This evening at council I asked the Cabinet member for Economy, Jobs & Skills Dan Greenhough about plans to help the new Labour Government achieve their pledge to double the size of the Co-operatives sector. It was reassuring to hear about the ongoing work and future plans.

Proud to present my first report of Cabinet Membet for Economy, Jobs and Skills at Newcastle City Council. Spoke and took questions on work to secure investment, skills & training, supporting cooperatives, high street regeneration, the living wage, welfare rights & R&D funding

They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn We will remember them. #LestWeForget #RemembranceSunday #RemembranceParade

Get involved in Newcastle City Council’s People's Choice Awards 2024 highlighting the fantastic small businesses we have in Newcastle ahead of this year’s Small BusIness Saturday 👇

Drop me a reply with your Bluesky username - I want to follow as many of you as I can over there

I'm on Bluesky. Give me a follow. bsky.app/profile/sbarry…

Really grateful to Cllr Stephen Barry-Stanners for speaking to me about the operation that he hopes can absolutely transform his life. Please have a read of this one and think about becoming a cornea donor. chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-eas…

This afternoon Lemington Councillors Cllr Stephen Barry-Stanners & Barry were joined by Chi Onwurah 💙 on the #LabourDoorstep Lots of great conversations with residents about how Labour is rebuilding Britain after 14 years of Tory chaos.

Lovely to see how Holy Saviour Sugley Christmas Fayre brought so many of the local community together to enjoy Christmas cheer despite the wild weather. Thanks to Revd Neil Heslop and everyone involved for a warm welcome!

Too windy for my Santa hat but still great to be out on in #DentonandWesterhope with the local NCLCentralWest team, talking and listening to residents about the issues they care about Lot of support for Labour and great final #LabourDoorstep of 2024

This evening Santa visited Lemington ahead of his big journey on Christmas Eve. If you haven't been to Lepidina Close yet I'd highly recommend it, as usual they've put on an incredible lights display for charity. Thanks to 'A December Night to Remember' for arranging Santa's tour

This evening I attended the Holy Saviour church carol service followed by a Christmas light show in Bells Close. Huge thank you to Lesley and Beverley Murray who put on an incredible show every year for charity. Their last show will be on Christmas Eve at 6pm.

I would like to wish a Merry Christmas to all who celebrate 🎅🎁🎄✝️

🎆 New Year's Resolution idea: Join the Co-operative Party 💪 2024 was just the start of co-operative change. Build a fairer Britain with us in 2025. party.coop/join/

Hearing 'why does it always rain on me' followed by 'things can only get better' during the London New Years fireworks has already made my 2025 🥰😂

👋 Welcome to 2025, International Year of Co-operatives. Find out how you can get involved here. 🌍 uk.coop/get-involved/i…

So it begins... I'm determined 2025 will be the year I get my health in a decent place #SlimmingWorld

One step closer to Wembley 🥰⚫⚪

Andrew Norfolk, the retired reporter who uncovered the grooming scandal in Rotherham, has spoken to The Times and The Sunday Times to “put the record straight” about Elon Musk’s wild claims about the PM's time as director of public prosecutions. “It was Starmer who changed the rules to make more