Delivering for Stockton, Billingham and Norton - June 2025

This month, the Labour government made some excellent announcements in the Spending Review that will directly impact Stockton North, enhancing community infrastructure and combating graffiti and fly-tipping.

The government has announced free school meals for families receiving Universal Credit. This will start in September 2026, aiming to help families and support children’s focus, wellbeing and outcomes.

Along with the other Tees Valley Labour MPs, I attended a meeting in 11 Downing Street with the Chancellor and secured the £1 billion that has been allocated to Tees Valley transport and infrastructure. This will help fund improvements to cycling infrastructure, the long-awaited restoration of the Transporter Bridge, reliable bus services in Port Clarence and rail services in Billingham, Stockton Railway Station enhancements and a safer crossing for the A689 in Wynyard. The government has also announced it will be giving councils and combined authorities the power to franchise buses to benefit our transport and infrastructure with better bus routes, reliable services and affordable bus fares.

It has also been announced that families that are eligible will receive 30 hours a week of childcare for children aged over nine months and under school age from this September. This will save families up to £7,500 per child a year.

£20 million has been allocated to Central Stockton and Portrack as part of the Government’s new Trailblazer Neighbourhoods scheme. This will focus on investment in communities that need it most. This is 10 years of funding for regeneration, safety, services and pride in place, including high street improvements, support for local families, better housing and community facilities.

People have already been sending in their positive ideas on how this money can be used to invest in Central Stockton and Portrack. Please continue to send them in!

After the Labour government stepped in to save British Steel, a £500 million contact has been secured to deliver 337,000 tonnes of rail track in the UK which will safeguard thousands of jobs and create skilled jobs and apprenticeships. This means British Steel will be used to deliver major British projects.

Tees Regatta

This month I went to the 2025 Tees Regatta and chatted with Stockton Rowing Club’s captain, Rebecca. The rowing club is inclusive to giving opportunities to young and older people from different backgrounds and abilities and making the club more accessible to our community. People spent the day rowing and spectating the races, relishing the sunny atmosphere and enjoying the rowing club’s delicious selection of homemade cakes!

Communities that Work - Thirteen and JobsPlus

The Communities that Work initiative aims to improve jobs and earning outcomes for social housing and working.

The JobsPlus program is a pilot scheme in Stockton that is detrimental to partnership with Thirteen Housing Association.

It provides tutorial support with training, skills and opportunities, with a local community hub, outreach and engagement and community champions. I saw first-hand the positive stories this is making for constituents in Stockton North.

Victoria House Care Home

This month I visited Victoria House Care Home in Stockton, where I met with the brilliant staff and residents – including some new Border Terrier fans who were very taken with Jack! I had a great chat with the care home manager, Mandy, about the person-centred care they’re providing, particularly for residents living with dementia. The beautiful garden and dedicated dementia support make Victoria House a really special place. I’ll keep pushing for better dementia care nationally - and I spoke in Parliament this month about the experience of one local family.

Supporting Education and Young People

I recently visited Oak Tree Academy alongside Stephen Morgan MP, Minister for Early Education, to celebrate their excellent attendance rates, which are better than local and national averages, and overall performance. We chatted with their headteacher about this and the work the school does to ensure the inclusion and success of Oak Tree pupils.

Community safety and sustainability

Cleveland Police and Stockton Borough Council’s joint initiative Operation Shield with 24/7 police presence has not gone unnoticed by Stockton High Street goers. I was there to witness the hard work Cleveland Police officers contribute to our town and I’m glad to hear that people are finding their work effective in keeping the high street a safe place to visit.

I recently walked through Stockton Market, which offers everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to key cutting, batteries and gifts and cards. The market also has the Yorkshire egg stall, which is famous among locals for having the best eggs in the North East! Whether you’re there to shop, browse, or just soak up the atmosphere, Stockton Market is well-worth a visit.

The Stockton-on-Tees Environment Fair was a wonderful place to talk with local organisations and businesses about sustainable life and protecting the environment. There were stalls selling clothes and organic foods, giving advice and information, and giving away samples to their customers. The fair was also joined by the Mobile Library Bus which does home deliveries to people who aren’t able to visit their local libraries. I chatted with the Cleveland Beekeepers Association about the fundamental role bees play in our ecosystems, economy and food supply. I also stopped by the Festival of Thrift stall and had a go at badge-making.

Green Investment Opportunities in Teesside and Stockton North

I welcomed the First Secretary of Bahrain, Sheikha Alanood Ebrahim Al Khalifa, to Stockton North. Alongside representatives from Bahrain’s Economic Development Board, we discussed green investment opportunities here in Teesside.

I set out why Teesside, with our strengths in net zero industries and advanced manufacturing – is the ideal partner.

We’ve agreed to take this forward with a delegation visit from Bahrain to Teesside, followed by a UK trip to Bahrain. It’s another sign that Stockton, Billingham and Norton are increasingly on the investment map and I’ll keep doing everything I can to bring good jobs, green investment, and international partnerships to our patch.

Campaign and Union Engagement

I was back out in our community, knocking on doors in Ropner and Billingham North, and speaking to residents about the key concerns in their community. I prioritize speaking with my constituents and ensure their voices are amplified and listened to on both local and national levels.

Westminster update

This month, I spoke on HMS Sutherland and attended debates on UK Nuclear Deterrent, the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill, Space Industry, the Iran-Israel conflict and the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill.

I attended the Mental Health Bill Second Reading and spoke about the Norton Men’s Shed helping members of the community work through their struggles with workshops, the Pubs and Community Funding debate and spoke on the importance of clubs such as Hardwick Social Club in communities. I addressed how the UK-India Free Trade Agreement will benefit Paralloy, a special steels business in Billingham, how the US-UK trade deal will benefit small businesses in Stockton North in the EU-UK Summit. I talked to the Chamber about how the council is investing £18.5 million to enhance Billingham Forum pool and their amateur swimming club and Splash in the Swimming Facilities debate.

I also attended the Dementia Care debate and spoke about a constituent of mine who sadly lost his wife to dementia and currently volunteers for Alzheimer Research UK, completing a walk from Teesside to Newcastle to raise awareness and funding. I have welcomed the decision to restore Winter Fuel Allowance as my constituents are still paying the price of the Conservative government’s triple lock in 2022. In the Regional Growth debate, I emphasized the importance of the investment in transport and infrastructure in Stockton North.

I took the opportunity in the Leasehold Reform debate to discuss the progress on Queensgate’s roads which are now 98% finished and Willow Sage Court, in which I highlighted that people wanting to buy a home in Stockton have limited opportunity to do so without entering one of these flawed leasehold agreements and the lack of consumer choice and market failure. Leasehold reforms must have fair service charges.

I led a debate on Duchenne muscular dystrophy about making Givinostat available across the country for boys and young men to be able to keep walking and use their muscles for longer, which will matter a great deal to them and their families across the country, including the three young boys with the disease whom I met in Parliament, Benjamin, Eli and Jack, and one of my constituents, Tracy and her son, Tom.

If you have any issues or questions you’d like to ask, please feel free to contact me and my team by my email chris.mcdonald.mp@parliament.uk