Week 24 - Reflecting on Christmas
In the run-up to Christmas many of us are looking forward to meeting up with family and friends, and we also think of those less fortunate than ourselves and those that dedicate their time to others.
21 Dec 2024
News
Week 23 - Local Government Reorganisation / English Devolution
Local Government Reorganisation isn’t usually what many people would think of as big news, but this week it is - Monday’s announcement from the Government suggests big changes are in store.
14 Dec 2024
Week 22 - Stormy Weather
Thank you to all the people out this weekend helping during the gales and the recovery from Storm Darragh. I can’t remember seeing so many trees and powerlines down, and roof tiles and trampolines where they shouldn’t be.
7 Dec 2024
Week 21 - Assisted dying debate
It was a long week in Parliament last week, ending with the debate on Assisted Dying on Friday.
2 Dec 2024
Week 20 - Storms, White Ribbon and Assisted Dying
Storm Bert has hit the area hard. With rivers bursting their banks, and roads and railways underwater we are seeing the result of a month’s or more rain falling in a day – again.
25 Nov 2024
Week 19 - Post offices and buses
The good news from Government this week is more money to support Bus Services, the bad news is the closure of the Crown Post Offices, including the Post Office in Teignmouth.
18 Nov 2024
Week 18 – Remembrance and the USA
Remembrance Day is a time to stop and think, to thank those that served in our armed forces, and those that are currently serving. I find this very impactful having grown up in an armed forces family.
11 Nov 2024
Week 17 - Budget and yet more sewage
The main event of the week in Parliament was Labour’s first budget.
30 Oct 2024
Week 16 - We have an office
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.
26 Oct 2024
Week 15 - Maiden Speech, Lib Dem opposition day
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.
26 Oct 2024
Week 14 - The Summer's Over
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.
26 Oct 2024
Week 13 – Two state solution
This week marks one year since the horrendous attack by Hamas, killing 1,000 people and taking 250 people hostage.
26 Oct 2024
Week 12 - Wolborough Planning deferred
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.
26 Oct 2024
Week 11 - Around and about in the Constituency
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.
26 Oct 2024
Week 10 - Why cut the Winter Fuel Allowance
Last week in Parliament the opposition parties tried to stop the cut to the winter fuel allowance.
26 Oct 2024
Week 9 - Second Home Tax
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.
26 Oct 2024
Week 8 - Devon HAF Funding
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.
26 Oct 2024
Week 7 - Developer-led building targets won’t fix the housing crisis here
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.
26 Oct 2024
Week 6 - Sewage on our Beaches
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.
26 Oct 2024
Week 5 - Winter Fuel Allowance
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.
26 Oct 2024
Week 4 - Start of Recess
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.
26 Oct 2024