Mary Kelly Foy MP
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marykfoymp.bsky.social
Mary Kelly Foy MP
@marykfoymp.bsky.social
3K followers 120 following 250 posts
Labour MP City of Durham. Trade Unionist. Socialist. Promoted by Kate Bolger, on behalf of Mary Kelly Foy, both at Labour North, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6PA.
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marykfoymp.bsky.social
Today, thanks to the Employment Rights Act, the majority of the 2016 Trade Union Act is repealed 🙌🏻.

This means unions can focus on what they do best - organising to win better pay and conditions. Now let’s finish the job and deliver the New Deal for Working People in full.
February 18, 2026 at 10:31 AM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
There's never a quiet week in my office so here's a taster of some recent wins we've had on behalf of constituents. Sometimes the small things can make a huge difference to someone, their family or a group of residents. If you ever need support please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
CASEWORK WINS LAST WEEK! Education Nursery place secured following issue with Government Gateway Code ReclaimingCosts Supported constituent in claiming back wrongly incurred costs from the RAC Council Tax Waived Supported critically ill constituent with their claim to have Council Tax charges waived Health Hospital Trust reviewing parking arrangements following widespread complaints from patients Family Housed Expedited move for family with a disabled child following a long-running dispute with Valuation Office Agency Believe Housing Repairs carried out after constituent highlighted issues with vermin Lighting Repair Lighting column repaired for residents following their lengthy complaint with local authority DWP Intervened to get State Pension in place for constituent following delays
February 17, 2026 at 11:51 AM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
Have you had issues at UHND? If so; please get in touch with me. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
UHND Issues Over the last few months I've been receiving an increasing amount of correspondence relating to issues at University Hospital North Durham. From parking, the delayed A&E rebuild, breast surgery services issues, missed appointments, waiting lists and more - I want to reassure everyone that I am in touch with the Chief Executive of County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust and l've made representations to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, too. Watch this space. This will involve a lot of work, and likely support from my neighbouring MPs, but all of the issues must be resolved for hospital users. If you haven't contacted me about a problem yet, please don't hesitate to drop me an email. E mary.foy.mp@parliament.uk
February 16, 2026 at 6:27 PM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
The way in which a piece of our city’s industrial heritage was demolished last summer caused deep hurt & upset. If Durham County Council grant planning permission retrospectively, that could risk completely undermining confidence in the planning system. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2584904...
Sixteen objections lodged over retrospective bid for demolished Durham kiln
The application, submitted on behalf of Kepier Farm, relates to the Kepier Brick Kiln, just outside Durham City, which was demolished in July 2025.
www.thenorthernecho.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 7:36 AM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
I was delighted to attend Kinship charity’s reception this week to celebrate kinship carers and the vital role they play in raising the children of relatives and friends.

I will continue to advocate for kinship families in Parliament and in the City of Durham. #ValueOurLove
Mary at the event holding a value our live graphic
February 15, 2026 at 6:32 PM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
Having met Maya’s wonderful family in Westminster, it was no surprise that their petition hit 100k+.

They’ve turned a tragedy into positive action & it is only right that as MPs, we do everything in our power to make sure Maya’s Law and stronger child protection measures become a reality.

More 👇🏻
Mary Kelly Foy MP said: 'It's no exaggeration to say that this petition has only reached this level thanks to the hard work of Gemma and Rachael," she said. "They have given everything to reach this milestone." But she warned that the real test lies ahead. "It's vital that we keep this discussion going in Parliament and ensure that Maya's Law remains on the agenda," she added, pledging her continued support to strengthen child protection laws.
February 15, 2026 at 10:40 AM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
As ❤️ Unions Week draws to a close I met with Durham UCU Vice President, Peter, to hear about the issues members are facing including increasing workload. I urge the employer to engage with UCU in good faith & work towards a resolution that avoids the need for further industrial action. @ucu.org.uk
Mary and Peter in her office
February 15, 2026 at 8:48 AM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
🚧 DURHAM ROADWORKS ⛔️

