It’s been another busy month across Leeds South West & Morley and Parliament. My team and I continue to support as many individual casework requests from residents as we can.

Please contact us and we will always try to help:

📧mark.sewards.mp@parliament.uk

📥Cases opened for residents: 799
📤Cases closed for residents: 818

It’s time to regulate the funeral industry; victims meet with the Ministry of Justice

You may recall that Cody, Liam and Zoe had to endure the unthinkable when the bodies of their babies were not treated with the respect that they deserved by a rogue funeral director. This is because the funeral industry is not regulated.

I took them all to Parliament to meet Victims Minister, Alex Davies-Jones, who heard their case and their calls to regulate the industry and close this shocking loophole. We secured a commitment to change the law but the next steps will require a significant amount of work, all of which I’m committed to doing.

The next steps are as follows:

The Government’s interim response to Phase 2 of the Fuller Enquiry (which recommended licensing of Funeral Directors) will be published by Christmas and the full response by Summer 2026.
The Law Commission is going to carry out its own work on ‘offences against dead bodies’ which will then make recommendations to Government. There will be a consultation on this, dates to be announced.
A cross department meeting between the Ministry of Justice, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Business and Trade will be convened to address this issue as it cuts across all 4 departments.

The law must change in this area and I won’t stop until it does.

I was honoured to join Cody and Liam at their request as they donated a cuddle cot to one of the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospices in Huddersfield. Their strength is an inspiration to me.

🏧 Morley Banking Hub services set to arrive by March 2026

The permanent banking hub team are in the process of selecting a location but want to make sure the building they select is fully accessible to disabled people.

Thankfully, the temporary banking hub team have agreed to step in and provide a solution if this work continues beyond March next year. We’ve identified several locations for a temporary hub and, if it’s needed, we’ll confirm the chosen one once the contract is signed. If required, this temporary hub will open by March next year and close once the permanent location is open.

Either way, Morley will have a banking hub by March 2026. Thank you so much to everyone who helped secure this for our community.

🎆 Fireworks: time to change the law?

Most people support professional firework displays at key times, including Christmas, Bonfire Night and New Years, as well as other religious holidays. I have long held the view that fireworks are best enjoyed as part of proper displays, and it’s been wonderful to see them at various events around Leeds South West & Morley, including at the Gildersome, Drighlington and Morley Christmas lights events.

However, a growing number of constituents have been contacting me about the number of fireworks being set off outside of these times, not at displays, at all hours of the night and at an increased volume. People with PTSD, veterans, those with autism and families with pets have all contacted me to make this point. I’ve also been told by constituents that this is not a problem and we should just accept that this is part of life in the UK.

What do you think? I think it’s time for a proper debate on the use of fireworks and their decibel levels.

Read my contribution in Hansard here:

Hansard

🚨 Multiple arrests made following shop burglaries

Four people have now been caught and arrested for breaking into businesses in Morley, Drighlignton and Gildersome. They are now in prison or are set to be sent there. Once released, they must be subject to Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO) to ban them from the area for 3 years. This will make them much easier to arrest in future should they choose to violate the terms of the order. I am pushing the relevant authorities to apply for these at every opportunity.

I’ve organised a follow up meeting between the police and business on Thursday 4th December, 17:30 – 18:30 in Morley Labour Rooms with Inspector Mark Lund. He will update us on progress since the last meeting, including progress on the targets we set for ourselves. All businesses welcome, we’re tried to distribute invites to as many businesses as possible.

📣 Speaking up for residents in Parliament

II’ve spoken in 136 debates, statements and urgent questions in Parliament since the general election and the most important ones are where residents have asked me to speak about a specific issue on their behalf.

In November, this included contributions on the debate on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), the debate on Children with Serious Neurological Conditions and the statement on ILR changes which affect many people from the Hong Kong and Indian community in Leeds South West & Morley.

I have made these interventions either at the request of residents, no matter who they voted for or plan to vote for in any subsequent elections. If there is a specific issue that you’d like to discuss, please contact me.

👏 Supporting residents and celebrating our community

I held Saturday surgeries in Wortley, Churwell, Tingley and Morley and continue to rotate my weekly surgeries around 11 locations in Leeds South West & Morley. I’m hoping to expand the number of locations in the new year.

I attended numerous events and businesses across the constituency, including; visiting The Kinetic in Churwell at their invitation to try my hand at boxercise; meeting the leadership at LandSec, owners of the White Rose Shopping Centre to discuss challenges and opportunities, including the West Yorkshire Tram; joining East Ardlsey Sunday School at St Michael’s church to pick up casework; introducing myself to the team at Battle Scars, a charity that helps those who self-harm that I will be supporting; celebrating the opening of a new library at Churwell Primary School; leading an assembly at St Francis Primary School on UK Parliament Week; joining with HSS UK to both celebrate their donation to the RSPCA centre and support their Parliament Week activities; meeting with the Empowered Collective in East Ardsley to discuss future work together; supporting Christmas lights switch on events in Gildersome, Drighlington and Morley; and much more.

💷 Update on Pride in Pace fund for Farnley

Over 350 residents have completed my survey indicating how they would like to spend the £20 million pounds secured for ‘Farnley East’.

In addition to this, over 100 people have registered their interest in serving as a member of the Neighbourhood Board, the body made up of local representatives that will decide how this money is spent.

The top three issues that people identified as being the most important to them were crime and anti-social behaviour, playgrounds and green spaces and local roads and footpaths.

I also asked who you think should be involved in making key decisions. The overwhelming majority said residents and local people, and I agree with you. I secured this investment to improve our area and empower local people to spend it.

If you’re not already on my mailing list to keep up to date with developments on this, please email me and ask to be added.

Leeds South West & Morley Remembers

It was another moving Remembrance Sunday across Leeds South West and Morley. This year was especially poignant as it marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

It was a privilege to attend services on the day in Morley, Churwell, Robin Hood and Tingley to honour all those who sacrificed so much to give us the freedom we have today.

I was able to send representatives to other services across the constituency too, including to Farnley and Drighlington. Please let me know if there are services in your area next year that you’d like me to attend or send representatives to.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

And one more thing…

I’m currently engaged with the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. In November, we travelled to both Sandhurst and Harrogate military colleges to learn about the day-to-day experiences of trainees in the Army. I’m very grateful for their time and their service. Over Christmas, I will travel to Estonia to join our soldiers stationed in the country. I’m looking forward to learning about and supporting their efforts abroad.

If there is anything I can do to help you and your family, please contact me: