So called ‘legal highs’ are substances designed to produce the same, or similar effects, to drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy. But their chemical make-up is different enough to avoid being covered by the law. Often they are sold as bath salts, research chemicals, plant food or advertised as ‘not for human consumption’ to get round the law.

So called ‘legal highs’ are substances designed to produce the same, or similar effects, to drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy. But their chemical make-up is different enough to avoid being covered by the law. Often they are sold as bath salts, research chemicals, plant food or advertised as ‘not for human consumption’ to get round the law.

What do Spike Milligan, Winston Churchill and Britney Spears have in common?

The answer is that they have all been documented as having mental health problems. It’s not surprising, given that one in four people will experience some kind of mental health problem in a year.

With less than two weeks remaining until the Virgin London Marathon, I’m preparing to to dig deep to ensure that I at least equal my time from last year. Joining me and the thousands of other runners on April 13th is my dad– a seasoned marathon runner to say the least, who at the spritely aged of 69 has clocked over 70,000 miles during his lifetime. I’m really looking forward to taking on this iconic race with him at my side and enjoying the breathtaking atmosphere that the London Marathon always delivers.

With the 30th anniversary of the miners’ strike upon us, our town is seeing many events commemorating that historic struggle. But it is also an opportunity to reflect on what we have learnt from those battles, what it means for our town today and what impact it will have on future generations.
For many people in Barnsley, Margaret Thatcher’s government tried to destroy their livelihood, their community and sometimes even their families. Mining defined our town: communities were built around the pits; jobs were linked to wider coal industry, relationships forged amidst the toil.

I remember very clearly the first time I went to watch Barnsley FC play. It was a cold, wet night one February, against Preston North End – rivals from across the Pennines. What I will remember for the rest of my life was the way the hairs on the back of my neck stood up when the Barnsley fans began chanting, “Yorkshire! Yorkshire! Yorkshire!” in unison at their Lancashire counterparts. To this day, that sense of pride in the county and pride in the town still triggers the same tingling sensation whenever I’m at Oakwell or amongst the Barnsley fans at an away match.

What makes a town successful? Is it the people, its economy or its community? I would say it is a combination of all three. Barnsley already has a strong sense of identity and community, and I can testify to the sheer resilience and friendliness of its people. So what else can we do to improve our town?

I hold many memories from the day I was elected to parliament, but I often reflect on a conversation I had in the midst of polling day. I met a woman who had endured the horrific pain of losing her sister – who had been murdered. I remember listening to her describe the devastating impact it had on her family. That conversation had a profound effect on me.

The pressure of expectation at Christmas can be stifling – from the desire to have that ‘perfect’ day, to the ever increasing demands of children bombarded with relentless advertising.

The spirit, strength and talent of Barnsley are clearly embodied to me in the achievements of the Barnsley Youth Choir.