Westminster_Hall_29_04_25_16_30_00 (1)

National World PLC

yesterday

Parliamentary debate to mark Staffordshire Day

Transcript

00:00:00Order

00:00:14Lee Ingham to move the motion

00:00:16I beg to move that this house is considered

00:00:21the contributions of Staffordshire

00:00:23Thank you Miss Furness

00:00:25It's an honour to serve under your chairship

00:00:27and I thank everyone here for attending and showing their interest in this debate

00:00:31Staffordshire is a county where culture is carved in clay

00:00:35sung on local stages and carried proudly in the stories of its people

00:00:40Its legacy is rich and alive

00:00:43and today I rise to champion our region and its contributions

00:00:47It is our future that links us to our past

00:00:50but we are not bound by it

00:00:52It's a future that speaks to the potential from every single one of Staffordshire's communities

00:00:58From Stafford, my proud county town

00:01:01to the vibrant city of Stoke-on-Trent

00:01:03or to the quieter, more rural parts of the county

00:01:06like Eccleshore, Derrington and Church Eton

00:01:09Much like our county symbol, the 15th century Stafford Knot

00:01:14we are all interlinked

00:01:16I ask for this debate today to celebrate Staffordshire's legacy

00:01:20to mark Staffordshire Day on Thursday the 1st of May

00:01:23which is another really important day to vote Labour

00:01:27and to champion our community's future

00:01:31We have an opportunity to discuss tapping into our heritage

00:01:36building on our creativity

00:01:37and ensuring that our proud traditions and culture

00:01:41continue to be a force for positive change in Staffordshire and beyond

00:01:45Staffordshire is known for many things

00:01:48Perhaps best for its ceramics

00:01:51which I will leave to my honourable friends from Stoke-on-Trent to discuss in detail

00:01:55and for its brewing

00:01:57which I am confident the honourable member from Burton and New Soxeter

00:02:00will discuss at great length

00:02:02But these are just the most famous examples of Staffordshire's skilled craftspeople

00:02:07and their impact on our country's industrial and creative landscape

00:02:12As a pioneering industrial county

00:02:15many of our more modern organisations

00:02:17like the adhesives we make at Bostick

00:02:20the engines at Perkins

00:02:22or the transformers at GE Vanova

00:02:24grow from roots in more traditional work

00:02:27with metal, clay, leather or textiles

00:02:31Much of Staffordshire's history encapsulated in archives

00:02:36can be found at the new Staffordshire History Centre in my constituency

00:02:40At this amazing new facility

00:02:43over a thousand years of Staffordshire's history

00:02:45has been brought to life in some fascinating displays

00:02:48The archives include rare items such as Anglo-Saxon charters

00:02:53confirming the foundation of Burton Abbey

00:02:56and a letter written on the eve of the American Revolution

00:02:59A key part of the collection are the rare books and manuscripts collected by William Salt

00:03:05So for anyone looking for more information on Staffordshire's past after this debate

00:03:11the History Centre in Stafford is a very good place to start

00:03:14And as a proud county town

00:03:17Stafford has a key story to tell in Staffordshire's cultural history

00:03:22and it echoes through to today

00:03:24In Stafford Town Centre you can stop for coffee and cake

00:03:28at the 16th century soup kitchen

00:03:30enter the historic churches of St Mary's and St Chad's

00:03:35and take in the interior and exterior of our ancient high house

00:03:40which is also haunted by a ghost called George

00:03:43and also known for being the largest surviving timber frame townhouse in England

00:03:47We also have Stafford Castle

00:03:50which has dominated our skyline in Stafford for over 900 years

00:03:54And then, as the APBG for Theatre's Chair

00:03:58I'd like to talk a little bit about theatres

00:04:00We have our Gatehouse Theatre

00:04:02famous for its Shakespeare Festival

00:04:05and hilarious pantomimes every Christmas

00:04:08they bring audiences from across the county to Stafford

00:04:11and it also provides a space for actors, artists and writers

00:04:16to hone their craft

00:04:18with its hugely popular youth theatre

00:04:20who I was lucky enough to meet last Friday

00:04:23just before their opening night of Carrie the Musical

00:04:27And across the county we have other wonderful theatres

00:04:31such as the New Vic in Newcastle

00:04:34It stands out as a theatre in the round

00:04:38and creates an innovative, immersive style

00:04:41which makes the audiences feel as though they're part of the performance

00:04:44There's also the Regent Theatre

00:04:47and the Garrick Theatre in Litchfield

00:04:48which host productions from around flagship companies

00:04:52around the country

00:04:53And of course, theatre isn't always confined to the traditional stages

00:04:58There's the Claybody Theatre Company

00:05:01based at the former Spode Pottery Works in Stoke-on-Trent

00:05:04Stoke-on-Central

00:05:07It's a brilliant example of how our county's cultural history

00:05:11can inspire its present

00:05:13Their work is fuelled by the stories of the area

00:05:17and they regularly integrate the members of their community company

00:05:21into their productions alongside professional actors

00:05:24So as well as performing in their current historic home

00:05:28the company also used found spaces

00:05:31such as Fenton Town Hall

00:05:32which hosted their production of The Card

00:05:35based on the novel by one of Stoke's most famous sons

00:05:38Arnold Bennett

00:05:39And this connection with our past

00:05:42doesn't just extend to the theatre

00:05:44Many of our communities come together to celebrate our history

00:05:48With the No Soul Canal Boat Festival

00:05:52being a really good example of that

00:05:54So it's centred around the historic canal boats

00:05:57This event tells the stories of the villagers' past

00:06:00whilst bringing together people

00:06:02for live music, entertainment and more

00:06:05But Chair, I do want to also talk about the future

00:06:09While our past and our heritage is a source of pride

00:06:12Staffordshire's culture is far from static

00:06:15It's living, it's breathing and it's evolving every single day

00:06:19Staffordshire remains a county of skilled tradespeople

00:06:23and of artists

00:06:24and it's vital that we nurture and develop that talent

00:06:27We must ensure that arts and culture

00:06:30is part of our everyday lives

00:06:33because that's where we find connection, community and identity

00:06:37Last weekend I spoke with Johnny Todd

00:06:41whose business, Wooding Yard Studios

00:06:43stands as a proud reminder of Stafford's history in the leather industry

00:06:48We discussed how artists today face many challenges

00:06:52and the opportunity that this Labour government has

00:06:55to support our creative industries

00:06:57as a way of building community

00:06:59and supporting our local economies

00:07:01Thank you for putting forward such a shine on Staffordshire

00:07:08and for what she's doing

00:07:10She's right about the creative industries

00:07:11and it's really important that those skills

00:07:14that our forefathers and our grandfathers and our fathers have

00:07:17are passed on

00:07:18because I feel, Madam Chair, that those things are being lost

00:07:21Does she feel the same?

00:07:24And does she feel that government perhaps should step in

00:07:26and ensure that the skills aren't lost

00:07:28and that there's a training system in place

00:07:29to ensure that that doesn't happen?

