These are all issues teachers, parents and even students have raised with me time and time again.
We're listening. Now the Government needs to as well.
(You can check the image to see some of the amendments I voted on).
We called for a review of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, a lifeline for some of our most vulnerable children.
We also pushed for price caps on branded school uniforms and a ban on smartphones in schools.
Yesterday was a frustrating day in Parliament.
The Government blocked vital Lib Dem amendments to a Bill that could have made a real difference to children and families across the country.
I've voted on a whole range of legislation this week, and I know that what goes on inside those chambers doesn't always feel relevant to everyday life.
That's why I'm sharing a short series about the Bills I've voted on, explain my vote, and share why I believe it matters. Watch this space! 👀
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Happy International Women’s Day!
It’s an honour to serve as the first female MP for North East Hampshire in our most diverse Parliament yet.
There's still much to do to advance equality and inclusion, but today, please join me in celebrating the women around you 🙌
(2) I'd encourage all who are interested to get involved here: thebigplasticcount.com/sign-up
(1) The Great Plastic Count is a fantastic initiative that I've participated in previously.
By recording the plastic you throw away for one week, you can provide researchers and campaigners with the data they need to push for better solutions and reduce waste across the UK.
💃 Danced in Parliament with some of the Strictly Come Dancing stars to raise awareness of the enormous benefits for our physical and mental health.
✈️ Supported constituents to ensure their safety and that of their families, including liaising directly with the Foreign Office
🧠 Requested an update on the Government's efforts to reduce neurology appointment wait lists in North East Hampshire.
💼 Listened to the Chancellor's Spring Statement to better understand the implications for local businesses and individuals.
⚕️ Pushed for better pay and more available development opportunities for essential NHS staff, in frontline health and social care roles.
🩸 Recommended that information on the signs and symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes be included in the Personal Child Health Record, to improve early diagnosis.
🦽 Inquired about the availability of accessibility equipment in GPs so that patients with disabilities are still able to access essential care.
⚠️ Questioned the Health Secretary on what he's doing to ensure the safety of frontline NHS staff, so that funds don't need to be moved from patient care.
🪖 Attended a briefing about the Government's response to the illegal attacks on Iran by the US and Israel.
👔 Met with the CEO of Business South to discuss ways to support for local businesses.
📝 Hosted 1:1 surgeries to support residents and progress casework.
👋 Hi North East Hampshire! Here are my top highlights from another busy week as your MP:
🏥 Spoke about the continued delays to the Basingstoke Hospital rebuild and called on the Government to bring the project forward.
(3) I'm grateful to all the constituents who have written in to me about this issue, and to Hampshire Police for the strength of their response.
Our local officers have been swift to act on these reports, and are using the powers they have to make arrests, but they need help to stop these attacks.
(2) Retailers, including Amazon, need to enforce age verification and the Government needs to change the law, so that it treats catapults like the weapons they are.
I have written to the Minister about this issue, and spoke with Naturewatch about the need for tougher rules to help police actions.
Alex at a Naturewatch Foundation event holding a sign that reads "end catapult cruelty".
(1) Our area has seen some attacks by (often young) people thinking it is somehow amusing to use powerful catapults to kill or injure local wildlife, and fire stones through people's windows.
Currently, anyone can buy these weapons – and there are no age restrictions. This needs to stop.
Dancing is great for your physical and mental health and one of the reasons people don’t do it is fear of judgement or looking silly. If we also didn’t do it for those reasons, how could we possibly start to break down those barriers to a great source of fitness?
It was fun 🤷♀️
🏞️ Supported Pippa Heylings’ Bill to make chalk streams a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site and spoke to ITV about the importance of protecting these vital ecosystems.
🚆 Heard updates, asked questions, and raised commuters’ concerns regarding South Western Railway, at a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for SWR.
🏗️ Asked the Minister how communities can protect themselves against inappropriate development, in light of recent policy changes.
🧩 Called on the Government to provide more detail for concerned parents following its latest SEND announcement.
Progressing local issues
🚘 Brought together residents, council staff, and police, to discuss the issue of dangerous and antisocial driving in Riseley.
Promoting children's wellbeing
🧒 Voted to help lift millions of children out of poverty by scrapping the two-child benefit cap, as promised in the Lib Dems' manifesto.
📵 Supported the Lib Dems' Opposition Day vote to introduce film-style age-ratings for under 16s on social media.
Backing our businesses
☕ Hosted a North East Hampshire Business Breakfast to hear from local business leaders on the key issues facing enterprises in our area.
🚺 Scrutinised the Government's efforts to support female entrepreneurs, and questioned how we can ensure funds for this are used well.
Delivering for residents
🏘️ Secured confirmation of a new clubhouse for Grange Estate residents, as well as a commitment to improve communication from the developer.
🗞️ Knocked on doors, delivered leaflets, and spoke to residents in Fleet about their top concerns ahead of May's local elections.
Hearing about healthcare
🏥 Met with senior NHS staff across Frimley and Hampshire to raise casework issues and discuss new hospital progress.
👋 Hi North East Hampshire!
This week, as your MP, I progressed local issues, worked to improve things for businesses, voted to improve children's wellbeing and delivered for residents, both metaphorically and literally.
(3) It’s clear that small and medium businesses, the engine room of our economy, have been smothered by a Government that doesn't understand them.
Instead, the Lib Dems would overhaul business rates, reduce energy costs and sign a new UK-EU customs union to boost growth and help entrepreneurs.
(2) These rising rates have all seen hefty hikes under the Labour Government, wreaking havoc on local business from salons to steel makers - many said this year is even worse for them than COVID was.
After years of Tory mismanagement, Labour's disastrous budgets were the last thing they needed.
(1) On Monday, I hosted a number of local business leaders at a North East Hampshire Business Breakfast, to discuss the key issues facing small and medium enterprises nearby.
All in attendance shared several similar struggles, such as business rates and employer national insurance contributions.
