Poverty continues to affect too many families across Greater Manchester, particularly through rising living costs. Tackling this injustice has been a key focus of my political career.
Manchester also has some of the highest rates of homelessness in the country, with a shocking 1 in 74 people experiencing homelessness.
In Parliament, I have frequently spoken out on the issues facing my constituents, including fuel poverty, child poverty and the need for affordable housing.
Locally, my office supports residents facing financial crisis through food vouchers and signposting to emergency support, working closely with food banks and community organisations.
Ending poverty and homelessness requires political will and long-term solutions. I will continue to raise these issues in Parliament and work locally to ensure everyone has the chance to live with dignity.
2026
- Welcomed the support delivered for fuel-poor households through the Government’s Warm Homes Plan.
- Visited Poplars project with Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern MP.
- Voted to scrap the two-child benefit cap and lift 450,000 children out of poverty.
- Hosted a cost-of-living coffee morning to hear constituent’s concerns, and help connect people with local support.
- Supported Labour’s policies to tackle the cost-of-living, including increasing the minimum wage, and 30 hours of free childcare.
- Met with Manchester Student Union to discuss student cost-of-living.
- Questioned the Government on what they are doing to support families with disabled children with the cost of living.
2025
- Wrote to the Chancellor to call on her to lift the two-child benefit cap.
- Attended an event to mark World Homeless Day.
- Supported the Government’s decision to end the two-child benefit cap.
- Spoke on the impact of poverty and homelessness in worsening health inequalities.
- Visited the Manchester South Central Food Bank.
- Spoke on the necessity to tackle child poverty to improve children’s development, education and mental health.
- Wrote to the Minister for Homelessness to call for more support for Caritas Salford, a local homelessness charity.
- Highlighted that women and girls who have experienced abuse are more likely to face poverty and homelessness.
- Advocated for maternity pay to be raised to a liveable wage as a measure to tackle the child poverty crisis.
- Co-signed a letter to the Housing Secretary calling for government funding for Housing First to tackle homelessness.
- Spoke on the importance for home insulation in tackling fuel poverty.
- Met with The Boaz Trust to discuss their work on preventing asylum seekers from becoming homeless.
- Supported the extension of free breakfast clubs in schools.
- Visited volunteers from The Open Kitchen Manchester who provide food for those in need.
- Gave an interview about the Chancellor’s decision to lift the two-child benefit cap in the Budget.
- Met GM Better Outcomes Partnership to hear about their youth homelessness prevention programme.
- Supported the Government’s Budget which included a number of measures to tackle child poverty.
- Spoke to the Trussell Trust about food insecurity in the UK.
- Called for more support for those in temporary accommodation.
- Attended the launch of Shelter’s ‘My Colour Speaks Before Me’ report on homelessness in ethnic minority communities.
- Wrote to constituents about my decision to not vote in support of the Government’s Welfare Reform Bill.
- Signed an amendment to stop the vote on disability benefit cuts.
- Welcomed the Labour Government’s Child Poverty strategy and encouraged further measures to prevent the root causes of poverty.
- Supported Manchester South Central Food Bank’s campaign day in Parliament.
- Attended the APPG on Ending the Need for Food Banks meeting.
- Met with the Trussell Trust about the work of food banks in my constituency.
- Celebrated a primary school in my constituency being the first to receive a free breakfast club.
- Met with the Prime Minister about changes to the welfare system.
- Visited the Tesco Winter Food Collection on Oxford Road.
- Spoke on the importance of adequate funding for local charities supporting those facing homelessness.
- Spoke in Parliament on how rising cost of living pressures are impacting students’ mental health.
2024
- Visited The Boaz Trust to learn about their work in supporting those who have become homeless after claiming asylum.
- Held a debate on child poverty in Greater Manchester and called for the two-child benefit cap to be scrapped.
- Launched the APPG on Poverty’s report on migration and poverty.
- Spoke on the importance of the Household Support Fund in helping those affected by the cost-of-living crisis.
- Supported a campaign on tackling housing deprivation.
- Called for the Conservative Government to take action on fuel poverty.
- Campaigned on reducing poverty in older age.
- Spoke out against harsh Conservative cuts to vital Personal Independence Payments.
- Met with Greater Manchester Poverty Action.
- Presented a petition urging the Government to introduce a decent homes standard in the private rented sector.
- Visited the community pantry at The Place M14 which provides affordable groceries for those struggling with the cost of living.
- Spoke on the need for better housing support for those who have recently been granted asylum.
- Attended the meeting of the APPG on the Child of the North about regional inequalities and poverty.
2023
- Expressed concern over the quality of student housing and the Conservatives’ failure to manage the student maintenance loans system.
- Marked Fuel Poverty Awareness Day with National Energy Action.
- Commended Manchester council’s plan to build 10,000 affordable homes in the next decade.
- Spoke on how financial hardship and shortages of affordable housing create barriers for students to excel at university.
2022
- Called for the Government to increase Cold Weather Payments in line with inflation.
- Spoke on the fuel poverty crisis in Manchester Gorton and called for urgent action.
- Held a debate on fuel poverty in Manchester Gorton, calling for retrofitting measures and greater support for those in need.
- Supported a campaign on poverty at the end of life.
- Spoke about fuel poverty in my constituency.
- Highlighted the number of constituents using food banks.
- Voted for Labour’s emergency budget to help people with the cost of living crisis.
- Called for free school meals during school holidays.
- Questioned the Conservative government on the impact of the freeze on local housing allowance on levels of poverty.
- Visited Gorton Community Grocer who offer affordable food to local residents.
- Interviewed about food insecurity in Manchester.
- Called for stronger rights for tenants in the social and private rented sector, following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak.
- Highlighted that veterans in Manchester are forced to rely on Universal Credit because of the cost of living crisis.
2021
- Questioned the Prime Minister about the cost of living crisis.
- Wrote to the Prime Minister to end child food poverty.
- Called on the Conservative Government to provide free school meals during the school holidays.
- Spoke on the increase in unemployment and poverty following the COVID-19 pandemic and advocated for economic recovery measures.
- Visited Fallowfield and Withington food bank.
- Highlighted the importance of local community groups in supporting those in need across the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Supported the TUC’s campaign for sick pay for all.
- Spoke out against Conservative cuts to universal credit in the House of Commons chamber.
- Backed Unite’s campaign to cancel the cut to Universal Credit.
- Spoke out against the Conservative cut to the warm homes discount.
2020
- Spoke on the importance of investment in welfare reforms to support those living in poverty at the 2020 budget.
2018
- Called for the Government to encourage the building of more council homes.
- Spoke on the right for children in poverty to access free school meals.
- Called on the Government to provide more support for local authorities tackling street homelessness.