When I was born, the room in Barnsley Hospital was filled with flowers from friends and family. No-one knew how long I’d live for or what operations I might need.

I missed three years of school as a child because of critical surgeries I needed to my legs, but thanks to the NHS care I received at Barnsley and Sheffield Hospitals, I survived and gained the ability to walk.

After publicly funded healthcare saved my life, publicly funded education helped me follow my dreams. As a SEND-statemented child, the fantastic support from teachers and teaching support staff at my local state schools increased my confidence, and meant I was able to go onto fulfil my ambitions.

Growing up, my parents taught me that there's no such word as can’t, and the importance of serving others. My state education at Penistone Grammar School, with support from Barnsley Council, enabled me to achieve a place at Oxford, where I studied law, then a masters and doctorate in Criminology. I have used my legal expertise to fight for those disadvantaged by the criminal justice system, especially autistic defendants.

I know the difference that world-class public services make to people’s life chances because I’ve lived it. That experience gave me the fire to do what it takes to get things right, and get things done, no matter how difficult it might be.

As your MP, I am working to give back to the communities that nurtured me growing up, to ensure everyone in our constituency can fulfil their potential.

My values have been central to my award-winning campaigns as a nationally renowned disability rights activist, legal researcher, an experienced Labour Councillor and Cabinet member.

As a cabinet member and a local councillor, I spent a decade fighting Tory cuts as nationally renowned disability rights activist. When the Conservative county council cut every penny of children’s centre funding, I worked with residents to raise £54,000 to save a local children’s centre.

When that same council threatened to axe home to school transport for young people with special educational needs and disabilities, I mounted a campaign with local parents to Save SEND Transport. We were successful and the decision was overturned.

When Covid hit, I co-ordinated our local response, by bringing together council workers, charities and volunteers to set up street champions and local response hubs, that helped hundreds of residents cope with emergency needs like food parcels and prescription deliveries

As Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, I represent the same community I grew up in, the first MP for the area in one hundred years to have done so. I know what matters to my constituents, because growing up and living here, their concerns are the same as mine. This place is special to me – it’s where my roots are, where my family live and where we are bringing up our daughter.

That’s why I am focussing on the things that ensure that people growing up and growing old here can fulfil their potential: good local NHS services, well connected public transport, good, SEND-inclusive education, securing Stocksbridge Speciality Steels, enabling our high streets to thrive, and good quality affordable housing.

As your Member of Parliament, I am working with you to ensure nobody is left behind across our communities.