One year of putting Blackpool South first
It’s been just over a year since I had the honour of becoming your Member of Parliament and in that time my team and I have worked relentlessly to deliver for Blackpool South.
As the second most deprived constituency in the UK, the challenges we face are many and urgent. That’s why I’m proud to have taken on 7,000 individual cases this past year – supporting residents with housing, health access, social security, pensions, employment, anti-social behaviour, asylum and much more. Every single case matters, and every voice deserves to be heard.
At one of my Chat With Chris events - I regularly hold these public Q&As
Beyond casework, I’ve secured £120 million in government investment for our town – funding that’s already transforming lives. This includes £20m for neighbourhoods, £21.5m for public health, £30m for housing, £2.86 million to tackle homelessness, £2.3 million to fix potholes, over £1 million for our Family Hubs, £650,000 to prevent coastal erosion, and £600,000 for community recovery following the violent disorder of last summer. This is real money making a real difference.
At one of Blackpool’s Family Hubs, which I’ve secured £1m in funding for
I've also spent the past year getting out into the community – visiting hundreds of local businesses, schools, charities, care homes and public services. From family-run shops on Highfield Road to community centres in central, I've seen the pride and resilience that defines our town. These visits aren't just symbolic – they shape the work I do in Parliament, ensuring your everyday concerns are heard where it counts.
Every day’s a school day - with kids at St John’s primary on one of my many community visits
To better serve you, I’ve opened a fully accessible constituency office in the heart of South Shore, on Lytham Road. Staffed by a dedicated local team with a deep understanding of local issues, it’s a place where anyone can walk in and get support – including accessing food parcels and infant milk.
And because I believe in giving back, every month I donate 10% of my salary to Blackpool charities doing vital work on the ground.
Being your MP is the greatest privilege of my life. I’ll continue fighting every day to make sure we are no longer left behind – because our community deserves nothing less and I am determined to build a better Blackpool.