00:07:32Thank you very much for making that point

00:07:34The Honourable Gentleman makes a really good point

00:07:36in that it's really important to continue

00:07:38that skilled heritage through to new generations

00:07:41and that's exactly what Johnny was talking to me about this weekend

00:07:44was making sure that artists have those spaces

00:07:47to develop those skills

00:07:48because without them, like you said, they would be lost

00:07:51so we must continue to support the creation of new spaces

00:07:55new opportunities and new partnerships

00:07:58that can nurture the next generation of artists

00:08:01performers and thinkers

00:08:03Finally, I do want to mention

00:08:06Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group

00:08:08who are based in my constituency

00:08:10as well as my honourable friends

00:08:11I've got the HQ

00:08:12It's an outstanding rating college

00:08:15and it's crucial to our local talent pipeline

00:08:18Members in the House will know how often I raise

00:08:21their excellent work for all of our constituents

00:08:23Very recently, I celebrated the news

00:08:26that Stafford College has been allocated

00:08:28£2.6 million of funding by the government

00:08:30and they'll be using that money

00:08:32to restore their tenterbanks building

00:08:34in Stafford Town Centre

00:08:35As I mentioned at the beginning

00:08:37I believe it's not only our history

00:08:39but our future that we must be looking to

00:08:41and it's by investing in our young people

00:08:45by restoring the crumbling buildings

00:08:47that they'll be doing their learning in

00:08:49that we will build their futures

00:08:50We do have an opportunity to build

00:08:53on the strengths of Staffordshire's past

00:08:55and invest in our cultural infrastructure

00:08:57for generations to come

00:08:58I urge the Minister to stand behind our country

00:09:01believe in our culture

00:09:03and invest in it

00:09:04I remind members that they should bob

00:09:10if they wish to be called in the debate

00:09:12I think we've got most of them

00:09:14The question is that this house

00:09:16is considered the cultural contribution

00:09:18of Staffordshire

00:09:19I will call Gareth Snell first

00:09:22Thank you very much

00:09:25Mrs Fennell

00:09:26It's a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship

00:09:28and it's a pleasure to see

00:09:29so many of my county neighbours here

00:09:32not least those that border my constituency

00:09:35in Newcastle, Staffordshire, Moreland

00:09:36and in Stoke-on-Trent South

00:09:38and they say neighbours

00:09:39Mrs Fennell

00:09:41because everybody needs good neighbours

00:09:43as the song from the hit

00:09:44Hold on, there's a link

00:09:46There's a

00:09:47as it was put out

00:09:50because those words were in fact

00:09:51written by Jackie Trent

00:09:53born in Newcastle

00:09:54and the line lived in Stoke-on-Trent

00:09:56but she penned those famous words

00:09:57that listened on our television screens

00:10:00for so many of our childhood memories

00:10:02and that to me sums up

00:10:04the extent of the diversity

00:10:06of the cultural and creative activities

00:10:11that we have in Staffordshire

00:10:12because as my honourable friend from Stafford

00:10:13has pointed out

00:10:14we have a plethora of things to offer

00:10:17now I won't go into the territory

00:10:19of my friend from Bertie Toxto

00:10:20talking about breweries

00:10:21but I will just put a special mention

00:10:23for Titanic Brewery

00:10:24a brewery in Stoke-on-Trent

00:10:28with pubs across the area

00:10:29named of course

00:10:31because one of the famous sons

00:10:33of Stoke-on-Trent

00:10:34was indeed the captain of the Titanic

00:10:36not necessarily something

00:10:37we want to parade around too much

00:10:40but certainly it is a link

00:10:42it is a link to a historic event

00:10:45more importantly

00:10:46the tableware that was on the Titanic

00:10:48was also made in Stoke-on-Trent

00:10:49and that has had a much better story

00:10:51and the backstamps can still be seen

00:10:53at the Spode Museum in Stoke

00:10:57whilst it would be remiss of me

00:11:01not to mention briefly ceramics

00:11:03this house talks a lot about

00:11:05well I certainly talk a lot in this house

00:11:06about ceramics

00:11:07and it is a part of who we are

00:11:09if you go to many parts of the country today

00:11:13any high-end restaurant

00:11:14any big hotel

00:11:16if you go to our tea room

00:11:17and you turn over the plate

00:11:18you will see something

00:11:20that is probably made by artisans

00:11:23from somewhere in Staffordshire

00:11:24most likely Stoke-on-Trent

00:11:25but also parts of Staffordshire Morelands

00:11:27parts of Stone

00:11:28parts of Stafford

00:11:29and those delicate pieces of tableware

00:11:34the bricks that we see in our buildings

00:11:36the tiles on roofs

00:11:37the tiles indeed

00:11:38in the central lobby of our palace here

00:11:42all have come

00:11:43and been made from the sweat, toil and tears

00:11:45of Staffordshire artisans

00:11:47and it is those things of beauty

00:11:49that are made from dirty clay

00:11:52that often I think demonstrates

00:11:54some of the power

00:11:55and the ability that we have in county

00:11:56to turn those things

00:11:58into something beautiful

00:11:59but we are actually more than a city

00:12:01and a county of ceramics

00:12:03and we are more than just

00:12:04the sum of our parts

00:12:05and our pottery

00:12:06as was mentioned by

00:12:08my honourable friend from Stafford

00:12:09Arnold Bennett

00:12:11well-known author

00:12:12who very pithily

00:12:14and very wittily

00:12:15accounted for parts of public life

00:12:17in North Staffordshire

00:12:18through his books

00:12:20one of the most famous ones

00:12:21not least of the card

00:12:22which I did see

00:12:23when it was on

00:12:24at the New Vic actually

00:12:25and it was a wonderful adaptation

00:12:27and it's the fact

00:12:29that it was local people

00:12:30in the cast

00:12:31talking the stories

00:12:33that were of our history

00:12:34just made it somewhat special

00:12:35but one of his most famous works

00:12:37was Anna of the Five Towns

00:12:38of course everyone knows

00:12:40that Stoke-on-Trent has six towns

00:12:41the town that was left out

00:12:45potentially true or not

00:12:47Madam Mrs. Fenners

00:12:49and I don't want to mislead the house

00:12:49but I believe it to be true

00:12:51so I feel comfortable saying

00:12:52it was that

00:12:52Arnold Bennett's mother-in-law

00:12:54lived in Fenton

00:12:55Arnold Bennett apparently

00:12:56was not a great fan

00:12:57of his mother-in-law

00:12:58so when he wrote

00:12:59Anna of the Five Towns

00:13:00he left out

00:13:01one of the towns

00:13:02as a long-lasting snub

00:13:04to his mother-in-law

00:13:06so not that I suggest

00:13:07that any of us

00:13:07regret that

00:13:08I happen to

00:13:09be quite fond of my

00:13:10future mother-in-law

00:13:12but certainly

00:13:14again

00:13:14it's those small things

00:13:16of our history

00:13:17that permeate through

00:13:19different literary

00:13:20and cultural activities

00:13:21that many people

00:13:22actually around the country

00:13:22won't realise

00:13:23derived from

00:13:24and come from

00:13:25Staffordshire

00:13:26but I want to

00:13:26I want to just talk about

00:13:28a couple of smaller things

00:13:29that aren't ceramics

00:13:30so one of the things

00:13:32that I'm most proud of

00:13:33is that

00:13:34and it's a name

00:13:35that isn't well known

00:13:36to history

00:13:36but there was a gentleman

00:13:37called Oliver Lodge

00:13:38and Oliver Lodge

00:13:40was from Penkel

00:13:41a beautiful part

00:13:42of my own constituency

00:13:43and Oliver Lodge

00:13:46was a physicist

00:13:48and long before

00:13:49it became

00:13:50a publicly accepted thing

00:13:52long before Hertz did it

00:13:53he actually discovered

00:13:54electromagnetic radiation

00:13:56he was a pioneering

00:13:57physicist and scientist

00:13:58who

00:13:59through his work

00:14:00that he'd learnt

00:14:01in North Staffordshire

00:14:01was able to identify

00:14:02some of the fundamental

00:14:03energy sources

00:14:04of our universe

00:14:05and his name sadly

00:14:06has lost to history

00:14:07in a way that

00:14:07that Hertz isn't

00:14:09there is still a Lodge road

00:14:10and an Oliver road

00:14:10in my constituency

00:14:11which of course

00:14:12is a testament to him

00:14:13but again

00:14:14it's a Staffordshire

00:14:16rooted individual

00:14:18whose contribution

00:14:19to our scientific

00:14:19and cultural understanding

00:14:21is rich

00:14:21on the other side

00:14:23we have

00:14:24Thomas Twyford

00:14:25who's

00:14:26born in Stoke-on-Trent

00:14:28his contribution

00:14:29to our public life

00:14:31actually is somewhat

00:14:32more

00:14:32somewhat say comical

00:14:34but actually

00:14:35he invented

00:14:35the first single piece

00:14:36ceramic flush toilet

00:14:37and whilst

00:14:40it's a toilet

00:14:41actually revolutionised

00:14:43public hygiene

00:14:44in this country

00:14:45it revolutionised

00:14:46the way that people

00:14:47lived in their lives

00:14:47and the way they looked

00:14:48after themselves

00:14:49and it was a huge

00:14:50contributor

00:14:50to the reduction

00:14:52of

00:14:52to the reduction

00:14:54of unsanitary conditions

00:14:56in public areas

00:14:57and brought down

00:14:58disease rates

00:14:59and again

00:14:59something that happened

00:15:00in Staffordshire

00:15:02that has changed

00:15:03I would argue

00:15:03the world

00:15:04that is now

00:15:06again sadly

00:15:06a little bit lost

00:15:07to history

00:15:07and finally

00:15:08Mrs Furness

00:15:10not to test

00:15:11the house's patience

00:15:12too much

00:15:12I just want to

00:15:14make a pitch

00:15:15for what comes next

00:15:16because our contribution

00:15:17hasn't ended

00:15:18with the history

00:15:19of the things

00:15:19that we have done

00:15:19it isn't about

00:15:21the litany

00:15:21of wonderful

00:15:22and collective stories

00:15:23that we will all share

00:15:24this afternoon

00:15:24about the great things

00:15:25that have happened

00:15:25at our county

00:15:26about what's coming next

00:15:27and the one thing

00:15:28I want to highlight

00:15:29because it is

00:15:29fascinating

00:15:30it's brilliant

00:15:31is that is the work

00:15:32that Staffordshire

00:15:32University is doing

00:15:33around gaming

00:15:35and game design

00:15:36according to TIGA

00:15:38it is the number one

00:15:39destination

00:15:40for students

00:15:40that want to learn

00:15:41game design

00:15:43in the country

00:15:43I was told

00:15:44around one in five

00:15:45of those who now

00:15:47work in the industry

00:15:48in the UK

00:15:48are a graduate

00:15:49from Staffordshire University

00:15:50it is a huge piece

00:15:51of our creative history

00:15:52becoming our creative future

00:15:54it is turning

00:15:55real life ambition

00:15:57into good quality

00:15:58jobs for people

00:15:58mainly from my city

00:15:59and my county

00:16:00and so whilst

