2026: Week 35 - Back to Westminster

Parliament is now in full swing after the recess; it was a fantastic summer which afforded me the opportunity to travel around the constituency holding pop up surgeries. I’ve lost count of how many people I spoke to, but it has given me an awful lot to think about and bring back to Westminster!

We are now moving back into more structured routines; children are heading back to school, the summer is coming to an end and autumn is approaching.

It is a relief that the weather has turned a little cooler, but we must not be complacent, we may experience more severe weather events in the coming months in the form of high winds, storms and floods.  For too long successive Governments have stuck their heads in the sand when it comes to climate change, now is the time for action to try to minimise the future environmental crisis. 

Two weeks ago, the Lib Dems wrote to the new Prime Minister proposing a meeting of the UK’s party leaders “to discuss the long-term measures needed to protect our country from climate impacts and build resilience to the extreme weather we are already experiencing”. To date no response has been received, which is extremely disappointing. 

On the same theme I spoke in a debate around ecosystem collapse and biodiversity loss.  This is a subject that I have been contacted about by a huge number of my constituents. 

Here in Devon, we are lucky to have bountiful green spaces and a rich wildlife population, but it is at risk.  In recent years we have seen ecosystems across the UK face destruction due to climate change, most recently with the wildfires that have broken out across the UK, with some close to home in Exeter.  The loss of biodiversity was catastrophic, and a recent report on Devon wildlife sites found that 52% of sites were in unfavourable management and a further 14% also had an unfavourable condition. Whilst Devon County Council is working to help improve these numbers, we need a joined up national approach to secure the long-term future of our eco-systems.

The loss of biodiversity doesn’t just affect isolated, rural sites.  It will affect the local fishing economy, unique sites like Dartmoor, and Dawlish Warren which has long faced threats of collapse.

I have been consulting with local people for many months now to hear their concerns face to face, including attending as many screenings as possible of the People’s Emergency Briefing which I encourage everyone to see.

Cross party talks and co-operation have to be achieved, not only to ensure the UK is prepared for what is coming, but crucially to look at ways we can mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss in the future.

Along with my fellow Lib Dem MPs I will be keeping the pressure on the Government on this issue, I’ll provide updates as and when they come.