Jake Berry

Rossendale MP

EVERY year, the Remembrance events across Rossendale seem to get bigger, which is really encouraging.

We must never forget the debt of gratitude we owe to those who fought for the freedom we enjoy today. It was an honour to lay wreaths at the services in Helmshore and Rawtenstall and I must put on record my thanks to those who laid wreaths on my behalf at other services across the Valley.

As part of my role as Minister for the Northern Powerhouse I was involved in a two day Government Trade visit to Shanghai to help promote trade links between the North and China. The country is quickly becoming one of our fastest growing markets with food and drink exports to China in general growing by over 50 per cent in recent years.

It’s traditional to present your Chinese hosts with gifts from your local area and I couldn’t think of anything better than some of our world famous vintage-inspired cordials from Mr Fitzpatricks Temperance Bar right here in Rawtenstall; hopefully they might develop a taste for sasparilla in Shanghai and create a booming new export market for a great local business.

Closer to home, I took part in UK Parliament Week with pupils from Our Lady and St Anselm Primary School in Whitworth.

Pupils from across Whitworth got the chance to sit in the council chamber, holding their own debates and questioning myself and local councillors, Alan Neal and Karen Ruane. There was a lively debate about a number of local issues and I’d like to say thank you to Whitworth Town Council for arranging the event.

I also visited Bacup Nursery School last Friday where they were holding a number of events to support Children in Need. Pudsey Bears, cupcakes and spotted hankies were everywhere and I was very impressed with my drawing that I was presented with. The nursery provides outstanding early years education for local children and it was good to catch up with the headteacher Mrs Cooper and governors to discuss a number of issues which I will be raising with the Education Secretary on their behalf.

I represent around 85,000 people across East Lancashire and although we might not always agree about everything, it’s really important for me to stay in touch with local residents and be as accessible as possible. That’s why I hold regular ‘Meet Jake’ events across Rossendale and Darwen in pubs, cafes, village halls and supermarkets to give residents the opportunity to let me know what they think about issues that are important to them; as well as delivering my regular Reporting Back newsletters.

If you ever need my help or want to let me know about a local issue please get in touch with me either by phoning 01706 215547 or email me at jake.berry.mp@ parliament.uk