It was an honour to be elected as the Member of Parliament for Halesowen on July 4th, including Cradley Heath, Old Hill, Quarry Bank, Dudley Wood, Cradley and Wollescote.

I will always stand up for you and I’m committed to delivering the change that you voted for.

Over the last few weeks I have been working with the Government to deliver on the promises we made during the election.

The King’s Speech demonstrated the concrete steps we’re taking. Creating a national wealth fund to invest in and grow our economy. Working with NHS leaders to create 40,000 extra appointments each week. Kickstarting the hiring of 6,500 new specialist teachers. And strong measures to tackle anti-social behaviour and recruit more community police officers.

But I have to be open with you - we’ve inherited a terrible economic situation.

Our economy is in the worst state it’s been since the second world war. Taxes are at a seventy-year high. Debt is through the roof. And we’ve discovered the Conservatives have left a £22 billion black hole in the country’s finances.

Labour wants to restore economic stability, but this means there will need to be difficult financial decisions. Decisions like cutting the winter fuel allowance, or keeping in place the two-child benefit cap. Both of which will affect many people in our constituency.

But it’s decisions like these that will lay the foundations for our economic recovery, help restart growth and enable us to make the investments our public services need.

I hope you will give us the time needed to fix the damage of 14 years of Conservative chaos and get our country back on its feet.

I’m looking forward to serving this wonderful constituency over this Parliament and will be starting regular surgeries later in August, once my team is set up.

Thank you again for putting your confidence in me.