All officially sworn in as
#Exeter
’s Labour Member of Parliament.
I’m slowly getting my office started up - and working through the mountain of emails and very kind messages. Thank you for everyone’s forbearance!
I’ve loved being part of the Exeter Labour team for the last 15 years - and as
@BenPBradshaw
has decided to step down, I’m stepping up!
I’m standing to be Exeter’s next
@UKLabour
parliamentary candidate.
Let’s keep Exeter winning with Labour🌹
Join me!👉🏼
It’s been a whirlwind of a first day in Parliament today as MP for
#Exeter
.
Brilliant to attend my first PLP meeting of 411 Labour MPs, addressed by our Labour Prime Minister
@Keir_Starmer
🌹
The work has already started - and there’s much more to do to rebuild our country!
Thank you to all the Exeter Labour members who took part in the selection today - I’m delighted and honoured to be selected as the parliamentary candidate for Exeter! It’s been a great campaign, with brilliant candidates all round. Lots of work to do, and big shoes to fill 🌹
“I represented striking miners for free. Not just sentiment and a photo opp. I backed up my words with action.”
Keir has one mission as Labour leader - to make sure Labour forms the next Government. Only then can we change the country for the better.
Britain is stuck thanks to a succession of Tory governments.
As leader of the Labour Party, I’m focused on getting us into power.
Only then can we deliver the change that trade unions and working people want and need.
For 25 years,
@BenPBradshaw
has been a brilliant MP for Exeter, Labour, and the whole country. I’m excited and very proud to have won his endorsement for the Exeter selection. Thank you!
Thank you to everyone in
#Exeter
who voted yesterday.
It’s a huge honour and a privilege - and very humbling - to be elected to serve the residents of this brilliant city as MP.
People across the country have chosen change - I’m looking forward to getting on with the job!
Congratulation to
@BenPBradshaw
1 truly deserved for his exceptional public service and hard work over many years.
Congrats to all the Devonians and everyone else recognised!
Sir Ben dedicates King's Birthday Honours knighthood to people of Exeter
My deepest sympathies continue to be with Maeve’s family and friends, who continue to fight in her memory for everyone who lives with ME.
It’s clear we need to do more to offer patients with ME a better care pathway, and understanding, within the
#NHS
.
End of an era.
@BenPBradshaw
is one of the most hardworking, compassionate, and effective politicians the Labour movement has had. Exeter is transformed for the better over the last 25yrs, and Ben has always been at the front, banging the drum for the city in Westminster 1/
Popped into the
@labourunionsuk
welcome meeting for new MPs (for a glass of apple juice!).
As a proud member of
@GMB_union
&
@CommunityUnion
, I know that our New Deal for Working People will be transformational for people in
#Exeter
Read about it here:
I’m delighted to be supported by
@LGBTLabour
and the Chris Smith list.
@BenPBradshaw
’s first election in
#Exeter
was tough and marked by grim homophobia.
We’ve come a long way as a country - but there’s more to do.
#LGBT
They’ve finally called it 🗳️
After 14 years of chaos and failure, people in
#Exeter
and across the UK deserve better.
We’ve got the opportunity to start to rebuild Britain. To get our country back on track. To change our Country for the better.
Let’s vote Labour on July 4th 🌹
I’m delighted that
@AngelaRayner
is the first Secretary of State for Housing who has lived in social housing.
I grew up in a council house and it provided my family with long-term and affordable stability. Housing is a cornerstone for improving life chances - let’s fix it.
The Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP
@AngelaRayner
has been appointed Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
@luhc
.
She will also be Deputy Prime Minister.
#Reshuffle
We're proud of the lifesaving work our volunteers do in the Channel – we make no apology for it. Those we rescue are vulnerable people in danger & distress. Each of them is someone’s father, mother, son or daughter - every life is precious. This is why we launch:
Spare a thought for Tony Hill who has been working at break neck speed in blazing hot sun to rebuild the Southport mosque wall before the far right can return.
He said: “And if we have to build it again afterwards we will do just that.”
Back out this morning talking to people about their local & national interests and concerns.
I’ll always be accessible as
#Exeter
’s MP - but I’ll be out talking to people in your communities too.
Thanks to our volunteers & cllrs as ever for giving up your Saturday morning!
Thanks to
@wesstreeting
for joining Exeter Labour members to talk about women’s health inequalities. Really important discussion, with experiences and solutions that should be recognised and adopted by the next Labour government - with Wes as Health Secretary!
I’m proud that Labour under
@Keir_Starmer
is committed to the people of Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.
I’ve got to know many of our Ukrainian community in Exeter - they enrich our city no end.
