Greetings.
This is the May edition of my newsletter. It helps me to keep you posted on what I've been doing around the constituency and in Westminster, working on your behalf.
Around the constituency
I have, as ever, been very lucky to meet with many inspiring people across my constituency over the last month. I have had lots of interesting conversations on everything from potholes to political reform. Many thanks to everyone who has met with me at one of my constituency surgeries.
If there is anything I can do to help, I (and members of my team) can best be reached by emailing charlie.maynard.mp@parliament.uk.
Please do get in touch if you would like to book a slot at my weekly online surgery. Additionally, if you represent an organisation or business that you would like me to visit please do contact me and the team will be happy to arrange this.
I hosted a round table with 25 farmers from around my constituency at Warwick Hall in Burford. I wanted to hear from farmers directly about the challenges they are facing, and how I can support them effectively in light of the recent challenging policy decisions made by the Government.
We discussed a wide range of issues at the event, from inheritance tax and the threat it poses to family farms and the cutting of SFI payment with no notice to rural crime. I am very grateful to everyone who came to meet with me in Burford.
I would also like to offer my thanks to the Witney MP Watch team, who hosted a lively discussion where we discussed topics as wide ranging as the future of British Steel, my campaign to rebuild the railway linking Carterton, Witney and Oxford, and how we can improve trust & truth in politics.
I also held a very useful meeting in Watchfield with members of the Afghanistan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). Many members of that group moved to Oxfordshire in 2023 as part of the Afghanistan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), which offers Afghani nationals who worked for or alongside the UK government relocation to the UK following the end of operations in that country in 2021.
At the meeting, we discussed the many challenges they have been facing, including the lack of English lessons available to them, and barriers to finding employment. These are key issues to solve which are obviously good news for everyone, helping people integrate effectively and be able to find work so they can stand on their own two feet. We came away from the meeting with a long list of actions for us as a team.
In early May, I joined many constituents around the main market towns of my constituency to mark the celebrations for Victory in Europe (VE) Day. I attended commemoration services throughout the day in Carterton, Witney and also Faringdon, which included events such as proclamations, flag raising ceremonies as well as the laying of wreaths.
The Service of Reflection and Commemoration, including the Lighting of the Lantern of Peace outside the Corn Exchange in Witney were excellent events, which also attracted a lot of media attention including being covered live by BBC South Today.
The event was extremely well attended, and it was also a brilliant service – One of those events that Witney just does so brilliantly well. My thanks go to everyone involved in making the many events across West Oxfordshire possible and also for making it an amazing day, one to remember for many years to come.
At the end of May, I embarked on another constituency walk day. This was the fifth walk in the series I am doing around the wards in the Witney constituency as a way to hear from a wide range of local residents and businesses.
The day was brilliant with 18 kilometres covered on foot on some glorious weather conditions. This time I started out in Goosey, and made my way on to Charney Bassett, Lyford, Garford and Millets Farm, before finishing in Fyfield.
Throughout the day, I met with many local residents, local businesses and local parish & district Councillors to really get a feel for the issues they are experiencing in their area, and what my office and I can do in order to help them.
I came away with some lots of actions that my team & I will be following up on. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to meet with me and to talk to me as I made my way through.
I recently made a visit to Witney Community Hospital, located on Welch Way where I met with Clinical Director Pete McGrane, Operational Support Manager Debbie Holman, and other members of the senior leadership teams.
During the visit, I spoke about my vision for a more vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable town centre, particularly along Welch Way which, at the moment, consists of ageing and separate 1960/70s buildings that could be made into a better environment which includes more social housing, an expanded college, and a revamped Community Hospital.
I was also shown the Emergency Multi-Disciplinary Unit (EMU), where he learned about the great work being done there to treat patients directed from GPs, the outpatients/x-ray area, and Minor Injuries Unit (MIU).
At Westminster
In Westminster I’ve been working hard to raise important issues for the residents of Witney with Government.
I have urged the Government to take the bold action which is needed to fix the broken NHS dental contract, which is a big part of the reason for the huge gaps in access to NHS dentists across the country. That is certainly a problem we see here in Witney. In my recent survey of local dentistry services for example, 57% of respondents were not registered at an NHS dentist.
On the Business and Trade Committee, we published a report on what Government should prioritise in their discussions at the UK-EU Summit which took place this month. This was the first opportunity to set out a renewed strategic alliance between the UK and Europe and I felt like our report made some important recommendations. You can read it in full here: How to strengthen UK-EU relations: Policy Priorities for the Summit.
After the summit, I also spoke in a debate in the Commons about how we could strengthen our trade relationship with Europe where I raised the need to be back inside the Customs Union if we really want to boost trade.
In a debate on how schools will fund the new teachers pay deal, I asked what engagement the Government had with school support staff to ensure they too receive a fair pay settlement. They make up over half of the school workforce, yet there is currently no statutory national pay body to represent them in discussions about their pay, terms, and working conditions.
Earlier this month I also spoke in a debate on brain tumour research, a topic which is extremely important to me. Back in 2018 the Government committed to a £40million fund for brain tumour research, yet to date only about a quarter of that money has been allocated. I urged the Government to make commitments to allocate and spend the money which was promised.
Charlie Maynard Urges the Government to Commit to their Brain Tumour Funding Promises
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 to all my constituents for their ongoing support and engagement.
With very best wishes,
Charlie Maynard MP