A Hopeful Vision for the Future: Labour Conference

Labour Party Conference is always a busy week, but this year's conference felt particularly important.

As well as the opportunity to discuss the future direction of our country, I spent time listening to charities, campaigners, businesses and organisations working on issues that affect people here in Stevenage and our villages.

There was also a clear focus on some of the biggest challenges facing our country, from social care and opportunities for young people to housing, public services and economic growth.

For me, the test of any announcement made in Westminster or at conference is whether it can make a difference to people's lives. I want to make sure Stevenage benefits from the opportunities ahead.

Building a National Care Service

One of the biggest announcements was Andy Burnham's plan to establish a National Care Service in the next Parliament.

The proposed service would provide care, free at the point of use, following the same principles of the post-war Labour Government that founded the NHS. This would put an end to people having to sell their homes or pay care charges out of their basic state pension.

The plans are intended to give people greater security about their care needs later in life, while also recognising the vital role played by care workers.

The Government will begin laying the groundwork in the coming weeks and months, with Louise Casey's review helping to inform the development of the service.

This matters locally too. Through my work as our MP, I regularly hear from constituents who are worried about the cost and availability of care, either for themselves or for relatives.

Good social care is also essential to the NHS. When people cannot access the care they need at home, it can leave them stuck in hospital or place additional pressure on NHS services.

We need a system that gives people dignity, security and peace of mind, while properly valuing the people who provide care.

Opening Up Opportunities for Young People

Another announcement I was pleased to see was Opening Shift, a new work experience programme being developed by the Government and major retailers.

The programme will give 18 to 24-year-olds looking for work the opportunity to undertake two to four weeks of hands-on experience with major retailers, with dedicated workplace support and interview experience. More than 11,000 placements are being developed as part of the initial programme.

The wider retail sector has also set an ambition to create up to 100,000 jobs for young people by the end of this Parliament.

Getting your first job can be difficult when employers are asking for experience that young people have not yet had the chance to gain. Opening Shift is designed to help break down that barrier, while giving participating businesses an opportunity to find and develop new

talent.

Stevenage has a strong local economy, with businesses across retail, engineering, technology, life sciences and other sectors. Making sure young people have a route into work and the chance to develop their skills will be important to our town's future.

I will be interested to see how Opening Shift develops and how young people in Stevenage can benefit.

Aerospace: An Important Opportunity for Stevenage

Space was another important part of my week at conference. I took part in a UKSpace panel discussion asking how the UK can build a resilient and globally competitive space sector. It was an opportunity to discuss the UK's ambitions for space, the importance of sovereign capability and the role we can play in strengthening our domestic aerospace and space industries.

I was particularly pleased to be able to speak about my support for the Government's new UK Space Strategy.

The strategy recognises that space is no longer simply about exploration. Satellites and space technology underpin many of the services we rely on every day, while the sector is increasingly important to our economy, national security and defence.

The strategy sets out an ambition for Britain to be a competitive space power and is backed by more than £7.8 billion of funding through to 2029/30. It identifies four areas for particular focus: satellite communications, space domain awareness, in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing, and access to space.

I believe Stevenage has a particularly important role to play.

Our town has a proud history of pioneering engineering and aerospace, with generations of highly skilled people helping to develop technologies that have shaped Britain's place in space.

That history gives us a strong foundation for the future. We should be ambitious about building on Stevenage's existing strengths, supporting highly skilled jobs, developing the next generation of talent and making sure businesses in our area can benefit from the growth of the space sector.

The new strategy specifically highlights the importance of space clusters driving local economic growth, creating commercial opportunities and connecting businesses to supply chains. That creates an opportunity for Stevenage to build on the expertise and infrastructure we already have.

I will continue making the case for Stevenage as a centre of engineering, aerospace and space innovation, and for the investment and skills we need to make the most of these opportunities.

Hearing from Charities and Campaigners

One of the most valuable parts of conference is the opportunity to speak directly to the organisations working on issues that affect people in our communities.

I visited stalls and spoke with representatives from organisations including Herbie's Law, Guide Dogs, the MND Association, Prostate Cancer UK, Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie, Parkinson's UK and UNICEF.

These conversations cover a huge range of issues, from health and disability to cancer care, support for families and international development.

They are also a reminder that politics is ultimately about people. Behind every policy debate are individuals and families who rely on the services, support and opportunities that decisions in Parliament can shape.

I will continue taking what I hear from these organisations back into my work as our MP.

Holocaust Education Matters

I also attended a Holocaust Educational Trust event featuring a Holocaust survivor.

Hearing directly from someone who experienced the Holocaust is a powerful reminder of why education matters and why we must continue to make sure future generations understand what happened.

It was an important opportunity to reflect on the consequences of hatred and prejudice, and on the responsibility we all have to challenge them.

Celebrating Stevenage's Space Heritage

I was also pleased to take part in the Space4Labour event at conference.

Stevenage has an extraordinary pedigree in engineering and aeronautics, and I was proud to speak about the role our town can play in Britain's future space ambitions.

From the scientists and engineers who have worked on pioneering programmes to the businesses and skilled workers who continue that tradition today, space is part of Stevenage's story.

It should also be part of our future.

Conference gave me the opportunity to make that case alongside people from across the UK's space sector.

Taking the Conference Back to Stevenage

Conference is only useful if the ideas discussed lead to action. I will be taking these issues back to Parliament and continuing to make sure Stevenage's interests are represented.

That means supporting better opportunities for young people, making the case for a stronger and more secure care system, backing our world-leading space and engineering industries, and ensuring that national investment creates opportunities in towns like ours.

There is plenty more work to do, but I came away from conference with a strong sense of what can be achieved when we are ambitious about the future.

Stevenage has always been a town built on ambition and opportunity. We should have the same ambition for the next generation.