You will no doubt have seen the turn of events this week and in recent weeks. I am not going to try and shy away from that.
It is clearly not good enough for there to be uncertainty like that at the top of government. We should be focused on what we need to do for the country. These last few weeks don't give people the impression that is what is happening and I hope now we get a period of stability. The country faces big challenges and we shouldn't be making things more difficult for people. We should be putting forward sensible plans that people can get behind. The plan to help with the cost of energy bills is a good example. I did not think there was any need for most of the rest of the budget plans to be done in such a rush and without a clear plan for how to deliver, and I made that clear to government.
It is true that sometimes you find tax cuts bring in more money and businesses invest in growing their businesses more. But rushing into all of that in the way that we were going to was not sensible. We have to get back to delivering and as always that is what I am focused on doing locally for you. Though I understand you will be rightly concerned about what is being done by government as well and I always feed back what people think and answer you questions as best I can.
This week I have been campaigning again on law and order. Since becoming an MP, one of my goals has been to ensure that our justice system is on the side of victims of crime and their families and ensure they feel that justice has been done. As such, I have been campaigning for tougher sentences for some of the most severe crimes. This week in Parliament, I secured a debate on life sentences for child murderers. I think anyone who murders a child should never have the chance to be released from prison. Parliament recently voted for ‘Whole Life Orders’ for the crime of child murder, but only for cases where there is a significant amount of pre-planning. I think we should go further, to ensure that no parent has to see their child's murderer walking the streets again, and have been pushing the Government to make this change. I have been working with Elsie Urry on this campaign-her three children were murdered and their killer was released from prison in 2019.
I recently visited Crewe based business Unipart to see the opening of their new facility for the design of Electronics, Software and Mechanical products. This is the latest in a stream of news of new rail investment into Crewe.
This week, I met with Avanti West Coast to express the concerns of local people about the recent disruption in services. I let them know that people expect much better from them. They told me that in addition to recent improvements a new, fuller timetable is being produced and will be in place in December. I will monitor the situation and am happy to receive your feedback on services.
Crewe Lyceum will be showing a local amateur performances of Shrek this weekend. These performances will help raise money for Cancer Research UK and are a great opportunity for young amateur peformers, so do go along if you are looking for something to do.
Tickets are going quickly, so get yours today: https://crewelyceum.co.uk/Online/tickets-shrek-the-musical-crewe-2022
It was amazing to hear that local Nantwich Hairdressers, Salon Vie, have won the award for best hairdressers in Cheshire. They will now go forward to the grand final for best hairdressers in England. Well done, and good luck!
We also marked World Mental Health Day this week. If you, or someone you know is suffering from mental ill-health, resources are available via the links below:
Click here for general mental health support: https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/
Click here for Mental Health Support directed at armed forces veterans and personnel: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/
Just a reminder that I shall be hosting a tea party for people aged 100 or over as part of a tribute to my colleague, David Amess, who was murdered last year. If you know of anyone who would like to come along please do get in touch.
I am also holding a campaign day tomorrow delivering the last of my latest newsletters in Crewe & Nantwich, meeting in the morning followed with a get together at lunch time. Let me know if you'd like to help.
Have a great weekend.
Life Should Mean Life for Child Murderers
Unipart Lab Opening
Shrek - Crewe Lyceum
Avanti West Coast Meeting
Nantwich Hairdressers ‘Best in Cheshire’
World Mental Health Day
Traffic Report
Life Should Mean Life for Child Murderers
The murder of a child is perhaps the most heinous crime anyone can commit. I think that most people would agree that anyone who carries out this cruel act should spend the rest of their life in prison.
But in our system, a "life sentence" rarely means life. Take, for example, Elsie Urry, whose three children were murdered by David McGreavy in 1973. He was given a "life sentence", but was released in 2019. I can't imagine the pain that the families of victims, such as Elsie, must feel knowing that their children's murderer is now free walking the streets again. It has been a privilege for me to work with Elsie to campaign on this issue.
