Tackling The Cost of Living
Having spoken to lots of residents in the area, this huge worry is one that keeps local people up at night.
Preventing folk from starving and freezing is the greatest immediate challenge we face, and I have spoken to constituents with immediate concerns of this nature.
Before becoming an MP, as a councillor for one of the most deprived wards in the country, I was given daily reminders of this in my casework. I also pushed the council for a food emergency motion, with warm welcome venues set up and food vouchers sent out to the most in need.
I have continued this legacy as an MP, ensuring free school meals benefit the educational attainment of our local children, visiting St Mary's Primary School in Chipping Norton to talk about their new funded school-based nursery, and helping those in urgent need through casework.
I will continue working to reduce the pressure of the cost of living crisis left behind, to deliver for working people across Banbury.
Housing
The importance of having a place to call ‘home’ cannot be over-estimated. Having stable accommodation improves health and wellbeing, is good for the local economy and the educational outcomes of our children.
But the single biggest strain on people’s finances in this cost-of-living crisis is paying for the roof over their heads.
There is no way around fixing the housing crisis without building more homes.
Homes need to be genuinely affordable and they need to be supported by proper investment in infrastructure and local services.
Locally, as a councillor, I pushed for more affordable housing in the Local Plan, to match Oxford’s 50% on new build sites. We also delivered a Tenants’ Charter for Cherwell, to improve standards across the area. Renters need protection from landlords who go missing when repairs need doing, but do not when it comes to increasing the rents.
As your MP, I have continued to fight for change in this area, supporting the building of new homes. I have also called for District Councillors to recognise that there is a housing crisis in this country, and utilise the new powers allocated to councils to build new houses for local people.
I have also been working with a local Gurdwara, joining their fight to obtain a larger and more suitable space, which I continue to work on.
Tackling Environmental Issues
The Climate Emergency is the biggest crisis facing humanity. Tackling it is not only essential but also an opportunity for us to reshape our economy for the 21st Century.
We are uniquely positioned, with our links to the automotive industry and proximity to universities in Oxford, to take a global-leading role in this industry. I have spoken to local business Fortescue-Zero in Banbury about how I can support their work in green technology and zero-emission solutions. I am proud that they are working with Oxford University to conduct further research in this area.
Locally, before becoming an MP, I helped drive the agenda to get change through locally. This includes bans on the council’s use of single-use plastics in its operations, the phasing in of peat-free compost and the 2019 declaration of a Climate Emergency.
As an MP, I have been vocal in the Commons about my condemnation of Thames Water, who have been found to dump polluting sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. As a result, I backed the banning of bonuses to water bosses found to have breached these environmental regulations and deliver poor environmental outcomes.
I have also visited the Banbury Sewage Works alongside the Cropredy Women's Institute to understand the state of pollution and how I can help in this area.
Additionally, I am keen to visit and speak with local groups working for the benefit of nature, so I can understand their local priorities. It was lovely to meet with the Berkshire Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) volunteers in Spiceball park, to congratulate their hard work conserving nature in the local area.
I will continue to work towards protecting nature and counteracting the effects of climate change, for the benefit of our local environment.
Protecting and enhancing NHS and social care
I was born at the Horton Hospital, and I will always be grateful for what out local NHS has provided me with.
When I was a young child, I had a serious heart condition that required emergency surgery. Without the NHS, I would likely not be here.
Locally, I’ve campaigned to protect our NHS for nearly a decade and served on the Horton Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee that condemned the permanent downgrade of the Horton Hospital’s maternity unit.
As your MP, I have been championing our local hospital, the Horton, ensuring it is prioritised. I am delighted that this has resulted in a £3.3 million investment to improve services and facilities, and helping prevent cancelled appointments.
I have also advocated for our GP surgeries, and I am pleased that Bloxham and Hook Norton Surgery and Hightown Surgery will be receiving investment to modernise.
The NHS is being prioritised, and I will always advocate for our healthcare services in Banbury, which are so crucial for local people.
Relationships with our European partners
I have long been a campaigner for a closer relationship with our European partners.
It is not fair that local businesses across our area should battle increased regulation and costs when trying to trade with our closest neighbours.
This is bad for business in our local area.
This has been a priority in my work as your MP. I wrote to the Paymaster General to ask that the government prioritise an improved trading relationship between the UK and the EU; spoke with Oxford East's MP Anneliese Dodds about international relations; and attended a briefing on UK-EU relations. I also wrote on the successes of the UK-EU Summit and how an improved trading relationship with the EU will lead to increased economic stability here in Banbury and the UK.
As well as this, I have also been working on making sure Banbury gets the best deals from international trade agreements more generally. When the US implemented harsh tariffs on the UK, I wrote to every importer or exporter business in the constituency, inviting them to speak with me about their concerns. I spoke with some, and have kept in touch regarding changes in this area which have come with the new Trade Strategy.
As your MP, I’ll continue to work for closer trade relationships that deliver for our businesses and benefit local people.