I’ve made a number of representations to Durham County Council regarding the detrimental impact that the numerous temporary lights around the constituency are having on journey times and footfall for businesses.
Dear Mark RE: Roadworks in Durham I am getting in touch following a huge amount of correspondence I have received from residents about the amount of roadworks that are currently underway in and around Durham City, and the huge impact this is having on local residents, particularly those travelling towards the city from the south and west of the county. As you will know, there is currently work ongoing outside the Meadowfield Leisure Centre along the A690. This involves the installation of temporary traffic lights. Alongside this there is work underway at Lowes Barn Bank, to renew the footpaths. These works are set to run for some time, with Lowes Barn Bank expected to be limited to one-way traffic for approximately three months, and the A690 through Meadowfield disrupted until September 2026. This is having a huge impact on not only residents of Langley Moor, Brandon, Browney and Meadowfield, but also those further south and west of the city. As you know, the A690 western section is one of the major arteries into the city, particularly for the Wear Valley. Indeed, it is the importance of this road that has led to the current allocation from the Government's Safer Roads Fund to upgrade this stretch of road through Meadowfield. Indeed, the Department for Transport's own figures suggest that the traffic count point based on Neville's Cross Bank had an estimated daily traffic flow of 17, 347 vehicles in 2024. While this will also include traffic from along the B6302, it does give some indication of the volume of traffic moving along these stretches of road. While I would not dispute the need to ensure that our roads are safe and well managed, the impact that both sets of roadworks being carried out at the same time are having on residents is immense. I have had reports of journeys from Brandon to Durham taking nearly an hour, with traffic backed up for a significant distance. Not only this, but I am now receiving increasing correspondence from businesses in Langley Moor and beyond that this traffic is having a huge impact on them, with standing traffic meaning those who may wish to shop in the area are now simply going elsewhere. I have also started receiving some correspondence from residents in Langley Park that the temporary lights outside the new Sniperley development along the A691, with cars often backed up towards Lanchester. This road, as it passes by Langley Park at the Kaysburn Roundabout, is also the site of a significant number of collisions. Once again, I fully accept that these roadworks are required, and welcome steps to improve the safety of road users and pedestrians, as well as improving traffic flow. However, this combination of roadworks and traffic management measures does seem to have be having a particularly significant impact on traffic flows at the moment. Equally, I also understand that many of these measures are temporary, however the timescales that some of these measures will be place are not short term. For instance, the partial closure of Lowes Barn Bank is set to continue until approximately June 2026. I would therefore request that you look into this matter, and perhaps review the measures that have been implemented to manage the network at the moment. Should there be any additional measures that can be introduced to try and mitigate these delays further, I would be very grateful if they could be introduced as soon as possible. Not only are these huge delays having an impact on businesses and residents near the city, they are also putting additional strain elsewhere on the road network, as road users seek different routes to avoid these huge delays. Anything that can be done to help reduce delays, or indeed to speed up the works themselves, would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
February 13, 2026 at 3:06 PM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
Grateful to @rspcaoffficial.bsky.social for holding yesterday’s Parli event on the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy.

There were really encouraging discussions on how we can continue to protect & improve animal welfare standards - something I know many of my constituents care deeply about. 🫶🏼🐾
Mary at the RSPCA event holding a graphic which states I’m speaking up for animal welfare.
February 12, 2026 at 2:26 PM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
Heart Unions Week is a chance to take stock of the tremendous contributions TUs make to improving the working lives of millions of people across the nation & beyond.
Mary in front of the Labours New Deal for Working People banner
February 12, 2026 at 10:30 AM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
During the debate on policing budgets today, I sat and listened to a number of contributions from the benches opposite and had to edit my opening remarks to reflect my thoughts!
February 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
Fab announcement from Govt today & I’m sure DCC is too. The cash has already allowed the DCC Admin to slightly reduce the planned Council Tax increase which is imminent. I'm hopeful that further funding from the Labour Govt promised in the coming years will allow us to see more positive changes.
Fantastic news today that this Labour Government is providing Durham County Council with a much needed additional £3.7million cash injection for the next financial year (£10million over the next 3 years). After years of being overlooked by Tory and coalition governments, Labour is demonstrating that this is a government that will finally provide for people across County Durham - but the work doesn’t stop there, I’ll continue to push for more funding whenever the opportunity arises. We now look to Durham County Council to ensure this money is put to best use.
February 11, 2026 at 5:31 PM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
My team have been out in the wild old weather dropping letters off to a number of residents in Willington. ☔️

