Jade Botterill

Let me begin by wishing you all a Happy New Year!   I was pleased to see the Prime Minister kick off this year with a clear focus:  tackling the cost of living . I know that many households have struggled to make ends meet since the pandemic, and I’m proud to support a Government that is rolling out support where it matters: by bringing down energy bills, freezing rail and bus fares, supporting young families, and increasing both the minimum wage and the state pension.   In Parliament, it’s...

I’ve written before about the need to deliver opportunities for young people in our community. This is an area filled with talented, ambitious young people keen to get on in life who just need a helping hand to kickstart their careers. But in recent years, they just haven’t gotten one. You hear about it when you talk to them, with so many thinking they have to leave home to get skills and find good jobs, and you see it in the statistics. In June 2024, there were nearly a million young people...

Having visited nearly every school in our area over the last year, I know how hard-working and skilled local teachers are. I've also seen the brilliant character, aspiration and ability of our young people. It's one of the many things about our community that brings me energy and joy. However, I also see that teachers are trapped by a curriculum devised for a different age. One that doesn’t prepare children for the jobs of tomorrow. One that doesn’t give them the life skills needed to manage...