Safeguarding Statement & Commitment

Marie Tidball MP is fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of children and adults at risk who seek our assistance. We strive to provide a safe and welcoming environment in which everyone can engage with their MP without fear of abuse or harm​​.

Key commitments of this office include:

Prioritising Welfare: The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount in all our considerations​. We will always act in the best interests of the person at risk and take any safeguarding concern seriously, no matter how minor it may initially seem​​.

Empowerment and Consent: We aim to empower those at risk by involving them (and their guardians, where appropriate) in decisions. We presume adults have capacity to make their own decisions and will seek their consent before sharing information, mindful that consent may be overridden only for compelling safety reasons​​. For children, we will seek parental consent for our involvement as described in Section 4.

Equality and Non-Discrimination: We treat all individuals fairly and with respect, without prejudice or discrimination on any grounds (e.g. age, disability, gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation)​​. Every person has an equal right to protection from harm.

Confidentiality and Trust: We handle all safeguarding matters with appropriate confidentiality. We will not promise to keep secrets about abuse – if someone is at risk, we must share that information with the people who can help​. However, we only share details on a strict need-to-know basis within the team or with external agencies (see Section 7 on information sharing). All records of safeguarding concerns are kept detailed, confidential, and securely stored​.

Partnership and Legal Compliance: We commit to working in partnership with safeguarding authorities and following all relevant legal obligations and official guidance. This includes acting in accordance with the Children Act 1989/2004, the Care Act 2014, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, the Data Protection Act 2018, and other applicable laws and guidance​​. We also adhere to the Labour Party’s safeguarding policies and ethical standards, and we cooperate with local Safeguarding Boards and agencies to protect children and adults at risk​. Good safeguarding practice takes precedence over any organisational complexity or political considerations​https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/access/safeguarding-on-the-parliamentary-estate/.

Zero Tolerance: The Office of Marie Tidball MP has zero tolerance for abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Any allegations or signs of such will trigger our procedures immediately. We also have zero tolerance for inaction—no member of staff should ever ignore or downplay a safeguarding concern due to worry about reputational damage or any other reason​. All concerns must be acted upon without delay​.