I start on the sad news that the Animal and Plant Health Agency has confirmed this week that the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza has been confirmed on a poultry premises here in rural Eden. My thoughts and prayers go to everyone on the frontline impacted by this. Having worked as a vet during the culls of the 2001 Foot and Mouth Outbreak, I know first-hand just how harrowing these tragic events can be for everyone involved. I am liaising directly with DEFRA Ministers and Officials about this situation and support measures for those affected.
On brighter news, Penrith’s Ullswater Community College and Samuel King’s School in Alston have been selected as part of a multi-million-pound national initiative by our Conservative Government to rebuild and upgrade their facilities. Having stood up for both schools in Parliament repeatedly, I’m so glad the Government has listened to me and intervened. Both schools will now be further assessed to address their specific needs, but the investment will help to deliver state of the art environments for pupils, such as new classrooms, science labs, sports halls, or dining halls. Rural children deserve every chance their urban counterparts get, so this will have a huge impact on our young people.
Now, as much as this period is a time to look ahead, this is a chance to take stock of the achievements that we’ve made here locally amid the ups and downs of 2022.
Early last year, I secured and led a wide-ranging debate in Parliament on Levelling Up Cumbrian Rural Communities, bringing together some of the main campaigns I’ve been working hard on. From addressing poor digital and physical connectivity and the need to support farmers and the wider agricultural sector, to providing affordable housing for local people and having equality of opportunity for our young folk. It was a great opportunity to give these vital issues the platform they deserve, making sure lawmakers fully understand that Cumbria is not the same as London and that our voices must be heard.
Since then, we’ve had some huge wins on issues such as connectivity and rural public services. For instance, the Conservative Government’s £1 billion A66 upgrade is moving forwards; I was honoured to open Penrith Hospital’s newly renovated inpatient ward enabled by £1.2 million of Government funding; and ushered in Cumbria’s £100 million Project Gigabit contract which will see around 60,000 rural premises connected to lightning-fast broadband.
More recently with the cost-of-living pressures, the Government has been receptive to my calls on a whole host of economic issues. Having been banging the drum for my constituents constantly, the Chancellor has listened and retained the Triple Lock on pensions, doubled the energy support for those using heating oil or LPG and uprated benefits in line with inflation.
As your Conservative MP I have been able to call for and attract Government investment of more than £16 million to protect against flooding in the constituency. I’ve spoken time and again in Parliament about the near-constant worry of flooding in Cumbria and with extreme weather events becoming more and more common this investment is very welcome. Another issue I’ve been long pushing for action on which has seen significant progress this year is the unacceptable and illegal discharge of sewage into our nation’s rivers, lakes and seas by water companies. Since I first supported initial legislation to clear up our waterways and hold polluting companies to account back in 2021, I’ve fought hard to see resolute action on the issue. This has included quizzing water regulator and Environment Agency bosses via my EFRA Committee role; standing up in Parliament and pressing Ministers to do more. I was therefore delighted that Government set out the toughest crackdown on sewage spills ever by overhauling our Victorian infrastructure backed by a £56 billion capital investment scheme with strict targets for spill reductions and heavy fines should water companies not comply. I’ve even gone one step further by progressing and signing an ambitious manifesto calling for, among other things, Government to reinvest money raised by fines into local environmental initiatives.
This column is too short to summarise a year in politics but other campaigns I’ve been at the forefront of include triggering and progressing an official Parliamentary Inquiry into Rural Mental Health and working with 3 Dads Walking to bring an important mental health motion to Parliament; getting tough on the scourge of rural crime; and showing compassion to our beleaguered friends in Ukraine. Easily the most emotional point of the year came when I met with a Ukrainian family and their hosts near Penrith – to play a part in helping them and other families to sanctuary is beyond humbling and I thank all Cumbrians who donated to, sheltered and supported the people of Ukraine.
But there is much more to do. On the back of helping to secure a dedicated bus service and travel bursary to get rural youngsters to college, I plan to hold the new Cumbrian Unitary Authorities’ feet to the fire on providing fair and sustainable post-16 transport. Other priorities include improving Avanti West Coast’s inadequate train service, seeing the Kept Animals Bill return to Parliament and continuing to support our brilliant farming communities amid a range of industry issues.
And finally, may I wish you and your families a safe and prosperous 2023. If you have any issue you would like me to help with, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at [email protected].
