Since my last column, much has happened! Congratulations firstly to Rishi Sunak on becoming Prime Minister. I sat alongside Conservative MPs in a crowded room when he first addressed us, and I must say I was nothing but impressed. He spoke thoughtfully about the challenges facing the UK and the need for considered and compassionate Conservatism to overcome them. Something I have long advocated for and something constituents have told me they’d like to see.
Making sure these values are at the core of decision making will be crucial to make sure the most vulnerable in society are supported. As such, I’ve pressed the Government to uprate benefits in line with inflation and continued to make representations to Government that the Triple Lock on pensions should be protected so that pensioners can be secure in their retirement. Moreover, compassionate Conservatism must be about protecting our precious environment and fittingly this week saw the UK hand over the COP Presidency to Egypt where I was delighted our Prime Minister joined world leaders in calling for international co-operation.
On energy, I’ve reiterated my calls for the Government to better support people living off the gas grid with their spiralling bills. I have continued to push Ministers to take note and increase the insufficient £100 payment currently on offer to those who rely on fuels like heating oil and LPG. I’m pleased unprecedented measures have been enacted to help people with the cost-of-living crisis, but we need to do more. This month I’ve stood up in the House of Commons on the issue, publicly quizzed Ministers and spoken in a specific debate on the issue.
On other really important issues for my constituents, I’ve also met with Penrith and Eden Refugee Network (PERN) to discuss immigration policy, got stakeholders around the table to discuss the future of the Alston ambulance, and held my regular Constituent Advice Surgeries.
An issue disproportionately affecting rural areas like ours is connectivity. That’s why I was so pleased that Eden District Council has worked with me and agreed to progress with a potentially life-changing student travel bursary to allow youngsters to access education and training. This is a great step towards a fair policy for rural young people up and down the country. I urge the new combined authority, Westmorland and Furness, to implement a comprehensive travel system so our young people can achieve their potential. Since securing a dedicated bus to get 16-18-year-olds in Alston to college, I’ve been really pleased to hear from youngsters about how their hopes and dreams for the future are far more attainable.
Better connectivity doesn’t stop with school buses though and I’ve continued to make this a pillar of my campaigning down in Westminster. In the last month I stood up for constituents who rely on local radio and terrestrial TV as a lifeline in rural areas to keep them connected following an announcement that BBC local radio programming will be cut significantly in favour of digital content. National decision makers have to realise that Brough is not Birmingham and Lazonby is not London, so a one-size-fits-all approach will not work.
As a rural MP, it is both a privilege and a great responsibility to support our brilliant farming communities up here in rural Cumbria. A huge issue plaguing the sector is Avian Influenza and this week a housing order came into force for all poultry and captive birds. Really upsetting scenes have unfolded with this outbreak and I’ve again reiterated the need for robust biosecurity enforcement by properly investing in the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
One piece of truly innovative legislation aimed at fighting animal diseases as well as boosting food production and supporting British farmers to uphold the highest animal welfare standards is the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill to which I was able to lend my veterinary background as
it continued its Parliamentary journey. This is an innovative area and as a vet I’ve proudly supported the sector which will reduce disease in animals and help create climate resilient crops.
I also had the privilege of speaking at Harrison & Hetherington’s hugely popular Agri-Expo 2022 in Carlisle where I discussed the future of farming in Northern England. I also spoke at an upland farming seminar at Rheged organised by Friends of the Lake District and a meeting of Cumbria Grasslands Society as well as meeting rural stakeholders at North West Auctions, attending an NFU event on Back British Farming Day, and being interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today programme about Avian Influenza. As the only vet in the Commons, getting MPs and experts in the same room is crucial to the legislative system so I was pleased to host two events in Parliament, one with Dogs Trust calling for a ban on the cruel practice of puppy smuggling and one with the British Veterinary Association addressing a range of issues facing the UK’s animal health and welfare.
To end on an uplifting note, Danny Poland, from rural North Cumbria, was awarded the prestigious Young Persons Champion Award in the RHS’ Britain in Bloom contest. I've met with Danny a number of times now and, on each occasion, I'm struck by just how compassionate and hard-working he is. Danny is such a shining example to all of us here in Cumbria of amazing rural community spirit!
