By Harpreet Uppal MP
In early November, I delivered my maiden speech in Parliament. Whilst it was an absolute privilege, I can’t deny I was nervous! So, I was lucky to have two good friends (Kirith Entwistle MP and Sarah Hall MP) beside me to keep me calm and help me along the way.
My maiden speech celebrated Huddersfield. We have a lot to be proud of and, whilst we may face challenges, it was important that I showcased the people and places of our town.
I was delighted to highlight our great heritage in textiles and rugby league, to celebrate local businesses like Dixon Milk Ices, and all the culture we have to offer including the Lawrence Batley Theatre, the Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield and Deighton carnivals, the mela and the National Health Innovation Campus.
I spoke about the legacy of Harold Wilson, whose statue stands in front of our train station to remind us of the difference a man from Huddersfield made as Prime Minister.
I also paid tribute to my predecessor, Barry Sheerman MP, for his over 45 years of service to our town, his work as the chair of the Education Select Committee, his instrumental campaign to improve seatbelt laws and work on air quality and clean energy.
He also worked with local mum, Stacey Rodgers, to improve gas safety after the sad death of her young son Dominic to carbon monoxide poisoning. You can watch my full maiden speech HERE.
Many of you may have also seen construction ongoing in the Piazza area of town. September officially marked the start of the main construction works on the first phase of the Cultural Heart.
This covers the demolition of some sections of the former Queensgate Market building which will be transformed into a food hall and modern library, leading out onto a public square.
The food hall and library are expected to be up and running by summer 2026. This is an important first step for the regeneration of Huddersfield town centre.
Brand new design plans have also been unveiled for Huddersfield Open Market (the recent Government’s budget announced £16m of funding was secured) and residents can comment on plans until December 23. Please do take part in the consultation HERE.
I was also delighted to welcome the Health Minister Karin Smyth MP to the official opening of the Daphne Steele building on November 11.
The first building opened as part of Huddersfield University’s Health Innovation Campus will see nursing, podiatry and paramedic students trained with public clinics on site.
We also saw construction ongoing for building No2, which will include an NHS community diagnostic centre (providing extra capacity for x-rays and scans).
It was wonderful to be joined by the late Daphne Steele’s son Robert and members of her family.
They are, no doubt, very proud of Daphne’s legacy, who in 1964, became the first black matron in the NHS.
Finally, I want to thank everyone who wrote to me to share their views on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. I voted in favour of the bill at the second reading this past Friday.
This was a decision I made after much careful consideration and reflection on the views shared by constituents.
This is an incredibly complex and emotive issue, with strong feelings on all sides of the debate. However, I believe the current law does not adequately address the challenges faced by individuals and families at the end of life, and at times, can be unsafe, cruel, and unequally applied often leaving people in impossible situations.
My decision was not taken lightly. I want to make clear this bill is limited to terminally ill adults with a less than six months diagnosis.
The bill has strict parameters in place and would give an adult a right to die once the request has been signed off by two doctors and a high court judge.
It is important to me to ensure strong safeguards are in place to protect vulnerable people from coercion and that assisted dying is never seen as an alternative to high-quality palliative care.
Over the past few weeks, I have been working directly with local hospices including Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice to raise the need for sustainable funding in the hospice sector in Parliament and I will continue to do so.
As this bill progresses through Parliament (committee stage, further votes in the House of Commons and House of Lords), I want to reassure that I will continue to scrutinise the bill. You can read my position in full HERE.
I want to thank residents for the measured and respectful engagement we have had on this issue.
As usual, please do not hesitate to get in contact with me on harpreet.uppal.mp@parliament.uk or call 01484 248797 if you need assistance with any matters.
New designs have been revealed for the new-look £16.5 million Huddersfield Open Market