Horizon Scandal
A number of my constituents have contacted me about the Post Office/Horizon IT scandal. Like many of my Parliamentary colleagues across the House, I am appalled by the treatment of the sub-postmasters who were accused of theft based on flawed evidence from the Horizon IT system. Victims’ accounts of the impact of these prosecutions are […]
CAMRA Campaign
I have had a number of constituents contact me about pubs and beer and particularly CAMRA – Campaign for Real Ale. I have always believed that pubs make an important contribution to our culture – fostering a sense of place and community – and the UK economy. The Government’s ‘Brexit Pubs Guarantee’ confirms the alcohol […]
“Buy British” Campaign – Promoting British Food
A number of constituents have contacted me about promoting British produce in the UK. I recognise the crucial role our farmers play in supporting food security, driving economic growth, and helping us achieve our net zero goals. I know that the Government is proud to celebrate our British farmers and growers who work to produce […]
Net Zero
I have had a number of constituents contact me about the speech made by the Prime Minister yesterday, where he announced that the Government would be changing the way we are working towards our net zero targets. I know there is concern that the Prime Minister is back tracking on our commitments to net zero, […]
Statement on the Economy and Cost of Living
I have had many of my constituents contact me to express their concern about the currenteconomic situation, and their worries for the upcoming months. I am acutely aware that this isa very difficult time for most people. It is correct that the economic situation we are facing is not promising. Record energy priceshave driven inflation […]
Environmental Protection and Investment Zones
In the past couple of days, many of my constituents have contacted me to express their concern that announcements in the Government’s growth plan to reform bureaucratic processes in the planning system, create investment zones and unlock economic growth may impact on existing protections for the environment. I can reassure you that these claims by […]
Conversion Therapy
I am fully supportive of the view that being gay, lesbian or bisexual is not an illness to be cured. Like many of my constituents who have contacted me, I am deeply concerned by the long-term impacts of this practice on people both mentally and physically, in particular, the link between conversion therapy and suicide. I am therefore […]
Housing and infrastructure in our constituency
I am very much aware of the concern of many of my constituents about the amount of new housing either under planned or already under construction in both Maldon and Chelmsford local authority areas. The new South Maldon Garden Suburb which will consist of 1,400 houses is growing by the day and the North Heybridge Suburb […]
Cost of fuel
I know that many of my constituents are concerned about the rising cost of fuel, as a result of increasing global oil prices and energy costs. The Government has frozen fuel duty for the twelve consecutive years since moving away from the pre-2010 escalator. In recognition of the unprecedented circumstances pushing up fuel prices, I welcomed the […]
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
I have had constituents contact me to express their concerns over the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which is currently in the Second Reading stage in the House of Lords. The UK has engaged in 18 months of negotiations with the EU on these issues and the Government’s preference remains for a negotiated solution to fix […]