2026: Week 13 - Out and about in the constituency
This week was the first full week of the Easter recess so I’ve made the most of being in the constituency and catching up with local issues and events.
At the weekend I was happy to go along and support the new Teignmouth Youth Council at their meet and greet session. The Youth Council is a new initiative from the Town Council, designed to introduce young people to local Government and the fundamentals of democracy, but also to empower them and show them that they can make a difference to their communities. Being a member of the Youth Council can offer so many experiences, from teamwork, fundraising, financial and budgetary responsibility, to learning how a small group of people can positively impact the community around them.
It was amazing to see so many people, young and old, engaging with this initiative; I will always support programmes like this to encourage the councillors and possible MPs of the future!
A few days later I was invited to attend a meeting of Andy’s Man Club in Newton Abbot. If you haven’t heard of them, Andy’s Man Club is a charitable organisation set up to offer free, weekly peer to peer support groups for men struggling with their mental health. These groups run across the country, on a Monday evening at 7pm (except bank holidays) and offer a safe space for men to open up about the issues and worries affecting their lives. It is a non-judgmental, non-clinical environment with no pressure for anyone to speak, but to offer help and friendship when needed.
These groups are run by dedicated volunteers and provide a vital service to men who so often find it difficult to speak about their mental wellbeing.
If you are male and find yourself struggling, I urge you to attend one of these groups, the men at the Newton Abbot branch were welcoming and offered nothing but kindness to everyone who attended that evening.
On a more national topic, Donald Trump’s idiotic war with Iran is making it far more expensive for people to get around. Families are paying more at the pump because of a war they didn’t start and don’t support. Liberal Democrats are calling for an emergency transport package to keep Britain moving, including an immediate cut in fuel duty to bring down prices at the pump by 12p per litre. We also want to see bus and train fares slashed and electric vehicle charging costs cut, to help people no matter how they travel.
The Treasury is on track to collect an extra £2 billion over the next three months as a result of higher fuel prices. The Chancellor should use that money to cut the cost of driving and public transport, to keep Britain moving.
We’re pressing the government to implement our plan for three months at first – but it should be kept under review. If the crisis drags on for longer and fuel prices stay high, our package could be extended until they come down, using the higher revenues from high fuel prices.