Parliament is now in recess, which means my time is going to be spent around the constituency until September. There’s lots to do and I’m looking forward to it, and I hope to see many of you at various events over coming weeks. These newsletters will pause until Parliament returns, but keep an eye on your inbox as I’ll be sending you some key updates on my campaigns and other activities throughout summer. Meanwhile, Sir Keir’s last week has been one of muddled priorities from Labour. While the economy continues to flatline after two years of higher taxes, the Government is also tying itself in knots with half-measures on social media that won't solve the real problem for children. As part of the Conservative team, the work to keep pushing for policies that back growth, reward work and focus on practical solutions instead of headline-grabbing gimmicks never stops.
Greg
FEATURED NEWS
Labour’s secret handover
The first successful coup in modern British history has concluded, with Andy Burnham crowned as Labour Leader and set to take office on Monday. Prime Ministers come and go, but I am alarmed by how little is known about the forthcoming plan - Labour even chose to block a debate in Parliament about Burnham’s plan. Who knows what’s coming…
Summer fun at Tilford Village Fête
Another of our brilliant village fêtes returned on the weekend in Tilford, with a raft race, funfair, duck race and more. I had a great time there, as always, and I hope those that stayed later into the evening enjoyed the iconic Tilfest later in the evening. It was lovely to catch up with residents and local businesses from across the area.
Local students complete work experience
Over the last couple weeks I have had ten young people from our area come up to Westminster and my office in Hindhead to do work experience in my office. It is always a pleasure to meet enthusiastic students with an interest in politics and the work of their Member of Parliament. I wish them, and all the pupils in our area, a restful summer now exams are over.
Pushing for answers on A31 funding
The long-term solution to road safety and traffic concerns around Farnham lies in a major upgrade to the A31. Work began on design work under the last Government, but Surrey County Council and I have been ignored by the Government since March. This is unacceptable - the scheme needs to be a priority. I raised it this week, and will do so again as necessary.
BILLIONS LOST TO STAFF SICKNESS IN THE NHS
Research shows NHS sickness absence is running at nearly three times the rate of the private sector, costing taxpayers billions of pounds and stripping over 8 million clinician days from the frontline every year. Long-term absences of more than 28 days have surged by 43% since 2019, and the number of staff who go off sick and never return has risen by a similar amount. This is a structural failure, and one that leaves the rest of the NHS workforce covering the gaps while patients wait longer for care.
I asked the Health Secretary about the Government’s plans to deal with this. All he could point to was an "ambition" - not a plan - to bring absence back down to roughly where it stood under the last Government. He did tell us we will need to wait until 2027 for treatment hubs that address only part of the problem. Every year of dither costs billions, costs patients treatment, and lets down the staff struggling to hold services together. This Government talks about NHS reform, but when the evidence is this clear, ambition isn't good enough.
CONFRONTING THE THREAT FROM IRAN
I spoke in the unexpected debate on Iran on Wednesday. Iran is a nation with an extraordinary history of culture, science and philosophy. Iranians have shown remarkable courage protesting against a regime that responds to their calls for freedom with intimidation and violence. But my quarrel is, and always has been, with the fundamentalist regime in Tehran: a regime that has spent four decades exporting terrorism through proxies like Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, threatening our allies, and conducting hostile activity right here on British soil.
I welcomed the Government's decision to proscribe the IRGC under the Terrorism Act - something Conservatives have been calling for since 2023 - but I also pressed Ministers hard on delivery. Sanctions and registration schemes helpful, but they are not the same as proscription, and wider remarks count for nothing without a clear timetable, a robust legal case that can survive challenge, and real co-ordination with our allies to give the decision teeth.
THIS WEEK’S CASEWORK 'WINS’
It has been particularly encouraging this week to see a number of long-running constituent issues reach positive conclusions. I was very pleased and relieved to hear from Thames Water that the tarmac blockage previously reported to me has now been cleared and everything is working as it should. I was also delighted to learn that Surrey County Council has finally made the outstanding educational provision payment for one of my constituents in Haslemere, meaning her family no longer has the uncertainty of worrying about her son's school placement for September over the summer holidays.
I have also received positive feedback about the way SGN has been carrying out essential works in Farnham. One resident got in touch to say they appreciated the team pressing ahead despite the challenging high temperatures to minimise disruption as quickly as possible. Finally, there has been encouraging progress on the civil service pensions cases I have been pursuing. All of the outstanding cases are now either resolved or nearing completion, and I am especially relieved that a new case raised this week by an elderly resident in Bordon is being treated with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.
