Westminster News

Newcastle’s Labour MP Paul Farrelly today joined Tia Copsey, her father Tim and other parents and children outside Parliament to lobby the government to fund a drug that is proven to help people suffering from the rare genetic disorder, Morquio Syndrome.

There is much to welcome in today's Budget statement, but also much to worry about. Newcastle's MP gives his initial reaction to the measures outlined by the Chancellor, George Osborne, in the House of Commons earlier today.

Writing in today's Guardian newspaper, Newcastle's MP has attacked the government's handling of the BBC's licence fee deal - read the article here.

Newcastle’s Labour MP Paul Farrelly has called for an urgent meeting of all parts of the NHS with local MPs to discuss cuts to local community hospitals, the crisis at A&E and a looming £200m plus deficit in Staffordshire health and social care services.

The Government is refusing to publish in full the disturbing findings of an official report which shows the local NHS heading for a £217m deficit in the next four years, if nothing changes.

Newcastle’s Labour MP Paul Farrelly has slated the scandal-hit Royal Bank of Scotland over the alleged mis-selling of a complicated financial product to local business DK Motorcycles, which cost the firm well over £1/2 million in extra interest and penalty charges.

It’s head above the parapet – hopefully, not on a pike – time. Unfashionable in the current climate it may be, but I want to raise two cheers, at least, for Parliament in the last week.

The capital is getting an unfair slice of funding for the arts, subsidised unacceptably by taxpayers and lottery-players from the rest of the country, the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has concluded in its latest report, published today.

The Labour MP for Newcastle, Paul Farrelly, has called for tougher financial sanctions against Russia following the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 last week.

Government plans in the Queen’s Speech over job exploitation are a ‘missed opportunity to truly tackle low pay and insecurity’ Newcastle’s Labour MP Paul Farrelly told Business Secretary Vince Cable in the House of Commons.