Dear Constituent,
This week, as we marked 80 years since Victory in Europe Day, I’ve been reflecting on the values of service, sacrifice and community that defined a generation, and how much they still matter today.
From Bordon to Haslemere, Liphook to Farnham, and everywhere in between, communities came together to remember. I shared some thoughts in The Farnham Herald including the story of my grandfather, one of two from Haslemere evacuated from Dunkirk. His legacy, and that of so many others, continues to shape my work in public life.
This week on the Health and Social Care Select Committee, I challenged the Government on NHS performance, early years health, and the growing crisis in adult social care. Their National Insurance hikes are hitting care providers hard - with no real reform to show for it. I’ve also raised concerns about the impact of rising employment taxes on local businesses. Regeneration projects in Bordon and Farnham depend on small employers, but ministers seem intent on making it harder for them to succeed.
Locally, I visited Sainsbury’s Farnham ahead of the new store opening in Bordon, and joined Age UK in Parliament to support their Act Now, Age Better campaign, promoting healthier ageing. Alongside this, I continue to support constituents on the issues they raise with me - whether it’s infrastructure, education or access to local services, so please get in touch via [email protected] if I can help.
With every good wish,
VE DAY ACROSS THE CONSTITUENCY
This week marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day - a moment to pause, reflect, and honour the extraordinary courage, sacrifice and unity of the generation that lived through the Second World War. Across our constituency, communities came together in moving acts of remembrance and celebration.
I began Thursday morning at the Bordon flag-raising ceremony before joining the service at Haslemere’s High Street war memorial and visiting the station signal box. As I mentioned above and in this week’s column, my grandfather and Haslemere resident Bob Stafford was one of only two people from the town evacuated from Dunkirk. That connection made these commemorations all the more personal and poignant.
In the evening, I joined residents at Gostrey Meadow in Farnham for the parades, festivities and the lighting of the beacon - part of a shared national moment of remembrance. Similar events took place in towns and villages across the area, uniting us in pride and gratitude.
Earlier today, I was pleased to drop into a commemorative lunch in Bramshott and Liphook, and I look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow at the gathering on Lion Green in Haslemere.
These events remind us not only of the immense debt we owe to the wartime generation, but of the enduring strength of our local communities. Their sacrifice gave us peace. Our duty is to honour that legacy with unity, compassion, and shared purpose.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER
GOVERNMENT MUST NOT DERAIL LOCAL BUSINESSES
If we want places like Bordon’s new town centre and Farnham’s Brightwells development to thrive, we need to attract new shops, restaurants and employers. But that ambition is at risk if growing businesses are penalised by rising employment costs.
Last week, I put this directly to the Business Secretary in Parliament. Regeneration depends on confidence, and confidence depends on government getting the basics right. It’s no good talking about levelling up while making it more expensive to create jobs.
Higher employment taxes might seem abstract from a Whitehall office, but on the ground, they mean fewer opportunities and slower investment.
I’m working closely with both Hampshire and Surrey councils to back local growth. And I’ll keep challenging ministers to make sure their policies support - not sabotage - the progress our communities are making.
WHY THE DELAY ON HEALTHCARE REFORMS?
Labour came to power promising to fix the NHS. But so far, we’ve seen delay, confusion and spiralling costs - not the action patients were promised.
I’m not against reform - quite the opposite. Abolishing NHS England is the right step if it’s done with clarity and purpose. But once again, this Government is making a meal of it. Instead of decisive change, we’ve got bureaucratic drift - a slow, confusing restructure that’s paralysing the system and draining energy from the front line.
NHS leaders are still waiting for answers. Patients are still waiting for treatment. And staff are still waiting for support. There’s no sign of new investment reaching the services people rely on, just rising employment costs, inflation, and mounting union pressures.
Every week, I hear from residents who are stuck on hold, facing long delays and losing faith. They deserve better.
On the Health and Social Care Select Committee, I’ll continue to challenge ministers on the widening gap between their promises and their performance. Reform should mean progress - not chaos.
SOCIAL CARE: THE COST OF INACTION
This week in the Health and Social Care Committee, we opened our inquiry into the first 1,000 days of life - a critical window in a child’s development. I questioned Professor Sir Michael Marmot and Dame Andrea Leadsom on how we can confront the deep health inequalities that hold children back before they’ve even started school.
