Dear Constituent,
Thank you for taking the time to read my latest update.
This past week has shown, once again, just how much our towns and villages achieve when people pull together. From celebrating four decades of language and culture at the Polish Saturday School in Farnham, to sharing stories and plans for new projects at Space2Grow community garden, it’s clear that local people’s dedication builds connections and support where it’s needed most.
I’ve also seen that same community spirit at the Summer Fete at St George’s Church in Badshot Lea, and in the quiet determination of the volunteers restoring Wrecclesham allotments after the recent vandalism - a stark reminder of how important it is to protect the spaces we care about.
While backing this local work, I’ve been raising the issues you tell me about daily: from urging EE to tackle poor mobile coverage area by area, to pushing Rushmoor Borough Council to run a fair and accessible consultation on Farnborough Airport’s expansion plans. I’ve met with Nationwide to secure the future of our high street banking and continued making the case in Parliament for real support for our pubs through the Save the Local campaign.
Alongside this, I’ve challenged the Government’s flawed approach to local government reform, which risks loading Waverley with Woking’s huge debt, and spoken out about a Spending Review that, despite the slogans, piles on borrowing without solving the real pressures on childcare, SEND and small businesses. I’ve also been working line by line through the new Mental Health Bill, determined to see it deliver genuine improvements in care.
As ever, I will keep pressing for practical action that makes life better for families and businesses across Farnham, Bordon, Haslemere, Liphook and our villages.
If there’s an issue you’d like my help with, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via [email protected].
With every good wish,
WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER
WAVERLEY SET TO INHERIT WOKING DEBT
I raised serious concerns about the Labour Government’s decision to push ahead with a top-down reorganisation of local government across the country - without offering any plan to deal with Woking Borough Council’s spiralling debt.
Woking is one of the most indebted councils in the country, with over £170 million a year in financing costs - a burden that could fall on neighbouring councils under Labour’s forced East-West Surrey model. As it stands, the Government’s criteria have effectively left Surrey County Council with no choice but to propose this two-council split to comply with Labour’s centralised process.
Waverley, part of my constituency, is in a much stronger financial position - and it is simply unacceptable to ask well-managed local authorities to absorb historic debt they didn’t create. If this goes ahead without intervention, frontline services in West Surrey - including vital support for children with special educational needs - could be put at risk from day one.
I’ll be writing to the Secretary of State to demand urgent action. Labour made it clear they intended to press ahead with local government reorganisation across England - but having set the criteria, they should have thought through the consequences. Forcing councils like Surrey into difficult choices without addressing issues like Woking’s debt is both short-sighted and unfair.
LABOUR’S FIRST SPENDING REVIEW
Ahead of the Spending Review, I warned that struggling sectors like farming, SEND, small businesses and childcare deserved more than slogans. Now that the Chancellor has set out the plans, some commitments are welcome - but too many questions remain, and the cost to taxpayers is spiralling.
We have seen headline promises: £29 billion more for the NHS, £39 billion for affordable housing, and an expanded childcare offer. But as ever with this government, the delivery is what matters - and behind the announcements lie deeper problems that Ministers continue to ignore.
While they talk about ‘investment’, the reality is that they are papering over cracks with record levels of borrowing. Independent forecasts show that the government will borrow over £110 billion in the next three years, pushing public debt perilously close to 100% of GDP - a burden that will hang over taxpayers for generations to come. The interest alone on this debt now outstrips the entire budgets for policing and defence combined.
All this extra borrowing might be justified if the economy were growing strongly. But it is not. The latest figures show that our economy contracted by 0.3% in April, with the Bank of England warning of only sluggish growth this year and next. Productivity remains weak, and businesses face punishing costs thanks to persistent inflation and yet more tax rises.
Take childcare: despite the headlines, the early years sector is still sounding the alarm. According to the Early Education and Childcare Coalition, one in ten providers expect to close within two years, driven out by rising bills, underfunding, and staff shortages - hitting working families hard, especially those with children with SEND.