Together we can deliver a secure and independent Ukraine
#SlavaUkra
ïni
I’m delighted to be on the shortlist for the Exeter selection. Thanks to all the members who have voted for me in branch and affiliate meetings, and all the people supporting my campaign. Together we can keep Exeter winning - join our team!
Thank you for all your service Ben - to
#Exeter
, to Labour, and to the Country.
Ben has been a friend and mentor to me for nearly twenty years, and a fantastic advocate for
#Exeter
.
I’ve got big shoes to fill and I’ll work hard to retain the trust of Exeter people🌹
I feel the luckiest person in Britain to have served
#Exeter
for the last 27 years.
@steve_race
is a more than worthy potential successor & I will be supporting him,
@Keir_Starmer
& my
@UKLabour
colleagues through this campaign.
1/ Finished
#fourlives
tonight - truly public service broadcasting so thank you to the BBC and the producers. It brings home the truly astonishing failures of the Met Police, in process and in culture, and begs the question what it will take for the Met to change.
The deadline has passed!
Delighted to be officially nominated as the Labour candidate for
#Exeter
for this general election.
After 14 years of Conservative government, it’s time for change - to get the country back on track.
It’s time for a Labour government 🌹
Great to get out early to support
@DannyBeales
talking to residents in Uxbridge and South Ruislip on a sunny Friday! Danny will be a fantastic full-time and hard-working MP for local people
#votelabour
Fantastic campaign session to mark the 1st day of the general election campaign!
Thanks to everyone who spoke to us - people in
#Exeter
are demanding change, and a better future for their families.
If you want to help us start rebuilding Britain - get in touch and join in! 🌹
It’s clear that people want this
@UKLabour
government to build the housing and the infrastructure we need to improve people’s lives and get growth and prosperity going again.
Very happy to have signed this letter along with other pro-growth Labour MPs.
The Labour Party at its best in Uxbridge & South Ruislip today - huge numbers of activists from across the country having good conversations with residents.
Proud to have campaigned with
@helenadollimore
@FredThomasUK
&
@rishi175
for
@DannyBeales
, who will make a fantastic MP!🌹
It never ends. This half-baked plan has caused three weeks of panic and heartache for families across the country.
This is the problem with chasing headlines to placate your extreme MPs, instead of creating policy for the benefit of the country.
Two years ago today, Labour fell to its worst general election defeat since 1935, despite all the hard work of candidates and activists. Two years of hard work later, we’re beginning to rebuild trust with the electorate. Lots more to do before the next GE.
Expensive, a gimmick, inhumane, not compatible with being a state that takes human rights seriously.
A Labour government has cancelled the nonsense Rwanda scheme 🌹👍🏻
Follow for the very latest political news!
Labour insiders confirmed that the scheme to deport migrants who arrived in the UK illegally to Rwanda was effectively “dead”
Story:
South West region MP totals:
🔴 24 Labour MPs
🟡 22 LibDem MPs
🔵 11 Tory MPs
With this Labour group, we’ll be a powerful voice for the region in this Labour government.
Thank you to everyone who has been out to vote in
#Exeter
today.
We’ve had a fantastic campaign - and spoken to thousands of people across Exeter. Thank you to everyone for taking the time.
A special thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who have powered our campaign! 🌹🗳️
Happy 95th birthday to
@exeterlabour
legend Saxon Spence CBE!
Today we had a fantastic gathering of Labour Party friends for an afternoon tea to celebrate Saxon’s birthday.
She joined the party in 1945 - aged 16 - and has been active ever since, and provides v sound advice!
Proud to have voted tonight for the 2nd reading of the legislation that will nationalise our railways and integrate them into one organisation.
This is what we promised in the general election; it’s what people voted for; and now we’re delivering on it.
#GreatBritishRailways
After a busy 1st week in Parliament as
#Exeter
’s MP, I was very happy to spend time today with
@StPetrocks
&
@Peter_StPets
, who was busy setting up a new home for people who have experienced homelessness.
I’m confident that with a Labour govt, we can tackle homelessness again 💪🏼
Very proud to also spend some time campaigning for my friend
@FredThomasUK
in
#PlymouthMoorView
.
Despite the grim negative campaign being thrown at him, he’s steadfast, campaigning hard, and people on the doorstep know and like him.
Winning PMV will help deliver a Labour govt🌹
On the day that
@Keir_Starmer
sets out detail on delivering more renewable energy, Just Stop Oil flypost the Exeter Labour offices🤦🏻♂️
Labour will get on with the work to deliver NetZero, creating new jobs and green economic growth.
If you want a sustainable future, vote Labour.
Great to visit Ynys Môn with
@Keir_Starmer
&
@vaughangething
this morning to discuss Wales's huge green energy potential.
