After two years in office MP reflects on highs and lows

It has been two dramatic years since Chris Webb was elected as the MP for Blackpool South – and he says they are 24 months he’ll never forget.

From the first crisis that hit Keir Starmer’s new Labour Government with the Winter Fuel Allowance furor, through the riots that saw political violence on the streets of Blackpool, and then the leadership upheaval within the Government itself, it hasn’t been dull.

He was caught up in the case of asylum seekers being housed in the Metropole Hotel and argued from the outset that it was not a fair place to put the families. He raised the issue in parliament and they are due to finally leave this month.

The Labour MP, who attended St Mary’s RC High School in the resort, says he has relished the chance to represent his home town in parliament and put the case for Blackpool at the highest levels.

He says he takes pride at some of his achievements but has also been frustrated at the time it takes for things to get done, both locally and in Whitehall itself.

Mr Webb says the issue which has given him the most pride was leading a major nationwide campaign to make baby formula more affordable and accessible.

The campaign’s efforts led to significant policy changes and government clarifications that food banks could be legally allowed to distribute baby formula to families in crisis, a major win for struggling low-income parents who could not afford it.

He said: “More broadly I’d say that I’m most proud of getting Blackpool listened to by Government and delivering over £150million investment on a range of projects.

“But a specific issue, I’d say would be the changes in the infant formula guidance and in getting the government to now ensure this can be stocked in foodbanks for families that need it, to make it more accessible and affordable.

“We’re changing the rules so now vouchers can be used to lower those prices and we’re working with supermarkets.

“But also working with manufacturers to deliver three million feeds to babies not just in Blackpool but across the country, who are struggling, to ensure they can get access to baby formula when they need it.”

The MP says the campaign arose from a personal experience which opened his eyes to something critical he hadn’t been aware of – sparked by him becoming a father himself in 2024.

After he and wife Portia had their first child, Cillian, in 2024, he was dispatched to the shop by his wife to buy baby formula.

He was shocked to discover how the item was being displayed, which led him to discover a hidden crisis in Blackpool.

THEY COULDN’T AFFORD BABY FOOD

Mr Webb said: “Becoming a dad for the first time was special for me, and we joined Facebook groups to ask questions at 3am when you’ve done everything you need to and your baby’s still screaming.

“At the end of a long day I went into a shop to buy baby formula and it was in a caged box. When I asked why they said baby formula was the number one item being stolen in that shop.

“We found that in the groups, more parents were asking to borrow a tin of baby formula at the end of the month or wanted help to buy one because they were struggling.

“I knew about quite a lot of things in the town but this opened my eyes to a hidden poverty in Blackpool, on a basic level. They couldn’t afford to feed their babies.”

He added: “That’s why I wanted to change the guidance from the Government to make sure they could get access from the foodbanks when they needed it, but also to make it more affordable.”

The MP says he has struggled to deal with procedural hold-ups and red tape which have meant that projects have taken far longer to get off the ground than he expected.

He said: “At council level and nationally, there have been some schemes which have barely moved on because things do not move fast enough.

“I’ve discovered that Whitehall does not lend itself to speed. But I believe that is starting to change.

“Despite that, after two years as an MP I’m more confident that things can get done for the good, not only across the country but here in Blackpool. It’s not disappointed me.”