Dear Constituent,
From holding the government to account on SEND failings and rural crime to pushing for better broadband and mobile coverage, I am fighting for the issues that matter to our community.
Our local farmers are under threat from Labour’s reckless new tax, which will drive up costs, put livelihoods at risk, and weaken Britain’s food security. I joined farmers on the streets of Whitehall to demand a rethink before it is too late.
Closer to home, I recently met with parents and carers at the ‘Last Wednesday’ SEND Support Group in Farnham, where I heard yet again how EHCP delays and bureaucratic hurdles are failing children. This cannot go on. I raised these concerns in Parliament and have formally challenged the Education Secretary on what action will be taken.
I am also working to tackle poor broadband and mobile coverage, using responses from my constituency survey to push providers like Openreach and press the Telecoms Minister for improvements.
Your concerns shape my work every day for our community. If there’s anything else I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at [email protected].
With every good wish,
WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER
VAT IMPACT ON SEND EDUCATION
This week, I once again spoke in the Independent Schools: VAT and Business Rates Relief debate, organised by the Petitions Committee.
I shared concerns from my recent meeting with the Last Wednesday SEND Support Group in Farnham, where parents, carers, and guardians described the challenges they face in accessing support for their children.
One of the most urgent issues is the lengthy delays and bureaucratic hurdles in securing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Both Surrey and Hampshire have seen a sharp rise in EHCP applications, with increases of 63% in Surrey and 93% in Hampshire between 2019 and 2024. These figures are well above the national average. However, the system remains painfully slow and difficult to navigate, causing immense stress for families already facing significant challenges. The Government must act now to fix this broken process and ensure that every child gets the support they need at the right time.
At the same time, the proposed VAT and business rates policy on independent schools will have a devastating impact on the sector, making education less affordable for many families. Parental choice is fundamental in education, and educational diversity leads to educational excellence. If more pupils are pushed into the state system, it will place further strain on already stretched resources, to the detriment of all children.
The Government must recognise these challenges and ensure that education policy supports all families, whether they choose state or independent schools. Every child deserves access to the best possible education, and that starts with respecting choice, encouraging diversity, and ensuring proper support for those who need it most.
Please find my full speech here: Independent Schools: VAT and Business Rates Relief - Hansard - UK Parliament
TACKLING RURAL CRIME MUST BE A PRIORITY
Rural communities should not be an easy target for phone thieves.
While Labour and their Metro Mayors focus on mobile theft in big cities, I am fighting to ensure that rural areas like ours are not ignored. Many constituents have raised concerns about rising phone theft and the need for tougher action and stronger sentences for offenders. Today, I took these concerns directly to the Minister, who has now promised to give the issue the attention it deserves.
I also attended a meeting in Parliament with the Policing and Crime Minister and Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, to discuss the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill and the legislative changes it will bring to our local communities.
I won’t stop pushing until rural crime is tackled properly.
CONCERNS OVER THE CHINESE EMBASSY
The Labour government has made a reckless and deeply alarming decision by approving plans for the Chinese Embassy to occupy the historic Old Royal Mint in London. This is not about the basic principle that nations have sovereign embassies - of course, they do. But handing a prime UK landmark in the heart of the City of London to an authoritarian regime is wholly inappropriate.
The Conservative government previously blocked this proposal, recognising the serious risks involved. Labour, however, has willingly surrendered to Beijing’s influence, ignoring the clear dangers of allowing a hostile foreign power to establish a presence in such a significant location. The Old Royal Mint should be a site that reflects Britain’s rich heritage and democratic values, not a potential CCP surveillance hub.
This is not just about a building. It is about who we are as a country. The UK should be a beacon of freedom and democracy, not a willing host to those who trample on human rights and threaten our security. The Conservative Party stands firmly against this disgraceful decision and in solidarity with Hongkongers, Tibetans, and Uighurs, who continue to suffer under CCP oppression.
Labour’s decision is a gift to an authoritarian regime that has a track record of surveillance, coercion, and intimidation. We will not stand by as the government sells out our values and security.
I urge you to take action. Write to the Secretary of State for Housing and Planning, Angela Rayner, and demand that this decision is reversed. The Conservatives will continue to fight tooth and nail to protect our national security and stop Labour from selling Britain out to Beijing.
CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR FARMERS
This week, I stood shoulder to shoulder with Britain’s farmers on the streets of Whitehall to demand that the Government reverses its disastrous decision to impose a new tax on family farms.
This reckless policy will drive up costs, force farms out of business, and undermine Britain’s food security. Our farmers work tirelessly to put food on our tables, care for our countryside, and keep rural communities thriving. Yet, instead of supporting them, Labour is making it harder for family farms to survive.
We have already seen the consequences of government failures in agriculture. Delays in farm payments, burdensome red tape, and unfair trade deals that undercut British producers have left farmers struggling. Now, Labour wants to add a crippling new tax on top. The Prime Minister must wake up to the reality of what this means for our rural economy. If we continue down this path, we risk becoming dependent on imported food, weakening our self-sufficiency and putting British farming in jeopardy.