00:16:02I know there will be

00:16:02lots more contributions

00:16:03today

00:16:04Mrs Furness

00:16:05the fact that we've

00:16:06been able to come

00:16:07together in a spirit

00:16:08of comradeship

00:16:09and collegiateness

00:16:10two days before

00:16:11Staffordshire Day

00:16:12I think is a wonderful

00:16:13thing and I congratulate

00:16:14my honourable friend

00:16:14from Stafford

00:16:15for having secured

00:16:16a debate

00:16:16that allows us

00:16:17to talk about

00:16:17the place

00:16:18that we call

00:16:18home and love

00:16:19I will have to

00:16:21limit timings

00:16:23to three minutes

00:16:24I've got very

00:16:25very many people

00:16:26asking to speak

00:16:28Mike Wood

00:16:29Thank you

00:16:31Ms Furness

00:16:32it's an honour

00:16:32to stand before you

00:16:34ahead of Thursday

00:16:35Staffordshire Day

00:16:36to talk about

00:16:36the hidden gems

00:16:37that make South

00:16:38Staffordshire

00:16:39such a unique

00:16:40and culturally

00:16:41rich area

00:16:42so beginning

00:16:43with Codsall

00:16:45the past and

00:16:46present meet

00:16:46beautifully

00:16:47the charming

00:16:48high street

00:16:49lined with

00:16:49historical buildings

00:16:50offers a snapshot

00:16:51of centuries

00:16:52gone by

00:16:52but it's not

00:16:53just about history

00:16:54Codsall has a

00:16:55lively art scene

00:16:56with the Codsall

00:16:57community

00:16:58arts festival

00:16:59buzzing with

00:16:59local performances

00:17:00and workshop

00:17:01a place where

00:17:02creativity flows

00:17:03just as freely

00:17:04as its heritage

00:17:05and next door

00:17:06in Bilbrook

00:17:06offers a different

00:17:08kind of charm

00:17:09a village where

00:17:09modern industry

00:17:11and natural beauty

00:17:12coexist

00:17:13partnership between

00:17:14Jaguar Landrove

00:17:15and the local

00:17:15community

00:17:16to protect

00:17:17Jubilee Wood

00:17:18is a perfect example

00:17:19of how local

00:17:20heritage and industry

00:17:21can work hand in hand

00:17:22a commitment

00:17:23to environmental

00:17:24conservation

00:17:25a core part

00:17:26of the village's

00:17:27identity

00:17:28and a fantastic

00:17:30backdrop for much

00:17:31of the cultural

00:17:31activities

00:17:32now Swindon

00:17:33might seem small

00:17:34but its contribution

00:17:35to our cultural

00:17:37heritage is anything

00:17:38but

00:17:39Chase Bull

00:17:41within Swindon

00:17:41was mentioned

00:17:42in the Doomsday

00:17:43book

00:17:44but it's now

00:17:44an important part

00:17:46of that industrial

00:17:46heritage

00:17:47Swindon Forge

00:17:48originally a

00:17:49foiling mill

00:17:51and then a corn mill

00:17:52was converted

00:17:54into a finery forge

00:17:55in the 1620s

00:17:56producing the

00:17:57wrought iron

00:17:58that drove

00:17:59the early

00:18:00industrial revolution

00:18:01and then there's

00:18:02Himley

00:18:02a village with

00:18:03a story to tell

00:18:04not only does it

00:18:05boast the

00:18:06beautiful and

00:18:08culturally significant

00:18:09Himley Hall

00:18:10and Parklands

00:18:10but it also holds

00:18:12a fascinating piece

00:18:12of British history

00:18:13in the dark night

00:18:15on November 5th

00:18:161605

00:18:17where the gunpowder

00:18:18plot

00:18:18conspirators fled

00:18:20through Himley Woods

00:18:22in Kinva

00:18:22we have

00:18:23something truly

00:18:24unique

00:18:25rock cut houses

00:18:26the stud

00:18:27the test of

00:18:28time

00:18:28these homes

00:18:29carved into

00:18:30sandstone

00:18:30are a testament

00:18:31to the resourcefulness

00:18:32of past generations

00:18:34and are now

00:18:35a major tourist

00:18:36attraction

00:18:36with thousands

00:18:37visiting

00:18:37to step inside

00:18:39a piece

00:18:39of living history

00:18:41Enville is a quiet

00:18:43yet rich corner

00:18:44of South

00:18:44Staffordshire

00:18:45known for its

00:18:45impressive

00:18:46Enville Hall

00:18:47and the Enville

00:18:47Brewery

00:18:48the village

00:18:49blends rural

00:18:50charm with

00:18:50modern industry

00:18:51and the brewery's

00:18:52award winning

00:18:53ales really are

00:18:54a part

00:18:54not to the past

00:18:56while its ongoing

00:18:56role in the community

00:18:57keeps Enville

00:18:59firmly in the

00:18:59present

00:19:00moving to

00:19:01Pattingham

00:19:02the village

00:19:02exemplifies

00:19:03how culture

00:19:03and nature

00:19:04can coexist

00:19:04beautifully

00:19:05around

00:19:06Patersall Park

00:19:06designed by

00:19:07Capability

00:19:08Brown

00:19:09whilst

00:19:09Treasle might be

00:19:10small

00:19:11but its legacy

00:19:12is enormous

00:19:12village

00:19:13home to the

00:19:14arts

00:19:14of craft

00:19:15inspired

00:19:15Treasle

00:19:15Manor

00:19:16a reminder

00:19:17of the region's

00:19:17creative spirit

00:19:18and then we have

00:19:19Bobington

00:19:19a village

00:19:20with a fascinating

00:19:21industrial past

00:19:22and lower pen

00:19:24its surrounding areas

00:19:26offering a tranquil

00:19:26setting for

00:19:27outdoor

00:19:28enthusiasts

00:19:29Purton is a village

00:19:30that's grown rapidly

00:19:31in recent years

00:19:32but hasn't lost

00:19:33sight of its roots

00:19:34and finally

00:19:35Wombon

00:19:35is a village

00:19:36that bridges

00:19:37the past and present

00:19:37in the most remarkable

00:19:38way with roots

00:19:39going back to the

00:19:40middle ages

00:19:40and home to

00:19:41some of South

00:19:41Staffordshire's

00:19:43most iconic

00:19:44landmarks

00:19:45like the

00:19:45Bratchlocks

00:19:45and the

00:19:46Victorian

00:19:47Bratch

00:19:47Pumping Station

00:19:48Dr

00:19:51Gardner

00:19:52Honorable friend

00:19:56for Stafford

00:19:57Eckershall

00:19:57and the

00:19:58villages

00:19:58for securing

00:19:59the debates

00:20:00and in my

00:20:00constituency

00:20:01of Stoke

00:20:01and Trent's

00:20:02house

00:20:02and the

00:20:03villages

00:20:03we are

00:20:03proud

00:20:04of our

00:20:04heritage

00:20:05and my

00:20:05constituency

00:20:05links both

00:20:06the city

00:20:06of Stoke

00:20:07and Trent

00:20:07with the

00:20:08rural villages

00:20:09of North

00:20:09Staffordshire

00:20:10Staffordshire's

00:20:11cultural

00:20:11contribution

00:20:13cannot be

00:20:14truly understood

00:20:14without recognising

00:20:15the leadership

00:20:16role that

00:20:16Stoke

00:20:16and Trent

00:20:16has played

00:20:17not just

00:20:17as the

00:20:17beating

00:20:18heart

00:20:18of the

00:20:18county's

00:20:19industrial

00:20:19past

00:20:19but as

00:20:20a city

00:20:20of craft

00:20:21creativity

00:20:22and resilience

00:20:22still shaping

00:20:23culture across

00:20:24the region

00:20:24and beyond

00:20:25Stoke

00:20:26and Trent

00:20:26is a city

00:20:27forged in

00:20:28clay

00:20:28and coal

00:20:29our pottery

00:20:30industry ships

00:20:31British products

00:20:32all over the

00:20:32world

00:20:33from Dutchess

00:20:33China

00:20:33Wedgwood

00:20:34and Ainsley

00:20:35China

00:20:35which sits

00:20:36in my

00:20:36honourable

00:20:37friend's

00:20:37constituency

00:20:38of Stoke

00:20:39and Trent

00:20:39Central

00:20:39famous tableware

00:20:41names which

00:20:42have been made

00:20:42household staples

00:20:43for centuries

00:20:44and linking

00:20:45to the

00:20:45villages

00:20:46the mills

00:20:46of

00:20:46Modishall

00:20:47and

00:20:47Checkley

00:20:47which ground

00:20:48flint

00:20:49and bone

00:20:50for the

00:20:50potteries

00:20:51this shows

00:20:51how the

00:20:52cultural links

00:20:52between town

00:20:53and country

00:20:54in my

00:20:54constituency

00:20:55reveal

00:20:55deep ties

00:20:56in my

00:20:57town

00:20:58of Longton

00:20:59we have

00:21:00our iconic

00:21:00pot banks

00:21:01now form

00:21:02beautiful

00:21:02heritage sites

00:21:03with the

00:21:04right investment

00:21:04are repurposed

00:21:05to community

00:21:06spaces

00:21:06and obviously

00:21:07I must mention

00:21:08Gladstone Pottery

00:21:09Museum

00:21:09a working

00:21:10monument

00:21:11to our

00:21:11industrial history

00:21:12and our

00:21:12home to the

00:21:13great pottery

00:21:13throw down

00:21:15and again

00:21:16within Longton

00:21:16we have

00:21:17urban wilderness

00:21:19who are

00:21:20reviving

00:21:21and regenerating

00:21:21the town centre

00:21:22with art

00:21:23and the value

00:21:23of art

00:21:24and running

00:21:25the Longton

00:21:26pig festival

00:21:27of which I was

00:21:27leading as a

00:21:28white swan

00:21:29just recently

00:21:30and today

00:21:31we are just

00:21:31launching

00:21:32in the town

00:21:33hall

00:21:33launch it

00:21:34for entrepreneurs

00:21:35of young

00:21:36makers

00:21:36and creators

00:21:37to again

00:21:38continue

00:21:38that creative

00:21:39energy

00:21:40that we have

00:21:41in Longton

00:21:41in 2024

00:21:43Stoke-on-Trent

00:21:44was awarded

00:21:44world craft

00:21:45city status

00:21:46a sign

00:21:47that our city

00:21:47has and

00:21:48continues to be

00:21:49recognised

00:21:50globally

00:21:50for its pottery

00:21:51that is why

00:21:52today

00:21:53I asked the

00:21:53minister

00:21:54whether she

00:21:54will support

00:21:55our ambitions

00:21:55for Stoke-on-Trent

00:21:56to be recognised

00:21:57as a UNESCO

00:21:58creative city

00:21:59for craft

00:22:00and we could also

00:22:01introduce design

00:22:02as options

00:22:03only one city

00:22:04in the Midlands

00:22:05holds this

00:22:05prestigious title

00:22:06and I believe

00:22:07Stoke-on-Trent

00:22:07is uniquely

00:22:09placed to join them

00:22:10UNESCO

00:22:11recognises cities

00:22:12that put culture

00:22:13and creativity

00:22:14at the heart

00:22:15of local development

00:22:15and with greater

00:22:16local powers

00:22:17and investment

00:22:17Stoke-on-Trent

00:22:18can lead

00:22:18Staffordshire's

00:22:19cultural

00:22:19and economic

00:22:20renewal

00:22:21and just

00:22:22briefly

00:22:22I must

00:22:23mention

00:22:23a couple

00:22:23of other

00:22:24extras

00:22:24within our

00:22:26cultural legacy

00:22:26we have

00:22:27Bell Staff

00:22:27the Longton

00:22:28Bourne

00:22:28fashion house

00:22:29we have

00:22:30the famous

00:22:30Shelley's

00:22:31Laser Dome

00:22:32nightclub

00:22:32which helped

00:22:33define an era

00:22:33of British

00:22:34dance music

00:22:34in the late

00:22:3580s

00:22:35and early

00:22:3690s

00:22:36and it would

00:22:37be remiss of

00:22:37me not to

00:22:38mention

00:22:38Lemmy

00:22:38and Robbery

00:22:39and Robbie

00:22:40as well

00:22:41so thank you

00:22:42for everyone

00:22:42to listen

00:22:43to me today

00:22:44and I'm going

00:22:45to cut it

00:22:45short there

00:22:45because I'm

00:22:46running out of

00:22:46time

00:22:46Thank you

00:22:47Sir Gavin

00:22:49Williamson

00:22:50Thank you very

00:22:50so much

00:22:51Mrs Furness

00:22:51and congratulations

00:22:52to my

00:22:53honourable

00:22:54neighbour

00:22:54the member

00:22:55for Stafford

00:22:55this is a

00:22:56real insult

