ANDREA JENKYNS
Politically Speaking with Andrea Jenkyns

It’s been just over 100 days since I waited nervously in the Leeds Arena to hear the result of the election, so I can relate to the emotions felt by thousands of students across Morley and Outwood over the last couple of weeks!

It’s been great to see so many happy stories across Twitter and the local press. Our local schools have produced an outstanding set of results, and everyone who sat exams this year should be incredibly proud. I was delighted to hear from Outwood Grange Academy that they achieved their best ever set of results and saw plenty of photos of happy students (and teachers!). Bruntcliffe Academy also had a fantastic set of results, with a 20% increase in their GCSE pass rate and many students achieving A* and A grades.

I went up to Churwell to visit the Play@Churwell centre, where they are running a Training Partnership providing apprenticeships and work experience to train more childcare specialists in the area. They do fantastic work and I was really impressed with the care and professionalism of the staff. They are hoping to expand and move to All Saints Church in Churwell, creating a community hub. I’m excited to follow their progress.

I had a really productive visit to the Morley Jobcentre where I met Andy and his staff who work to support jobseekers across Morley. We discussed ways I can support jobseekers across the constituency, and I was really encouraged to see recent figures showing the out-of-work benefit claimant count in the constituency has reduced by 30% since July 2014, meaning more people in work and taking home a regular wage.

Supporting local businesses is something I’m really passionate about, and I had a fantastic evening at the Morley Chamber of Commerce cocktail evening meeting with local businesses. I’ve worked with the Chamber through the Morley and Outwood Business Association which I founded, and am looking at the best ways to continue and grow the Association in future.

In preparation for the end of the summer recess I’ve been having meetings to discuss the various All-Party Parliamentary Groups that I am part of. I met with Ojay from the Association of Town & City Management, who I’ll be working with as part of the APPG for High Streets and Town Centres, to discuss plans for the Group and how we can take it forward from the work they did in the last Parliament. I’m very passionate about getting a good deal for our high streets and I was really encouraged by Ojay’s passion and enthusiasm.

I also met with Glenn Turp, Regional Director for the Royal College of Nursing, and discussed patient safety and the view of nurses as part of my role as Chair of the APPG on Patient Safety. The Patients’ Association, who are supporting the APPG, recently revealed government data showing a worryingly high number of incidents of harm in the last twelve months and an increase in antimicrobial resistance, which was highlighted by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence. This is something the Group will be looking into, and we will be launching an inquiry into infection prevention. 

My next street stall surgery is at Morley ASDA on September 12th between 11am and 12pm. If you have any problems or issues I’d love to see you there to see if I can help. Otherwise you can always call my team on 01133 450 380 or e-mail [email protected].