2026: Week 15 - Back to Westminster
Parliament returned from the Easter recess last week into a world that feels increasingly volatile. From the corridors of Westminster to the shores of the Middle East, the pace of events has been relentless, but my focus remains firmly on how these global shifts and government failings impact us here in our part of Devon.
International news has been dominated by the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. While Keir Starmer has rightly ruled out UK participation, this escalation severely undermines an already fragile ceasefire. Conversely, there is a glimmer of hope following the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. We must use this window to push for a lasting peace that allows families on both sides of the border to return to their homes.
Closer to home, the Prime Minister is facing a serious crisis of judgement. It has been revealed that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting, yet the decision was overruled by the Foreign Office to ensure his appointment as Ambassador to the US. The buck stops with the Prime Minister. It appears he failed to verify his security clearance. This is not just a clerical error; it is a catastrophic lapse that potentially endangers national security. If it emerges that the Prime Minister deliberately misled Parliament on this matter, his position becomes untenable.
Back in the constituency, we are tackling a growing crisis in primary care. Shocking statistics revealed last week show that since 2015, GP surgeries in Teignbridge have seen a 24.95% increase in the households they serve, which is an extra 939 families per surgery. Our local NHS is being pushed to the brink. We have all seen promised surgeries on new estates vanish into thin air. That is why the Liberal Democrats are launching a campaign for a GP Guarantee. We believe no new homes should be built without guaranteed expansion of healthcare services. Under our plan, facilities must be open the moment the first residents move in, and developers must be responsible for funding the doctors instead of just the bricks and mortar. We need infrastructure first rather than as an afterthought.
On Thursday I led a crucial Westminster Hall debate on the NHS Federated Data Platform and the £330m+ contract awarded to the US firm Palantir. I have been clear that this is the wrong system, the wrong solution, and the wrong supplier. This subscription-only deal leaves the NHS with no intellectual property of its own, creating a permanent lock-in to a US monopoly. It is the "Emperor’s New Clothes" of digital policy.
I am pleased to report that following the debate, the Minister officially recognised the need for a review and has opened the door to reconsidering the contract at the three-year break point. I will be working tirelessly to ensure that British sovereign technology built by local suppliers is given the chance to fill this role. We must keep NHS data safe, secure, and under our own control.
As ever, if you need assistance or wish to share your views, please contact me at martin.wrigley.mp@parliament.uk or call 01626 886520. You can also sign up for my newsletter at newtonabbotlibdems.org.uk/martin-wrigley.