I, together with Dame Priti Patel MP, met with the Save Maldon Medical Services group to discuss the next steps in our campaign to protect and improve healthcare at St Peter’s Hospital following the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board’s decision to retain outpatient services for up to five years while a permanent new medical hub is planned.

The priority now must be to move ahead with plans for the replacement health hub and, in the meantime, ensure that St Peter’s continues to provide the full range of outpatient services. I have arranged a further meeting with the Chief Executive of the ICB and the new Chief Executive of the Mid and South Essex Hospitals Trust to agree a clear action plan.

This week I was proud to pay tribute to those from the Maldon constituency who gave their lives in service of our country at Parliament’s Constituency Garden of Remembrance in New Palace Yard.

This year marks the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe and Victory over Japan — a moment to remember not only the relief that followed the end of the Second World War, but also the immense cost of conflict.

I am also looking forward to attending the Remembrance Services this Sunday in Maldon and at Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome.

Ahead of the Budget, I attended a joint briefing with the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Fire Officer to hear urgent financial forecasts for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police.

Essex County Fire and Rescue face a possible 13.7% grant reduction (around £5.1 million) alongside a projected £4.9 million deficit over the next three years. Essex Police has delivered over £10 million of savings this year but still faces significant funding gaps in the years ahead.

I and my Essex colleagues will be pressing the Chancellor for a fair and sustainable settlement and will update constituents as discussions progress.

I met with Radiotherapy UK to discuss the urgent need to improve radiotherapy access for cancer patients in Mid Essex.

Figures I obtained from the Department of Health show that only 43.5% of patients in our area begin treatment within 62 days of referral, and in Maldon only 32.6% of patients receive radiotherapy compared to the international benchmark of 53%.

I will continue working with Radiotherapy UK to ensure these disparities are addressed nationally and locally so that every patient can access timely, life-saving treatment.

A number of constituents raised concerns about disruption caused by road closures in the Dengie. Steeple Road has been closed for essential water-main renewal by Essex & Suffolk Water.

I have received confirmation that the works at Steeple Road have now been completed and the road will reopen this evening. The final section of pipe is being installed within a field and remains on track to be finished by the end of November.

I have been contacted by teachers and parents at the Anglo European School in Ingatestone about the Department for Education’s decision to cut funding for the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the 16–19 study programme from the next academic year.

I have written to the Education Secretary urging her to reverse this decision and spoke in a recent debate in Parliament about the impact this will have on choice and opportunity for students in state schools.

Maldon & Tiptree FC’s FA Cup run was a remarkable achievement. Beginning in the Extra-Preliminary Round, they won six qualifying matches to reach the First Round proper — an achievement almost unheard of at this level.

Well done to the players, coaching staff, and everyone who backed them — you have done Maldon proud.

I visited Dengie Solar Park near Steeple — a major new renewable energy site already generating up to 21MW of clean electricity, with 5MW of battery storage on site.

I am also pleased to see British Solar Renewables contributing £14,000 to the Essex Community Fund to support local projects in Steeple and nearby.

I visited the Handley Gardens estate in Maldon to meet with the new management team and to discuss issues that residents have been facing.

I welcome Taylor Wimpey’s decision to appoint POD Management and their commitment to greater transparency around service charges. Remedial work is also underway to restore damaged grass and trees, with residents receiving a full breakdown of planned improvements and regular updates.

Handley Gardens is now home to over 600 families. I am delighted to welcome new residents to Maldon and encouraged by the commitment shown to address concerns.

I supported World Sepsis Day by joining The UK Sepsis Trust and the APPG on Sepsis to call for greater awareness of this life-threatening condition, which claims 48,000 lives a year in the UK.

I spoke in Parliament on the Government’s decision to hand over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. I remain convinced that this does not serve Britain’s strategic, economic or environmental interests.

Diego Garcia is home to a vital military base. The Government has agreed to pay Mauritius to lease it back, and the requirement to inform Mauritius of operations raises serious questions about our freedom to act.

October marked the centenary of the birth of Margaret Thatcher. Having worked as Political Secretary to Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister, I have spoken at events celebrating her record and achievements.

I also attended the unveiling of a memorial in Budapest recognising the role she played in freeing Eastern Europe from Soviet tyranny.