Latest news with #ChrisWebb
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
A third of Blackpool's five-year-olds have tooth decay says MP
One in three five-year-olds in Blackpool has "visible signs of tooth decay", while only a third of adults in the seaside town have seen an NHS dentist in the last two years, an MP has South MP, Chris Webb, told the Commons that every week his constituents have come to him to raise problems constituents about accessing a said a four-year-old boy from Blackpool was left with agonising tooth decay for two years because of a shortage of dental care minister Karin Smyth said the government is "determined" to improve access to dentists. Webb told BBC Radio Lancashire the mother of the four-year-old boy felt "helpless" and it was "heart-breaking"."She didn't know where to turn, her son's constantly in pain," he said."To treat that with ibuprofen rather than getting into a dentist to solve the problem is just wrong and it just shows how badly the system's been broken and that has to change.""Too many kids are turning up at A&E with a tooth problem, but at that point it's too late and the only course of action is extraction." 'Empty facilities' An survey in February of 10 dental practices in Blackpool by the local branch of consumer health service champion Healthwatch found none were accepting NHS told MPs in a debate on access to NHS Dentistry the problem "seems to be more prevalent in Blackpool because of the deprivation" and it was "essential" to educate parents to make sure they supervised children brushing their said he has been unable to find an NHS dentist in the town for himself since he became an MP a year ago, even though he has been told they have capacity."I've seen dentists where they've got new, fantastic facilities empty because they're not taking any more NHS patients," he said. "So we've got to look at the contract and make sure that it's financially viable and it's incentivised for them to take on more patients."Responding on behalf of the government, Smyth, said: "There are no perfect pay models and careful consideration is being given to any changes to the complex dental system, so that we deliver genuine improvements for patients and the profession."It is an immense challenge, there are no quick fixes and no easy answers, but people across the country deserve better access and we're determined to make that happen." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Blackpool MP demands answers as NHS dentist shortage continues
MP demands answers as NHS dentist shortage continues Chris Webb said constituents contact him "every single week" to complain about the shortage An MP has warned the government a shortage of NHS dentists is showing no sign of easing and urgently needs addressing. Speaking in the Commons, Blackpool South MP Chris Webb said "nowhere is taking on adult patients or looking after pregnant women" in the town and "this needs to change". He said constituents unable to access a local NHS dentist were contacting him "every single week". It follows a BBC investigation in 2022 which found 100% of practices in Lancashire were not accepting new adult NHS patients with some Blackpool residents saying they were left desperate and even resorting to creating makeshift dentures.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reform clarifies flag policy after red rose row
Reform UK has been forced to clarify that it would continue to fly county standards from council buildings after a row over the flying of Lancashire's red rose flag. Reform chairman Zia Yusuf had earlier announced that "Reform-controlled English councils will move at speed to resolve that the only flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and St George's flag". In response, Labour MP for Blackpool South, Chris Webb, said Reform was off to "a great start" by "banning" the Lancashire rose. As of Friday, Reform controls Lancashire County Council. A Reform spokesman later said: "Reform UK will proudly fly the Union Jack, St George's flag and county flags." "Unlike the Tories and Labour, we are proud of our country and history," they added. Lancashire County Council told the BBC the red rose flag would continue to be flown outside its buildings. Reform took control of 10 local authorities in England at last week's local elections, including Lancashire, Durham and Staffordshire. Other Labour and Conservative MPs had also criticised the idea that county flags would not be allowed to fly. Conservative MP for Hinckley and Bosworth, Dr Luke Evans, asked whether it meant "Leicestershire County Council would not be able to fly the Leicestershire county flag". The Tories lost control of Leicestershire County Council, with Reform now the largest party but falling short of an overall majority. Meanwhile, Labour MP Mike Tapp accused Reform of banning the Ukrainian flag from being flown, and called on the party to reverse the decision. Mr Tapp, who has represented Dover and Deal since last July, said: "As VE Day reminds us, Britain has a proud history of working with allies to defeat dictators and tyrants." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Reform UK take control of Lancashire County Council Huge swings see Reform gains in local elections while Lib Dems take control of three councils Bruised Tories and Labour left working out how to tackle Reform Lancashire County Council
Sky News
19-03-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Labour MP condemns his party's 'devastating' benefit cuts
