Welcome to this week's newsletter.
Many of you will have seen the news about the delay to the Birmingham to Crewe and Crewe to Manchester legs of HS2.
I want everyone to remember the difference this investment is going to make to Crewe. We have won the contract for building HS2 train bogies at Crewe Works. We will be back in the business of making trains again for the first time in decades. HS2 is securing jobs and bringing investment, construction is well underway.
Do I want it to come sooner? Of course I do. But let's keep our eyes on the prize. The investment is still coming. I can live with two years later when there were so many people calling for it to be cancelled. Constructions costs have gone up because of inflation and we can't ignore that. This remains a generational investment and its impact will be huge over many decades, levelling up Crewe and the whole region.
This week I met with Ian, the CEO of Leighton Hospital. We discussed the campaign for a rebuild and how they are making the most of the buildings they currently have. You can help support the campaign here:
https://www.drkieranmullan.org.uk/news/leighton-hospital-new-build-camp…
It was great to meet with GCSE Citizenship students at Ruskin High School during a visit to Parliament. I like to take any opportunity I can to engage with young people about the work of MPs and politics. There are many opportunities for schools to visit Parliament - so if you work at a school and are interested, do get in touch.
In Parliament this week, I asked the Health Secretary about how we can promote the use of the wider healthcare team in the NHS, such as getting 111 to refer patients to these other professionals. In some cases, Pharmacists, Physios and Psychologists will be better placed to help you than a GP.
The Government announced this week its new Bill, which will help solve the issue of channel migration, cracking down on those who come here illegally. These are radical new laws that are needed to really sort out this issue.
Finally, the Government has announced £600 million in funding to improve access and quality of PE and sports in schools. This is also aimed at helping improve gender equality, ensuring that boys and girls play the same sports.
Have a great weekend.
Meeting with Leighton CEO
Rolls Avenue - Tree's Cut Down
Indian Consular Surgery
Ruskin High School
Pharmacist, Physios, and Psychologists - Why Not See Them in the Community
Illegal Migration Bill
Equal Opportunities in Sport
Traffic Report
Meeting With Leighton CEO
This week, I met with Ian, the CEO of Leighton Hospital, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
I was updated on the campaign to rebuild the hospital and about the steps, they are taking to make the best use of the building in the meantime.
Click below to read more about what I am doing to push the Government on the case for a rebuild of Leighton and support the campaign.
Click Here to Support the Campaign
Rolls Avenue - Trees Cut Down
I despair sometimes! Cheshire East stubbornly refuse to pollard trees that are ruining footpaths, but apparently, chopping down some prominent beautiful trees isn't significant!
Well done to James, a candidate for Crewe St Barnabas, for reporting. I hope the Council rethink and take it seriously. Otherwise, other developers do what they want. James would be a great Councillor, find out more about him:
Indian Consular Surgery
Last weekend, I organised a surgery with the Indian Consular Service in Crewe Market Hall. Crewe is home to many people of Indian heritage who make a great contribution to our local economy. For a day, residents could book appointments to do this much closer to home. Thank you to everyone who helped organise this and make it possible!
Ruskin High School
It was great to meet with students from Ruskin High School studying their citizenship GCSE during their visit to Parliament. I always take any opportunity to talk to young people about politics and remind them that politics is for everyone and everyone has a role to play in making their communities a better place. They had the chance to practice a debate and learn about how laws are made.
Pharmacists, Physios & Psychologists - Why Not See Them in the Community?
I know people are still struggling with GP appointments, and we must keep working on that, but there is far more to community care than just GPs. Our healthcare system is made up of many different professionals, such as pharmacists and physios, who do fantastic work and are, in some cases, better placed to help you than a GP. But local GPs tell me that some patients are reluctant to use them, and services like NHS 111 do not necessarily refer people to these other professionals.
This week in Parliament, I asked the Health Secretary what more can be done to promote and educate the public on this wider healthcare team and ensure that 111 does refer patients to them.
Illegal Migration Bill
The Government this week has put forward its Illegal Migration Bill. After trying other approaches, the Government accepts radical new laws are needed to really sort this issue out. Action can't come soon enough but don't underestimate how much opposition there will be from certain people on this. But whatever people say about people in need, everyone crossing the channel is coming from France-a safe country. The majority of people coming over are young men. There are millions of people just like them who would be entitled to asylum here if they were able to lodge a claim.
It isn't about whether someone has experienced difficult circumstances or if you can sympathise with them. It is about how we decide who we help when obviously we can't help everyone.
Your ability to pay for and make the journey should not be the test. We should take people of our choosing from refugee programmes.
Under this plan, those who come to the UK illegally will not be able to claim asylum in the UK. The claim will be heard in Rwanda or another safe third country.
You also won't be able to lodge last-minute appeals when the decision has been made, and you are on the plane.
We should be proud as a country that we go above and beyond in helping those in need. Many people come here through safe and legal asylum and immigration routes - it is only fair to them that those who come here illegally are not allowed to stay.
Equal Opportunities in Sport
The Government has announced £600 Million of funding to help improve the quality of PE and Sports in schools. Schools will also be supported to deliver at least 2 hours of PE on their curriculum. I think sport in school is so important for young people and helps them develop as young adults!
Wednesday was International W omens Day and alongside the funding is a focus for boys and girls to have the chance to play sports equally. As the Lionesses showed us all last year - boys and girls can excel at any sport!
Traffic Report
The following are road closures for the week ahead, as reported by Cheshire East.
Weston Lane (Between Larch Avenue and Casey Lane) - Until 24th March
Goddard Street, Crewe - 30th January until 31st March
Mill Lane, Oakhanger - 16th January until 14th April
Flag Lane, Crewe - 18th January until 10th April
Delamere Street (Between Flag Lane and Saint Mary’s Street) - 18th January until 10th April
Woodlane Avenue, Nantwich -13th Marhc
Beam Street, Nantwich (Between Dog Lane and Volunteer Street) - 12th -13th March
Vauxhall Road, Nantwich (Between Manor Road N and St Mary's Road) - 14th March