00:22:56of yours

00:22:57to try and

00:22:57restrict us

00:22:58to three

00:22:58minutes

00:22:58how can

00:23:00you get

00:23:00all the

00:23:00beauty

00:23:01of Staffordshire

00:23:02in a

00:23:02simple

00:23:03three minutes

00:23:04but Staffordshire

00:23:05this is a

00:23:05proper county

00:23:06it's not like

00:23:07the West

00:23:07Midlands

00:23:08or Merseyside

00:23:09or Humberside

00:23:10which was a

00:23:10late 70s

00:23:12creation

00:23:12it was forged

00:23:14in the

00:23:14Anglo-Saxon

00:23:16era

00:23:16where Queen

00:23:17Ethelred

00:23:19the Lady

00:23:20of Mercia

00:23:20created the

00:23:22forts in

00:23:23Tamworth

00:23:23and Stafford

00:23:24and also

00:23:26and we forget

00:23:27of course

00:23:28that this

00:23:29was part

00:23:30of Staffordshire

00:23:31Wensbury

00:23:31as well

00:23:33because of

00:23:34course

00:23:34what we see

00:23:35as the

00:23:35black country

00:23:36was all

00:23:37part of

00:23:37the great

00:23:38historic

00:23:38county

00:23:39of Staffordshire

00:23:40I'll give

00:23:41away to my

00:23:41Honour friend

00:23:42I'm so grateful

00:23:42to my Honour friend

00:23:43for giving away

00:23:44and I just want

00:23:45to put on the

00:23:45record that I've

00:23:45heard reports

00:23:46that the

00:23:47Staffordshire

00:23:47Bull Terrier

00:23:47may not be

00:23:48from Staffordshire

00:23:49because it's

00:23:49from Wensbury

00:23:50can we confirm

00:23:51that Wensbury

00:23:51has always been

00:23:52in the historic

00:23:52county of Staffordshire

00:23:53I can absolutely

00:23:56confirm that

00:23:57Wensbury has

00:23:57always been

00:23:58in the great

00:23:59historic county

00:24:00of Staffordshire

00:24:00and of course

00:24:02the Staffordshire

00:24:02knot comes from

00:24:04that great

00:24:04queen of

00:24:05Mercia

00:24:06or there is

00:24:06sometimes

00:24:07speculation

00:24:08that there is

00:24:09actually comes

00:24:10from the hangman

00:24:11at Stafford

00:24:11Castle

00:24:12who wanted

00:24:13to hang

00:24:14there was

00:24:15an argument

00:24:16as to who

00:24:17to hang

00:24:17first

00:24:18there was

00:24:18three prisoners

00:24:19and in order

00:24:20to find a

00:24:20compromise

00:24:21he hung

00:24:22all three

00:24:22at once

00:24:23but I think

00:24:24we'll all

00:24:25take the view

00:24:25that it is

00:24:26much more

00:24:26beautiful

00:24:27to think

00:24:28that this

00:24:28is part

00:24:29of the

00:24:30queen of

00:24:31Mercia's

00:24:31insignia

00:24:33that is

00:24:33used as

00:24:33part of

00:24:34our

00:24:34county flag

00:24:35we have

00:24:36a great

00:24:36cultural

00:24:37heritage

00:24:37in Stone

00:24:38Great

00:24:38Worley

00:24:39and Penkridge

00:24:40I always

00:24:40say we've

00:24:41got the

00:24:41very best

00:24:42of everything

00:24:42in Staffordshire

00:24:43in my

00:24:44constituency

00:24:44not the

00:24:46other

00:24:46constituencies

00:24:47that make

00:24:48up the

00:24:48lesser parts

00:24:49of Staffordshire

00:24:50but we

00:24:53have so

00:24:54much there

00:24:55we have

00:24:55Dunoon Pottery

00:24:56which makes

00:24:57some of the

00:24:58finest mugs

00:24:58that you can

00:24:59find around

00:25:00of course

00:25:00we've got

00:25:01some wonderful

00:25:02breweries

00:25:02because of course

00:25:03we draw our

00:25:04water so often

00:25:05from the

00:25:06Great River

00:25:07Trent

00:25:07or the

00:25:08River

00:25:09Penk

00:25:10or the

00:25:10River

00:25:10Sow

00:25:11that means

00:25:12that we

00:25:12can have

00:25:12great brewers

00:25:13in my

00:25:14part of

00:25:14Staffordshire

00:25:15as well

00:25:16and we've

00:25:17got great

00:25:18cultural

00:25:18events

00:25:20and institutions

00:25:21every Christmas

00:25:22for me

00:25:23is not Christmas

00:25:24if I don't go

00:25:25to the

00:25:25Whirly Pretenders

00:25:26pantomine

00:25:27to see

00:25:28the amazing

00:25:29work that

00:25:30they do

00:25:30volunteers

00:25:31every single

00:25:32year

00:25:32entertaining

00:25:33and bringing

00:25:34the community

00:25:35together

00:25:35for Christmas

00:25:36we have

00:25:37the newly

00:25:37opened

00:25:38Crown Wharf

00:25:39Theatre

00:25:40in Stone

00:25:40that is going

00:25:41to be there

00:25:42for generations

00:25:42to enjoy

00:25:43with productions

00:25:44as I have

00:25:45no doubt

00:25:46will be far

00:25:47better than

00:25:47anything else

00:25:48put on

00:25:49in other

00:25:49people's

00:25:50constituencies

00:25:51and we

00:25:53also have

00:25:54the fact

00:25:55that we're

00:25:55a source

00:25:56of inspiration

00:25:57a source

00:25:57of inspiration

00:25:58to artists

00:25:59such as

00:26:00Peter

00:26:01de Wint

00:26:02who was

00:26:02born

00:26:03in

00:26:03Staffordshire

00:26:04and grew

00:26:04up

00:26:05in

00:26:05Staffordshire

00:26:06as well

00:26:07as the

00:26:07great

00:26:08whirly

00:26:08outrages

00:26:09inspiring

00:26:10Arthur

00:26:11Conan Doyle

00:26:12to write

00:26:13his famous

00:26:14book

00:26:15about them

00:26:15and of course

00:26:16actually if I

00:26:17invade

00:26:18my former

00:26:19constituency

00:26:20and my

00:26:20right honourable

00:26:21friend's

00:26:21constituency

00:26:22and go down

00:26:23to Kinva

00:26:23of course

00:26:24he mentioned

00:26:25the Kinva

00:26:25rock houses

00:26:26which were

00:26:27the inspiration

00:26:28for the

00:26:28shire

00:26:28in Tolkien's

00:26:30Lord of the

00:26:31Rings

00:26:31we have so

00:26:32much to offer

00:26:33and let me

00:26:34mention something

00:26:35on the 9th

00:26:3610th

00:26:37and 11th

00:26:38of May

00:26:38you can come

00:26:39to the Stone

00:26:39Food and Drink

00:26:40Festival

00:26:41because Stone

00:26:42is the food

00:26:43capital of

00:26:44Staffordshire

00:26:45and you can

00:26:45truly appreciate

00:26:46it and enjoy

00:26:48an amazing

00:26:49day out there

00:26:50so I look

00:26:51forward to

00:26:52welcoming you

00:26:53to the great

00:26:54constituency of Stone

00:26:55Great Worley

00:26:55and Penkerage

00:26:56and so many

00:26:57people from

00:26:58around the

00:26:58country to

00:26:59our great

00:26:59county of

00:27:00Staffordshire

00:27:00Adam Georgie

00:27:02thank you very

00:27:03much Mr Furness

00:27:04it's a pleasure

00:27:04to speak in

00:27:05this important

00:27:06debate on the

00:27:07cultural contribution

00:27:07of Staffordshire

00:27:08to the economy

00:27:08to our country

00:27:09I'm probably the

00:27:10only member of

00:27:11the house

00:27:11who has a

00:27:11constituent

00:27:12sitting in

00:27:12the gallery

00:27:13so I shall

00:27:13be on my

00:27:14very best

00:27:15behaviour

00:27:15I congratulate

00:27:16the honourable

00:27:16lady for

00:27:17Stafford

00:27:17the county

00:27:19town that my

00:27:20mother was born

00:27:21in for her

00:27:21excellent speech

00:27:23she set herself

00:27:24up nicely

00:27:24to be the

00:27:25first honoree

00:27:25patron of

00:27:26the Staffordshire

00:27:26Tourist Board

00:27:27and run a

00:27:28close second

00:27:29by our

00:27:29friend from

00:27:30Stone

00:27:30now on

00:27:31Thursday

00:27:31the 1st

00:27:31of May

00:27:32Madam

00:27:32Miss Furness

00:27:34people across

00:27:35Staffordshire

00:27:36will be marking

00:27:36Staffordshire Day

00:27:37and I look forward

00:27:38to being back home

00:27:39in Newcastle

00:27:39to mark this important

00:27:40day in our

00:27:40collective calendar

00:27:41with a nice cold

00:27:42drink at one of

00:27:43our wonderful

00:27:44local public

00:27:45houses and there

00:27:46are plenty to

00:27:46choose from as

00:27:47well as getting

00:27:48out the vote

00:27:48with our excellent

00:27:49Labour candidates

00:27:50in my maiden

00:27:51speech last

00:27:51July

00:27:52Chair

00:27:52I said this

00:27:54while some

00:27:54may look

00:27:55north of the

00:27:56Watford Gap

00:27:56and see a

00:27:57cultural desert

00:27:58I see vibrancy

00:27:59I went on to

00:27:59champion the

00:28:00wonderful Newbrick

00:28:01Theatre in my

00:28:01constituency

00:28:02which attracts

00:28:03locals from

00:28:05far and wide

00:28:06including honourable

00:28:06members of this

00:28:07house who have

00:28:08been seen

00:28:08walking through

00:28:09those doors

00:28:10and we heard

00:28:10from my friend

00:28:12from Stafford

00:28:12how wonderful

00:28:13the Newbrick is

00:28:14we have the

00:28:14wonderful Lightdale

00:28:15Museum and the

00:28:16Light Railway

00:28:16which is an excellent

00:28:17day out

00:28:17we have the

00:28:17fantastic Brampton

00:28:18Museum which

00:28:19tells the story

00:28:20of our ancient

00:28:20and loyal borough

00:28:21we have the

00:28:22brilliant and

00:28:22award-winning

00:28:23Newcastle College

00:28:24which has many

00:28:25brilliant young

00:28:25people engaging

00:28:26with the arts

00:28:27and culture

00:28:27as my friend

00:28:28from Stafford

00:28:28said we do

00:28:29share it

00:28:30but I have the

00:28:30HQ

00:28:30just a few weeks

00:28:32ago

00:28:32Charger

00:28:33the Philip

00:28:33Astley Centre

00:28:34in our town

00:28:34centre

00:28:35a great community

00:28:35asset

00:28:36dedicated to the

00:28:37memory of the

00:28:38creator of the

00:28:38modern circus

00:28:39Philip Astley

00:28:40who was born

00:28:40and raised

00:28:41in God's own

00:28:41community of

00:28:42Newcastle

00:28:42under Lyme

00:28:43from eating

00:28:44to horse riding

00:28:45from walking

00:28:45to a brilliant

00:28:45higher education

00:28:46institution

00:28:47in Keele University

00:28:48Newcastle Lyme

00:28:49packs its punch

00:28:502025 is an

00:28:52important year

00:28:52for the first

00:28:53Newcastle

00:28:53Brownies and

00:28:54Guides

00:28:54and the first

00:28:55Newcastle

00:28:55Guides is one

00:28:56of the oldest

00:28:56surviving units

00:28:57in the country

00:28:57and the oldest

00:28:58unit in the

00:28:59Midlands

00:29:00their Brownie

00:29:00unit turns

00:29:01105 years old

00:29:02this year

00:29:02and the Guide

00:29:03unit turns 110

00:29:04and as part

00:29:05their celebrations

00:29:06their fundraising

00:29:07so that both units

00:29:08could open the eyes

00:29:09and ears of these

00:29:10young women

00:29:11our faith groups

00:29:12do much for the arts

00:29:14just on Saturday

00:29:15St Mark's Basford

00:29:16and not far from my house

00:29:17had a fundraising

00:29:18barn dance

00:29:18I didn't dance

00:29:19but Father Tommy

00:29:20the vicar there

00:29:21is moving on

00:29:22to Pastures New

00:29:23and we wish him well

00:29:24and thank him for service

00:29:25to our community

00:29:26as we address the

00:29:27cultural contribution

00:29:28of Staffordshire

00:29:28however

00:29:29we must rededicate

00:29:30ourselves to the fight

00:29:31for our fair share

00:29:31of investment in housing

00:29:32in transport

00:29:33and yes in the arts

00:29:34and culture too

00:29:35there is so much

00:29:35good happening

00:29:36in all parts of Staffordshire

00:29:37as we've heard already

00:29:38and today is an opportunity

00:29:39to touch briefly

