The Greatest Gathering's huge event celebrated our railway's remarkable past. 🚂. Watch below to find out what it was all about 👇and why it was also a showcase of the exciting future ahead for our trains in Britain and Derby. 🇬🇧🚄. 🔗

Since March, Pottery Primary School has introduced a new way of learning through outdoor play – which Mr Hooley, Pottery’s Headteacher, explained to me in my recent visit. It was great to learn about how it has improved their children's education.

Next week, I am going to be walking across Mid Derbyshire - experiencing some of the wonderful sites and attractions the constituency has to offer. I hope to meet a lot of residents, organisations and community leaders while I am out to hear about the issues that matter to them.

I had great fun calling two charity games of bingo at Ritz Bingo, Belper, recently. I learned how they have been fundraising for Variety, The Children’s Charity, and have raised over £2 million since 2015. It was great to play a small role in that.

🧵5/5.Some say that now is not the right time, but I believe that the opportunity to take a step like this in coordination with European partners like France is one that should not be missed.

🧵4/5.it is about signalling our serious and ongoing commitment to a two-state solution. The Israeli assault on Gaza and the simultaneous uptick in attacks and annexation in the occupied West Bank present a real threat to the viability of a Palestinian state.

🧵3/5.released as soon as possible. Hamas' continued detention of Isreali hostages is perpetuating this conflict and leading to continued suffering for Gazans. The recognition of a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank is not about punishing Israel or rewarding Hamas. .

🧵2/5.I am horrified by the images coming out of Gaza and want to see full aid access restored immediately and a cessation of hostilities. At the same time, I absolutely condemn the attacks of the 7 October, the terrorist organisation Hamas, and I want the remaining hostages. .

🧵1/5 .I signed this letter alongside cross-party MPs to call on the UK government to recognise a Palestinian state. Supporting a two-state solution has been a longstanding UK priority, including for the previous Conservative government.

Constituents of all ages travelled to Parliament from Derbyshire to meet me, showing an amazing commitment to fighting climate change - the most important issue of our time. I had lots of good conversations about trains, transport, and climate change in our national curriculum.

Many of its members and their families powered this country for decades – putting themselves at risk working on coal faces. We owe them a debt of gratitude, especially since their work has left scars – through historic bodily injuries and continuing respiratory issues.

It was a pleasure to attend a drop-in with British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme trustees at Westminster recently. I am pleased the government is working with BCSSS Trustees to see this issue resolved, and I will support Mid Derbyshire residents in getting a positive outcome.

🧵3/3 .I met with them to hear about their plan to supply more almshouses on a brownfield site right in the heart of Belper. It is a fantastic idea which has been well thought through. I will be supporting efforts to find partners, such as Amber Valley Borough Council and EMCCA.

🧵2/3 .The Matthew Smith Almshouses charity provides secure and affordable housing in Belper to people over the age of 50. Almshouses – the earliest form of social housing - are self-sufficient and low-cost community homes which belong to a charity.

🧵1/3 .We all know how much house prices have skyrocketed. Where the average UK home was around three times the average salary in 1983, it is now eight-and-a-half times. This is pricing out not only young people from homeownership, but also a growing number of older people.

I attended the celebration of 50 Years of the Hindu Temple at Geeta Bhawan Derby last weekend with residents of Mid Derbyshire. This was my first visit to a Hindu Temple, and I enjoyed a really warm welcome and wonderful hospitality. I look forward to going again in the future.

Many residents and businesses will welcome the expansion of the A38 - due to its potential to reduce journey times, improve connectivity, and drive economic growth. Watch me speak about this in Parliament 👇

I look forward to working with Belper Leisure Centre and Trilogy Active to ensure those key services are accessible to Mid Derbyshire residents for the long-term.

It was fantastic to visit Belper Leisure Centre and meet with representatives from Trilogy Active to see the results of the recent extensive refurbishment programme. We discussed the challenges it has faced over recent years, and the now positive outlook for the future.

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