Lauren Edwards MP

Graphic Reads: Victim‑based crime down 19.2% on Rochester high street, that's 303 fewer offences. In Feb 2025 to Jan 2026, compared with the previous year.

New neighbourhood policing figures show a 19.2% drop in victim‑based crime around Rochester High Street - that's 303 fewer offences than last year. A real sign that strengthened local policing and increased frontline investment are making a difference.

🔗Local stats here: buff.ly/jwZXpof

Great to speak with so many residents at my recent Strood coffee morning on access to healthcare. Key concerns raised were the need for more services outside Medway A&E, issues with GPs, and delays accessing scans and specialists.

More info on our discussion here: buff.ly/oIb7ZQM

Carers of 300-plus children to receive new weekly allowance A local authority has been selected to take part in a national pilot for kinship carers to be paid the same as foster carers.

Kinship care is vital to our communities. But the cost of care and balancing work can be a barrier. Medway has been chosen for a three‑and‑a‑half‑year, £126m pilot giving kinship carers weekly financial support. Over 290 local children will benefit.

More info: buff.ly/hMxsNXE

My Weekly Round-up: here are my highlights this week: Held my regular constituency surgery in Rochester to help residents. Met business representatives from town centres to discuss the impact of the Government’s business rate changes and how we can work together. Met the Chief Executive of NHS Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board to discuss improving local NHS services across Rochester and Strood. Spoke with the Chartered Management Institute about protecting funding for higher level and management apprenticeships. Visited King’s School in Rochester to meet the new Principal and see their new STEM facilities. Chaired a meeting of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) on how those in public life can be held to higher standards across all parties and organisations.

From helping residents at my constituency surgery to championing our high streets - here are some highlights from last week:

An estimated 300,000 British nationals are in the region affected by the developing situation in Iraq and the Middle East. If you or someone you know may need help, the service details are listed in below. Support is available 24/7.

Education Visits Commonly searched for

Schools can book a free session at Parliament’s Education Centre here: buff.ly/203YEoH

Really enjoyed speaking with students from Cedar Children’s Academy, in Strood during their visit to Parliament. We talked about my role as an MP and how decisions here affect Rochester and Strood. Thanks to staff and students for their engagement.

Violence against women and girls has no place in our communities. That's why I joined Kent Police & partners for a ‘Walk & Talk’ on Rochester High Street to discuss safety and prevention. I’ll keep working with local groups to see the national strategy deliver locally.

More info: buff.ly/DNpfaZW

Great to meet with the new Chief Executive of Medway Voluntary Action, Jack Packman, last Friday. We discussed his plans for MVA and how government can better engage with and support the voluntary sector. I’m sure Jack will do a fantastic job leading MVA to support people across Rochester & Strood.

The result in Gorton and Denton is very disappointing. We will reflect, act & continue to learn lessons in the coming days & weeks. Today, I want to thank Angeliki Stogia for her energy & positivity over the campaign, the brilliant Labour staff & thousands of volunteers who worked their socks off.

It was great to be in Gorton and Denton earlier this week - it’s polling day today, so vote Labour.

Proud to support the bid for Chatham to become a UK Town of Culture, led by the team at the Historic Dockyard Chatham in my constituency. Town of Culture status would mean investment, jobs and a recognition of Chatham's thriving local community.

Learn more about the bid here: buff.ly/U7MX7zH

Fantastic to open the new T Level Finance Suite at Leigh Academy Strood - a real investment in vocational education and the skills our young people need to succeed. Great to see employers and schools creating opportunities for students.

More here: buff.ly/9QJeSIJ

🪶 Fantastic to see a major wetland restoration project on the Hoo Peninsula completed after years of work and investment. This will protect vital birdlife for years. Great to meet RSPB staff last year and hear about their work across the Peninsula.

More here: buff.ly/HcbvT9e

Local government reorganisation in Kent and Medway This consultation seeks views on the local government reorganisation proposals we have received from councils in Kent and Medway.​

The Government is consulting on Local Government Reorganisation – the biggest change in 50 years. This will shape the new council by 2028, so it’s vital residents and community groups have their say.

Have your say by 26 March:

🐾 Pleased to attend the RSPCA’s recent event in Parliament to discuss the impact of the new Animal Welfare Strategy. The Strategy sets out important commitments to protect animals and pets, and I’m proud to support these changes - from banning trail hunting to ending harmful puppy farms.

Medway has just over 100 foster carers, but the need for stable, caring homes is growing. So, I welcome the Government’s £88m plan to create up to 10,000 foster care places, helping more vulnerable children into safe, supportive homes.

More info on fostering locally here 👉 buff.ly/2ibRwHi

Cabinet agrees way forward for £1.5million Pride in Place funding for Medway | Medway Council Cabinet agrees way forward for £1.5million Pride in Place funding for Medway - Last month, Cabinet agreed to move forward with three schemes to be funded by the government’s Pride in Place Impact…

Great to see more detail from Medway Council on how the £1.5m Pride in Place funding will be used - including £800k for town centres - including Chatham, and grants to help local businesses improve their shopfronts.

More info here: buff.ly/ukZCM6w

Thank you to the German Ambassador for inviting me to discuss skills policy with major UK employers, alongside Charlie Mayfield, author of the Get Britain Working report, Tessa Griffiths from Skills England, and Debbie Abrahams MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee.

You can read more about my recent farm visit, where we spoke about these challenges and mental health, here: buff.ly/eEZ7WXa

And you can watch the full episode of this week’s BBC Politics South East here: buff.ly/Wnh0ujb

Farming is essential for our economy and national food security, but many farmers are facing real challenges, which has an impact on their mental health. I argued against changes to farming inheritance tax, so I’m glad new support was announced before Christmas.

Link to episode in comments below 👇

Great to open Little Thinkers, the new nursery at All Faiths Children’s Academy in Strood. New childcare funding is supporting working parents with free childcare, easing the cost of living and giving children a brilliant start in life. Congratulations to Sonia and the team on the new site.

Improving bus timetables, routes and reliability helps connect our communities and reduces traffic. I’m proud to support new powers for councils to franchise buses, allowing profitable routes to support essential rural services.

Full episode of BBC Politics South East here 👉https://buff.ly/Wnh0ujb

Great to catch up with Filippo Pollara from the Federation of Small Businesses in Westminster. We discussed how we can work together to press the Government for greater support for local small businesses facing business rate changes and other commercial pressures.

Thanks to BBC Politics South East for having me on their sofa at the weekend to chat about bus franchising, farmers’ mental health, and political satire with the fabulous comedian Rosie Holt.

You can watch the full episode here: buff.ly/Wnh0ujb

From meeting with the Federation of Small Businesses to opening a new facility at Leigh Academy Strood, here are some of the highlights from last week:

Great to speak to Citizenship students at Leigh Academy Strood about my work as their MP. They asked thoughtful questions and showed real interest in politics. Thank you to Assistant Principal Gaby West and Principal Jon Richardson for the warm welcome.

I'm disappointed the Government has refused to follow the Ombudsman’s recommendation to compensate WASPI women. I’ve joined other MPs urging Ministers to reconsider after poor communication on pension age changes left many unfairly impacted.

You can read the full letter here 👉 buff.ly/ayMQsqb