00:29:40on that in the house

00:29:41I could speak about

00:29:42Newcastle Lime all day

00:29:43Chair

00:29:43and at times since election

00:29:45I've tried to do just that

00:29:46but I won't test your patience

00:29:47this afternoon

00:29:48and will simply say this

00:29:49Staffordshire is at the heart

00:29:50of our country

00:29:51and Newcastle Lime

00:29:51is at the heart

00:29:52of our county

00:29:53long may that continue

00:29:54and happy Staffordshire Day

00:29:55to all

00:29:57Thank you so much

00:29:59Mrs Furness

00:29:59it's a pleasure to serve

00:30:00under your chairmanship

00:30:01and can I congratulate

00:30:04the honourable lady

00:30:05for securing this

00:30:06important debate

00:30:07in the week of Staffordshire Day

00:30:08as a proud resident

00:30:10of Arnold Bennett's axe

00:30:11and representing

00:30:12the head of the River Trent

00:30:14which gives my right

00:30:15honourable friend

00:30:15such wonderful beer

00:30:16amongst others

00:30:17it is an honour

00:30:18to take part

00:30:19in this debate

00:30:20and I did

00:30:22I was very

00:30:22very pleased to hear

00:30:23I'm going to call him

00:30:24my honourable friend

00:30:25from Stoke Central

00:30:26talk about the contribution

00:30:28of the Minton Tiles

00:30:30to Parliament

00:30:30but I don't want to mention

00:30:31two other contributions

00:30:32that Staffordshire Morelands

00:30:34has given

00:30:34to this Parliament

00:30:36the first is a very obvious one

00:30:38the house architect

00:30:39of our big family

00:30:40that lived in

00:30:41Staffordshire Morelands

00:30:42the Talbots

00:30:43otherwise known as

00:30:43the Earl of Shrewsbury

00:30:44had this very nice house

00:30:46at Alton Towers

00:30:46and they had a house architect

00:30:48Augustus Pugin

00:30:49and he designed

00:30:50and created many

00:30:51many buildings

00:30:52in that area

00:30:53still standing today

00:30:55schools

00:30:55the marvellous

00:30:56St Charles' Church

00:30:57in Cheadle

00:30:58and anyone who visits

00:30:59can see that these

00:31:00were the forerunners

00:31:01for what we see

00:31:02in Central Lobby

00:31:03and across Parliament

00:31:04but perhaps slightly

00:31:05lesser known

00:31:06is that Richard Norman Shore

00:31:08know that's name

00:31:09was an architect

00:31:09who also operated

00:31:10in Staffordshire Morelands

00:31:11was the architect

00:31:12of the All Saints Church

00:31:13and of Spout Hall

00:31:15on St Edward Street

00:31:15and as we all know

00:31:17Norman Shore North

00:31:18and Norman Shore South

00:31:19so we can all celebrate

00:31:20the fact that

00:31:21Staffordshire Morelands

00:31:22and Staffordshire

00:31:23has played such

00:31:24an important role

00:31:25of course I will

00:31:26I thank my

00:31:28right honourable friend

00:31:28for giving away

00:31:29and of course

00:31:29if you do go to

00:31:30the Capitol building

00:31:31in the US

00:31:32they're not tiles

00:31:33made in Maryland

00:31:35or New Jersey

00:31:38they're made

00:31:38actually in Staffordshire

00:31:40here in the United Kingdom

00:31:42here here

00:31:43my right honourable friend

00:31:44is absolutely right

00:31:44we have contributed

00:31:45not just to this Parliament

00:31:47but Parliaments

00:31:47across the world

00:31:48Staffordshire Morelands

00:31:50also played a role

00:31:51in contributing

00:31:52to much of our decor

00:31:53the arts and crafts movement

00:31:54started at Leake College

00:31:55and William Morris

00:31:56was lived and studied

00:31:58in Leake

00:31:58and came up with many

00:31:59of his original designs there

00:32:00and we have the canals

00:32:03because James Brindley

00:32:04was a resident of Leake

00:32:06and he was of course

00:32:08the creator

00:32:08and the architect

00:32:09of the canals

00:32:10and it was the canals

00:32:11that of course allowed

00:32:12our pottery

00:32:13to get to market

00:32:13because if you put

00:32:15pots on the back

00:32:16of a horse and carp

00:32:17quite a lot of them break

00:32:18but the canal

00:32:19allows you to transport

00:32:20your pottery

00:32:20to market

00:32:21and that very fine

00:32:22quality pottery

00:32:23that Staffordshire

00:32:24is so famous for

00:32:26was only possible

00:32:27because of the canals

00:32:29created by James Brindley

00:32:30now there is

00:32:31as my honourable friend

00:32:32has said

00:32:33three minutes

00:32:33is simply not enough time

00:32:34to be able to talk

00:32:37about all the cultural

00:32:38impact

00:32:39that Staffordshire Morelands

00:32:40and Staffordshire

00:32:41has had

00:32:41in the United Kingdom

00:32:43and culture

00:32:43is so important

00:32:45and I was a big advocate

00:32:46for Stoke-on-Trent

00:32:47when it was running

00:32:48to be the capital

00:32:48of culture

00:32:49it was a great

00:32:49disappointment to me

00:32:50it wasn't

00:32:51I had to recuse myself

00:32:52from the decision

00:32:53which I was the

00:32:53then minister

00:32:54who would have

00:32:55taken that decision

00:32:55I had to step aside

00:32:57and allow my deputy

00:32:58to take that decision

00:32:59but I do hope

00:33:00that we can come together

00:33:01and build something

00:33:03more around culture

00:33:04because it's actually

00:33:05the cultural heritage

00:33:06and the feeling

00:33:08of place

00:33:08and the feeling

00:33:09of belonging

00:33:10is so incredibly

00:33:11important to us

00:33:12and that's why

00:33:12I was really pleased

00:33:13last year

00:33:14to run a year

00:33:15of reasons

00:33:15to visit

00:33:16the Staffordshire Morelands

00:33:16not just Alton Towers

00:33:18the biggest tourist

00:33:18attraction outside London

00:33:20not just the Peak Wildlife Park

00:33:22with our fantastic

00:33:23polar bear residents

00:33:25but also the many

00:33:26artists, writers

00:33:28and food producers

00:33:29and others

00:33:30who contribute so much

00:33:31to our fantastic culture

00:33:33and that's why

00:33:33I'm going to start

00:33:34in the 1st of June

00:33:35a year of the

00:33:36Morelands Village

00:33:37where I won't be doing

00:33:3952 different reasons

00:33:40I will be focusing

00:33:41on a village

00:33:42every week

00:33:42a village and a parish

00:33:43because for instance

00:33:44this week alone

00:33:45I visited

00:33:46the Scrumbles

00:33:47Brownie Shop

00:33:49up in Brown Edge

00:33:50and then went up

00:33:50to one of our

00:33:51nature reserves

00:33:52I went to see

00:33:54St Luke's Church

00:33:54in Endon

00:33:55which has got

00:33:56some amazing

00:33:57incredible

00:33:58Burn Jones

00:33:59stone glass window

00:34:01the sort of lights

00:34:02that you would not

00:34:03see elsewhere

00:34:04so we have so much

00:34:05to offer

00:34:06and I do want

00:34:06everyone to come

00:34:07and visit

00:34:07not just to go

00:34:08on our roller coasters

00:34:09but also come

00:34:10and see

00:34:10the many fantastic

00:34:11pits of industrial

00:34:13heritage

00:34:13and cultural impact

00:34:15that Staffordshire

00:34:15Mormons has had

00:34:16Happy Staffordshire Day

00:34:18I will now be

00:34:20limiting it

00:34:21to two and a half

00:34:21minutes

00:34:22and I'll take

00:34:22Sarah Edwards

00:34:23Thank you very much

00:34:25It's an honour

00:34:26to serve under

00:34:27your chairship

00:34:27and I would like

00:34:28to congratulate

00:34:29my honourable friend

00:34:30for securing

00:34:30such an important

00:34:31debate

00:34:32and as this week

00:34:33we celebrate

00:34:34Staffordshire Day

00:34:35providing us

00:34:35with the perfect

00:34:36opportunity

00:34:36to reflect

00:34:37on the cultural

00:34:38contributors

00:34:39of our towns

00:34:39and cities

00:34:40my constituency

00:34:42of Tamworth

00:34:43and the villages

00:34:43we are incredibly

00:34:44proud of our

00:34:46rich heritage

00:34:46from the origin

00:34:47as the ancient

00:34:48capital of Mercia

00:34:49and the home

00:34:50to the iconic

00:34:51Tamworth castle

00:34:52to its pivotal

00:34:53role in the

00:34:53industrial revolution

00:34:54and the development

00:34:55of the modern

00:34:56Midlands

00:34:57I think that we

00:34:57can all agree

00:34:58that Staffordshire

00:34:59is at the centre

00:35:00of the universe

00:35:02Tamworth stands

00:35:04as a testament

00:35:04to centuries

00:35:05of resilience

00:35:06and innovation

00:35:07and historic

00:35:08significance

00:35:09and cultural

00:35:10contributions

00:35:11from arts

00:35:11and heritage

00:35:12in Tamworth

00:35:13and across

00:35:13Staffordshire

00:35:14are essential

00:35:15in shaping

00:35:16our country's

00:35:17identity

00:35:17enriching our

00:35:18communities

00:35:19and supporting

00:35:20local economic

00:35:21growth

00:35:22and as an arts

00:35:23graduate myself

00:35:24I'm proud

00:35:24that nationally

00:35:25the cultural

00:35:26sector contributed

00:35:27£35 billion

00:35:28to the UK economy

00:35:30in 2023

00:35:31and supported

00:35:32around 700,000 jobs

00:35:34and I must say

00:35:35I was saddened

00:35:36that under

00:35:36the previous

00:35:37government's

00:35:37grants for the arts

00:35:38were cut

00:35:39in real terms

00:35:40and that made

00:35:41decisions really

00:35:42challenging

00:35:42for arts organisations

00:35:44and cultural

00:35:45places

00:35:46but despite

00:35:48these challenges

00:35:48the sector

00:35:49has shown

00:35:50a remarkable

00:35:50resilience

00:35:51and between

00:35:522019 and

00:35:532022

00:35:54the arts

00:35:55and culture sector

00:35:56grew by 5%

00:35:57in real terms

00:35:58which is more

00:35:59than double

00:35:59the UK economy

00:36:01so the cultural

00:36:03sector also

00:36:04plays a really

00:36:06important role

00:36:06in promoting

00:36:07community cohesion

00:36:09and education

00:36:10and wellbeing

00:36:11across Staffordshire

00:36:12and in Tamworth

00:36:13we launched a programme

00:36:14that focused on

00:36:15social cohesion

00:36:16with community

00:36:17led initiatives

00:36:18arts projects

00:36:19and educational

00:36:20programmes

00:36:21and some of these

00:36:22took place

00:36:22at Tamworth Castle

00:36:23alongside

00:36:24community CIC

00:36:25with heritage

00:36:26focused

00:36:27workshops

00:36:28and a festival

00:36:29last year

00:36:30celebrating

00:36:30Athelstan 1100

00:36:32which had arts

00:36:33exhibitions

00:36:34live performances

00:36:36and heritage

00:36:37trails

00:36:38and in conclusion

00:36:39I would like to say

00:36:40how proud I was

00:36:42that Tamworth Castle

00:36:42Museum was awarded

00:36:43£1.7 million

00:36:45as it is a museum

00:36:47and needed funding

00:36:48to support it

00:36:49and the great work

00:36:50that it does

00:36:51so I'm really proud

00:36:52to celebrate

00:36:53Staffordshire Day

00:36:54alongside my colleagues

00:36:55here in the house

00:36:56thank you

00:36:57Jacob Collier

00:36:58thank you

00:36:59Miss Furness

00:37:00it's a pleasure

00:37:00to serve under

00:37:01your chairship

00:37:02and I refer the house

00:37:03to my register

00:37:04of interest

00:37:04and I want to thank

