A HAPPY New Year to everyone in Stourbridge. I hope you had the chance for some time off and to celebrate the festive season with family and friends.

This year my priorities remain the same and that is working hard for Stourbridge and continuing to deliver the improvements we need as a community. This means putting people ahead of politics.

For example, I know that the daily cost of living pressures continues. That’s why I will keep fighting for everyone to keep more of their own money. Progress is being made. Inflation is down to 3.9 per cent. Interest rates are forecasted to drop sharply as a result. From January 6, NI will be cut for all employees from 12 per cent to 10 per cent. And the self-employed will see both their NI cut from 9 per cent to 8 per cent, and their requirement to pay the Class 2 NICs abolished, from April. I am looking forward to the budget on March 6 to hear of further announcements.

From this week for those with children, you can apply for 15 hours free childcare for children aged two-years-old, this will then kick in from April.

We had more good news this week when Prime Minister announced that we have met our pledge to clear the legacy asylum backlog with over 112,000 asylum cases processed, the grant rate falling, illegal working visits up by 68 per cent and 50 asylum hotels exited. Our plan is working – crossings to the UK are down by over a third year on year, despite rising across Europe. We have met this target thanks to the long-term steps we are taking to stop the boats – including bolstering the number of asylum caseworkers, securing returns agreements, and pushing ahead with the legislation required for our Rwanda plan.

Locally, my campaign to secure the greenbelt will continue. It is brilliant news that the draft Dudley Borough Local Plan has a brownfield first policy with no green belt land being proposed for development. This has always been my position and I know residents will be pleased. However, threats will continue to come forward and we must be vigilant and work together to stop inappropriate development on our green spaces.

Work to continue to bring investment into our constituency continues. The Lye regeneration plan will see spades scheduled to be in the ground this year alongside regeneration on Stourbridge High Street. Then more work will commence at both in 2025. We need investment in our town centres, better and more brownfield housing and improved transport infrastructure, including the Stourbridge Dasher. Now we have a West Midlands devolution deal it means our mayor Andy Street has more control over important areas like transport and housing. Local people and their local representatives know what is best and in 2024 I aim to work with the mayor to deliver on this.