Dear Constituent,
Next week is the Autumn Statement which I fear will be a huge tax raising budget. This is despite the news recently that inflation had fallen to 1.7% in the year to September, below the Bank of England’s target. These tax rises will hit hard-working people and the vulnerable, such as the scrapping of the winter fuel allowance. We intend to hand the petition against this policy to Downing Street before the budget, so you only have a few days left to sign it. Please encourage friends and family to support the campaign too: www.whatlaboursaid.com
This weekend is the launch of the Royal British Legion’s 2024 Poppy Appeal and I look forward to selling poppies in Liphook tomorrow morning. I will also be out and about meeting constituents ahead of next week’s budget announcement. If you do see me, please say hello!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do send me an email via [email protected], and my team and I will endeavour to help where possible.
With every good wish,
WHAT'S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER
SUPPORTING PUBS AND THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
Each week, I have the privilege of visiting a variety of businesses across Surrey and Hampshire. Recently I met David Lee, owner of the Holly Bush in Frensham - a frequent stop for my campaign team after a long day knocking on doors. These visits are invaluable; in fact, they directly inform my work in Parliament. This week, I took part in a Westminster Hall debate on Pubs and Hospitality, where I advocated for the Chancellor to consider Mr Lee's suggestion of removing VAT on fresh ‘farm to fork’ produce in the Budget, which by the time you read this, will have already been announced.
DEFENCE AND SECURITY
This week has been a defence and security focused week in Parliament. On Monday questioned ministers in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
After news last month that the Foreign Secretary has agreed to hand the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, I asked the Minister what assessment his Department had made of China's increasing engagement in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
The Minister’s response unfortunately demonstrated a lack of awareness or concern over the seriousness of the threat from China, a view which seems to run through this new government.
I also met Hong Kong Watch representatives to better understand how British National Overseas (BNO) visas holders will gain access to frozen assets in Hong Kong.
I will be pressing the Government to secure money held by the Chinese Government in Hong Kong and ensure it is given to those on BNO visas holders in the UK - another example of China Communist transnational oppression.
CHARITY MEETINGS IN PARLIAMENT
Constituents often write to to ask me to meet with important charities and campaign groups. I always try to find time in the parliamentary week to do so, to ensure that I understand these important issues.
British Citizens who live in Canada are victims of the frozen pensions scheme and so signed a letter to the Prime Minister calling for him to meet 100-year old Anne, the face of the campaign on her final cross-Atlantic visit from Canada. Anne uniquely and rather wonderfully served in the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy during the Second World War and but has not had the same increases such as the Triple Lock and other security and earns £76 per week compared to her UK-based pensioner peers.
Moreover, in my new capacity as a Member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, I visited Radiotherapy UK and Target Ovarian Cancer to understand barriers facing key health support providers and support their calls to the Health Secretary.
I also learned how British Gas are supporting pensioners with grants worth up to £1,700 to support with bills this winter.
Link to British Gas support: https://www.britishgas.co.uk/energy/help-with-bills/british-gas-energy-support-fund.html
Finally, I stopped by the APPG for animal and human victims to show my support to the role that animals play in abuse victim support. Animals can help with rehabilitation and therapy support to those abuse victims.
Meeting charities to discuss advocacy work in Parliament is essential to my role and gives me better understanding of the wider support available to my constituents for all types of concerns and issues.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN FARNHAM AND BORDON
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS MEETING AHEAD OF THE BUDGET
It is clear that Labour’s plans to impose VAT on our independent schools sector would have a disastrous impact on schoolchildren across the country, nearly three thousand of which are in Farnham and Bordon. I invited parents, headteachers and governors to a meeting in Farnham with Jeremy Hunt MP (Shadow Chancellor) and Damian Hinds MP (Shadow Education Secretary) to have an open discussion on the views of those in our local area.
Everyone that attended the meeting shared the same position: this policy is fundamentally a bad idea. I was grateful to Jeremy and Damian for setting out the national picture so clear which unquestionably shows there are now economic grounds to justify imposing these taxes.
Not only does this run this risk of overwhelming our state sector, but those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) will be especially at risk. After this meeting I have written to the Chancellor and Secretary of State for Education to firmly put forward these concerns ahead of the Budget next week.
With less than ninety days to go before these taxes are proposed to be implemented, we are still waiting to see that the Government has conducted an official impact assessment. Yesterday I put this question to them again - raising the precarity of the SEND situation - and received a lacklustre response. You can see this on the video below.
ENGAGING WITH LOCAL LEADERS
Cllr Nick Adams-King, Leader of Hampshire County Council, met me in the Hogmoor Inclosure on Friday to discuss recent events in the county. As I hope residents of the Hampshire side of my seat have seen, the campaign to keep the Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Bordon open was recently successful, with the support of local representatives and those that completed my survey earlier in the year. I am grateful to have had continued contact with Nick about the tip since my election and I am very pleased to have delivered on this for the town.
We talked about other projects in the area, including the proposals for the Rail-Bus link in Bordon with Liphook train station, the Future Skills Centre and the overall development in Whitehill and Bordon. It is anticipated the upcoming Budget will have some financial implications for local authorities across the country; while I have significant concerns about the Budget itself it was reassuring to know Cllr Adams-King and his team have a full grasp over potential outcomes for Hampshire, and he is aware that I will gladly offer my support wherever appropriate.
'BEACON OF PEACE' WALK
I joined local charities from across the area on the ‘Beacon of Peace’ sponsored walk in Bordon, organised by our local Ahmadiyya community. The event raises funds to aid the work of local groups to support our community; it was wonderful to see how successful the event was and how the hard work of all the volunteers brought together so many charities.
Around the Enclosure were numerous marshals, water stands and snacks, with a delicious biryani available at the end. Well done to everyone involved.
NEW SPORTING ENTERPRISE IN BORDON
Star Padel in Bordon celebrated its official opening at the weekend and I was delighted to cut the ribbon to open one of their courts. This new local independent business has already started attracting keen padel players from far and wide and I was impressed to see people of all ages in attendance.
Jasper and Annie - the enthusiastic proprietors - have put their all into this and I am so pleased their soft launch went well before the official opening. As a part of their commitment to the local area, they are offering a discount to residents with GU35 0 & GU35 9 post codes.
It was an upbeat atmosphere on the day, as I am told is frequently the case courtside - especially on their informal pizza nights around their covered cosy seating area.
SUPPORTING YOU IN OUR COMMUNITY
I meet constituents on a regular basis to have a face-to-face conversation about their specific concerns. Last week, I hosted a surgery in Bordon for an afternoon where I spoke with individuals about recycling, the NHS, food security, adoption issues and concerns over housing.
The meetings provide an opportunity to get a full understanding of where I can offer my support and make the appropriate representations. I hold surgeries both at my office and around the constituency to ensure who are not able to travel far from their homes are able to speak with me should they need it. Please drop me a line if you’d like to come to one of my surgeries.