@UKLabour
will seize the opportunity to become a world leader in floating offshore wind to deliver cheaper bills & protect our national energy security.
Tonight I laid a question at
@hackneycouncil
full council regarding the Met Police’s mishandled investigation into the murders of four young gay men by Stephen Port. Thank you to
@mayorofhackney
for responding movingly and supporting the family’s campaign for justice.
#fourlives
Good night out canvassing in St David’s tonight with
@Daniel_VoteLab
,
@DannyDBarnes
, & Cllr Carol Whitton - lots of people asking for a general election sooner not later!
Very pleased to be elected the new chair of the Great South West APPG.
Our region is a big driver of the economy, and has huge potential for economic growth. But we’re often left behind.
This cross-party group aims to change that; we’ll be banging the drum for our whole region.
We are delighted that the APPG for the Great South West has been reconstituted, with an Inaugural Meeting taking place in Parliament today.
@steve_race
was elected Chair, alongside
@RichardFoordLD
,
@SWDevonRebecca
and
@lordtev
as Vice Chairs.
First vote cast tonight as MP for
#Exeter
on a division in the House of Commons.
Many more to come that will materially benefit people across the country.
#LabourinGovernment
🌹
Thanks to
@Keir_Starmer
for joining us at
@PLHexeter
this morning to talk about Labour’s plans to help people with the cost of living crisis and increasing household energy costs. Labour’s plan will save households over £1000 a year, funded by a tax on excess energy profits
Keir Starmer joined us in Exeter this morning with
@steve_race
, talking to local residents about Labour’s plan to cut energy bills and tackle the cost of living crisis.
This is exactly what we need in Exeter & Devon.
Our bus service is too unreliable, especially in the outer areas of the city - where they’re most needed.
Bringing buses back under public control will deliver health, economic, and social benefits 👍🏻🚏🚌
Fantastic news that
@TracyBrabin
will bring West Yorkshire's buses under public control 🚍👏
This is the difference Labour in power makes.
A Labour Government will build on this work and ensure that every community has the power and support to take back control of their buses.
Delighted to be on the longlist, and congratulations to all the other successful candidates. Thank you to all the Exeter Labour members who have supported me so far, and to
@LabourCID
,
@CommunityUnion
and
@UsdawUnion
for their nominations. Together, we can keep Exeter winning!
After a bit of on and off, we decided to brave the weather forecast before the downpour came for a bit of campaigning in
#StThomas
ward.
Picked up lots of casework which we’ll be working through during the week. Quick dry-off in Shillingfords afterward!
#Exeter
#ExeterMP
This is what it means to get on with the job, in the service of people who want to see change.
Well done
@wesstreeting
, our new Labour Health Secretary.
I have spoken to the BMA junior doctors committee, and can announce that talks to end their industrial action will begin next week.
We promised to get negotiations up and running and that is what we are doing.
My statement-
Is Penny Mordaunt the new PM already? Where is Liz Truss? She should allow herself to be held to account in Parliament - not go into hiding after causing so much damage.
🙌🏻🌹 delighted & honoured to be re-elected with this incredible team - thanks to
@anyasizer
&
@KamAdams1
for being fab ward colleagues, and to our MP
@Meg_HillierMP
for all her incredible support. Hopefully we’ve done residents proud - we’ll continue to work hard all year round!
Thank you to everyone in Hoxton East & Shoreditch ward who voted to re-elect
@KamAdams1
,
@steve_race
, &
@anyasizer
! We’re really honoured to continue representing all residents, and will continue to do very best to make our ward an even better place to live! 🌹
#LabourWin
Thanks to
@ExeterLibrary
for the space to do my surgery, while the office is being renovated.
Lots of casework from this morning to get stuck into on people’s behalf👍🏻
❗️Reminder that we’re at half-staff currently, so patience is appreciated for non-urgent issues.
#ExeterMP
My family’s situation and my life was changed for the better because of Labour in govt.
New council house. First to go to university. Proper support and care for my disabled sister.
I don’t think there’s a single family in need who would say the same after 13yrs of Tory govt.
Today we have a choice.
Five more years of chaos and decline with the Tories.
Or change with Labour - economic stability, and the chance to rebuild our public services here in
#Exeter
.
If you want change you have to vote for it today 🗳️🌹
Delighted not to have voted for myself for the first time since 1992 (it always felt a bit odd) but for the excellent
@steve_race
who I know will be a hard-working MP & a strong advocate for
#Exeter
& the South West in Parliament.
More fun campaigning today! Thanks to everyone who’s done so much to build and support the campaign - few people realise that democracy runs on volunteers’ time and commitment.
Thank you.