00:37:06the honourable member

00:37:07for Stafford

00:37:07for securing this debate

00:37:08in my constituency

00:37:10of Burton and Eutoxta

00:37:11we have given

00:37:12and continue to give

00:37:13so much to the world

00:37:14when his majesty

00:37:15the king

00:37:15visited in February

00:37:17he saw two of our

00:37:18greatest exports

00:37:19to the world

00:37:20beer and yellow diggers

00:37:21Burton of course

00:37:23is the brewing capital

00:37:24of Britain

00:37:25and my constituency

00:37:26employs more people

00:37:27in brewing jobs

00:37:28than any other

00:37:29in the country

00:37:29Burton ales are famous

00:37:31around the world

00:37:32and those words

00:37:33Burton ales

00:37:34or the iconic red triangle

00:37:35of bass can be spotted

00:37:36all around the world

00:37:37following the closure

00:37:39of the National Brewery Centre

00:37:40in 2022

00:37:41I'm working with the council

00:37:42and the brewery heritage trust

00:37:44as they bring life

00:37:45to plans

00:37:46for a new brewery centre

00:37:47and experience

00:37:48which will open up

00:37:49the Washlands area

00:37:50and allow us to tell

00:37:52that story of Burton's

00:37:53importance

00:37:53as the brewing capital

00:37:54of the world

00:37:55once more

00:37:56but not only do we have

00:37:57the global brewers

00:37:58of Molson Coors

00:37:59and Marstons

00:38:00but such important

00:38:01independent brewers

00:38:03of Tower Brewery

00:38:04Burton Bridge

00:38:05Outwards Brewing

00:38:06Gates

00:38:06and Eutoxta Brewing Company

00:38:08our local club

00:38:09Burton Albion

00:38:10is better known

00:38:11as the brewers

00:38:11owing to our brewing

00:38:13heritage

00:38:14and we are home

00:38:15to pub companies

00:38:16Punch and Green King

00:38:17both supporting

00:38:18pubs and hospitality

00:38:19across the country

00:38:20which are in desperate

00:38:22need of support

00:38:22and I hope the government

00:38:23will move forward

00:38:24at pace

00:38:24with business rate reform

00:38:26Eutoxta is where

00:38:27Joseph Cyril Bamford

00:38:29made his very first

00:38:30tipping trailer

00:38:31which would go on

00:38:32to become

00:38:32the iconic global brand

00:38:34of JCB

00:38:35that is headquartered

00:38:36in Roaster

00:38:36and of course

00:38:37we have the race course

00:38:38in Eutoxta

00:38:40where the Midlands

00:38:41Grand National

00:38:41takes place in March

00:38:43and I would like to take

00:38:44this opportunity

00:38:45to pay tribute

00:38:46to the many charities

00:38:47and voluntary organisations

00:38:48and particularly highlight

00:38:50Burton Addiction Centre

00:38:51which is not only

00:38:53leading in Staffordshire

00:38:54for drug and alcohol

00:38:55rehabilitation

00:38:55but the country

00:38:57and whenever I visit

00:38:58I am amazed

00:38:59by the life-saving work

00:39:00that is taking place there

00:39:02and finally

00:39:03I would like to close

00:39:04by asking all of us

00:39:05to carry the motto

00:39:06of our county

00:39:07with us

00:39:07the Not Unites

00:39:08within our county

00:39:10and our country

00:39:10there is so much

00:39:11hatred and division

00:39:12and I think

00:39:13like today

00:39:14we should remember

00:39:15the things that bind us together

00:39:16Happy Staffordshire Day

00:39:18Here, here, here

00:39:19Excellent

00:39:19We've got Josh

00:39:20Thank you Miss Furness

00:39:22it's a pleasure

00:39:22to be speaking with you

00:39:23in the chair

00:39:24and I'd like to congratulate

00:39:25my honourable friend

00:39:25for securing this debate

00:39:26It's been a real pleasure

00:39:28to hear colleagues

00:39:28pay tribute to Staffordshire

00:39:30from our world-renowned pottery

00:39:31to our vibrant theatres

00:39:32diverse festivals

00:39:33and creative talent

00:39:35Now while I might be

00:39:36a little biased

00:39:37Cannock Chase

00:39:37my own perfectly formed

00:39:38slice of Staffordshire

00:39:39stands out

00:39:40as one of our cultural gems

00:39:42not only are we fortunate

00:39:43enough to have

00:39:44the chase itself

00:39:45but we also have

00:39:45countless fantastic businesses

00:39:47landmarks

00:39:48museums and theatres

00:39:49and also schools

00:39:50I've had the privilege

00:39:51of visiting many

00:39:52of our fantastic schools

00:39:53who are nurturing

00:39:54future artists

00:39:55and performers

00:39:55who will go on

00:39:56to contribute

00:39:57to Staffordshire's

00:39:58cultural landscape

00:39:59Despite the disadvantage

00:40:00of the national funding formula

00:40:01we must support

00:40:02a broad inclusive curriculum

00:40:04that includes

00:40:04the arts, music

00:40:05drama and design

00:40:07a culturally rich education

00:40:08which is open to young people

00:40:09in many parts of our country

00:40:11but not as much as it should be

00:40:12for our constituents

00:40:13Cannock Chase

00:40:14has raised some renowned talent

00:40:16like the hilarious Steve Edge

00:40:17and our Oscar winning filmmaker

00:40:19Chris Overton

00:40:20who scoops the Academy Award

00:40:21for the beautiful short film

00:40:22The Silent Child

00:40:23In the news more recently

00:40:24Jenny Luperi

00:40:25the vocal coach

00:40:26of this year's Eurovision entry

00:40:27also hails from Cannock

00:40:29It's clear that Staffordshire

00:40:31has always punched

00:40:31well above its weight culturally

00:40:32and we must ensure

00:40:34that it has the support

00:40:35and resources

00:40:35to continue to do so

00:40:37for generations to come

00:40:38whether they're young performers

00:40:40just starting out

00:40:40seasoned performers

00:40:41or Oscar winners

00:40:42they need venues

00:40:43to support them

00:40:44The Prince of Wales Theatre

00:40:46in Cannock

00:40:46a cornerstone

00:40:47of our cultural life locally

00:40:49had its final curtain call

00:40:51hopefully not for good

00:40:52on Saturday night

00:40:53The emotional evening

00:40:54involved eight fantastic

00:40:55local musical theatre

00:40:57and amateur dramatics companies

00:40:58who all managed

00:40:59to get to the theatre safely

00:41:01despite Staffordshire's

00:41:02notoriously potholed roads

00:41:03It's with great sadness

00:41:05that we've also seen

00:41:06the Museum of Cannock Chase

00:41:07close its doors

00:41:07These venues are not just buildings

00:41:09they are homes for local talent

00:41:11for heritage

00:41:12and the collective memory

00:41:13of our communities

00:41:14Thousands of school children

00:41:15have come through these doors

00:41:16experiencing the rich heritage

00:41:17of our area

00:41:18and leaving with a sense of pride

00:41:20in where they're from

00:41:21inspired to shape the future

00:41:22of our area

00:41:23Two incredible charitable groups

00:41:25who I'm supporting

00:41:25have been working non-stop

00:41:27for the last six months

00:41:27to reopen these venues

00:41:29and we're exploring

00:41:30what support might be available

00:41:31to them through the

00:41:32Arts Everywhere Fund

00:41:33announced in the inaugural

00:41:34Jenny Lee Lecture

00:41:35named for our first arts minister

00:41:37who I'm privileged to follow

00:41:38in the footsteps of

00:41:39Staffordshire's cultural contributions

00:41:42are not just about the past

00:41:43they're about the future

00:41:44that we want to build

00:41:45a future where our children

00:41:46can grow in their creativity

00:41:47in schools

00:41:48through local groups

00:41:49grassroots museums

00:41:50and stages big and small

00:41:52Thanks Wilkinson

00:41:55the Lib Dem spokesperson

00:41:57Thank you Mrs Furness

00:41:59it's a pleasure to serve

00:42:00under your chairship

00:42:01and I congratulate

00:42:01the Honourable Member for Stafford

00:42:02for securing this important debate

00:42:04Robbie Williams

00:42:05Josiah Wedgwood

00:42:06Arnold Bennett

00:42:07Alton Towers

00:42:08the Great Pottery Throwdown

00:42:09and Rory de Lapp's

00:42:11throw-ins

00:42:11the Peak District

00:42:13mile upon mile of canals

00:42:14the area's fascinating

00:42:15industrial past and present

00:42:16and who could forget

00:42:18the commentator's favourite

00:42:19but can they do it

00:42:20on a cold night in Stoke

00:42:22It's a cultural reference

00:42:24as old as some of the

00:42:252024 intake members

00:42:27of Parliament

00:42:27It dates back to the bygone era

00:42:29of Tony Pulis

00:42:30whose cultural contribution

00:42:31is perhaps best summed up

00:42:32by the descriptive

00:42:33Goldie looking chain lyric

00:42:34in tribute to the man himself

00:42:36Tony Pulis

00:42:37a hell of a bloke

00:42:38Tony Pulis

00:42:38he manages Stoke

00:42:40But football hard men aside

00:42:42Staffordshire has indeed

00:42:43shaped the cultural texture

00:42:45of Britain for centuries

00:42:46and not just

00:42:47with its famous ceramics

00:42:48although I'll start there

00:42:49In the 18th century

00:42:51visionary potters

00:42:52like Josiah Wedgwood

00:42:53revolutionised pottery

00:42:55making Stoke-on-Trent

00:42:56a world famous

00:42:57centre of excellence

00:42:58Wedgwood was so good

00:42:59he became known

00:43:00as the Queen's Potter

00:43:01proof that even back then

00:43:03Staffordshire knew

00:43:04how to make

00:43:05a good royal impression

00:43:06In literature

00:43:07Hanley-born Arnold Bennett

00:43:08captured the working class

00:43:10life of industrial Britain

00:43:11in a way that still

00:43:12resonates with readers

00:43:13today

00:43:13In the post-industrial era

00:43:16Staffordshire has continued

00:43:17to enrich our culture

00:43:18I'm sure that

00:43:19Take That would never

00:43:20have reached the heights

00:43:21of success they achieved

00:43:22in the 2000s

00:43:23and indeed the 1990s

00:43:24were it not

00:43:25for Staffordshire's

00:43:26very own Robbie Williams

00:43:28Staffordshire's cultural scene

00:43:30is alive and well today

00:43:31The Litchfield Festival

00:43:32continues to bring together

00:43:33music, theatre

00:43:34and literature

00:43:35in the county

00:43:35Each year it draws crowds

00:43:37to historic venues

00:43:38like Litchfield Cathedral

00:43:39with world-class performances

00:43:41Liberal Democrats

00:43:43are arguing for investment

00:43:44in extracurricular activities

00:43:45for children

00:43:46such as sport, music

00:43:47and drama

00:43:48Now without that

00:43:49we cannot expect

00:43:49the next Robbie Williams

00:43:50or Josiah Wedgwood

00:43:52to pursue a career

00:43:53in arts and crafts

00:43:53and where will the next

00:43:55throw-in specialist

00:43:55come from

00:43:56if sports facilities

00:43:57in Staffordshire

00:43:58do not receive

00:43:59the necessary investment

00:44:00We must also recognise

00:44:02that so much

00:44:02of our cultural sector

00:44:03is supported by

00:44:04local authority funding

00:44:05Discretionary spending

00:44:07on culture

00:44:07is often the first place

00:44:08spending is cut

00:44:09and that trend

00:44:10must cease

00:44:11if Staffordshire

00:44:12and everywhere else

00:44:13is to thrive culturally

00:44:14We would also protect

00:44:16the independence

00:44:17of arts funding

