Welcome to this week's newsletter.
This week, the King outlined the Government's plan for the upcoming year. The agenda includes proposals for tougher sentences for the most serious crimes, enhanced police powers to combat digital-enabled crimes, and reforms to strengthen the parole system. The government also laid out plans to to protect the public from terrorism, regulate football to safeguard local clubs and empower fans, ban live exports for improved animal welfare, and support North Sea Oil and Gas to boost energy security and jobs.
This weekend I'll be attending the Nantwich Remembrance Service to honour our local heroes, having attended the Crewe service previously (they are held at the same time). Crewe St Barnabas Councillor James Pratt has kindly agreed to represent me in Crewe though. Yesterday I visited the Remembrance Garden in Parliament. The Constituency Garden of Remembrance, opened annually, provides an opportunity for MPs to pay tribute on behalf of their constituents.
Recognising the importance of swimming for a healthy lifestyle, the Government has launched a £20 million fund to support swimming facilities nationwide. This includes £190,000 for Nantwich Leisure Centre, ensuring that locals have access to these facilities and can lead active lives.
This week marks the EFL's Week of Action, celebrating the positive impact EFL clubs and their Community Organisations have on local communities. For example, I applaud the outstanding work of Crewe Alex, particularly through its youth-focused projects. Keep up the excellent work!
Our thriving dairy industry, exporting over £2 billion worth of produce last year, is set to receive further support through the Government's Dairy Export Programme. With £1 million in funding, this initiative will offer targeted support to farming businesses, including educational sessions on boosting exports and trade promotion activities.
Finally, a reminder that my Christmas Card Competition is closing soon! The winning design, chosen by public vote, will become my official Christmas Card. All entries must be submitted by 17th November, either to my office or via email. I appreciate the creative contributions from our community, and each participant will receive a certificate for their efforts. Good luck to all entrants; I eagerly await your wonderful designs!
Have a great weekend.
King's Speech
Remembrance Garden
Funding for Swimming Pools
EFL Week of Action
Dairy Export Programme
Christmas Card Competition - Closing Soon
Traffic Report
King's Speech
In Parliament this week, the King laid out in his speech the Government's agenda for the next year. This includes new laws to help make the UK a safer and more prosperous place to live. This includes:
- Bringing in tougher sentences for the worst criminals - ensuring we have a justice system that works for victims
- Giving police more powers to prevent new and complex crimes such as digital-enabled crimes and child grooming
- Strengthening the parole system, giving ministers the power to block the early release of the worst offenders
- Protecting the public from terrorism, ensuring that the lessons learned from the Manchester Arena Bombing are implemented
- Creating a new regulator for football - protecting local clubs and ensuring that fans get a greater say in their running
- Improving animal welfare by banning live export
- Backing new North Sea Oil and Gas - improving our energy security and protecting 100,000 of jobs
- Securing the benefits of Brexit - promoting trade with the rest of the world
- Modernising regulation on the biggest tech firms - covering social media giants and supporting emerging tech such as self-driving vehicles and machine learning
- Improving the health of young people by ensuring no one currently aged 14 will ever be able to take up smoking
- Giving renters more security, landlords more control over their properties and empowering leaseholders with greater protections
- Building a national holocaust memorial and learning centre - ensuring that the lessons of history are never forgotten
Remembrance Garden
Yesterday, I paid a visit to the Remembrance Garden in Parliament and laid a cross in honour of all those who laid down their lives for our country. We must never forget the enormous sacrifices they made.
The Constituency Garden of Remembrance, situated in New Palace Yard in Parliament, is opened every year by the speaker and gives MPs an opportunity to pay their respects to the fallen, on behalf of all of their constituents.
This weekend I'll be attending the Nantwich Remembrance Service to honour our local heroes who lost their lives defending our freedom. Over previous years I have attended the Crewe service (they are held at the same time) so thought it was right to have a year where I attend the Nantwich service. Crewe St Barnabas Councillor James Pratt has kindly agreed to represent me in Crewe though.
We will remember them.
Funding for Swimming Pools
Swimming is a fantastic way people can keep active and lead healthier lives. However, the rise in running cost of swimming facilities have left many centres struggling.
That is why the Government has launched a £20 million fund to support swimming facilities across the country - including £190,000 for Nantwich Leisure Centre - helping local people take up swimming and get active!
Find out more via: https://www.sportengland.org/news/swimming-pool-support-fund-keeps-leisure-centres-afloat
EFL Week of Action
This week is the EFL's week of action.
EFL clubs and their Club Community Organisations (CCOs), delivered over £865m to their local communities in England and Wales in 2022. The Week of Action is an opportunity to celebrate and highlight the positive impact they bring to their local areas.
I have seen the fantastic work that our local Crewe Alex does in the community, such as through its Crewe Alex in the community project - providing sessions and organising events for local young people.
Well done for all of your amazing work!
Dairy Export Programme
Our dairy industry is among the best in the world and exported over £2 Billion of produce last year. The Government is building on this success with its Dairy Export Programme - helping farming businesses grow and seize new opportunities overseas.
This programme, backed by £1 million of funding, will help our farmers through a wide range of targeted support for businesses such as education sessions on how to boost exports, target new markets and trade promotion activity.
Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-dairy-industry-to-be-boosted-by-new-export-programme
Christmas Card Competition - Closes Soon
A quick reminder that my Christmas Card Competition closes soon!
The winner of the competition, decided by a public vote, will become my official Christmas Card design for this year and be sent to, among others, the Prime Minister. See the photos below of winners from the previous year with their winning designs!
The deadline for getting your entries in is 17th November to give us time to choose the winner and get it printed. Please send yours either to my office at 249 Edleston Road, Crewe, CW2 7EA or email the design to kieran.mullan.mp@parliament.uk. To be eligible, your child must be of primary school age.
Over the past few years, many schools have taken part, but I have also received entries done at home and sent in by parents.
Everyone who enters will also be awarded a certificate for the hard work they have put into their design.
Good luck; I look forward to seeing all of your amazing entries!
Traffic Report
The following are road closures for the week ahead as reported by Cheshire east.
Flowers Lane – Until 24th Nov (see Leighton closures)
Manor Way, Crewe - Until 17th November
West Street, Crewe (Between A532 and Underwood Lane) - 13th November
Oak Street, Crewe 14th until 16th November
Cheerbrook Road - 13th - 17th November
Brooklyn Street (Between A534 and Furnival Street) - 12th November
Various road around memorials for Remembrance Sunday - 12th November
For further details of the closures around Leighton hospital, please see: https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/highways_and_roads/roadworks/major-projects/north-west-crewe-package-nwcp/north-west-crewe-package.aspx