I am happy to announce that I now have an office up and running in Newton Abbot. We have been able to move into a space next to Tucker Maltings and will now start doing surgeries by appointment in person, as well as the virtual ones we have done so far.
This week saw Liberal Democrat Parliamentary debates on ‘Carers allowance’ and ‘Access to Primary Healthcare’, and I gave my first speech in the house. This is known as an MP’s Maiden speech.
The first few weeks of Parliament have been a mix of weeks when the House is sitting, or in recess for various things – most recently for party conferences.
This week marks one year since the horrendous attack by Hamas, killing 1,000 people and taking 250 people hostage.
Last week the Teignbridge Planning Committee chose to defer the final decision for details of the road through the planning area called NA3 an area around the Wolborough Fen SSI.
Party conference season continues with Reform over last weekend and Labour this week. The mood from the Labour event is reported as somewhat mixed, with signs of hope and positivity starting to show.
Last week in Parliament the opposition parties tried to stop the cut to the winter fuel allowance.
Empty second homes have blighted many of our communities in the South West. It has been a crisis that has been allowed to spiral out of control over the years.
On Monday last week I went to see Happy Holidays in Dawlish. In glorious sunshine nearly 50 children were running around having a smashing time.
The housing crisis in Teignbridge and in wider Devon has been out of control for years. From affordability issues to second homes, the previous Conservative Government did nothing to help the issues that local people face.
Last week yet again South West Water issued a number of sewage alerts on our local beaches including Teignmouth Town, Teignmouth Holcombe and Dawlish Coryton Cove.
I was shocked to hear that Rachel Reeves decided to cut Winter Fuel Payments. Over 90% of pensioners in Teignbridge will miss out on the Winter Fuel Payments, previously worth up to £300, after the new Labour Government cut the benefit.
This week sees the end of Parliamentary business until September, but there was still a lot going on. On Monday we had the new Chancellor spelling out the much-trailed financial situation for the Government with a budget black hole of some £22bn.
It’s now been three weeks since the election, and like most of the new MPs I and beginning to find my way around the maze of corridors, staircases and impressive hallways.
My second week as an MP started with a huge state event – The State Opening of Parliament and the King’s Speech.
I keep on having to remind myself that it was just one week ago that I was standing at the General Election count waiting for the results…
Jack Major storms ahead with nearly 200 vote margin
Time for a new, better Police and crime commissioer - Steve Lodge
With the Easter weekend approaching and the weather giving us the odd fine day, it is starting to feel like spring is finally here. Having been heralded by the daffodils the full bloom of spring is full of promise and renewal.
I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting from the Westminster government’s budget, but even so, I am disappointed. Very little in what they announced will help the country, help people with the cost-of-living crisis, help the NHS or the environment...
This week has been Budget week at Teignbridge. We have been facing questions on how we keep the council services running in the face of not having enough funds to do so. If central government does as it has suggested, Teignbridge will lose over £3M more
