Zöe Franklin MP

I was pleased to see the Government present the Social Cohesion Strategy yesterday. Promised last year, it is needed now more than ever.

Strong communities are built not by excluding people, but by ensuring that everyone feels they belong.

Following the tragic death of 22-year-old Hannah from Guildford, I spoke at Prime Ministers questions last week, pressing the PM to strengthen mental health support and ensure vital services are accessible when people need them most.

Read more: guildford-dragon.com/guildfords-m...

Sometimes it’s the small wins… I’ve been speaking with SWR for a while about giving advance notice to passengers if trains have fewer a carriages than normal. Today they gave notice the train after the current (rather full) one had 5 rather than 10 enabling travellers to make an informed choice.

Delighted to appear on BBC Politics South yesterday alongside Damian Hinds MP and Tom Hayes MP to discuss energy prices, the spring statement, the UK Town of Culture competition and more...

You can watch the episode in full here👇
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

A really varied week all centred around getting results for residents on a wide range of issues. Here's just a snapshot.

US-Israel war with Iran: B-1 Lancer bomber lands at RAF Fairford The aircraft is the fastest bomber in the US Air Force and is piloted by a crew of four.

As the Americans land B1 bombers at RAF Fairford, President Trump is promising a relentless assault. We are being drawn into an offensive war. The PM must spell out to Parliament what constitutes a “defensive” operation and the limits on the use of our bases.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Educating our younger generation This week we have hosted 2 work experience students from a local sixth form.

Supporting the young people of Guildford constituency to learn more about how politics works is something I am passionate about. I regularly go into schools, host a University of Surrey placement and welcome work experience students. This article is from two who joined my team this week.

Happy #WorldBookDay! It was great to pop by the World Book Day reception in Parliament to learn more about their work encouraging young people to get and keep reading.

What I'm reading currently: Middlemarch by George Eliot

Zöe calls for the Prime Minister to act on Coroners’ concerns and protect vulnerable people This week in Prime Minister's Question time Zöe called on the PM to act to ensure recommendations in Coroners' reports are put into action to protect vulnerable people.

In Prime Minister's Questions this week, I asked the PM to act to ensure that recommendations made in coroners' reports are acted upon. I learnt about this situation through my work with the family of Hannah, a constituent who tragically took her own life, and the Molly Rose Foundation.

Yesterday I was pleased to speaking Parliament about the Representation of the People Bill. It seeks to modernise our democracy, strengthen rules around donations and introduce votes for 16 and 17 year olds. No change to first past the post but Lib Dems are challenging Government on that!

Wishing a joyful and peaceful Purim to everyone celebrating this evening and tomorrow. Chag Purim Sameach! ✨

Another week, another wide range of activities and actions that I've been getting up to on behalf of the people, communities and organisations of Guildford constituency. It continues to be a great honour to serve you in this way.

Great to be out in Ripley today alongside Cllr Merel Rehorst Smith. Lots of chats focusing on Mays elections to the new West Surrey Council, the challenges that it faces (especially due to debts built up under previous Conservative’ administrations) but also the opportunity for a fresh start.

Great to be out in Ripley today alongside Cllr Merel Rehorst Smith. Lots of chats focusing on Mays elections to the new West Surrey Council, the challenges that it faces (especially due to debts built up under previous Conservative’ administrations) but also the opportunity for a fresh start.

The UK can't be dragged into another protracted Middle Eastern war by a US President. Keir Starmer needs to rule out the use of UK bases for any future unilateral US strikes.

I’ve heard from many residents about the major roadworks across Guildford — especially on the A320 Woking Road.

Full details of the project are available here: www.guildford.gov.uk/article/2766...

Map of all current roadworks across Guildford constituency: www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-tr...

Great to welcome King’s College London students for a discussion with the APPG on Faith & Society. They heard from Lord Rees, Sarah Smith MP, Darren Paffey MP and Lord Alderdice on how faith shapes public life — and put some brilliant questions to the panel @zoefranklinld.bsky.social

I'm pleased to have signed a letter to Ofwat saying no to Thames Water's illegal sewage pollution.

Our motion forcing the Government to release the Andrew files has been successful.

The culture that protected Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and other Epstein associates must end now. Victims and survivors have waited long enough.

My thoughts: Why a Town Council for Guildford is a Positive Thing There are big changes happening in the way Guildford Borough will be run going forward and this has significant implications for our town. It’s going to be part of a new council that goes from…

Ahead of the consultation on a potential Guildford Town Council closing on 1 March, I’ve shared my thoughts on why this would be a positive thing for our community 👇
www.zoefranklin.co.uk/news/article...

Delighted to sponsor an event in Parliament's historic River Room celebrating vital role heritage churches play in community wellbeing.

Thanks to ChurchWorks, Historic England and Warm Welcome for their important research. Read the new report: cdn.prod.website-files.com/63617132d46b...

Alongside colleagues from the @libdems.org.uk, I’ve written to the Home Secretary demanding urgent action for dual nationals left stranded abroad or forced to pay eye-watering costs just to come home - all because of the Government’s botched rollout of new immigration rules.

Lib Dems plan to cut graduate debt for public sector workers The proposal comes more than a decade after former leader Nick Clegg was forced to apologise for breaking a manifesto pledge not to raise tuition fees

As a party we paid a heavy price for making promises on student loans that we couldn’t keep and we’ve learned from that. We see the problems repayments are causing and we will shortly announce how we would address that.

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

I was delighted to attend Guildford Games Festival yesterday to chat with a range of Games Studios and the gaming charity, Special Effect, plus host a roundtable for a group of local industry leaders.
Check out the Guildford Steam storefront until Monday: store.steampowered.com/sale/Guildfo...

It was great to be able to attend the graduation of the WISE course at Send Prison and chat to those who had taken part in the course and its leaders. The year-long course helps women learn everything they need to set up their own small business on release to help support them and their family.

It's fantastic that artwork from young people in #Guildford constituency — and across Surrey — has been on display in Parliament.

The moving artwork was created by young people supported by the STARS and New Leaf services, which form part of Mindworks Surrey - thank you for sharing your stories!

Big Leaf Foundation supports displaced young people in #Surrey. Their Young Leaders programme helps them build confidence, leadership skills & knowledge of their rights.

I was delighted to attend the recent graduation ceremony & I’m sharing a few of the graduates’ words that have stayed with me.

It looks as if the government might have finally listened to Lib Dem calls for a profit cap on SEND providers.

For too long the SEND private market has been a rigged racket. Hopefully this change will mark the end of our vulnerable children being treated like cash cows.

Delighted to speak with Year 12 pupils at Charterhouse School.

Thank you for the warm welcome and the thoughtful, engaging questions - both after the talk & in the smaller discussion that followed.

A bright future awaits many of them in politics & public policy, should they choose to pursue it.

Sending my best wishes to all those who are observing Lunar New Year today. I hope that you and your families have a wonderful day!