If you live on Kensington Terrace, Coronation Terrace or Garden Houses you’ll have an update from me regarding the site of the explosion which happened back in June 2024.
A photo of the letters Garden Houses street sign Coronation terrace street sign Kensington terrace street sign
February 11, 2026 at 1:21 PM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
After contact from many constituents suffering regular power outages, I asked the Govt today what they're doing to improve the resilience of the electricity distribution network in Durham.

I'll be following it up in writing as I wasn't happy with the answer. I'll report back when I know more.
February 10, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Mary Kelly Foy MP
freshsmokefree.bsky.social
Smoking is still the biggest cause of cancer – nearly 1 in 3 cancer deaths in the NE.
People in the NE support plans for a #SmokeFreeFuture, free from tobacco’s harm.
It’s needed, wanted and workable.
ENDING OUR BIGGEST CAUSE OF CANCER PUBLIC SUPPORT 23
Fresh went out onto the streets and beaches of the North East to ask people about proposals to raise the age of sale for smoking and create a "smokefree generation."
youtu.be
February 8, 2026 at 9:24 AM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
Last night Redhills hosted fantastic musicians from Liverpool to Co Durham celebrating community & working class heritage! Check out music from Paul Nowak, Stephen Smith & The Welfare Collective, they’re brill! Take a peek at the Redhills future events calendar. 👇🏻

redhillsdurham.org/events/
Performers at the event Performers on stage at the event Mary with performers and the DMA
February 7, 2026 at 6:46 PM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
Today is Time To Talk Day which offers us all a reminder that every conversation about mental health matters.

Opening up about our mental health can be the first step towards getting help. If you or someone you care about needs support, visit mind.org.uk/TimeToTalkDay
A graphic from Mind showing a mobile device and on the screen it states “we can talk about our favourite podcast, but can we talk about living with voices that other people can’t hear?” Brave the big talk.
February 5, 2026 at 12:25 PM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
Great to meet reps from Body & Soul, a suicide prevention charity specialising in trauma-informed, long-term interventions supporting vulnerable young people. I’ll look forward to learning more about the methods they use so individuals feel a restored sense of hope that their future is worth living.
Mary at the drop in event
February 5, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Reposted by Mary Kelly Foy MP
commonsproccom.parliament.uk
NEW: We recommend that call lists are not adopted by the House of Commons, as they are not an appropriate tool to improve certainty of timings over the parliamentary day.

📝 Read our report: publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...

Our chair @catsmithmp.bsky.social comments on our findings ⬇️
Green graphic with a photo of Cat Smith MP on the right, and the crowned portcullis logo on the bottom right. Graphic contains white text that reads: Procedure Committee "The flexibility of House of Commons business reassures constituents that they can rely on their MP to perform Parliament's core scrutiny function by holding the Government to account in a timely and effective way. However, this does undoubtedly make it challenging to predict the start time and duration of individual business items. Call lists in isolation will not have the desired impact that has been envisaged. The Committee believes they could have a knock-on effect on dynamic debate on emerging topics of national importance, and on the powers of the Chair in managing the flow of debates." Cat Smith MP, Chair
February 3, 2026 at 1:25 PM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
Mayor’s Opportunity Fund Round 3

A great opportunity for groups in Co Durham to support older people by reducing isolation & disadvantage. I’ve attended classes for older residents & they’re a fab way to keep people active while promoting health & well-being.

pointnorth.org.uk/grants/mayor...
Mayor’s Opportunity Fund Round 3 | Point North
Mayor’s Opportunity Fund Round 3 enriches lives of people aged 65 and over.
pointnorth.org.uk
February 3, 2026 at 8:22 AM
Reposted by Mary Kelly Foy MP
politics.mirror.co.uk
Free breakfast clubs will roll out to a further 500 primary schools from April - saving parents up to £450 a year.
500 schools in England to get free breakfast clubs announced - see full list
www.mirror.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 7:31 AM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
I’ve seen some incredibly decent people suffer through the Labour Party's disciplinary processes over the last few years - the fact that Mandelson has simply been allowed to resign, deeply concerns me.