A Labour MP has broken ranks over the government's £5bn benefit cuts, saying they will have a "devastating" impact on coastal communities like his. Chris Webb, the newly elected MP for Blackpool South, said the measures announced by the work and pensions secretary on Tuesday were "not what any of us stood on in the manifesto". He told Sky News the government had "forgotten" coastal communities like Blackpool, which has the lowest male life expectancy in Britain and where nearly half of children live in poverty. Mr Webb, who is the first of Labour's new 2024 MPs to publicly criticise the reforms, said he was concerned they had been "rushed" to coincide with the timing of next week's spring statement - echoing criticism from Tory shadow chancellor Mel Stride. And he warned Liz Kendall's welfare changes - in particular the tightening of the eligibility criteria for one of the main types of benefit, personal independence payments (PIP) - could push more children below the breadline. "This is a devastating blow for people already using food banks, already waiting for mental health support," he said. "And in places like these coastal towns that have been forgotten these past 14 years, there just isn't the jobs to get these people back into work." 10:45 Claimants in limbo until spring statement Addressing MPs in the Commons yesterday, Ms Kendall said the government would not freeze PIP, as reports had previously suggested, but would tighten the eligibility criteria. It's unclear how many people will be impacted, with the Office for Budget Responsibility's full costings report not due until the spring statement on 26 March. Ministers have said as well as providing much-needed savings, there is a moral case for cuts, as one in eight young people are not in education, training, or employment. But Mr Webb said without the necessary mental health support, it would be difficult for young people to find the employment they are being encouraged to take up - with waiting lists reaching between 18 months and two years. He also argued jobs had been prioritised in the South East and Manchester, with "nothing for coastal communities". 3:06 'This will make people worse off' While Mr Webb said he understood the need to make savings, he believed this could be done via other means. He suggested a wealth tax, and following Germany in approving a change to constitutional borrowing rules to allow much more defence spending. "If you're saying a young person needs to get to work, I don't see a plan where that mental support will increase in time," he said. "These changes aren't going to be enacted until 2028/29, so there may be a plan alongside this to do it - but at the minute, I'm not convinced by that, and this will make people in my constituency worse off.
Sky News
19-03-2025
- Business
- Sky News
New Labour MP breaks ranks over 'devastating' welfare cuts
A Labour MP has broken ranks over the government's £5bn benefit cuts, saying they will have a "devastating" impact on coastal communities like his. Chris Webb, the newly elected MP for Blackpool South, said the measures announced by the work and pensions secretary on Tuesday were "not what any of us stood on in the manifesto". He told Sky News the government had "forgotten" coastal communities like Blackpool, which has the lowest male life expectancy in Britain and where nearly half of children live in poverty. Mr Webb, who is the first of Labour's new 2024 MPs to publicly criticise the reforms, said he was concerned they had been "rushed" to coincide with the timing of next week's spring statement - echoing criticism from Tory shadow chancellor Mel Stride. And he warned Liz Kendall's welfare changes - in particular the tightening of the eligibility criteria for one of the main types of benefit, personal independence payments (PIP) - could push more children below the breadline. "This is a devastating blow for people already using food banks, already waiting for mental health support," he said. "And in places like these coastal towns that have been forgotten these past 14 years, there just isn't the jobs to get these people back into work." 10:45 Claimants in limbo until spring statement Addressing MPs in the Commons yesterday, Ms Kendall said the government would not freeze PIP, as reports had previously suggested, but would tighten the eligibility criteria. It's unclear how many people will be impacted, with the Office for Budget Responsibility's full costings report not due until the spring statement on 26 March. Ministers have said as well as providing much-needed savings, there is a moral case for cuts, as one in eight young people are not in education, training, or employment. But Mr Webb said without the necessary mental health support, it would be difficult for young people to find the employment they are being encouraged to take up - with waiting lists reaching between 18 months and two years. He also argued jobs had been prioritised in the South East and Manchester, with "nothing for coastal communities". 3:06 'This will make people worse off' While Mr Webb said he understood the need to make savings, he believed this could be done via other means. He suggested a wealth tax, and following Germany in approving a change to constitutional borrowing rules to allow much more defence spending. "If you're saying a young person needs to get to work, I don't see a plan where that mental support will increase in time," he said. "These changes aren't going to be enacted until 2028/29, so there may be a plan alongside this to do it - but at the minute, I'm not convinced by that, and this will make people in my constituency worse off.