#2DaysToGo
#GeneralElection2024
#VoteLabour
Thank you to Exeter
@JewishLabour
members for the nomination. JLM is one of the oldest affiliates of the Labour Party, and plays an important role in campaigning, policy, and training on antisemitism. I’ll do whatever I can to support that work as a Labour candidate, and an MP.
Great sunny autumn morning campaigning in
#Newtown
with councillors and volunteers including first-timers!
Across the city we had around 50 people knocking on doors - no other political party in Exeter listens to residents and acts on their behalf in the same way.
#votelabour
Love this. Like
@wesstreeting
, I grew up in a council house in a family with not much money, but through the local swimming pool, the local youth centre, and the
@DofE
award, I got to experience a lot of stuff that enriched my life. We should aim high for all our children.
"It’s Labour’s ambition that all children have the opportunity to take part in these ten life-enhancing activities by the time they’re ten."
@wesstreeting
launches Labour’s new 'ten by ten' initiative:
Great to join
@FredThomasUK
today - we need Fred as an MP in
#PlymouthMoorView
so residents get a good and committed local MP, and
@UKLabour
can form a government to change the country for the better 🌹🗳️
Thank you to Exeter Labour members for the time you have spent talking to me on the doorstep or on the phone. I'm proud of the campaign we have run, focused on issues that matter to members and the positive vision for Exeter I want to deliver as the next Labour MP.
Lovely evening with the
@exeterlabour
team and regional SW businesses and orgs including EDF, Airbus, and the NFU.
@RachelReevesMP
set out
@UKLabour
’s first mission in government - to secure the highest sustained growth in the G7, generating jobs, and higher living standards 🌹
Thanks to the huge scale of responses to the ticket office closures consultation there’s a glimmer of hope that this ludicrous programme might be halted. Well done everyone!
Public revolt could derail plans to axe railway station ticket offices
My first column for the Echo and
@DevonLiveNews
is now up!
I’ll be one of the regular rotating columnists, but very happy to be first out of the blocks in our first week of a new parliament - and a new
@UKLabour
government.
It’s been a fantastic campaign - and I also want to thank
@BenPBradshaw
who has been one of the finest MPs of the last three decades.
As residents rightly remind me on the doorstep - I’ve got big shoes to fill! We all owe him a debt of gratitude for his exemplary service.
Another great doorknocking session with great
@UKLabour
campaigners in St David’s this afternoon - lots of previous Tory voters who are voting Labour, who are looking for change. Thanks to Labour members and activists we’ve talked to hundreds of people today
#LabourDoorstep
🌹
Good luck to all Labour Party candidates in
#Exeter
and across the country today!
The local, PCC, & mayoral elections are the first step in getting the country back on track after 14years of chaos and decline with the Tories.
The next step - the general election.
#voteLabour
🌹
What a great campaign that
@alistrathern
has run in
#MidBedfordshire
- positive, forward-looking, and with concrete pledges. He’s going to make a great MP for local residents.
A great day campaigning alongside old friends and new - including hopefully the next MP!
Watch this it’s fascinating - I asked James Timpson what he’d do about prisons and sentencing if he was in charge. He believes only a third of prisoners in jail should definitely be there. He’s now in charge of prisons (but not sentencing).
A big win for Sadiq in London, on top of fantastic Labour wins in Greater Manchester, Liverpool, East Midlands, and North Yorks.
Eagerly awaiting a confirmed result in the West Midlands…
Up and down the country, people have voted to start getting the country back on track 🌹🌹
🚨 BREAKING: Sadiq Khan has won the London Mayoral Election
🔴 LAB: 1,088,225 (43.7%)
🔵 CON: 811,518 (32.6%)
🟠 LDEM: 145,184 (5.8%)
🟢 GRN: 145,114 (5.8%)
🟣 RFM: 78,865 (3.2%)
⚪️ INDP: 47,815 (1.9%)
3.2% swing from Conservative to Labour
Thanks to
@WeLoveHandS
Labour members for voting to nominate, shortlist, and reselect
@KamAdams1
,
@anyasizer
and me to seek another term at the elections next May! Great team focused on our residents - really pleased and honoured that our members agree
#labour
Great morning out with Cllr
@DannyDBarnes
&
@BenPBradshaw
talking to residents in Heavitree - lots of issues picked up including education and transport issues, cycling provision, ambulance and hospital waiting times, and deep frustration with this Tory government
#LabourDoorstep
Ending new HIV transmissions by 2030 in the UK is not only necessary but it’s achievable.
We have all the tools to stop new transmissions - we just need to use them more effectively.
Very happy to support
@NAT_AIDS_Trust
&
@THTorguk
to make the National HIV Strategy a success.