The evidence was stark: childhood vaccination rates are falling, obesity is rising, and more young people are living with serious, life-limiting conditions. Professor Marmot exposed the long-term damage caused by entrenched inequalities, while Dame Andrea outlined the Government’s Early Years Healthy Development Review and the role of family hubs. These challenges are urgent and I’ll continue to press for answers that deliver real support for children and families.
We also published our report on The Cost of Inaction on Adult Social Care - and the title says it all. The Government’s decision to raise National Insurance on care providers has piled pressure onto an overstretched system without improving care.
Kicking this issue into the long grass for another three years, with yet another review, is not a plan - it’s a political dodge. Care workers, families, and vulnerable people deserve action now. We need urgent reform to build a system that’s fair, sustainable and focused on people.
ACT NOW, AGE BETTER
This week, I joined Age UK in Parliament to support their Act Now, Age Better campaign - encouraging people approaching later life to take simple, practical steps to stay healthier for longer. It’s a timely reminder that ageing well doesn’t begin at retirement - it starts much earlier.
The campaign rightly focuses on prevention: staying active, eating well, staying connected, and protecting our mental health. These are proven ways to cut the risk of serious conditions like dementia, diabetes and heart disease.
With over 20,000 people over the age of 66 in our constituency, and many more nearing retirement, it’s vital that national policy reflects the real needs of older people. That means moving beyond crisis care and towards a proactive approach that promotes wellbeing, independence and dignity.
I’ll keep pressing ministers to make that shift.
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 (28 Apr 2025)
Written Answers - Department for Business and Trade (28 Apr 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether company directors will be indemnified from wrongful trading liability under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025.
Written Answers - Home Office (28 Apr 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on balancing public access to information on registered sex offenders with (a) data protection and (b) community safety.
Search for speaker:Gregory Stafford - TheyWorkForYou for more…
WHAT’S GOING ON IN FARNHAM AND BORDON
CATCHING UP WITH SAINSBURY’S
There are exciting developments ahead for Whitehill and Bordon, with a brand-new Sainsbury’s store on the way. So this week, I popped into the main Sainsbury’s in Farnham to meet the team, hear about their work in the community, and talk all things food, waste and future plans.
We covered a range of topics - including supermarket surplus stock, which I know many local residents care about. I was really pleased to hear that the Water Lane store is exceeding national targets, donating over 60% of its surplus food to fantastic local charities like Dementia Support and Brightwell Gostreys.
I’ll be keeping in close touch with the team as the Bordon site progresses, and look forward to welcoming them properly when the doors open.
And in case you're wondering, the most purchased item from all our local Sainsbury’s stores is… the humble red pepper. Who knew?
BARFIELD SCHOOL’S GARDEN PARTY
I had the pleasure of returning to Barfield School in Runfold on Thursday to join pupils, parents and staff as they marked this very special day. Over the past few months, I’ve had some thoughtful and inspiring conversations with the school’s Eco-Club about their hopes and concerns for the planet, so it was a real joy to visit again and reconnect with such an engaged school community.
We were treated to fantastic performances from the school band and choir, and I was honoured to give a short speech reflecting on the meaning of the day and the enduring importance of remembering the sacrifice of the glorious dead. Moments like these show the strength of our local schools - not just in academic achievement, but in nurturing compassion, reflection and civic pride in the next generation.
THIS WEEK’S CASEWORK BREAKDOWN
This week, I’ve been actively supporting a number of constituents with a wide range of concerns and doing the casework that makes a real difference day to day.
One local resident contacted me about her son’s delayed visa extension. While her own and her daughter’s applications had been approved, his was still outstanding. I’ve now written directly to the Home Office to press for an update and resolution. In Frensham, I’ve raised concerns with Surrey County Council about speeding and the need for traffic calming measures. Road safety is a regular issue in rural areas, and I’m determined to ensure residents’ voices are heard.
I’m also continuing to support a family navigating the complex process of securing a suitable school placement for their child, and I’m in regular contact with the local authority to ensure they’re getting the help they need. Alongside this, I’ve assisted residents with DBS check delays, housing allocation problems, and calls to improve local bus services.
If there’s an issue you need support with, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’m here to help, and committed to making sure local concerns get the attention they deserve.
