Standing with striking rail workers: Statement

20 Jun 2022

Following today’s news of the planned rail strikes going ahead this week, I am reaffirming my commitment to stand with workers in their fight for better pay and conditions. The Government have decided to fan the flames of division rather than facilitate dialogue. The RMT are made up of every…

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Mary brings HMPO whistleblowers’ concerns to Parliament

14 Jun 2022

Mary has today highlighted the serious concerns of staff at Her Majesty’s Passport Office Durham after receiving reports of bullying, rudderless senior management fostering a toxic working culture and rock bottom morale amongst staff.  The City of Durham MP was speaking in a House of Commons debate called by the Labour…

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Mary speaks at national rally in opposition to Derwentside IRC

14 May 2022

On Friday, Mary joined hundreds of protestors on Palace Green in Durham to show united opposition to Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre in the neighbouring North West Durham constituency. The IRC was officially opened by the Home Office earlier this year and has attracted widespread criticism for its detaining of women,…

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Mary writes to Home Secretary on Passport backlogs

26 Apr 2022

Mary has today written to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, calling on her to act to address the backlogs in HM Passport Office causing delays and distress to constituents who are looking at going on holiday – and in some cases missing holidays entirely as a result of this. The…

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Mary presents certificates to young people in Brandon who have completed “important” life saving course

13 Apr 2022

Mary joined local PCSOs and colleagues from Rotary North East to hand out certificates to young people that have completed life-saving courses on CPR and defibrillator usage. The event was held in Brandon to congratulate those who have given up their time to learn these important skills. Mary praised the…

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Mary meets with NFU and local farmers in Brancepeth

18 Feb 2022

On 18th February, Mary visited Littlewhite Farm in Brancepeth with Kate Sowden and Simon Hall from the National Farmers Union, where they were hosted by the farm’s owners David and Vicky Jackson. The visit came during Heart Unions week, a week in which the Trades Union Congress advocated for joining…

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Mary hails Independent Businesses in Durham as ‘The Pride of our Highstreets’

11 Jan 2022

On 11th January, Mary spoke in the Commons about her love of independent businesses in the City of Durham. Highlighting the higher than average level of independent businesses in the constituency compared to the rest of the country, Mary went on to discuss Labour’s plan to help our highstreets. In…

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Mary joins City of Durham Labour’s Festive Foodbank Collection

20 Dec 2021

On Saturday 18th December, Mary joined City of Durham Labour Party’s Market Stall Foodbank Collection to gather donations from the generous people of the constituency. As always, the people of the City of Durham were fantastically selfless in their giving and displayed the true sense of ‘Christmas Spirit’, coming together…

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Statement on COVID Votes: 14th December 2021

Please find below a statement from Mary regarding the votes concerning COVID restrictions on the 14th December 2021:   Unfortunately, I was not be able to vote on the new COVID-19 restrictions today as I am self-isolating. As there is no measure for MPs to vote when they are unable…

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Mary completes Committee Stage of Health and Care Bill

02 Nov 2021

On 2nd November the Health and Care Bill Committee finalised their consideration of amendments brought forward by members of the Bill Committee, including Mary’s amendments on the provision of tobacco and e-cigarettes. The Bill would make it possible for private companies to sit on NHS boards and make decisions about…

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Mary votes against dumping sewage in rivers

25 Oct 2021

On Wednesday 20th October, Mary voted for a Lords Amendment to the Environment Bill that would have improved the protection of rivers and the sea from raw sewerage being dumped in them.  The amendment, tabled by the Duke of Wellington, would place new responsibilities on the Secretary of State, the Environment Agency…

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Update on St Leonard’s School

22 Oct 2021

I want to reassure parents and carers at St Leonard’s School that I am working tirelessly alongside both the School and Trust to find practical solutions that will reduce cost of school transport for affected families. Please rest assured that all parties involved remain in constant contact and are working…

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Mary signs letter to Education Secretary urging reassessing of plans to scrap BTECs

13 Oct 2021

Mary is one of 118 MPs and peers that has written to the recently-appointed Secretary of State for Education Nadhim Zahawi urging him to make an “early reassessment” of the Department for Education’s plan to remove funding for the vast majority of applied general qualifications such as BTECs. The letter…

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Durham through to City of Culture longlist

08 Oct 2021

Durham has been named on the longlist of eight locations that could become the City of Culture in 2025 in a massive boost to the region. The bid for Durham to become the City of Culture in 2025 is being spearheaded by Durham Culture, in collaboration with Durham County Council…

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Mary in the Media – Financial Times, Bloomberg, iNews

14 Sep 2021

Following the decision by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s ruling in July that there were “failings” in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Mary wrote to the Secretary for Work and Pensions, Therese Coffey, and the Minister for Pensions, Guy Opperman, to ask for proper compensation for 1950s…

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Mary meets Brandon Sports Club representatives to discuss plans for defib fundraising

27 Aug 2021

On Friday 27th Mary met with Ian Myers and Ian Johnson from Brandon Sports Club to discuss their plans for a fundraising campaign for a community defibrillator for the site. Mary was also given a tour of the facilities which include a cricket pitch, cricket nets, council football pitches, a…

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Mary’s Statement on Afghanistan

23 Aug 2021

My thoughts are of course with the Afghan people, as the Taliban’s return to power has created a humanitarian crisis and will likely have a profound impact on women’s rights; education and the ability of human rights defenders to push for progressive change within the country. There is now a…

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Mary writes to Priti Patel on Afghan Refguees

19 Aug 2021

Mary has signed a letter to Home Secretary Priti Patel to ask what the UK is doing in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis developing in Afghanistan. The letter focuses on Britain’s obligations to refugees fleeing from Afghanistan, urging the government to seek “sustainable solutions” for people coming from Afghanistan…

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Mary celebrates 150th anniversary of Durham Miners’ Gala with DMA

12 Aug 2021

Mary joined the Durham Miners’ Association in Wharton Park to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the first Miners’ Gala. Wharton Park was home to the first Gala in 1871 where thousands of miners came together to demand a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. Mary was joined on…

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New COVID-19 restrictions in Durham

The Government has now confirmed that further restrictions will be placed on areas across the North East, including County Durham. Inevitably these announcements will bring many questions and, as before, the Secretary of State has not provided a huge amount of detail of how these restrictions will work in practice.…

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Hello world!

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