00:44:17so that it can no longer

00:44:18be exposed

00:44:19to political interference

00:44:20that we've seen

00:44:21over the last few years

00:44:22We'd introduce

00:44:23cultural creative enterprise zones

00:44:24to stimulate growth

00:44:25and local authorities

00:44:27must be given the tools

00:44:28to protect

00:44:28their cherished heritage

00:44:29In Staffordshire

00:44:30that would mean

00:44:31protecting the county's

00:44:32beautiful manor houses

00:44:33mills, castles

00:44:33and so much more

00:44:34which brings me

00:44:36to tourism

00:44:36Staffordshire's theme parks

00:44:38offer a host

00:44:39of roller coasters

00:44:40Alton Towers

00:44:41Drayton Manor

00:44:43where my wife tells me

00:44:45she spent the best

00:44:46birthday of her life

00:44:46aged seven

00:44:47So thanks to Staffordshire

00:44:49my annual efforts

00:44:50will never

00:44:51ever

00:44:52be quite good enough

00:44:53And I'm told

00:44:55my colleague

00:44:55the right honore

00:44:56member for

00:44:56Kingston and Surbiton

00:44:57is also particularly

00:44:58thankful

00:44:59for the contribution

00:45:00to public life

00:45:01of theme parks

00:45:02although I understand

00:45:03he's yet to visit

00:45:04Alton Towers

00:45:04Time to invite him

00:45:07Time to invite him

00:45:08These facilities

00:45:11are a major source

00:45:12of tourism

00:45:12for Staffordshire

00:45:13and they bring

00:45:14a considerable number

00:45:15of jobs

00:45:15to the local economy

00:45:16The tourism industry

00:45:18needs the proper support

00:45:20and it deserves that

00:45:22So the Liberal Democrats

00:45:23would upgrade

00:45:24the tourism

00:45:24functioning government

00:45:26with a dedicated

00:45:26minister

00:45:27for tourism

00:45:28and hospitality

00:45:29This would give

00:45:30a bigger voice

00:45:30in government

00:45:31to a sector

00:45:31which not only

00:45:32supports our

00:45:33global soft power

00:45:34but also contributes

00:45:35£58 billion

00:45:36to the economy

00:45:37each year

00:45:38Now to close

00:45:39Mrs Furness

00:45:40with your indulgence

00:45:41I will touch briefly

00:45:42on one telling

00:45:42contribution made

00:45:43by Staffordshire

00:45:44to the last

00:45:44general election

00:45:45Liberal Democrats

00:45:46are extremely thankful

00:45:47for the role played

00:45:49by Yarnfield Park

00:45:50and its staff

00:45:51where we hosted

00:45:52a series of secret

00:45:53training briefings

00:45:54for our candidates

00:45:55between the pandemic

00:45:57lockdown

00:45:57and our successful

00:45:592024 general election campaign

00:46:01If nothing else

00:46:03surely that is a testament

00:46:04to how truly inspiring

00:46:05the culture

00:46:06of Staffordshire can be

00:46:07Opposition Spokesperson

00:46:10Sajid Bharti

00:46:11Thank you

00:46:12Miss Furness

00:46:13It's a pleasure

00:46:14to serve under

00:46:14your chairmanship

00:46:15and I wish you

00:46:16and every member

00:46:16in advance of Staffordshire Day

00:46:18a very happy

00:46:19Staffordshire Day

00:46:20and I wish to congratulate

00:46:22the honourable member

00:46:22for Stafford

00:46:23on securing this debate

00:46:24and I thank her

00:46:25for her opening remarks

00:46:26who took us on

00:46:27an engaging tour

00:46:28of Staffordshire

00:46:29throughout her contribution

00:46:30as did a lot of members

00:46:31across the House

00:46:33and in particular

00:46:33I want to highlight

00:46:34the contributions

00:46:35from my honourable friend

00:46:36from King Swinford

00:46:36in South Staffordshire

00:46:37the right honourable member

00:46:39for Staffordshire

00:46:40Moreland

00:46:41and of course

00:46:41my right honourable friend

00:46:42for Stone

00:46:42Great Worley

00:46:44and Penkridge

00:46:44who was certainly

00:46:45not shy

00:46:46about his passion

00:46:47for his constituency

00:46:49it is vital

00:46:50that we recognise

00:46:51the cultural contributions

00:46:53that the many

00:46:53counties across

00:46:54Britain have to offer

00:46:56and Staffordshire

00:46:57has made a wealth

00:46:58of contributions

00:46:59to our industrial

00:47:00artistic

00:47:00and sporting heritage

00:47:01it's therefore

00:47:02privileged to have

00:47:03this opportunity today

00:47:04to bring attention

00:47:05to a number

00:47:06of these contributions

00:47:06as we've heard

00:47:07Staffordshire's recorded

00:47:09history traces back

00:47:10to the early

00:47:10medieval period

00:47:11when the area

00:47:12was first settled

00:47:13by the Anglo-Saxons

00:47:14with Tamworth

00:47:15as the capital

00:47:15of the ancient

00:47:16Kingdom of Mercia

00:47:17the area quickly

00:47:18rose to prominence

00:47:19as a frequent

00:47:20battleground

00:47:21between the Anglo-Saxons

00:47:22and the invading Danes

00:47:23before being settled

00:47:24by the conquering Normans

00:47:25Tamworth Castle

00:47:26was built on top

00:47:28of the remnants

00:47:29of this royal residence

00:47:30and it continues

00:47:30to stand to this day

00:47:31having seen nearly

00:47:32a thousand years

00:47:33of the county's history

00:47:35pass through its halls

00:47:36I'd also be remiss of me

00:47:38not to mention

00:47:38one of Staffordshire's

00:47:39most recognisable

00:47:40cultural contributions

00:47:42which we've heard

00:47:43a lot about today

00:47:44the potteries

00:47:44as the largest producer

00:47:46of ceramics in Britain

00:47:46Staffordshire housed

00:47:47hundreds of family businesses

00:47:48making all kinds of pottery

00:47:50from humble tableware

00:47:51to the most intricate

00:47:52of decorative pieces

00:47:53many of which

00:47:54still remain to this day

00:47:55and while the industry

00:47:56may not quite be

00:47:57at the heights

00:47:57that it once was

00:47:58local people

00:47:59have worked tirelessly

00:48:00to keep the heritage

00:48:01of Staffordshire's potteries

00:48:02alive through the many museums

00:48:03and the art galleries

00:48:04dedicated to ceramics

00:48:06equally as historic

00:48:08is the county's brewery industry

00:48:09and particularly

00:48:10the many breweries

00:48:11of Burton-upon-Trent

00:48:12the town's brewing industry

00:48:14dates as far back

00:48:14to the founding

00:48:15of Burton Abbey

00:48:16in the 11th century

00:48:17and the early efforts

00:48:18of local monks

00:48:18to brew beer

00:48:19Burton ales grew

00:48:20over the centuries

00:48:21into a thriving export

00:48:22and a global phenomenon

00:48:23with even the likes

00:48:25of the Empress of Russia

00:48:26Catherine the Great

00:48:26having said to have been

00:48:27immoderately fond

00:48:29of beer brewed in Burton

00:48:30The industry went from strength

00:48:32to strength in the industrial age

00:48:33with one of the town's

00:48:34largest beer makers

00:48:35Samuel Alsop and Sons

00:48:37became the first company

00:48:39to export Burton pale ale

00:48:40to India in 1822

00:48:42While ceramics and brewing art

00:48:44are two of Staffordshire's

00:48:45most famous cultural contributions

00:48:46there remains a wealth

00:48:47of other historical treasures

00:48:49that the county

00:48:49can be proud of

00:48:50Chief among these

00:48:51includes the Court of Minstrels

00:48:53a medieval institution

00:48:54dating back to the Royal Court

00:48:55of John of Gaunt

00:48:57in the 14th century

00:48:58bringing together travelling musicians

00:48:59from across the region

00:49:00This musical legacy

00:49:01can still be seen

00:49:02in the county to this day

00:49:03with the friends

00:49:04of Staffordshire's

00:49:05young musicians

00:49:06and other organisations

00:49:07continuing to promote

00:49:08local musical talent

00:49:09and of course

00:49:10with Stoke and Trent

00:49:11being the birthplace

00:49:11of the iconic Robbie Williams

00:49:13Turning to sports too

00:49:15Staffordshire has a living history

00:49:16of cultural contributions

00:49:17Two of the country's

00:49:18oldest professional football clubs

00:49:20Stoke City and Port Vale

00:49:21were founded in Staffordshire

00:49:23with Stoke City

00:49:24having been one of the

00:49:25founding members

00:49:25of the Football League

00:49:26in 1888

00:49:28Now Miss Fairness

00:49:29the two clubs

00:49:30continue to uphold

00:49:32their healthy rivalry

00:49:33and my staff member

00:49:35Greg Ellis

00:49:36who's in the gallery today

00:49:37who helped me write this

00:49:38and is a disgruntled

00:49:40Stoke City fan

00:49:41wanted me to put on record

00:49:43that although Stoke City's

00:49:44more recent performances

00:49:45leave much to be desired

00:49:46in contrast to Port Vale

00:49:48leave much to be desired

00:49:50in contrast to Port Vale

00:49:51who have just been promoted

00:49:51to League One

00:49:52Of course as a tortured

00:49:53Man United fan

00:49:54I cast no opinion

00:49:55on these matters

00:49:56Staffordshire can boast

00:49:58an equally impressive record

00:49:59in cricket

00:49:59the Staffordshire County

00:50:00Cricket Club

00:50:01already having won

00:50:02the National Counties

00:50:03Championship

00:50:04more times

00:50:05than any other county

00:50:06and all of these contributions

00:50:08and many more

00:50:08are valuable additions

00:50:09to our cultural heritage

00:50:10culture is a living thing

00:50:12and requires the care

00:50:13and dedication

00:50:13of local communities

00:50:14to keep it thriving

00:50:15and I'd like to pay tribute

00:50:16to some of the local

00:50:17elected representatives

00:50:18who in recent years

00:50:20have made significant contributions

00:50:22to the regeneration

00:50:23of the historic county

00:50:24we see this

00:50:25in the £17 million

00:50:25secured for the regeneration

00:50:27of Leake Town Centre

00:50:28by the Right Honourable Friend

00:50:29for Staffordshire Morelands

00:50:30the £56 million

00:50:31for the regeneration

00:50:32of Stoke and Trent

00:50:33secured by the former MPs

00:50:35Jonathan Gullis

00:50:35Jack Brereton

00:50:36and Joe Gideon

00:50:37and delivered under the leadership

00:50:38of Councillor Abbey Brown

00:50:39and the delivery

00:50:40of over £50 million

00:50:41in Newcastle under Lyme

00:50:42under the leadership

00:50:42of Councillor Simon Tagg

00:50:44to name a few

00:50:44and I'd also like to pay tribute

00:50:46to the outstanding work

00:50:47of Councillor Alan White

00:50:48and his Conservative administration

00:50:49leading Staffordshire County Council

00:50:51to deliver efficient services

00:50:52without eye-watering levels

00:50:54of taxation

00:50:54that we see

00:50:55in other local authorities

00:50:56but it's not only

00:50:57the inhabitants

00:50:58of Staffordshire

00:50:58who recognise

00:50:59the cultural heritage

00:51:00is home to

00:51:01but the millions of tourists

00:51:02who visit each year

00:51:03the most recent data available

00:51:04showed that 2023

00:51:05was the county's busiest year

00:51:07since the pandemic

00:51:08with 37 million people

00:51:10including both domestic

00:51:11and international tourists

00:51:12visiting the area

00:51:12tourism generated

00:51:14£2.3 billion

