There are few columns where I am able start with news of a genuinely historic political agreement. However, put simply, that is what the Windsor Framework represents, and the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his team are to be applauded for this statecraft. I’m proud to champion this tremendous breakthrough in relations with our European friends that focuses on proactive and pragmatic fixes to the issues facing the people of Northern Ireland. The myriad results deliver on everything from smoothing trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and giving Stormont powers to protect all communities in Northern Ireland, to harmonising tax policies across the entire UK and making sure all British products are available in Northern Ireland.
For my part, I had the privilege of publicly welcoming the historic agreement in the Chamber of the House of Commons, before quizzing the Prime Minister on how the Framework will protect biosecurity in the UK and the island of Ireland, and on the availability of veterinary medicines – the supply of which had been threatened in Northern Ireland under the original protocol. As a Veterinary Surgeon, a scientist and representing a huge rural constituency, I thought it important to lend my experience to the debate and have consistently raised issues such as agrifood, medicines and movement of animals since the original protocol was set out.
On said issues, I am delighted the Prime Minister has listened to our expert sector advice providing practical fixes. These include removing an Irish Sea Border for agrifoods, smoothing pet travel throughout the UK and maintaining maximum market access for Northern Irish farmers with a pragmatic form of dual-registration allowing them to trade with all available partners. While I welcome a further two-year grace period on veterinary medicines, I will keep pressing decision-makers to ensure long term availability is secured, which is so vital for animal health and welfare. Moreover, the next step for animal movement should be to move ahead with sensible and safe movement of other species like horses and farm livestock. I raised this precise point in a subsequent meeting with the Prime Minister.
Another crucial area our Government has made strides on this month is with energy payments and cost of living support. As such, 900,000 more households in Great Britain can now benefit from the Government’s £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme – including those who warm their homes with alternative fuels such as heating oil or LPG. With Cumbria’s geography, many folk, including myself, are off the gas grid, and I have heard from lots of people about their heating anxieties. I’ve campaigned on this issue consistently and believe extending support is the right and moral thing to do. I urge anyone who may be eligible to apply as soon as possible via 0808 1753 287 or the online portal https://www.gov.uk/apply-energy-bill-support-if-not-automatic. Furthermore, £7,380,469 has been awarded to Cumbria County Council to support the most vulnerable families cover essential costs via the Household Support Fund. This is compassionate Conservatism in action.
Looking away from Cumbria, I joined people from across the UK in a one-minute silence to mark and reflect on Russia’s barbaric and illegal invasion of Ukraine a year ago. I was privileged to be able to attend President Zelenksyy’s moving address to both Houses of Parliament in February. It was a simply humbling experience listening to such a brave leader and reminded us all that we cannot lose focus on our support for our beleaguered Ukrainian friends suffering so much at this time.
As a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, we have several important Inquiries ongoing. One such Inquiry that I instigated is on Food Security. For this, I and our Committee visited Liverpool to look at how community groups are working to provide food aid to those in need. Our delegation met with foodbank and food pantry providers, community organisers and even the charity wings of the city’s premier League football clubs, Liverpool and Everton. One of my main priorities remains making sure the nation is well fed with affordable and nutritious food, so
this visit was of great importance to me. I look forward to helping Government with meaningful food security interventions moving forward.
There was also more on rural affairs this month with Government announcing an annual funded veterinary visit for farmers – something I, of course, fully support –, an extra £440,000 for the Lake district to protect the environment and boost the visitor economy, an extension of the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, and I’ve also been busy probing the nation’s soil health ahead of producing a report into the issue.
As ever, a month is far too long to condense into a single column but locally our Government has dedicated £1.4 million for up to 900 electric vehicle charging points in Cumbria, more than £3 million to boost drug and alcohol treatment in the county and a share of £12 million to open a Family Hub here, improving outcomes for babies, children and parents. I’m delighted with these developments, making sure rural communities are adequately invested in and I will continue to usher in Government monies to our great county as best I can.
