Dear Constituent,
From raising the concerns of SEND families in Parliament to meeting local health leaders and visiting care homes, it’s been a full and productive few weeks - both in Westminster and across our towns and villages.
In this newsletter, I’ve included updates on some of the key issues I’ve been championing nationally, including the state of SEND provision and the growing pressures on our farming communities. I’ve also been out meeting with East Hampshire’s Primary Care Network, pushing for improvements to rural transport and GP access, and supporting new road safety measures outside St Mary’s School in Frensham.
There’s been positive news locally too, with the rejection of the McDonald’s application near Tice’s Meadow and the Tice’s Meadow Bird Group receiving a King’s Award for Voluntary Service - a richly deserved recognition of their work.
With Parliament now in summer recess, these weekly newsletters will take a short pause - partly to allow my hardworking staff a well-earned break. I’ll return in September with a full update on my constituency visits and the issues I’ll be raising in the new session.
In the meantime, I’ll continue meeting residents across the constituency - rain or shine. If I don’t see you out and about over the summer, do feel free to get in touch by e-mail - I’d be delighted to hear from you.
With every good wish,
PARLIAMENT RISES FOR SUMMER RECESS
With Parliament rising this week, MPs are returning to their constituencies for the summer recess. It’s a natural point to take stock - and after a full year of Labour in power, there’s a lot to reflect on.
As I wrote in this week’s Herald, This first session has seen troubling signs: jobs lost in key industries, economic uncertainty growing, and the Government abandoning promises it made just months ago. Whatever spin Labour tries to put on it, the facts speak for themselves - and voters are right to feel concerned.
But recess doesn’t mean switching off. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be out and about across our towns and villages, meeting with residents, local businesses, and community groups. It’s these conversations that shape everything I take back to Westminster - on issues from healthcare and education to broadband, transport and beyond.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER
PUSHING FOR BETTER SEND SUPPORT
As reported on the BBC, I recently spoke in Parliament about the growing crisis in support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) - something I’m seeing more and more in our community.
Since being elected, I’ve taken on many SEND cases locally. That includes families waiting years for assessments, or being forced to spend thousands going to tribunal just to get basic help for their child. It shouldn’t be this hard.
Local councils are under real strain, with rising costs and growing demand, and the current system just isn’t keeping up. That’s why I’ve called on the Government to invest in more specialist school places, improve the way SEND transport is delivered, and support the independent and alternative schools that are often the only option for some children.
Families aren’t asking for anything unreasonable - just the support their children are entitled to. The system needs to change, and I’ll keep working to make sure their voices are heard.
STEPPING UP AS A VOICE IN WALES
I recently raised concerns about the future of family farms under Labour’s proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme. Farmers across Wales are voicing serious worries - about the scheme’s complexity, the potential hit to food production, and whether the financial support on offer is anywhere near enough to keep their farms viable.
I’m not a Welsh MP, but with no Conservatives currently representing Wales, someone has to step in. What’s happening there is a warning sign. Family farms are being undermined by decisions from a Labour Government in Cardiff Bay that lacks basic competence, backed by a national Labour Party that doesn’t seem to understand rural communities at all.
These aren’t abstract concerns. They echo what I hear from farmers in our own area: frustration with top-down policy, fear for the future, and a deep sense that no one in power is listening.
If Labour won’t speak up for family farms, we will.
DISCUSSING PRIMARY CARE IN EAST HAMPSHIRE
On Monday, I met with representatives from the East Hampshire Primary Care Network, which includes GP surgeries across Whitehill, Bordon, Headley and the wider area. We had a wide-ranging conversation about local healthcare provision - including transport, the proposed Health Hub, and pressures on primary care.
The most pressing concern they raised was transport. Too many residents are missing appointments or unable to access support simply because they can’t get there. Hospital transport is now so limited that many people are left to rely on voluntary services, which aren’t always accessible and are under increasing strain.
I’ve offered to explore whether a more structured, community-based transport option could help, and will be following up with local providers and the NHS to see what might be possible.