This is not just about farmers - it is about every single person in Britain who values homegrown produce and wants a strong, resilient food system. Labour must act now before it is too late. I will continue fighting for our farmers and pushing back against policies that threaten their future.CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR FARMERS
HOW I AM RAISING YOUR CONCERNS IN PARLIAMENT
This week I am trying something new and giving you an overview of a few questions I have written to the government about this week as a result of emails from constituents. This week, constituents have raised a breadth of concerns ranging from education policy, to the economy and international issues.
By following each link you will be able to see the answers I have received from the departments.
Written Answers — Home Office: Personal Care Services: Money Laundering ( 5 Mar 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle (a) crime networks and (b) money laundering systems operating behind (i) barbers and (ii) nail shops.
Written Answers — Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: China: Human Rights ( 4 Mar 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in China on the treatment of (a) Falun Gong and (b) Shen Yun practitioners outside China.
Written Answers — Home Office: Refugees: Ukraine ( 3 Mar 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to clarify long-term residency options for Ukrainian refugees in the UK beyond December 2026.
Written Answers — Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Voice over Internet Protocol ( 3 Mar 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate safeguards are in place for (a) older and (b) vulnerable people during the transition from the Public Switched Telephone Network to digital landlines.
Written Answers — Treasury: Internet: Import Duties ( 3 Mar 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that online companies such as (a) Temu and (b) Shein are paying their due and import taxes for sales of products in the United Kingdom.
Search for speaker:Gregory Stafford - TheyWorkForYou for more…
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WHAT’S GOING ON IN FARNHAM AND BORDON
SUPPORTING SEND FAMILIES AT ‘LAST WEDNESDAY GROUP’
It was a privilege to meet with parents, guardians, and carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) at the ‘Last Wednesday’ Support Group in Farnham.
Time and again, I hear the same message from families: the system is simply not working. The process of securing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) is too slow, too complex, and too stressful. Support is patchy, waiting lists are growing, and too many children are being left without the help they need. This is an issue I have now raised with multiple groups since my election, and I will not stop pushing for real reform.
Later that same afternoon, I took these concerns directly to Parliament, highlighting the urgent need for improvements in SEND provision. I have since formally requested to question the Education Secretary at the next available opportunity. Families deserve answers and, more importantly, action.
I will be visiting the ‘Last Wednesday’ group again soon and am incredibly grateful for their insight. This fight is far from over, and I will continue standing up for SEND families until they get the support they deserve.
REMINDER: FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL SURREY GALA DINNER
As written in the Farnham Herald, I am looking forward to joining the Friends of the Royal Surrey Gala Dinner at the Hogs Back Hotel for their special gala dinner.
The Friends of the Charity have advised there are still some tickets available; if you’d like to support this outstanding cause for a local hospital, please do come along.
For more information, visit www.royalsurreycharity.org.uk.
A VISIT TO ONE SCHOOL GLOBAL
I joined Principal Holly Manning at the local One School Global campus to see their facilities, meeting staff and students along the way.
One School Global combines innovative teaching practices with a traditional ethos to provide an tailored educational service to a dedicated community.
I was pleased to meet some very accomplished students and look forward to hearing of the school’s successes after the ongoing exam season.
IMPROVING LOCAL DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY: I’M TAKING ACTION
Thank you to everyone who has filled out my survey on broadband and mobile coverage so far. This is a major issue for many across our constituency, and I am determined to push for real improvements.
I am already using your survey responses in my discussions with providers like Openreach, ensuring they hear directly about the frustrations and challenges faced in areas such as Rushmoor, Moor Park, Tilford, Liphook, and our smaller villages. In the coming weeks, I will be meeting with the Telecoms Minister to raise these concerns and demand action to tackle the persistent gaps in service.
On mobile coverage, I am also engaging with some of the UK’s largest providers and have already passed on details from constituents experiencing poor service at home. No one should be left behind in today’s digital age.
If you have not yet completed my survey, please take a moment to fill out the survey on my website. The more feedback I have, the stronger the case I can make for urgent improvements.
Together, we can push for the reliable broadband and mobile coverage our community deserves.
THIS WEEK’S SURGERY AND CASEWORK BREAKDOWN
Last Friday, I held my regular surgery at the Millennium Centre in Liphook, where I had the opportunity to meet with constituents and discuss a variety of important issues, including SEND, immigration, local transport in Bordon, and plans for a new Gospel Hall in Grayshott.
In terms of wider casework, I’ve received considerable correspondence regarding the Safer Phones Bill, which had its second reading earlier today. Additionally, the ongoing war in Ukraine remains a significant concern for many residents, as does the recent increase in Waverley’s parking charges, which is causing frustration for both businesses and local constituents in Surrey.
As always, you can find a topical breakdown of my recent emails below.
