Dan Jarvis MP - New season kicks off at Oakwell
Barnsley FC kicked off the new season, and their return to the Championship, with a strong 1-0 win against Fulham at Oakwell. Despite Fulham being hotly tipped to be in contention for promotion this season, the Reds were able to begin the campaign in style, setting up tomorrow’s local derby at against Sheffield Wednesday. I’m sure there will be a good following of Barnsley fans making the short trip to Hillsborough to cheer on the Reds!
Read more
August 13, 2019
Dan Jarvis MP - Summer Holiday Activities
This week has been the first week of the summer holidays. This is a really valuable time for parents to spend quality time with their children, but also a time of juggling work and childcare, and it feels like there’s a constant need to keep the kids entertained. Fortunately, there are a whole host of events taking place across the Borough for everyone – young and old alike – to enjoy!
Read more
July 26, 2019
Dan Jarvis MP - Fighting Food Waste
I recently visited the Community Shop in Athersley to meet John Marren and his team. Following the success of the original Community Shop in Goldthorpe, the Athersley shop opened its doors just over two years ago and has had an incredible impact in that relatively short time.
Essentially, the aim of the initiative is to help prevent food poverty, whilst reducing food waste.
Read more
July 12, 2019
Dan Jarvis MP - We Need to Protect Children's Services
Recently, I joined fellow MPs and local councillors in signing a joint letter to the Prime Minister calling for the cuts to Children’s Services to be reversed, and for our councils to receive the investment they need and deserve. As we all know, Theresa May’s time in Downing Street is coming to an end. She still has a golden opportunity to transform the lives of some of the poorest children and young people in our communities, by reversing the cuts that her government, and previous Conservative and Coalition governments, have inflicted upon areas like ours. Indeed, Barnsley has borne the brunt of almost a decade of austerity. We are the hardest hit Borough in the country, and, at the same time, we have some of the most vulnerable children to look after. Sadly, I have no confidence whatsoever that this opportunity will be taken. If we are serious about making sure that every child gets the best possible start in life, then we have got to take the necessary practical steps to make this happen.
Read more
July 08, 2019
Dan Jarvis MP - I'm Fighting to Save Free TV Licences
I am always shocked and saddened to read the statistics on loneliness. Given that over half of people aged over 75 live alone, and that there are an estimated 2 million older people experiencing loneliness each year, we need to be taking practical steps to ensure that no-one is left without company. That means ensuring that pensioners can access public transport through the free bus pass. And it means guaranteeing free TV licences for over-75s.
Read more
June 14, 2019
Dan Jarvis MP - It's Good To Talk
I hadn’t planned to write this column about mental health. But the recent tragic suicide of a local resident combined with a huge volume in mental health related casework has meant that I felt I had to air my concerns, with a hope of getting people talking about the issue.
Read more
June 04, 2019
Dan Jarvis MP - You can't deliver justice on the cheap
Being a victim of crime can be extremely distressing. Time and again, I have been contacted by constituents who have been the victims of theft, burglary, criminal damage and arson. People who have been mugged in broad daylight in the town centre. Businesses subjected to the theft of diesel. Car owners who have had their vehicles stolen by thieves who broke into their houses and took their keys. Repeated acts of vandalism and criminal damage against cars.
Read more
March 22, 2019
Statement on the Brexit votes this week
I believe that Brexit should be about redefining the UK’s relationship with the EU, and redefining Westminster’s relationship with the rest of the UK. To do only the former would be to ignore many of the reasons that motivated people to vote Leave, and would also mean that the UK is ill prepared to deal with a future outside of the EU.
It is therefore, vitally important that we secure the best possible Withdrawal Agreement, as this will lay the foundations of our future relationship with the EU. I know from the conversations I have had with my constituents that the public are understandably impatient for progress and certainty. They want us to move on to the next stage of our negotiations, and want the Government to begin tackling the many other challenges that our country faces. However, we cannot make that progress without reaching an agreement in Parliament.
Read more
March 15, 2019
Dan Jarvis MP - Why we need to transform South Yorkshire's buses
Buses are vital lifelines to our local communities here in Barnsley and across South Yorkshire, where around a quarter of households do not have access to a car. For those families, buses are their primary means of getting to where they need and want to go – for work, education and leisure.
Read more
March 08, 2019
Dan Jarvis MP - We need to fix Universal Credit
For those who have been affected by the roll-out of Universal Credit, January brought some welcome news. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Amber Rudd, announced that the roll-out of Universal Credit will be paused and some of its worst elements reviewed. Whilst this is a step in the right direction, it comes too late for areas like Barnsley where the roll-out is almost complete.
Read more
February 26, 2019