The Courts and Tribunals Bill has many good aspects but includes denying defendants the right to a jury trial.
There's no proof this will reduce the case backlog. There are better ways to do so.
I can't support this as it's drawn. I'll abstain and urge the govt to amend the bill.
This will be life-changing for so many but shamefully the Tories and Reform voted against it.
Along with the removing the two-child benefit cap, only Labour will make sure all children get the best start in life. 2/2.
Last night I voted to expand free school meals to half a million more children.
This will lift 100,000 out of poverty.
In Middlesbrough & Thornaby East this will benefit up to 9,690 children locally. 1/2.
My latest monthly newsletter is now available to read online via my website here - andymcdonaldmp.org/february-202...
Alternatively you can sign up to receive it directly via email here - andymcdonaldmp.org/newsletter-r...
From the right to strike to the right to a fair trial, the ECHR defends working people - so I'll defend the ECHR.
Great to discuss with the Trades Union Congress and @libertyhq.bsky.social in Parliament.
Israel has introduced major legal changes to facilitate further confiscation of Palestinian land.
I have joined MPs urging a total ban on trade with Israeli settlements and for further sanctions against settlers and settler groups.
caabu.org/news/news/11...
119 UK Parliamentarians call for further sanctions on Israel and a total ban on all trade and interaction with illegal Israeli settlements in letter to @yvettecooper-mp.bsky.social following yet further illegal Israeli government measures in the occupied State of Palestine. caabu.org/news/news/11...
The Minister's response.
There are over 200 Israeli settlements, housing 750,000 settlers, in Palestine.
The Israeli Cabinet has approved land registration which will dispossess thousands more Palestinians.
The govt must impose meaningful sanctions that match the scale of Israel's illegal actions.
It is imperative we have a robust system to keep children safe online.
This was raised with me just yesterday by students at Middlesbrough College during a hugely engaging visit.
The govt has now launched a national consultation on the topic - take part gov.uk/government/c...
Through TVCA we have the power to bring our buses under public control with a model for Tees Valley similar to the Bee Network in Greater Manchester.
Tees Flex could never come close to what a fully integrated bus franchising could deliver for the public.
A pleasure to speak to students at Middlesbrough College today as part of Colleges Week 2026 about my work as MP for Middlesbrough & Thornaby East.
Lots of really interesting and engaging questions on local, national and international topics.
This is a war started by the US which breaches international law - now the Iranian response threatens the region.
The lesson of Iraq is regime change - however brutal that regime - has civilian consequences.
We must de-escalate and negotiate - not support another US war.
Gorton & Denton was a disaster.
It's far too easy to say 'govts lose by-elections'. It would be a huge mistake to put it into that framing
The public are saying we're not connecting and they're not happy with the delivery to improve their lives.
I spoke to @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social.
The result in Gorton & Denton shows it is stagnant incomes, rip-off bills, and poor public services that people want to see fundamentally addressed. That means driving up pay, sweeping away privatised utilities and building social housing. Not cutting from the disabled or attacking migrants. The complacent response now would be to say govts lose by-elections. That would be a mistake. The party has to come to terms with the reality that factionalism fails the party and more importantly fails the country and it needs to be abandoned. It is the political approach of the Prime Minister, his former chief of staff, and of Labour Together, which has cost Labour this safe seat and the party must rip up their approach if Labour is to convince the public that the change they demand is going to be delivered.
My thoughts on the Gorton & Denton by-election result.
Today I asked if the Govt will report to MPs the findings of the best value process for TVCA.
There are continuing concerns regarding finance, governance, and audit.
So I asked them to bring forward conclusions and any further steps proposed for MPs to discuss.
Healthcare in Gaza should be protected under international law but has been destroyed by Israel.
With aid prevented and patients trapped, I said UK diplomacy isn’t enough.
And I asked what trade measures, arms controls, sanctions, and concrete consequences UK would deploy.
Energy bills will fall in April because the government has delivered on its promise.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Andy McDonald and MPs join the Fire Brigades Union outside Parliament supporting there 'Cuts Kill' message around fire service funding cuts.
Since 2010, 12,000 firefighter jobs have been cut. Stations closed. Crews stretched.
They deserve proper equipment, safe crew levels and funding restored to pre-2010 levels.
I back @fbunational.bsky.social's call for urgent investment in our fire and rescue services.
Many graduates leave owing £70, £80 or even £100k.
Higher education is a public good, yet we assume every degree means high earnings, when many don't.
We must rethink a system which is now failing.
The PM eventually put Peter Mandelson 'outside Labour's tent.'
But, yesterday, I asked whether what was known by the govt at the time of his US ambassador appointment, will be made public?
People deserve transparency.
It was a pleasure to attend the Building Bridges in Divided Communities event in Middlesbrough this week.
There were many powerful and moving contributions from speakers and attendees, sharing ideas and stories about how we can work together to find common ground.
I have launched a survey to ask how we should spend £40mfrom Labour's Pride in Place programme in Thorntree and Park End and lots of people have now submitted their responses - but we need as many as possible.
Please share your views here: www.andymcdonaldmp.org/pride-in-pla...
Israel’s land registration is annexation, driving settlement expansion and settler violence.
It violates international law, including UN and ICJ rulings.
The UK must act—statements do not impact Israel; immediate and wide-ranging sanctions are necessary.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Labour Unions graphic reads 'The Anti-Worker Era is over' on a red background.
With the Act now passed, Government must move swiftly on other New Deal commitments.
That should include wider sectoral collective bargaining and a single status of worker.
Let's ensure real, tangible change for working people as soon as possible.
And the right to a guaranteed hours contract must be implemented in full — banning exploitative zero-hours contracts.
Everyone should have the right to a contract that reflects the hours they regularly work, with no restrictive tests around “working regularly”.
The Act's right of access to workplaces must be meaningful.
Employers who deliberately block access should face GDPR-style fines based on global turnover.
Access should default to where people actually work — with no carve-out for small employers.
From today, the Employment Rights Act delivers the first of major changes to workers’ rights.
Strengthening protection from dismissal, and extending day one leave rights and simplifying industrial action rules.
With more to come.
Labour Unions graphic says 'New Rights for Working People start today' on red background.
The Employment Rights Act becoming law marks the biggest leap forward for workers’ rights in a generation
And it's the first big step in delivering the New Deal for Working People.
This is about rebalancing power at work and raising standards across the economy.
Today we broke ground on the new leisure centre and swimming pool for Thornaby.
This is an incredibly exciting development and full credit must go to the Thornaby Town Deal Board of which I'm proud to be a member.
It is going to be absolutely brilliant.
