It has been an honour to work for and represent everyone in the Stafford constituency in Parliament.

Full statement

I am again asking for your support in the coming general election on June 8th.

When I was first elected in May 2010, I made jobs and investment to the constituency a top priority. I have worked with businesses and government to create opportunities; and supported jobs clubs to help match people’s skills with those opportunities. There are now more people in work and unemployment has fallen from 1530 to 630, but one person out of work is always one too many. It is excellent news for our constituency that General Electric has opened a new factory at Redhill and will shortly complete a second; and also that 1,000 more servicemen and women have settled in Stafford. I am committed to working for high quality and full employment in the constituency.

I am passionate about our National Health Service and will continue to argue for increased funding, carefully invested. Our hospital has been through difficult times and now provides first class care. Some told me that it would be closed or become a ‘cottage hospital’. But thanks to the campaign we have fought together, it remains a vital acute district general hospital with 14/7 Accident and Emergency. Wards and operating theatres, chemotherapy and dialysis have all been refurbished and work continues on other departments. I am committed to fighting for more services come to our town, including 24/7 emergency. I will also support the local NHS to attract more GPs to the constituency.

Education and skills are vital for the future of all of us. I have made the case for fairer and higher funding for our schools. This Government has listened and taken some welcome action but there is much more to do. I will continue the campaign. We have many fine schools and colleges in Stafford, Penkridge and across the constituency. I will work with them to see all our young people receive among the highest standards of education and skills anywhere in the country.

Stafford Borough and South Staffordshire have sensible plans for sustainable housing and employment development. I commit to work to ensure that this development is carried out to a high standard with proper infrastructure – and to fight any attempts by developers to force unwanted projects on us. I will continue to oppose HS2 and the plans for a Gailey/Four Ashes rail freight interchange south of Penkridge.

It has been a great pleasure meeting and working with dozens of voluntary and community groups across the constituency. They are a large part of what makes Staffordshire such a wonderful place to live and work, and you can be sure of my continued support.