Dear Constituent,
This past week, I’ve continued to focus on the issues that affect our daily lives - connectivity, care, accountability, and community.
In Westminster, I delivered my first speech at the dispatch box on behalf of His Majesty’s Opposition, marking Parkinson’s Awareness Month. I spoke about the urgent need for faster diagnosis, better care, and proper investment in research - drawing on personal experience and reflecting the concerns of families across the country.
I’ve also been preparing for the next Health and Social Care Select Committee session, which will hear evidence from Professor David Taylor of UCL and former Health Minister Dame Andrea Leadsom. Behind the scenes, our work continues to press for overdue reform in adult social care - something I also raised during a recent cross-party panel discussion with Damian Green and Dr Anna Dixon.
Locally, I’ve been tackling poor broadband and mobile coverage, using evidence from my recent survey to press both officials and providers for concrete action. I’ve challenged Waverley Borough Council following serious concerns over an unregulated event in Frensham, and I’ve met residents at Bramshott Place to discuss the impact of rising service charges and recent tax changes.
Finally, it was a pleasure to join the Royal British Legion in Hindhead for the first of many VE Day commemorations, and to support the community groups whose work underpins so much of what makes our area strong.
As ever, if there’s something you’d like to raise with me, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at [email protected].
With every good wish,
WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER
SECURING BETTER BROADBAND
I'm pleased to share that my ongoing work to improve access to fast, reliable broadband has been recognised by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. I have now secured quarterly meetings with officials to track progress and raise local concerns directly.
In our latest meeting, I raised issues affecting estates in Bordon, as well as villages including Conford, Passfield, Tilford, Churt, and Rushmoor. The strong response to my recent broadband survey has been invaluable - your feedback provides the evidence I need to push for better infrastructure.
I will continue working with the Department and with Building Digital UK, which coordinates Project Gigabit. I'm also due to meet the Telecoms Minister in just over a fortnight to maintain momentum and ensure our area is not left behind.
ACTION ON PARKINSON’S
I had the honour of delivering my first speech at the despatch box on behalf of His Majesty’s Opposition, marking Parkinson’s Awareness Month. I spoke about the urgent need for better care, faster diagnosis, and increased investment in research.
For me, this issue is personal. A close family member was diagnosed with a progressive neurological condition, and I’ve seen first-hand the challenges faced by so many families across the country.
Locally, we've made some progress, for example, through initiatives like free access to leisure centres, but national action is long overdue. Awareness matters, but it must be backed by meaningful change.
You can watch the speech below.
SOCIAL CARE REFORM CANNOT WAIT
On Tuesday, I joined Damian Green and Anna Dixon for a panel discussion on adult social care at the Old Queen Street Café. It was a valuable chance to hear from those on the front line, and to demand urgent reform.
Health and social care must work as one system. Keeping them separate creates confusion, delays, and poor outcomes. The current model, delivered by overstretched local authorities, is no longer fit for purpose. We need a consistent, national system with clear accountability.
Governance came up time and again. Too many departments are involved, and no one’s clearly in charge. That lack of leadership has held back progress for years.
This isn’t just about older people. Social care must meet the needs of those with disabilities, autism, and complex conditions too.
Labour promised action. After 14 years in opposition, they now have the space to deliver. I’ll hold them to it - and I’ll keep pushing for the reform we need.
MOBILE COVERAGE WITH VODAFONE
I met Vodafone on Monday to discuss the results of my broadband and mobile coverage survey, and it’s clear your feedback is making a real impact.
With Vodafone’s merger with Three on the horizon, the company is planning major infrastructure upgrades. I’m determined to make sure our community is part of that.
Many of you have flagged poor signal in places like Frensham, Rushmoor, Headley, Beacon Hill and other rural areas. I’ll be working with Vodafone to help open up conversations with landowners and local authorities to get the right kit in the right places.
Every mobile operator I’ve spoken to has found the survey results extremely useful. If you haven’t filled it in yet, please do - it genuinely helps shape future coverage.
Click here to tell me your views
HOW I AM RAISING YOUR CONCERNS IN PARLIAMENT
By following each link you will be able to see the answers I have received from the departments.
Written Answers - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (23 Apr 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report entitled Mobile homes: The impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission, published in June 2022.
Written Answers - Department for Health and Social Care (23 Apr 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of procedures deliverable per £1 million of Departmental spend via (a) NHS internal delivery, (b) outsourcing and (c) insourcing.
Written Answers - Department for Education (17 Apr 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) improve alternative provision arrangements for children with SEND during the process of waiting for a tribunal.
Search for speaker:Gregory Stafford - TheyWorkForYou for more…
WHAT’S GOING ON IN FARNHAM AND BORDON
SERIOUS QUESTIONS OVER FRENSHAM EVENT
After last weekend’s religious event in Frensham, I visited the site and spoke to residents who raised serious concerns about noise, traffic disruption, and safety. This was not a small gathering - it was closer in scale to a small mjusic festival!
Despite receiving 18 complaints about last year’s event, Waverley Borough Council failed to take action to prevent a repeat. No formal notice was given to the Council this year, and the necessary oversight simply wasn’t in place.
Religious events are permitted under current legislation, but that does not mean basic planning rules, safety standards, and noise controls can be ignored. I understand two more events may be planned for later this year. Waverley must investigate whether these are lawful and urgently engage with organisers to ensure proper safeguards are in place.
I’ve called on the Council to treat this seriously, involve the full Safety Advisory Group, and put residents first.
BEGINNING OF VE DAY CELEBRATIONS WITH HINDHEAD RBL
I had a fantastic afternoon at the Hindhead Royal British Legion Club’s open day, marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day. It was the first of many commemorative events in our area - and the community turnout was brilliant.
I’ve been supporting the club with a number of casework issues in recent months, so it was especially rewarding to catch up with the team and see the real impact of their work. Clubs like this are vital community hubs, and they deserve our backing.
It was also a pleasure to see the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey and our local Fire and Rescue Service joining the celebrations.
I’m looking forward to returning soon for the club’s beer festival and continuing to champion all they do.
SUPPORTING THOSE IN RETIREMENT
It was a pleasure to visit Bramshott Place retirement village and meet with residents and members of the residents’ association. We had a wide-ranging discussion, with particular concern around rising service charges and the impact of recent tax changes introduced by the Labour Government.
I’ve already written to the Minister on the association’s behalf, and this visit gave me the chance to hear directly from residents about how these changes are affecting them. I’ll continue to follow up to ensure their voices are heard in Westminster.
While I was there, I also recorded my first video column for The Herald, inspired by our conversation. You can watch it here: We must stand up for our pensioners
THIS WEEK’S CASEWORK BREAKDOWN
As ever, a wide range of issues have come into my inbox this week. I’ve been supporting residents with concerns including delays to housing repairs with Waverley Borough Council, adult social care support, and the use of herbicides and pesticides in our local environment.
I’m also assisting a constituent who was wrongly issued a British Overseas passport despite being a British citizen. I’ve raised this urgently with the Home Office to ensure the correct documentation is provided without further delay.
Many of you continue to raise concerns about the Farnham Infrastructure Project, and I remain in contact with all three councils involved to push for improvements with minimal disruption.
Finally, I’ve contacted East Hampshire District Council and the Leader of Whitehill Town Council after a resident wrote to me about the ongoing closure of public toilets at the Forest Shopping Centre.
