I know when residents see drama from Westminster plastered over the headlines, many feel bored at best, or worse, distrust. 

Since I was elected, I have always remained grounded in the constituency, through my family, friends, and regular meetings with all of you across Crewe & Nantwich. It’s that rooting in our area which has formed the basis of every vote I’ve made in Parliament, and which also led me to last week’s decision to publicly declare my loss of confidence in the Prime Minister. 

As a backbench MP, I have been close enough to the Government to support its brilliant efforts to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, save our NHS, protect renters, deliver a New Deal for Working People and the rest, while at the same time being distanced enough to hold the Government accountable in its shortcomings. 

I’ve spoken out over policies which I felt did not align with the manifesto we were elected on, including on issues like the Winter Fuel Allowance and changes to the Welfare System. I’ve supported campaigns for the Government to go further in its support for the hospitality sector and Hugh’s Law, demanding paid leave for parents of terminally ill children. 

I am proud of many of the changes that this Government has made However, over time, it has become clear that poor decisions have overshadowed progress. The lack of confidence in the Labour leadership has become a distraction from the job we were elected to do. 

While we didn’t have local elections in Crewe & Nantwich, I am acutely aware that the strength of feeling we saw at the ballot box is shared by many of my constituents. This set of local election results are devastating for the Labour Party.  

The Prime Minister is a good man. A man of integrity. He secured a General Election victory no one believed possible and has led from the front on the world stage in difficult circumstances. 

These characteristics alone are not enough. Whether voters are looking to the right or left, it’s clear that the current Labour leadership has not done enough to sustain the support we had in 2024. 

I believe the residents of Crewe & Nantwich know what is best for them. I know they want a Labour leader that is capable of following through on the promises we made at the last General Election and they no longer think the Prime Minister is capable of doing that.  

That’s why I have called for the Prime Minister to stand down and set out a timetable for an orderly transition of power. I welcome the Party’s decision to allow Andy Burnham to stand as the Labour candidate in the upcoming by-election in Makerfield and he has my full support on his return to Parliament. We require our strongest talent in Westminster to deliver on manifesto commitments and build back that trust with the public. 

To each of the residents who’ve written to me with their concerns, or stopped me in the street, criticising a decision made by the leadership: I hear you. You can expect better from Westminster. I will do my best to make that happen.