As your MP, I can help residents with a range of issues or problems that they may be facing.  

Alongside my brilliant team, we can help in a range of areas including but not limited to:

• Welfare benefits
• Social security
• Immigration
• NHS complaints
• DVLA
• HMRC complaints
• Education
• Employment
• Support for businesses
• Escalating a complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Unfortunately, there are some things I cannot do:

• I cannot interfere with decisions made by the courts.
• I cannot help with private disputes.
• I cannot help with legal matters.
• I cannot obtain preferential treatment for you or get results outside of the law.

Advice surgeries are held regularly across the constituency, but due to security concerns and advice, dates and locations of these sessions are not being advertised publicly.

To request an appointment, please email [email protected] or call 0191 4661509 and briefly outline the issue it is you want to discuss.

Appointments will last no longer than 15 minutes, are only open to residents of Jarrow and Gateshead East and may be with a caseworker. 

Local council Issues:

Local Councillors handle local community issues, while MPs address national and parliamentary matters affecting their constituents.

Councillors should act as the link between the public and the local council, representing all residents in their ward or parish, not just those who voted for them. 

Councillors should be dealing with local issues such as: 

• Planning applications and local development
• Licensing for businesses, pubs, and taxis
• Local education appeals
• School matters
• Community services, parks, and public facilities
• Local roads
• Waste collection
• Housing

They should advocate for residents including by signposting them to the right council departments

You can find your local councillor here: https://www.writetothem.com/

As your MP I cannot make decisions on local council matters, offer legal advice, or intervene in police or court decisions.

Please do get in contact with your local councillor in the first instance. If you do not receive a satisfactory response or they are unable to assist, please don’t hesitate to get back in touch and I will most certainly see how I can help.