Meanwhile, the Chancellor’s so-called ‘affordable housing boost’ comes as rural renters and young families across Farnham, Bordon and our villages face record rents and a housing shortage that won’t be fixed overnight by pledges alone.
And what about the cost of living? While families struggle with high prices, the government presses ahead with stealth tax hikes and cuts to vital support like the Winter Fuel Payment - just as inflation continues to erode household incomes, and unemployment starts to tick upwards again.
This Spending Review was a chance to show responsible leadership: genuine targeted investment, clear delivery plans, and a credible plan to get Britain growing again - not just headlines propped up by ever-growing debt.
As your local MP, I will be scrutinising every line of this Spending Review and challenging Ministers on whether these promises will really reach the people who need them most. Our communities in Farnham, Bordon and across Surrey and Hampshire deserve more than slogans. They deserve value for money - and a government that puts careful stewardship of taxpayers’ money before flashy announcements.
You can watch the video I published with The Herald ahead of the Spending Review below.
‘SAVE THE LOCAL’ WITH THE PARTY CHAIRMAN
I was pleased to join Party Chairman Nigel Huddleston at a recent Save the Local campaign event, where he recognised the work I’ve been doing locally and in Parliament to support our pubs and hospitality sector.
Pubs are more than just businesses - they’re community hubs. That’s why I ran a survey with the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) to hear directly from publicans and have spoken out in Parliament about the need for real support.
The fiscal changes that come into force two months ago are already being felt across the sector, but it is vital we maintain the pressure to show the Government just how damaging their policies are.
I’ll keep making the case for practical measures that help our local pubs thrive.
DISCUSSING MOBILE COVERAGE WITH EE
After hearing from hundreds of EE customers through my recent mobile and broadband survey, I met with Will from BT Group, which owns EE, to raise concerns about persistent coverage issues across the constituency.
Unlike O2 and other providers that use Vodafone’s infrastructure, EE operates its own dedicated network here. Their internal maps and data suggest good coverage - but I know from your responses that this often doesn’t match reality on the ground.
To help close that gap, I’ll be providing EE with a more detailed, village-by-village breakdown of the feedback I’ve received. This will feed into an upcoming technical review of mobile coverage, due to take place in the coming weeks.
That review is a real opportunity to highlight the areas that are being overlooked, and I’ll be pushing hard to ensure improvements are prioritised for our community.
LETTER TO RUSHMOOR ON FARNBOROUGH AIRPORT
Many of you have been in touch about the upcoming consultation on Farnborough Airport’s proposed expansion, particularly around its timing. The consultation is currently due to take place in August - a period when many households will be away or less able to engage.
While decisions around the consultation sit with Rushmoor Borough Council, I’ve raised the matter in Parliament with the Minister for Aviation, who confirmed the responsibility rests locally. I’ve now written formally to the Council to urge them to consider extending the consultation and to ensure it is accessible in both format and publicity.
I know this is an issue that cuts across communities and perspectives. It’s not about taking a view on the expansion itself - it’s about making sure everyone who wants to be heard has the chance to be.
You can read the full letter via my website, or by clicking the graphic below.
MEETING FRIMLEY ICB’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE
I met Sam Burrows, Chief Executive of Frimley ICB, to discuss the financial pressures facing local NHS services.
Nationally, funding for ICBs is being reduced, with a target of around £19 per person in the area they cover. This is prompting discussions about potential changes to how ICBs are structured, including possible mergers or boundary adjustments.
I was reassured that patient choice and access to key services will remain in place. However, there may be differences in how some non-statutory treatments are funded between areas.
As conversations develop, I’ll continue to engage with NHS leaders and press for clarity and fairness for our community.
HOW I AM RAISING YOUR CONCERNS IN PARLIAMENT
By following each link you will be able to see the recent answers I have received from the Government.
