Kate Osborne MP: Reflecting on a year of big wins and repairing the Tory incompetence

As the year draws to a close I want to take a moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

It's been such a pleasure to represent you all this year, championing your interests in Parliament and ensuring your issues and voices are heard.

We have had some real huge wins locally with £10million secured for Hebburn, £2million of which will be invested in Hebburn Town FC, £20million for Jarrow, investment in our education, schools, roads and so much more to tackling child poverty, individual wins for local people and a big success ensuring that the BCSSS miners pensioners get the money that is rightfully theirs.

I’m so pleased and proud that both of these injustices have been righted by our Labour Government.

We have worked hard to enhance workers’ rights through the Employment Rights Bill which will benefit so many workers the length and breadth of the country.

I’ve done hundreds of visits to businesses and organisations across the constituency and have been so impressed by the resilience and hard work of them all to support our communities.

At the start of the year I underwent major surgery and, like so many people across our region, I experienced first-hand the care, professionalism and compassion of NHS staff.

I am deeply grateful to them, my team and the many constituents for the messages and support I received during my recovery. That experience only strengthened my determination to continue doing everything I can to represent and deliver for people locally and nationally.

It has been the first full year of a Labour government committed to delivering for working people after years of Tory austerity and incompetence. This year has been about beginning the hard work of rebuilding – rebuilding our country, rebuilding public services and rebuilding an economy that works for working people.

Supporting our NHS remains one of my top priorities. Locally, staff across our hospitals, GP surgeries and community services continue to go above and beyond, often under immense pressure. I firmly believe in fair pay and sustained investment in frontline care. This year has seen 5.2 million extra NHS appointments delivered nationally, 1,000 new GPs recruited and £400 million invested in clinical trials. These steps to stabilise services and begin reducing waiting times are only a start, but they matter to every patient waiting for treatment and every worker holding the system together.

Work and industry are central to our future here in the North East. Our area has a proud industrial heritage and enormous potential and I have continued to work closely with local businesses, trade unions and training providers to champion good, secure jobs and real opportunities for young people. Earlier this week, I was delighted to see Labour’s landmark Employment Rights Bill – such a vital part of that work – pass through both Houses of Parliament, meaning it is inches away from becoming law. This is a massive step forward in delivering Labour’s New Deal for Working People, strengthening protections, ending exploitative practices such as fire and rehire, improving sick pay and giving working people greater security and dignity.

Investment in our area has also been a positive development this year. Through the Jarrow Forward programme, £20million has been committed to regeneration, alongside £10million for Hebburn, including £2million ringfenced for Hebburn Town FC. These investments will help boost local pride, improve facilities and support long-term growth, ensuring our communities are not left behind.

Despite the pressures people face, I continue to see countless examples of kindness, solidarity and local action – from volunteers and food banks to community groups and events such as the Jarrow Rebel Town Festival. These efforts keep our neighbourhoods connected and should never be taken for granted. Compassion from our communities must always be matched by proper funding and long-term solutions from government.

In Parliament, I have continued to speak out on equality and social justice. From LGBTQ+ History Month and Lesbian Visibility Week to international work through the LGBTQ+ Global Summit and the Council of Europe, these issues are not optional extras, they are fundamental. I have also raised concerns around corporate accountability, including the Post Office Horizon scandal, and continued to support justice for mineworkers through fair pension payments. Through my work with APPGs, including women’s football, I have tried to ensure that voices too often overlooked are heard.

I want to pay tribute to all of those working to keep us safe at home and abroad, particularly over the festive people when our emergency service workers are often busier than usual, thank you for all that you do.

As we look ahead to 2026, there is still much to do. We face big challenges ahead, but so is the determination of our community. I remain committed to working alongside residents, colleagues, businesses and organisations to secure the investment, respect and opportunities that the people of the Jarrow and Gateshead East constituency deserve.

May I take this opportunity to wish all my constituents a very Merry Christmas, and a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year.