Thank you for reading this round up of the work I’ve been doing across Witney and Westminster this June, in what has been another busy but rewarding month!
Witney Update
Business and Trade Select Committee Visit
In mid-June, I was very happy to arrange for parliamentary colleagues from the Business and Trade Select Committee (which I am a member of) to visit Witney.
As part of a two-day tour of high streets and town centres in different parts of the UK, my colleagues and I met with local business leaders to hear their recommendations for supporting our high streets. We had a very enjoyable walking tour of Witney High Street before hosting a roundtable at Witney’s Corn Exchange.
The evidence heard from Witney’s business leaders will help to inform recommendations that the Committee make to Government about how we can support local businesses on our high streets and town centres to thrive. Many thanks indeed to everyone who joined and gave such good input.
Casework Update
This month we had our five thousandth piece of casework for constituents, less than a year since being elected. Casework involves any question or request from residents, either for help with a problem or for my support or views on a particular cause.
The correspondence ranges from constituents needing help with issues such as delays in visa processing to housing maintenance, and from anti-social behaviour and shoplifting to flooding. My team and I work with local councils, government departments, local police, housing associations and other agencies to do all we can to get residents the help they need.
Other correspondence relates to national and international policy decisions, and how I use my voice in Parliament to represent your views on a vast range of subjects from climate change and international trade, to the crises in Gaza, Iran, Sudan and Ukraine.
Break-In at RAF Brize Norton
As you will have seen in the local and national news, members of ‘Palestine Action’ broke into RAF Brize Norton and damaged two aircraft. This action was dangerous and illegal. I have been in touch with the Station Commander, Group Captain Louise Henton, who has kept me updated on the investigation into how this happened, and she has my full support in dealing with it. I also raised the issue in Parliament and have met one on one with both the Armed Forces Minister and an Air Vice Marshall to discuss steps being taken to better secure our bases and ensure this cannot happen again.
Local Meetings and Visits
I have visited schools, farms, businesses and homes across the Witney constituency over the last month. I’ve been holding surgeries, so if you have an issue you would like to discuss with me please contact me on charlie.maynard.mp@parliament.uk
At Witney Pride last month, I really enjoyed meeting lots of people at the event. I would like to thank all the organisers for their efforts and my local party colleagues for joining me there. Everyone should have the freedom to live their life as the person they are, secure in the knowledge that their rights will be protected.
I met with Alan Ford and Katherine Doughty from Faringdon Town Council when I visited the town recently. We talked about how to make Faringdon an (even more!) thriving town. During my time in the town, we discussed buses, traffic, parking, outdoor eating and drinking, access to the town centre, A420 road safety, SEND provision and so much more.
I loved taking part in River Revival Day and was delighted to be press-ganged into action on one of the rafts. We did make it to the finish line and so did the raft, but not in the same shape that it started out. The day was in aid of raising money for local community and environmental causes, including cleaning up the beautiful rivers in Oxfordshire. All proceeds from the event went to the Swinbrook Village Hall Restoration Project and WASP (Windrush Against Sewage Pollution). It was great to see the WASP team there, both as sponsors and old friends, who have done so much to raise water issues both locally and nationally.
Westminster Update
Gaza
I am sure all of you reading this share my deep misery at the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the horrifying reports emerging every day from the region. This has been a focus of much of my Parliamentary work this month, and I’ve continued to try and use my voice in Westminster to push our Government to act more decisively both to end the exports of weapons which are then used by Israel to bomb Gaza and to find ways to get more aid into Gaza.
I co-sponsored a meeting organised by Lib Dem Friends of Palestine, along with Baroness Hussein-Ece, where Liberal Democrat parliamentarians heard directly from the Palestinian Head of Mission to the UK, about the importance of formally recognising the Palestinian State.
I also supported a motion tabled by Ed Davey which sets out unequivocally our “condemnation of the Israeli government's expansion of military activity in Gaza and... calls on the Government to develop an alternative plan with other countries to take aid into the Strip through a humanitarian corridor, ideally sponsored by the UN...”. It can be read in full here.
Thames Water
I have taken another step in my campaign to prevent Thames Water accepting yet more debt at the expense of its customers. I formally submitted a request to the Supreme Court to hear my case. I am arguing that the public and customer interests should be taken into account in this restructuring plan, given Thames Water provides essential public services and has a monopoly over customers. I expect to know by the end of July whether the Supreme Court will hear my case.
I have also spoken to the media about Thames Water’s planned buy out by KKR falling through, and have continued to press the Government to put the company into Administration - the only way to get Thames back on a stable financial footing, working in the interests of its customers rather than its creditors.
Assisted Dying
This month saw the Report Stage and Third Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – these are the final stages in the House of Commons, before the Bill moves on to the Lords for their own consideration. The Bill passed these stages by a small margin, after many hours of powerful arguments on both sides of the debate.
After careful consideration of the many amendments which were put forward, listening to the views of experts and the heartfelt correspondence from my constituents, I voted in favour of the Bill.
I support the overarching principle - that adults who have mental capacity, are terminally ill and are in the final six months of their life should have the choice to request assistance from a doctor to end their life in order to avoid suffering in the final months of their life. I also carefully considered the safeguards the Bill puts in place and I do believe they are robust.
I appreciate the strong views on both sides of this debate and I truly felt the significance of the moment when I cast my vote. If you would be interested in reading a more thorough explanation of my reasons for supporting the Bill, please find it here.
Spending Review and Industrial Strategy
Another focus in Parliament this month was the Government’s spending review and the publication of the Industrial Strategy which sets out how they plan to stimulate the economic growth the country desperately needs.
In the Spending Review, some announcements are welcome. For our constituency - home to the UKs largest RAF base - I was very pleased to see extra funding to improve military housing. With NHS and care services under such enormous pressure, I also welcome commitments to 3% real terms growth in day-to-day spending for the NHS. Hopefully this will deliver real progress in terms of reducing waiting times.
On the other hand, it is clear that increases in the policing budget are completely inadequate. Another huge disappointment is that the funding for local councils will not be enough to keep pace with need. Services like SEND which are already hugely overstretched will continue to struggle and families will continue to be let down.
On the Industrial Strategy, I asked Ministers how they were going to address the issue of rising industrial energy prices which are harming businesses across the country and here in Witney:
Special Education Needs
I have also spoken in the Chamber this month about the huge pressures on SEND services here in Oxfordshire, which mean far too many families are struggling to get the support they need and children are being let down. I am working with many friends and colleagues locally to find and develop solutions which will materially help the SEND problems which are so severe.
As ever, should you need my help with any issues you may have, or if you have any concerns, please do email me at charlie.maynard.mp@parliament.uk, or call 01993 463701 to speak with my office team.
Thank you for taking the time to read my update. If there is anything me or my team can help with, or you represent an organisation you would like me to visit, please do get in touch.
With very best wishes,
Charlie Maynard MP