Plans to give mayors the power to impose an uncapped tax on overnight stays, including hotels, B&Bs and other accommodation have been confirmed this week, meaning higher costs simply for choosing to holiday in Britain. The industry has warned that a levy will also cost thousands of jobs. Despite a new Prime Minister, Labour’s answer to almost every problem seems to be the same: make people pay more. Meanwhile, local government reorganisation plans in Hampshire have run into serious trouble, flights were thrown into chaos by another air traffic control failure, and new figures have highlighted the scale of the challenge facing young people who are not in education, employment or training - something I discussed on BBC Politics Live on Wednesday.
Greg
FEATURED NEWS
One last step for Surrey Hills extension
Dockenfield could soon get the recognition and protection it deserves. Natural England has finally submitted the proposed Surrey Hills extension to the Secretary of State for approval. I’ve been campaigning for Dockenfield’s inclusion, so I’ll keep pushing to get through this final stage.
Protecting the Falklands from global threats
The Falklands are British, and their security cannot be taken for granted. China’s presence in the South Atlantic and Antarctica is a real risk, from illegal fishing to reported secret missile bases in Argentina. The Government needs to work closely with our allies to make sure Britain is ready to meet any challenges.
Watch my exchange with the Minister
A great day in Beacon Hill
I was pleased to draw the raffle at the Beacon Hill Village Fete, raising money for St Alban’s Church, 1st Hindhead Scouts, Soroptimist International and our local U3A network. It was a lovely opportunity to meet residents, catch up with familiar faces and thank the many volunteers who made the event possible - a great reminder of how much is done locally.
Have your say on Hampshire Policing
Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner is hosting focus groups next week to hear residents’ views on policing, including how safe people feel, trust in local police and what could be improved. There are two sessions next week, and I would encourage Hampshire residents to make their views heard.
Find out more and apply to join
FIGHTING FOR LOCAL FARMERS
Hampshire no longer has a single operational abattoir, and that is already being felt by farmers in our community. Following my parliamentary roundtable with the NFU in July, I met farmers from across the area at Downlands Estate in Bramshott to hear first-hand what the loss of local abattoir capacity means for their businesses. Longer journeys, higher costs and pressure on the remaining abattoirs are creating real challenges, as well as genuine concerns about animal welfare.
We also discussed the wider pressures facing farming, including the proposed EU SPS agreement, this summer’s severe drought and the rapidly spreading threat of bluetongue. I am grateful to the NFU and local farmers for sharing their experiences, and I will be taking these concerns directly to Ministers and doing everything I can to ensure practical action is taken to protect local food production. It was also nice to mark Back British Farming day with some of our very own local farmers.
THE FUTURE OF COMMUNITY PHARMACIES
Community pharmacies should be at the heart of the NHS’s shift towards more care in our communities, but the Government cannot ask them to do more while making it harder for them to remain viable. In a Westminster Hall debate on Wednesday, I challenged Ministers on the rising costs facing pharmacies, from National Insurance and business rates to medicine shortages and workforce pressures. In Farnham and Bordon, our 15 community pharmacies dispense around 142,000 prescriptions and provide thousands of vaccinations every month, making them an essential part of local healthcare.
There is a huge opportunity to make better use of pharmacists’ skills. Pharmacy First, introduced by the previous Conservative Government, has shown how patients can get the right care closer to home while easing pressure on GPs, and I argued that we should go further by expanding the service and making better use of independent prescribing. But that ambition needs to be matched with proper funding, enough staff and a reliable supply of medicines. The Conservatives will continue pressing Ministers to address the pressures facing pharmacies and ensure they have a sustainable future at the heart of our NHS.
THIS WEEK’S CASEWORK
There’s been quite the range of topics brought to my attention this week, with health and medical matters, political views on the Government’s performance, and energy bills making up the largest areas of casework, alongside issues involving farming, housing, transport, education and local councils.
That has included helping residents in Rowledge following suspected gas odours linked to Thames Water works, pursuing cases with Surrey and Hampshire County Councils, Waverley and East Hampshire District Council, and securing responses from Ministers on behalf of constituents. While as an MP I do not have direct control over local authorities or Government departments, I can make sure cases are escalated, questions are asked and constituents get the answers they deserve.