I thought we had a breakthrough, because this year I voted in support of bringing in "whole life orders" for the offence of child murder where they really do spend the rest of their life in prison. But, unfortunately, it only applies where there is planning of the murder-known as "significant premeditation". If it isn't planned, like the spontaneous cruel violence that led to the death of 6 year old Arthur Labinjo Hughes, then they won't get the new whole life order.
I have been campaigning for the justice system to better serve victims and their families, and as part of that I am pushing for the 'significant premeditation' element to be dropped so all child murderers spend the rest of their lives in prison, regardless of whether they planned it. I held a debate on this today in Parliament as part of the campaign.
*The Chair interrupted me as they mistakenly thought the case wasn't resolved, we aren't allowed to talk case mid way through. But this case was resolved.
Unipart Lab Opening
I recently attended the opening of a new lab, built by rail company Unipart Rail.
This new, dedicated, modern facility for the design of Electronics, Software and Mechanical products enhances employee capability and investment in staff. It also forms part of their investment in a new Rail Systems Building.
This is yet another example of rail industry investment coming to Crewe – a show of confidence in the future of our area. Along with the confirmation of the Crewe to Manchester leg of HS2, to the return of construction of train bogies at the Alstom site, this has been a year of great news for the rail future of Crewe.
We can, of course, always go even further. The campaign for Crewe to become the home of Great British Railways has reached its final stages, with an announcement of the winner expected shortly. This would not only be an amazing opportunity for our area, with even more jobs and investment, but also for companies, like Unipart, who have invested locally.
Shrek - Crewe Lyceum
This week, Shrek will be coming to Crewe Lyceum for a series of local amateur performances by Curtain Call Productions and YSD Theatre School - which will be raising money for Cancer Research UK.
I know how many young people and others get a huge amount out of being part of these big productions that get such a big showcase at the Lyceum!
The last few will take place this Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th October including daytime performances.
Tickets are going quickly, so get yours today: https://crewelyceum.co.uk/Online/tickets-shrek-the-musical-crewe-2022
0343 310 0050
Avanti West Coast Meeting
This week, I held a meeting with Avanti West Coast about the disruption to their services over the past couple of months and to let them know that people expect better.
Avanti have worked to implement a new timetable already, which will include more frequent services from Crewe to and from London Euston, Manchester and the line towards Chester and the North Wales Coast. And then even more services will come into effect in December.
This should have been done quicker, with more done to address the long term issues with driver shortages and changing the timetable earlier on. I am going to keep monitoring the situation and welcome your feedback on services.
Nantwich Hairdressers ‘Best in Cheshire’
Well done to the team from Solon Vie in Nantwich for winning the awards for Best Hair Salon in Cheshire at the 2022 England's Business Awards.
Salon Vie had been nominated by a client earlier this year and was contacted by the Awards board to inform them of their nomination.
Jane is from Aston and started hairdressing at the young age of 11 as a Saturday girl at her village hair salon and has been running two salons for the last 24 years, including one in Nantwich.
Jane said she was very extremely proud of her team and over the moon to fetch the Best Hair Salon in Cheshire Award back to Nantwich and being recognised for the hard work that goes into running a business.
Good luck for the grand final! I am always happy to showcase the success of local businesses so let me know if you have something to shout about!
World Mental Health Day
Monday was World Mental Health Day, which gives us the opportunity to think about mental health in general and what we can do to prevent mental ill-health in society.
The Government have also announced today £122 Million of funding to give 100,000 people, who are suffering with mental health, the support they need to get back into work - one of the best things you can do to improve your long-term health.
➡️Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/122-million-employment-boost-for-people-receiving-mental-health-support
➡️Click here for general mental health support: https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/
➡️Click here for Mental Health Support directed at armed forces veterans and personnel: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/
Traffic Report
The following are road closures for the week ahead as reported by Cheshire East.
Middlewich Road - Full detail here: https://www.facebook.com/KieranMullanUK/posts/pfbid02eko4CMr4eijnrPk9z1…
Beam Street, Oat Market, Swine Market, High Street, Nantwich - Until 28th October
Cobbs Lane, Hough - 10th October until 28th October
Weston Road (Between David Whitby Way and Main Road) - 17th October
Orchard Street, Willaston - 18th October
Marton Close, Hough, - 17th October