More 👇🏻
Out of respect for those who suffered at the hands of Epstein and his associates, Mandelson should now relinquish his place in the Lords. However, let's not miss another very important point here - there are prominent and powerful individuals named in the Epstein files, some of whom class themselves as defenders of our women and girls. If you are silent about their potential involvement, ask yourself why.
February 2, 2026 at 12:47 PM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
“If we’re truly going to break down the barriers to opportunity, every family deserves to be supported. And every child, regardless of their needs, deserves to be in a setting that can meet them.”

Me, in The Northern Echo, on SEND.

Link👇🏻(screenshots with alt text too)
share.google/xHpsPFBXSANb...
AS the MP for the City of Durham, there are few subjects that fill my inbox quite as consistently as the struggle to access Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support. Week after week, I hear from exhausted parents, frustrated teachers, and young people who feel the system has let them down. And I'm sure this would be echoed by colleagues from across the country. The reality for many families is a relentless battle for the basics. Whether it's waiting years for an Education, Health and Care Plan, fighting for a place in a specialist school, or struggling to get a simple diagnosis, the current system feels to many like it is bureaucracy rather than care. The Government knows the system isn't working, and that's why it recently held a 'national conversation' to seek the views of those who encounter the system every day, or work within it. To ensure that the voices of Durham are included in this conversation, I recently held a SEND roundtable at the amazing Trinity School and Sport College, bringing together parents and carers, teachers, professionals and young people to share their views. The testimony I heard was both heartbreaking and illuminating. The common thread was clear: the system is not just "under pressure" - it is at crisis point. Participants at the roundtable highlighted several critical issues that must be addressed if we are to achieve meaningful reform. One of the most pressing concerns is the lack of space. Our specialist schools are full, and our mainstream schools are being asked to do more with less. We discussed the worrying push to move children with complex additional needs into large mainstream environments that are often ill-equipped to meet them. When a child who needs a quiet, structured environment is placed in a crowded, noisy corridor, we aren't "including" them - we are setting them up to fail. Furthermore, the inequality of access is staggering. Support should be based on a child's needs, not on a parent's ability to navigate a complex web of different services, or pay for private assessments. At the roundtable, we heard how the delay in services leads to a "cliff edge" where children can fall out of education entirely or are only offered help when they themselves reach crisis point. The impact this can have on their mental health and future prospects is profound. So, we can't settle for tweaks around the edges. Significant reform is needed to ensure that the "inclusive" education we talk about is backed by adequate funding, specialist staff, and proper infrastructure. The government's national conversation is a vital first step, but it must lead to a system where early intervention is the norm, not the exception; mainstream schools are properly resourced to be truly inclusive and specialist provision is expanded so no child is left without a suitable placement, near to where they live. If we're truly going to break down the barriers to opportunity, every family deserves to be supported. And every child - regardless of their needs - deserves to be in a setting that can meet them. I will continue to take the stories and the solutions from our Durham roundtable to the Department for Education to help build a system that puts children first.
February 1, 2026 at 10:38 AM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
My initial thoughts on the WASPI announcement. 🐝💜
I am devastated for the WASPI women today. They felt hope, as did I, when the Government revisited the previous decision as new evidence came to light. Now, the WASPIs are faced with further pain as they are yet again denied compensation. For the Government to still not accept the fundamental point that the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman found that maladministration and injustice had occurred, and then recommended compensation, is just astonishing. It also completely undermines the authority of the Ombudsman. I know many of the WASPIs and their families, personally. I also know they will need time to reflect on what has happened today before they decide on their next steps. My message to our WASPI women is that I continue to stand alongside them - and when they are ready to reach out to me, I'll be there.
January 29, 2026 at 3:47 PM
marykfoymp.bsky.social
When I visited Elemore Hall School and promised the team I would try my best to support them with their asks for additional and expanded provision, so they could offer more of Co Durham's most vulnerable young people the opportunity to attend appropriate education settings, closer to home.

More 👇🏻
January 28, 2026 at 1:00 PM