As chair of the APPG for Tourism and Hospitality and as an MP for a town built on tourism, I have been following closely the debate around proposed visitor levies, or tourist taxes.

Today marks an important moment for families across Blackpool South and the country, as a raft of new measures introduced by the Labour government comes into force, delivering real, tangible support.

As a proud son of a Blackpool postie, I could not miss the opportunity to speak in a Westminster Hall debate about the current performance of Royal Mail last week.

The Jobs Fair was praised by the Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, who joined me to open the Jobs Fair last month, in the House of Commons as part of a wider discussion about the nearly one million young people across the country who are not in education, employment or training.

For years under the Tories we’ve seen playgrounds sadly neglected. Labour understands that to play is part of a healthy childhood.

PCC Clive Grunshaw kindly gave me £50,000 from proceeds of crime to distribute to our communities. Find out how I donated it.

Blackpool’s beaches will be protected for future generations thanks to a £17,690,000 Government investment in the Blackpool Beach Management scheme for 2026/27.

This week I took Blackpool’s case to the Prime Minister in a push for investment in our most deprived communities.

Yesterday I met with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to discuss the exciting news that Blackpool has been long listed for City of Culture 2029 and made the case to her for why Blackpool is undoubtedly the best choice.

English Tourism Week is a chance to celebrate our visitor economy. But it is also a reminder that supporting tourism is supporting towns like ours.

Counselling In The Community (CITC) has been allocated funding from the Pride in Place Impact Fund to ensure a long-term future for the charity which provides vital, affordable and accessible mental health support to residents.

By the end of the day, more than 1,000 roles had been secured there and then. Thousands more CVs were handed over and interviews lined up. Conversations started that will turn into jobs over the coming weeks.

Boathouse Youth’s Sarah Lindsay selected after competitive process to lead £20m community regeneration programme across Layton and Grange Park

It’ll come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I am committed to the grassroots organisations that are quietly transforming lives in our town, and that I am a big boxing fan. When the two collide, you are sure to find me ringside, cheering them on.

Yesterday morning I felt a mixture of both pride and alarm as I brought together some of the most dedicated people tackling poverty in our town.

Young people will be given a mandatory targeted plan to stop them reoffending and protect the public.

The Secretary of State has agreed to open the event hot off the news that his department is launching a new mobile jobs centre service in our town to break down the barriers that stop people finding good work.

The digital world offers huge opportunities for learning, creativity and connection, but it also exposes young people to risks that simply didn’t exist when I was growing up. This government is taking action.

Yesterday I sat down with the Chancellor at 11 Downing Street to talk about South Shore. I went there with one message. Our community needs urgent investment and it needs it now.

Our new National Cancer Plan represents a fundamental shift in how we care for people with cancer – one that recognises that treatment is only part of the story.