00:51:14for the local economy

00:51:16It's a pleasure to serve

00:51:19under your chairship

00:51:21Ms Furness

00:51:22and I'm pleased to respond

00:51:23to this debate

00:51:24on behalf of the Minister

00:51:26for Creative Industries

00:51:27Arts and Tourism

00:51:28and I did warn him

00:51:30that I might have to

00:51:31commit him to some stuff

00:51:32when responding to this

00:51:33and at the moment

00:51:34I'm just committing

00:51:37to writing to the member

00:51:38for Stoke-on-Trent South

00:51:39to write to her

00:51:40about the UNESCO

00:51:43bid the UNESCO

00:51:48Creative City

00:51:48for craft

00:51:49and recognising it

00:51:51and I will make sure

00:51:51that the Minister

00:51:52responds to her

00:51:53I want to congratulate

00:51:55the honourable friend

00:51:57the member for Stafford

00:51:59for securing this debate

00:52:00for delivering

00:52:02a powerful speech

00:52:03highlighting the wonders

00:52:05of Staffordshire

00:52:06but also what is

00:52:07extremely impressive

00:52:08is the number of people

00:52:10who have wanted

00:52:11to contribute

00:52:11to this debate

00:52:13and Staffordshire

00:52:16is responsible

00:52:17for some truly

00:52:18significant contributions

00:52:19to the culture

00:52:20of Britain

00:52:20and beyond

00:52:22both historically

00:52:23and in the present day

00:52:25my own mother friend

00:52:27mentioned a number

00:52:28of wonderful examples

00:52:29but I wanted to add

00:52:31to her affections

00:52:32there is for example

00:52:33the Staffordshire hoard

00:52:35discovered in 2009

00:52:36which is the largest hoard

00:52:39of Anglo-Saxon gold

00:52:40and metal work ever found

00:52:41and shows the historical

00:52:43importance

00:52:44even in early

00:52:46medieval times

00:52:47Samuel Johnson

00:52:49the influential

00:52:50lexicographer

00:52:52and writer

00:52:53was born in Litchfield

00:52:55his first ever

00:52:56dictionary

00:52:57of the English language

00:52:58was a foundational

00:53:00work

00:53:01he also rewrote

00:53:02the works

00:53:02the plays of

00:53:03William Shakespeare

00:53:04to ensure

00:53:05all discrepancies

00:53:07were written out

00:53:07now this is something

00:53:08that I found

00:53:09extremely interesting

00:53:10as somebody

00:53:11who performed

00:53:11who has studied

00:53:13performing arts

00:53:14at college

00:53:14and drama

00:53:15and business

00:53:16at university

00:53:17and Staffordshire

00:53:19is world famous

00:53:20for its ceramics industry

00:53:22as the honourable

00:53:23friends

00:53:24for so called

00:53:25Trent

00:53:25so eloquently

00:53:27put

00:53:28Josiah Wedgwood

00:53:29revolutionised pottery

00:53:31in the 18th century

00:53:33with industrial methods

00:53:34and high quality

00:53:36and high quality wares

00:53:36his legacy

00:53:37is celebrated today

00:53:39at the Wedgwood

00:53:40collection

00:53:41at Barleston

00:53:42operated by the VANA

00:53:44one of our great

00:53:46national museums

00:53:48and perhaps more than

00:53:50anywhere else

00:53:51Staffordshire

00:53:52with its pottery

00:53:52is a compelling example

00:53:55of how culture

00:53:57creativity

00:53:58go hand in hand

00:54:00and this government

00:54:01is committed

00:54:02to supporting culture

00:54:03and making sure

00:54:04that arts

00:54:05and cultural activities

00:54:06will no longer

00:54:08be the preserve

00:54:09of a privileged few

00:54:11and as part of our

00:54:12plan for change

00:54:13we are committed

00:54:14to ensuring

00:54:14that arts and culture

00:54:15thrives

00:54:16in every part

00:54:17of the country

00:54:18with more opportunities

00:54:20for more people

00:54:20to engage

00:54:21benefit from

00:54:22and work in arts

00:54:24and culture

00:54:24where they live

00:54:25I can't get through

00:54:26this speech

00:54:27if I do

00:54:27I'm sorry

00:54:27and that is why

00:54:29this government

00:54:30is proud to support

00:54:31arts and culture

00:54:32only recently

00:54:33we have announced

00:54:34over 270 million

00:54:35of investment

00:54:36for our arts venues

00:54:37museums

00:54:38libraries

00:54:39and our heritage sector

00:54:40via the Arts Everywhere Fund

00:54:42and the 85 million

00:54:44Creative Foundations Fund

00:54:46announced earlier this year

00:54:48will help arts

00:54:49and cultural organisations

00:54:51with various scales

00:54:52of need

00:54:53resolve urgent issues

00:54:55with their infrastructure

00:54:56I will give way

00:54:57I think the Minister

00:54:59makes a very important

00:55:00point about

00:55:01actually making sure

00:55:02areas outside of London

00:55:03are able to get

00:55:04an important slice

00:55:05of cultural contributions

00:55:06and actually

00:55:07would the Minister

00:55:08as for the actual

00:55:09Minister from DCMS

00:55:11isn't here

00:55:11actually go back

00:55:12with representations

00:55:13about how you can

00:55:14bring some of those

00:55:14London cultural institutions

00:55:16out of London

00:55:17to places such as

00:55:18Staffordshire

00:55:19whether that is

00:55:19not just

00:55:20Stone Great William Penkerage

00:55:21but many other communities

00:55:22right across Staffordshire

00:55:23I think the Honourable Member

00:55:25makes a really good point

00:55:27and I will feed that back

00:55:28there is some of my speech

00:55:30that I am just missing out

00:55:31and jumping to

00:55:32because I want the Member

00:55:33to have the opportunity

00:55:34to come back

00:55:36so I'm just going to finish

00:55:37in terms of saying

00:55:38and preparing

00:55:38and listening to this debate

00:55:41I may be tempted

00:55:43to ditch my beach holiday

00:55:45in the future

00:55:46and instead take a trip

00:55:47to Staffordshire

00:55:48I could join my friend

00:55:50the Member for Stoke

00:55:51on Trent Central

00:55:52for a pint

00:55:53in the Titanic Brewery

00:55:54I could join

00:55:55the Honourable Members

00:55:56for Kingswood

00:55:58and South Staffordshire

00:55:59to learn about

00:56:00the origins

00:56:01of the gunpowder plot

00:56:02then I could join

00:56:03the Honourable Member

00:56:05for Stoke on Trent South

00:56:08to go to the

00:56:09Lockton Pit Festival

00:56:11then I could watch

00:56:12a pantomime

00:56:13with the Member for Stoke

00:56:14for Great Whirly

00:56:16and Penbridge

00:56:18then I will join

00:56:20the Honourable Member

00:56:21for Newcastle Under Lime

00:56:22for some horse riding

00:56:26maybe with the father

00:56:28who's retiring

00:56:29very quick

00:56:32and when she comes

00:56:33to Staffordshire

00:56:34she'll meet

00:56:34some very wise people

00:56:35not least the folks

00:56:37who elected

00:56:37nine out of twelve

00:56:39Labour MPs

00:56:40at the general election

00:56:41many members

00:56:42have to scribble

00:56:43half their speeches away

00:56:44so can I ask the Minister

00:56:45when she goes back

00:56:46to colleagues

00:56:47to encourage

00:56:47government

00:56:48to find time

00:56:49for debate

00:56:49on these issues

00:56:50in government time

00:56:51I absolutely

00:56:53will make sure

00:56:54that I raise that point

00:56:55and good on the members

00:56:57in terms of

00:56:58pursuing me

00:56:58to get the Minister

00:56:59to have to commit

00:57:00to many things

00:57:01anyway

00:57:02then I will go

00:57:03and join the

00:57:03Honourable Member

00:57:04for Staffordshire

00:57:05Morelands

00:57:05for a history lesson

00:57:06in architecture

00:57:07and I think she also

00:57:08said Alton Towers

00:57:10which is somewhere

00:57:11that I used to go

00:57:11as a child

00:57:12and have very fond memories

00:57:14and who couldn't love

00:57:16a castle

00:57:17so I'll join

00:57:18the Honourable Member

00:57:18for Tamworth

00:57:19to visit Tamworth Council

00:57:21now by this stage

00:57:22I'm probably ready

00:57:24for another beer

00:57:25so best do a visit

00:57:26to the brewing capital

00:57:27of the world

00:57:28so a visit to Burton

00:57:29and Utoxeter

00:57:31and in finishing

00:57:32the Member

00:57:33for Cannock Chase

00:57:34convinced me

00:57:36that we need

00:57:37to make sure

00:57:37that we get the funding

00:57:38in terms of our theatres

00:57:40I feel very strong

00:57:41and passionate

00:57:42about theatres

00:57:42I know that

00:57:43the Minister does

00:57:44now I'm absolutely

00:57:46certain

00:57:46there's nowhere else

00:57:47that we might need

00:57:48to be

00:57:49on the 1st of May

00:57:51but if there was

00:57:52it would be

00:57:52Staffordshire

00:57:53and I just wish

00:57:54everybody a happy

00:57:55Staffordshire Day

00:57:57Lynn Ingram

00:57:59to wind up please

00:58:00I'd like to

00:58:02thank all members

00:58:03for attending today

00:58:04and participating

00:58:05in this debate

00:58:06I didn't know

00:58:06everything about

00:58:07all of your constituencies

00:58:08other Honourable

00:58:09Members constituencies

00:58:10as well

00:58:11so it was wonderful

00:58:12to hear of those

00:58:13so I thank the members

00:58:14for South Staff

00:58:15Stoke-on-Trent Central

00:58:16Staffordshire Morelands

00:58:18Stone Great William Penkridge

00:58:19Stoke-on-Trent South

00:58:20Cannock Chase

00:58:21Newcastle in the Line

00:58:22Tamworth

00:58:22Burton and Utoxeter

00:58:23we're only missing

00:58:24two MPs

00:58:25so I think

00:58:26today we've had

00:58:27great representation

00:58:27for Staffordshire

00:58:28from across the county

00:58:30I think we've represented

00:58:31well the entirety

00:58:32of what's taking place

00:58:33and I think

00:58:34our optimism

00:58:35for the future

00:58:36for investing

00:58:36in our creative sector

00:58:38our creative industries

00:58:39has come through

00:58:40really clearly

00:58:40it's important

00:58:41that we nurture

00:58:42that talent

00:58:43we ensure

00:58:44that those of us

00:58:45that are based

00:58:45outside of London

00:58:46who have creative hubs

00:58:47in our constituencies

00:58:48are able to cultivate

00:58:50that moving forward

00:58:51so I thank the Minister

00:58:52for their response

00:58:53and I appreciate

00:58:53the further responses

00:58:54that she will receive

00:58:56as I said

00:58:57on the 1st of May

00:58:57it's Staffordshire Day

00:58:58it's a day to celebrate

00:58:59there's lots of things

00:59:00to do on Staffordshire

00:59:01across Staffordshire

00:59:02include go to the polling station

00:59:04thank you very much

00:59:05thank you very much everyone

00:59:06the question is

00:59:08that this house

00:59:08is considered

00:59:09the cultural contribution

00:59:10of Staffordshire

00:59:11as many as of that opinion

00:59:13say aye

00:59:15aye

00:59:15on the contrary

00:59:17no

00:59:17I think the no's have it

00:59:19order order

00:59:20the aye's have it

00:59:22yeah sorry

00:59:22the aye's have it

00:59:24I've been

00:59:25this is three hours

00:59:26I've done here

00:59:26I'll have you know

00:59:27it's hard work

00:59:28yeah

00:59:30order order

00:59:31the sitting stands

00:59:32adjourned

00:59:33all right

Westminster_Hall_29_04_25_16_30_00 (1)

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