They say in politics, no week is ever the same. “What an understatement”, I thought as I travelled back from Cumbria to Westminster this week, greeted with a new Parliament, a new Prime Minister, and a new cabinet. This new Parliament has provided a welcome reset, confirming my resolve to affect real change on the issues that matter. A fresh start indeed!
Congratulations must go to our newly-appointed Prime Minister, Liz Truss. Our new Conservative Government has my full support and I look forward to Ministers hitting the ground running with a renewed vigour to deliver on the British people’s priorities.
Having spoken widely with people right across Penrith and The Border over the summer recess, sadly, one topic came up again and again – the cost of living and energy crisis. I’m hugely concerned about this growing issue which will come into even sharper relief as we approach the winter months. While I’m pleased that steps have been made, I’ve consistently called for emergency governmental measures akin to the vital support that saved so many businesses during the pandemic. This must be the Government’s number one priority and I’d like to assure you I will continue to bang the drum for households and companies across Penrith and The Border, so supportive action is implemented.
Away from the whirlwind of Westminster, work has not stopped for me and my team over summer and I’ve really enjoyed being able to get out and about hearing from constituents from Wigton to Warcop. As such, I had the honour of reopening Penrith Hospital’s newly renovated inpatient ward following a £1.2 million Conservative Government-funded upgrade.
I also had the immense pleasure of re-discovering the social good that country shows can have on our rural communities while at Patterdale Dog day. As readers will know, I have long fought for better rural mental health support so seeing people coming together and shaking off the scourge of rural isolation was heart-warming. I also had the privilege of judging the Champion of Champions Award in the sheep show. In both the political and animal worlds it’s tough when you’re down to the final two candidates!
Having spoken to a whole host of constituents, some of the most exciting conversations I had were with our wonderful young people, many of whom received their qualifications last month. Left with an important decision about what to do next, unfortunately this was already made for some when faced with sub-standard rural transport and the eye-watering bills that come with it. My petition already has over 1,000 signatures calling for affordable, sustainable and fair access to post-16 transport, so I hope Government and councils find a workable solution with Parliament resuming. Please, if you haven’t already, consider signing the petition at, neilhudson.org.uk.
From physical to digital connectivity, I was pleased to welcome the Government’s announcement that national gigabit broadband coverage has blossomed from 7 per cent since my election in 2019 to 70 per cent. Here in rural Cumbria, we still face significant hurdles and I have no doubt many people reading this will still be struggling with inadequate internet access themselves. Looking ahead, Government is due to award a contract for broader gigabit rollout in Cumbria imminently.
Another announcement I know people have been waiting for is DEFRA’s plan to tackle the water companies that unacceptably and illegally discharge sewage into our waterways. Thanks to a £56 billion capital investment scheme over the next 25 years, the Government has implemented the biggest crackdown on sewage spills ever. Strict targets and substantial fines now await would-be polluters and having repeatedly called for action on this issue I’m delighted to see a comprehensive plan come forward. I was able to speak up again this week in Parliament on these horrendous, unacceptable and illegal discharges that our polluting our precious waters, including here in Cumbria in places like Windermere.
On the environment, huge credit must go to the amazing farmers who look after our countryside and this month I’ve been again standing up for all they do. I sounded the alarm on the potential food security and animal welfare crisis as the UK’s last fertiliser and carbon dioxide plant halted ammonia production. I brought this urgently to our EFRA Select Committee, on which I sit, tabled questions and wrote to the DEFRA Secretary, calling for immediate action to protect against the potentially crippling implications that will be felt in everything from making drinks to humanely slaughtering animals.
I also stood up to protect our farmers from being undercut by overseas producers as the UK looks to ratify trade deals with Australia and New Zealand, speaking up in the Trade Bill Debate just this week. I maintain farming can and should be profitable and sustainable, with high animal welfare at its heart. Put simply, these deals could hurt our economy and undermine our farmers so I continue to push for amended deals so our Cumbrian farmers can thrive.
Lastly, I was moved by the Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations, which fell six months after Russia’s horrific invasion. From a political perspective I’m proud of the support we have shown our beleaguered friends in Ukraine. From imposing some of the strongest sanctions in history and giving more than £220 million in humanitarian aid to providing visas and homes for more than 100,000 people fleeing the desolation.
