I chair the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the BBC – we met to discuss Media Literacy work and BBC Bitesize & Verify.
In an age of misinformation, BBC Verify examines claims to determine the truth. You can suggest topics to investigate here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Apply for a postal vote Use this service to apply to vote by post so you can take part in elections in the UK. You must be registered to vote in the UK before you can apply.

If you can’t get to the polls, make sure you’re still heard. Today at 5pm is the deadline to apply for a postal vote for the local elections: www.gov.uk/apply-postal...

Register to Vote Register to Vote You must register by 11:59pm on 20 April 2026 to vote in the local elections on 7 May 2026. Who can vote? You must be aged 16 or over to register. You can register to vote if you’r…

Today is the last day to register to vote for local elections on 7th May. Make sure you don’t miss out, more info here: jeffsmithmp.com/2026/03/30/r...

Didsbury Lawn Tennis Club is a great local tennis facility. I visited recently to see the new heat pump and other energy-saving measures in the clubhouse, as well as see the display on their history. A local community club with a fascinating past and bright future

Great to meet Mark from Chorlton Repair Café in Parliament recently and hear about the brilliant work they do helping the community repair and reuse items. If you have something that needs fixing, you can find details for their next café here: chorltonrepaircafe.org.uk

Protecting lives, building hope: a plan to halve knife crime This plan sets out the actions this government is taking to meet its ambition to halve knife crime in a decade.

With knife crime already down by 8%, the Labour government is going further to meet our target to halve knife crime: www.gov.uk/government/p...

Register to Vote Register to Vote You must register by 11:59pm on 20 April 2026 to vote in the local elections on 7 May 2026. Who can vote? You must be aged 16 or over to register. You can register to vote if you’r…

Are you registered to vote? Local elections are on 7th May, but you must be registered by 20th April. More info here: jeffsmithmp.com/2026/03/30/r...

Labour is rolling out free breakfast clubs, helping families in Manchester Withington .

To improve children's attendance, attainment, readiness to learn, wellbeing, behaviour.

To give parents more flexibility to work, and more money in their pockets.

Nice to visit Edge Theatre in Chorlton and chat to Janine - a great theatre and arts centre for our local community. They’ve recently opened a new cinema - check out details: www.edgetheatre.co.uk

As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the BBC, I campaign to support the BBC and protect public service broadcasting. Good to attend 38 Degrees event in Parliament for the launch of The People’s Charter: a BBC fit for the future.

Many thanks to @jeffsmithmp.bsky.social for visiting his local @thebhf.bsky.social red bench yesterday in Didsbury and taking the time to meet with his constituent Kyle, whose story the bench recognises.

Labour’s Simpler Recycling reforms will help cut the amount of waste sent to landfill ♻️

All waste collectors must now offer 4 straightforward collections:
• Food and garden waste
• Paper and card glass
• Metal and plastic, including cartons
• Non-recyclable waste

Great to meet my constituent Kyle, who campaigns for British Heart Foundation, and hear his experience. The red bench in the park opposite East Didsbury Tesco recognises his story. You can learn about the great work British Heart Foundation do here: www.bhf.org.uk

Workers, pensioners and children: all better off. Ignore the critics – we really are standing up for working people | Keir Starmer Day one rights to statutory sick pay and paternity leave begin on Monday, and that fits the pattern. From my own life, I know people’s anxieties, and I will respond, says UK prime minister Keir Starme...

New measures in the Employment Rights Act came into effect yesterday. Workers will now benefit from:

•Day 1 rights to parental and unpaid paternity leave
•Strengthened statutory sick pay
•Stronger protections for whistleblowers of sexual harassment

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Labour has just released the biggest single funding allocation to deliver more places for children with SEND on record. Manchester City Council is receiving over £10m to help create new places in inclusion bases in schools, make buildings accessible and create new special school places.

I attended Dementia UK’s report launch on “A better death, fixing palliative and end of life care for dementia”. I spoke with the team about the importance of ensuring those living with dementia receive coordinated and compassionate palliative care.

It was good to meet @epilepsysociety.bsky.social in Parliament and learn about seizure first aid. It’s simple: Calm, Cushion, Call. For more information, visit: epilepsysociety.org.uk

From today the government is increasing National Minimum Wages to:

• £12.71/hr for workers aged 21+
• £10.85/hr for 18–20 year olds
• £8/hr for 16–17 year olds and apprentices

Ensuring that workers get a fair day’s pay.

Major renewal of ageing English roads delivered with £27 billion investment Road Investment Strategy 3 will fund major schemes to upgrade and future-proof England's roads over the next 5 years.

Drivers in the North West will benefit from smoother, safer journeys, as the Government commits over £3.3bn to upgrading roads in the region— including improvements at the M60 J18, M62 and M66 intersection.

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Register to Vote Register to Vote You must register by 11:59pm on 20 April 2026 to vote in the local elections on 7 May 2026. Who can vote? You must be aged 16 or over to register. You can register to vote if you’r…

Are you registered to vote? Local elections are on 7th May, but you must be registered by 20th April. More info here: jeffsmithmp.com/2026/03/30/r...

Congratulations to The Victoria in Withington on being named as Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA’s pub of the year. A brilliant local pub and very well deserved.

Earth Hour is on Saturday 28 March at 8.30pm- an hour where millions of people across the world switch off non-essential lights to highlight the need for action on climate change. It’s a powerful global moment to come together and show support for our planet

The Bee Network has announced improvements to bus services in Manchester, with more buses on the 142 and 143, and 50 additional night buses across Manchester.

Great Get Together - The Jo Cox Foundation The GREAT Get Together 19 – 21 JUNE 2026 The Great Get Together is the UK’s annual celebration of everything that connects  our communities, inspired by Jo Cox’s belief that we have more in common tha...

The Jo Cox Foundation’s Great Get Together returns 19–21 June 2026.
A chance to bring people together and celebrate what we have in common.
Find out more or organise your own event: www.jocoxfoundation.org/our-work/str...

I attended a Parliament drop-in on the risks of AI voice cloning and synthetic media. Interesting and informative to take part in an interactive vocal training experience, showing how quickly and easily voices can be manipulated.

Youth Guarantee Expansion Jeff Smith MP welcomes a major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation. Major employment drive – backed by large and small businesses and cele…

Young people in the North West are more likely to be out of education, employment or training than other regions. The government are investing in youth unemployment with £1bn investment and support to create over 200,000 jobs for young people: jeffsmithmp.com/2026/03/25/y...

I attended Channel 4’s ‘Dirty Business’ event in Parliament to discuss the issues highlighted in their powerful documentary; sewage pollution, and the need for strong reform of the water sector. The documentary is an eye-opening watch, and highly recommended.

Withington Library recently reopened after refurbishment, including new windows, improved meeting room and the installation of an air source heat pump. Investment by Manchester City Council has transformed the library into a better space for the local community.

£1.4bn flood investment to protect homes and businesses Last year, Jeff Smith MP welcomed the Flooding Minister Emma Hardy to Manchester Withington to visit areas impacted by flooding. This week, he has helped secure over £2.4m in new flood investment f…

The Conservatives left our flood defences in a terrible condition, putting lives and livelihoods at risk.

The Labour government has announced £1.4bn investment into flood defences, with Manchester Withington benefitting from over £2.4m: jeffsmithmp.com/2026/03/23/1...