Yesterday, the Sentinel uncovered further failures on the part of the Conservative and City Independent run City Council regarding our children’s services.

A record number of our children are currently in the system due to physical, mental and sexual abuse and, in some cases, austerity-powered poverty meaning families just can’t cope.

This is a system that is failing those it is supposed to protect due to political mismanagement and severe under-funding by both local and national Government.

In response to this situation I have written – along with fellow Stoke-on-Trent MP Ruth Smeeth and all 16 Labour Councillors on the City Council – to the new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick MP, asking for central government to step in and give Stoke-on-Trent City Council the money it needs so that we can ensure that our young people are kept safe from harm and danger.

Money should not be an obstacle to protecting our most vulnerable and at risk children.

A link to the article can be found here: https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/…/support-services-arent-ne…