I have been elected as Chair of a committee in Westminster that champions the voice of coalfield communities like ours in St Helens borough. The Coalfields Communities APPG raises awareness of issues that former mining areas face and promotes regeneration and economic development. My new role gives me the opportunity to build on the past work of the group and to press the government to focus resources and support in areas like ours.

I recently spoke in Parliament about the work of great organisations such as the Industrial Communities Alliance and the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, who work closely with MPs, local authorities and businesses to invest in communities across the country. 

I met with the Chair of the Industrial Communities Alliance my friend Cllr Terry O’Neill from Warrington and Cllr Joan Dixon from Bolsover to discuss how we can work together to improve our coalfield communities. On issues from culture and sport to housing and the high street, the voice of former mining communities needs to be heard in Westminster. I will use my new role to make sure it is.