going on a Bear Hunt to the reception class and we talked about times they had “swish-swoshed” through long wavy grass or “splish-sploshed” through thick oozy mud and where you can find places like that in Blackpool. The children knew the story brilliantly and enthusiastically joined in with all the actions.
Afterwards they asked me some very important questions, including my favourite food (pizza), favourite colour (red), favourite shoes (trainers!) and favourite place in Blackpool (Stanley Park). 🍕
A huge thank you to Ms Rigby for the invitation and for running such a brilliant initiative. It genuinely put me in the best mood for the rest of the week.
Today is #InternationalNursesDay. 👩⚕️
I’m proud to support nursing staff across the world. Thank you for the skill, dedication and professionalism you show every day.
International Nurses’ Day is one of the most important moments in the nursing calendar. It is a chance to recognise the value of nursing, the pressures facing the profession, and the importance of standing with nursing staff across health and care.
Nurses are the backbone of our NHS and healthcare. They care for people at their most vulnerable, support families through difficult moments, and keep services going under huge pressure. Whether in our hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes or community services, their contribution is impossible to overstate. 💜
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐧 & 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 – £𝟐𝟎 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
We’re seeking a Vice Chair for the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board to help lead the £20 million Pride in Place investment in Layton and Grange Park.
If you’re interested, please send a 500-word expression of interest to the email below by 9am on 22nd May 2026, explaining why you’d like the role.
Applicants will receive full details about the programme and the Board’s responsibilities. The Vice Chair will play a central role in shaping the project and driving genuine community engagement alongside the Chair and Member of Parliament. This is a voluntary role.
𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚:
• Live or work in Layton or Grange Park
• Understand local challenges
• Champion community voices
• Experience working with a board to deliver strategic goals
𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚:
• Experience working with residents, community groups, businesses, or local authorities
• Knowledge of co-production/co-design
• Existing local relationships
• Experience securing or blending different funding streams
Expressions of interest should be sent to: [email protected] by 9am on 22nd May 2026.
This is an opportunity for the community to truly drive neighbourhood transformation. Let’s work together to build a better Blackpool 🗼
I’m pleased to have partnered with @bactauk , the UK's leading trade association representing the amusement's industry, to award a fantastic local charity £2,000 to support them in the incredible work they are doing.
Bacta asked me to nominate a local charity and I was happy to shine a light on STAR. Based in Claremont, it provides a safe and supportive environment for individuals on their mental health recovery journey, hosting peer support sessions, community activities and a safe space for adults experiencing mental health challenges.
Local organisations like this are vital in supporting people across our town. STAR plays a crucial role in tackling isolation and improving the wellbeing of Claremont's most vulnerable residents and backing this kind of grassroots support is essential as we continue strengthening mental health provision in Blackpool. 🗼
Residents across Blackpool South are hit with some of the biggest council tax bills in the country as the council has been forced to hike it to the maximum just to make ends meet. I see the impact of these bills reflected in the casework I receive every day. 🗣️
We need a system that properly funds our local services and takes the pressure off households already struggling with the cost of living.
I asked the Minister of State for Local Government how we can lower council tax for people in Blackpool South.
The Pride in Place Board held its first official meeting at Boathouse Youth. Chaired by Sarah Lindsay, it marked the beginning of an important journey to decide how £20 million will be invested in Layton and Grange Park. 📢
From the start, Sarah set the tone when she said, “This is the community’s money, we just need to help them steer the ship”.
Over the past few months, more than 300 residents have participated in surveys and events, telling us clearly what is working, what is not and what needs to change in Grange Park and Layton. That has given us a solid base to move forward.
We have already agreed on some first steps. We are continuing the Grange Park Freezer Food Club following residents’ clear support and need, and we are organising community events in both areas to keep people involved as plans develop. A Grange Park Community Fun Day on 16th May will be part of that.
The Board itself reflects the communities it serves, bringing together local schools, charities, businesses, councillors and a youth voice. We are still seeking comminity members interested in joining us so please email me at [email protected] if you’re keen to get involved.
The funding is there, the structure is in place, and the work has started. Now it depends on people staying involved, sharing their views and helping shape what comes next. 🗼
Please fill in the Pride in Place survey if you haven’t already, and come along to future events to get involved: /prideinplace.
