July 2026 Monthly Newsletter

New Prime Minister, new hope

With Andy Burnham being confirmed as Labour Leader on 17 July, he duly became Prime Minister on 20 July. In recent weeks, I discussed the change of leadership on our regional BBC Politics North and Look North programmes.

The new Prime Minister then assembled his new ministerial team. I was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Care and I look forward to working with Health Secretary Yvette Cooper again.

The Government will focus on delivering the manifesto commitments made in 2024 and the legislation set out the recent King’s Speech, while developing the longer-term Ten Year Plan that Andy Burnham announced upon becoming Prime Minister.

There have already been early big announcements on ending rough sleeping, cutting electricity bills, capping bus fares, cutting Business Rates by 20% for small businesses and a commitment on further devolution of powers from Whitehall.

At the end of July, the new Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of finally making progress on a national care service and has already called a cross-party meeting to discuss the way forward.

As ever, being MP for Hull North and Cottingham remains my most important role - seeking a fair deal on funding for our area and arguing that regenerating the Humber economy is a key precondition for national growth.

The new Prime Minister has brought back a sense of hope. Now we have to do the hard yards of turning hope into reality.

HU6 comes to E20

I was honoured to cut the ribbon to officially open the University of Hull Stratford campus, next to the 2012 London Olympics site.

This landmark expansion will serve to strengthen Hull University’s global reach, bringing high-quality teaching, academic support and career-focused programmes to students. With new programmes in areas such as AI and data science, the first cohort of graduates will drive innovation and economic growth and help Hull University to meet the many challenges that the higher education sector faces.

Post Office services in Bricknell

More than 300 constituents have now signed the petition that Cllr Sharon Hofman and I launched recently calling on Post Office Ltd to secure a new location for post office counter services in Bricknell Ward when the Morrisons store on Fairfax Avenue closes on 9 August.

I have also written to the relevant Government Minister to share residents’ concerns about the planned closure and held a call with Post Office Ltd to stress the importance of maintaining Post Office services for the local community. They are currently inviting individuals to take up the role of postmaster/mistress and have assured me that they will keep my office updated on progress.

In the meantime, the campaign continues and there is still time to add your voice. If you have not already done so, please sign the petition here: Save Our Local Post Office | Diana Johnson MP.

Tackling anti-social behaviour

In the warmer months anti-social behaviour often increases and this Summer is no exception. In July, along with the local police, I met with Reverend Alison Hampton at St Michael’s Church in Orchard Park to discuss anti-social behaviour in the area.

I also joined Cllr Shane McMurray, Hull City Council Anti-Social Behaviour Team and local residents in part of Central Ward to listen to their concerns about anti-social behaviour, including drug-dealing. It is vital that we all work together to keep residents safe and I was heartened that good partnership working is already underway to tackle these hotspots.

Championing Hull enterprise

I visited the Reckitt site in East Hull. This is a major business founded in Hull 186 years ago producing world-class healthcare products, such as Ibuprofen and Lemsip.  Reckitt is one of the city’s key employers and it was great to hear about the work they do to recruit professionals and apprentices from the local area into highly-skilled jobs.

A pet project

As a proud patron of the Hull and East Riding PCA, it was a pleasure to visit the Clough Road Animal Rehabilitation Centre. The team do valuable work, not just with the animals, but also with the wider community through PetWise education sessions, work experience and volunteering opportunities.

At the site, they specialise in rehabilitating cats and dogs who have been subjected to cruelty, abandonment and neglect so that they can recover and be rehomed. This model will be central to their ambitious future plans for a new cattery and rebuilding the centre. Find out more about their Building Hope project and how you can help here: Raise Funds - RSPCA Hull & East Riding Branch CIO.

Green fingers, good causes

Early July also included the second Sunday of Avenues Open Gardens for 2026, showcasing gardening skills of many constituents and raising money for valued local charities. This year marked 50 years since Open Gardens was first held and long may it continue!

Be well-read this Summer

As we are now into the Summer school holidays, it is worth reminding families that across Hull North and Cottingham that they can enjoy a summer full of reading, creativity and discovery for free. Find out more at your local library or here: https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/.

Tackling child poverty

July marked two years since I became a Minister in the Labour Government, first as Policing Minister, then Employment Minister and now as a Health Minister.

While still Employment Minister, I gave evidence to a joint meeting of the House of Commons Work and Pensions and Education Committees discussing the Government's Child Poverty Strategy. You can watch my evidence session here: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/.../d19ff321-7741-4ba9-801d.  I was also a guest at a cross-party meeting in Parliament on ending the need for food banks.

My final visits during July as Employment Minister included Warburtons bakery site in Wakefield and the Barking Learning Centre and Youth Hub to see local employment and health support schemes in East London. I took part in a roundtable discussion on the Church of England youth employment support programme at St Mark's Church in south London.

I also visited Newark as part of the East Midlands Youth Ambition skills and work experience engagement tour, alongside East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, at the Air and Space Institute.

More locally, alongside local MP Alison Hume, I visited Scarborough JobCentre and the iconic Grand Hotel in Scarborough to discuss supporting young people into work.

Delivering the Hillsborough Law

I was pleased to be in the House of Commons to see the Public (Accountability) Bill complete all it stages. It introduces a new duty of candour to end the culture of defensiveness and cover-up in our public life that has been at the centre of so many scandals and maladministration over many decades.

The infected blood scandal and many other state cover-ups showed the need for this Hillsborough Law – as promised in Labour's 2024 Manifesto. Its passage through Parliament was part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s legacy as he left office and was also the first opportunity for Andy Burnham to address Parliament upon his return after the Makerfield by-election.

Cost of living breathing space

Andy Burnham's Government is taking immediate steps to give families breathing space on the cost of living with the Government capping bus fares at £2 from January 2027.

I am also pleased that the Prime Minister has launched an urgent national drive to end rough sleeping at the earliest opportunity with an additional £340m in funding from day one.

Also assisting with the cost of living, the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme to cut VAT to 5% on family days out and children’s meals from 25 June to 1 September.

Then, when schools return in September from the Summer break, the Government is rolling out further free breakfast clubs across our primary schools. The following Hull North and Cottingham schools are included:

• Northcott School

• Sidmouth Primary School

• Collingwood Primary School

• Stepney Primary School

• Appleton Primary School

• Pearson Primary School

• Westfield Primary School

• Hallgate Primary School

• Bacon Garth Primary School

I know they will make a huge difference for many families. As we know in Hull from the free school meals in Hull 20 years ago, children perform better in the classroom when they are eat well and healthily.

Bang on time

Residents across Hull North and Cottingham have told me about the impact that the anti-social use of fireworks has - from keeping children up at night to scaring family pets. Thank you to everyone who’s been in touch to share your views.

The Government has now launched a consultation to hear what action you want to see taken to ensure fireworks are used responsibly and safely. Have your say here: https://www.gov.uk/.../fireworks-and-pyrotechnics-in-the-uk.

Also at Westminster...

I always try to support good causes and campaigns at Westminster, especially where constituents are actively involved. During July I attended a Diabetes UK’s reception – I have mentioned in previous reports the campaign by constituents John and Emma Story on the need for the early diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes - and the Tickled Pink Breast Cancer campaign.

I also met young people from the Youth Aspire Connect charity (see https://youthaspireconnect.org.uk/what-we-do-2/) and showed them around the Palace of Westminster.