Written Answers - Home Office (3 Jun 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of poor mobile signal on police capacity to (a) respond to and (b) manage rural crime.
Written Answers - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (21 May 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 52818 on Slaughterhouses: Closures, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of access to slaughter facilities for livestock producers in Farnham and Bordon constituency.
Written Answers - Department for Education (3 Jun 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of ending the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme on regional equality of access to apprenticeship (a) information and (b) advice.
Search for speaker:Gregory Stafford - TheyWorkForYou for more…
WHAT’S GOING ON IN FARNHAM AND BORDON
VISITING NATIONWIDE IN FARNHAM
Following Santander’s decision to close its Farnham branch, I recently visited Nationwide to hear more about their commitment to local banking.
Nationwide has pledged to keep branches like the one in Farnham open until at least 2028. I met with the team to discuss what that means for their 27,000 customers across our area.
I was also pleased to hear about their community work - including plans to provide a safe space for women through a partnership with the local refuge, and their efforts to support young people facing homelessness.
Access to in-person banking and meaningful local engagement matters, and I’ll continue to back services that put people first.
SPACE2GROW’S ‘BIG LUNCH’
I had the privilege of joining the Big Lunch with Space2Grow - a community garden in Farnham where people come together to support one another and build lasting connections.
The lunch brought together volunteers, local families, students and supporters. Conversations ranged from outdoor learning to mental health and intergenerational support.
With nearly £200,000 in National Lottery funding and backing from local councils, Space2Grow is thriving. Their next goal is to launch a new group supporting older people in our community.
I’m also pleased to share that Farnham Town Council has nominated the project for the King’s Award for Voluntary Service - what will hopefully be a well-deserved recognition of their incredible work.
BADSHOT LEA AND HALE’S SUMMER FAYRE
I had a wonderful time at the Summer Community Fete at St George’s Church in Badshot Lea. With a BBQ, cream teas, live music, and games for all ages, it was a brilliant showcase of everything that makes our local community so special.
It was also nice to catch up with local councillors (of all political parties) and see so many familiar faces supporting the event. These occasions don’t happen without a huge amount of behind-the-scenes effort - my thanks to the organisers, volunteers, stallholders, and everyone who helped make it such a success.
POLISH SCHOOL MARKS 40 YEARS IN WEYDON
At Weydon’s Medici Theatre on Saturday, I dropped into the 40th anniversary celebration of the Polish Saturday School.
This milestone marks four decades of dedication to language, culture and community - not just for Polish families in our area, but for the wider community as well. It was a great to meet teachers, pupils, parents and alumni, and to hear about the school’s history and the values it continues to pass on.
WRECCLESHAM ALLOTMENTS
Like many of you, I was shocked to hear about the vandalism at the Wrecclesham allotments last week. The damage caused was extensive and distressing - almost every shed broken into, glass smashed, and tools stolen. It’s hard to understand what motivates such destruction in a space so lovingly maintained by volunteers.
Just a few days later, I visited a Wrecclesham Conservation Group work party at St Peter’s churchyard. Among the volunteers were Peter Dawes, Chairman of the allotments, and Myung-hye Chun. Their focus, even after such a difficult week, was on care and community - doing what they could to improve and protect local spaces.
My thanks go to everyone involved for showing, once again, the quiet strength of this community.
THIS WEEK’S CASEWORK BREAKDOWN
This week in casework, I’ve been supporting constituents on a range of issues - including delays to SEND support, problems with estate management companies, and concerns about access to hospital services.
I’ve written to South East Water and Southern Water on behalf of residents in Farnham regarding a persistent pipe leak affecting a local road. I’ve also contacted the Justice Secretary after being approached by a constituent facing significant delays with the Probate Office.
Support for families navigating EHCP delays and wider SEND processes remains a key focus, and I continue to raise these issues with local authorities and relevant departments across both Surrey and Hampshire.
