2025: Week 15 - Back to Westminster
After a lovely 2 weeks in the constituency whilst Parliament was on its Easter recess (albeit with a brief recall to discuss all things steel), I caught the early train to London with a spring in my step, no doubt helped by the beautiful weather!
The Government have given themselves unprecedented powers to run British steel and Ministers must now use them judiciously. At this point, they must work tirelessly to make sure the furnaces don’t go cold. We will constructively hold the Government to account on how they use these powers after Ministers agreed to our demands for a substantial debate in Parliament every six months. More broadly, this must be the first step of a serious plan to get our steel industry back on track. We must stand strong with our allies against Trump’s steel tariffs and negotiate new trade deals to boost our steel exports. We should also be designating steel as a nationally strategic asset, backed by a comprehensive plan to use more British steel in vital infrastructure projects, from defence to renewable energy. We need a sustainable future for domestic steel production.
On Tuesday I took part in a Westminster Hall debate which discussed Residential estate Management companies. It has become commonplace that when a new estate has been built, the management of that estate is passed on to a private management company who can then charge residents whatever they like for their services. I have had numerous constituents contact me regarding these companies and their unfair practices, lack of transparency and unexplained price increases. In one instance a management company is receiving over £70,000 a year from one estate and the only evidence of management is the green spaces are mown a few times a year.
Liberal Democrats have long called for leasehold reform. In short, the current system of leaseholds is archaic, feudal, and needs to be abolished. All existing residential leaseholds should be converted to either freeholds or commonholds, where appropriate.
I’m happy to say that I’ve secured a Westminster Hall debate on Parking Regulation, where I, alongside the Honourable Member for Derby South, Baggy Shanker will be asking Ministers to implement a truly independent regulator for private parking companies to create a fair and transparent system that is accessible to all. Currently these operators play by their own rules, make it as difficult as possible for people to appeal a parking charge notice and when it comes to regulation of the industry, they essentially regulate themselves which leads to no accountability! I have been fighting to change that since I was elected, I hope this debate is the starting point for that change.
Finally I’d like to express my condolences after the news that Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday. Regardless of whether you follow the Catholic faith or not, it cannot be denied that he was a progressive Church leader and one who showed compassion to all. My sympathies are with anyone who is grieving this loss.