We also spoke about the planned Health Hub in Whitehill & Bordon. While the PCN isn’t a formal delivery partner, they were clear that bringing services under one roof could be a real step forward - but only if people are able to reach it in the first place.
I’ll continue working closely with our local health leaders to push for practical solutions that meet the needs of 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 - Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (15 Jul 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of geographic differences in full fibre availability on local economic development.
Written Answers - Department for Health and Social Care (3 Jul 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the trends in the levels of ambulance callouts to the same patient more than once in a 24 hour period.
Written Answers - Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (15 Jul 2025)
Gregory Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Openreach and (b) CityFibre on delays in full fibre line installations to businesses based in the Farnham and Bordon constituency.
Visit Parliament’s Written Answers website for more…
WHAT’S GOING ON IN FARNHAM AND BORDON
NEXT STEPS FOR ST MARY’S
Road safety around our local schools is a concern I take seriously. That’s why I recently met with the headteacher at St Mary’s School in Frensham to discuss speed limits on the busy road outside. Following our conversation, I wrote to Surrey County Council to press for action - and I’m pleased to report that a formal safety assessment is now going ahead.
I’ve also been working closely with County Councillor David Harmer to keep up the momentum, and one of the next steps I’m keen to take is to work with the school and its parent community to re-establish a local Speed Watch group. These initiatives not only help monitor speeding but can play a big part in building support for a lower limit.
I’ll be taking this forward with the school ahead of the new academic year in September - and will continue pushing for a 30mph zone to help keep pupils, parents and staff safe.
VISITING MELBRECK NURSING HOME
I visited Melbreck Nursing Home in Rushmoor during its annual summer fête - a great chance to meet staff, residents, and families in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
Melbreck stands out for its approach to care. It’s not just about meeting clinical needs, but about giving residents real agency in daily life - from shaping routines to getting involved in decisions that affect their home. That level of respect and inclusion makes a real difference.
I also spent time speaking with the team from Voyage Care about the wider picture in adult social care. We discussed some of the day-to-day challenges they face, not just funding and staffing, but how services like theirs can be better supported to keep delivering high-quality care in the long term.
Thanks to everyone at Melbreck for taking the time during a busy day to show me around and share their insights.
CONTNUED SUCCESS AT TICE’S MEADOW
There’s been more good news for Tice’s Meadow this month.
First, plans for a 24-hour McDonald’s next to the nature reserve have been rejected by Guildford Borough Council. This follows strong opposition from local residents, councillors, and community groups who rightly raised concerns about the impact on wildlife, tranquillity, and the character of the area. It’s the right outcome for a site that deserves to be protected.
Second, I want to congratulate the Tice’s Meadow Bird Group on being awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service - the highest recognition a local group can receive. It’s a huge testament to the time, energy, and expertise they’ve put into making the reserve one of our area’s real treasures.
Together, these two pieces of news are a reminder of what community action can achieve - and how important it is to keep standing up for our natural spaces.
OUT ON THE DOORSTEP IN CHURT
I spent Saturday morning out in Churt, knocking on doors with our local team and County Councillor David Harmer. It was a great opportunity to speak directly with residents about the issues that matter most to them - from rural transport to planning and local services.
Even a sudden downpour couldn’t stop us! Here’s a photo of me and the team taking a well-earned tea break after a wet but productive morning on the doorstep.
Conversations like these are invaluable. They help shape the work I do both locally and in Westminster - and I’ll keep making time for them across every part of the constituency.
THIS WEEK’S CASEWORK BREAKDOWN
Casework this week has covered a wide range of issues - from housing allocations in Waverley and roadworks in Farnham, to visa delays and social care concerns.
I’m continuing to support several residents facing difficulties with Adult Social Care - including one gentleman unable to access the deferred payment scheme to help cover the cost of his wife’s care. These situations can be deeply stressful, and I’ll keep doing all I can to help people navigate the system.
I still have a few appointments available for my advice surgeries in August, so if you’d like to speak with me - either virtually or in person - please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
