I hope you managed to take a well-deserved break over the summer months.
In September, I hit the ground running back in Westminster where Parliament returned for a busy few weeks after summer recess.
Here in Witney & the Western Vale, I’ve had a whole range of fascinating meetings and I’m continuing to work hard on addressing local issues that are concerning people in the community.
I also spent a weekend down in Bournemouth at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference, where we discussed lots of interesting policies and issues.
Return to Westminster
In the first few weeks of September, I spoke in the Commons on Gaza and Israel’s continuing breaches of international law.
I asked government ministers what levers they will be using, such as restrictions on travel and trade, delivery of aid by air and sea, and stopping the sale of all F-35 components manufactured in the UK, to address this. I have specifically pushed them on the idea of delivering aid by sea, given that Israel continues to restrict land routes.
I also asked questions of the Government in the wake of Russian drones violating Polish airspace, and asked them to clearly set out our obligations to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and all our NATO allies, and the role played by the alliance known as the joint expeditionary force.
I also spoke in a debate about the terrible state of SEND provision across the country.
We are all aware of stories here in Oxfordshire, of families who are desperate to get the support their children need in their schools. Specifically, I asked about how we could upskill teachers as teacher training doesn’t reflect the increasing number of pupils with SEND who need support in their classrooms.
The Mulberry Bush School, here in Standlake, who I met with this month, does a fantastic job with outreach from specialist schools to regular schools and I asked the minister if there was scope to use a similar model more widely.
On the same day there was a big rally in Westminster, calling for better SEND support across the country. It was inspiring to see so many campaigners there.
I also spoke in debate over the Government’s Bus Services’ Bill, having first gained lots of excellent input from the West Oxfordshire Community Transport and First and Last Mile teams who do such a great job locally.
While the aims of the Bill are good, I am concerned that its provisions might have some unintended consequences for small operators and community transport providers. I asked the Government to look into whether some of the training and franchising requirements set out in the Bill could be tailored so they are manageable for community organisations who depend so much on volunteers.
This month I was also attended a rally for a cause dear to my heart: Brain Cancer Justice. I was very proud to support my sister and the rest of the team at Brain Cancer in accompanying to deliver their petition at No.10.
Brain cancer is the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40, 87% with a high-grade brain tumour diagnosis die within 5 yrs, and yet it gets just 1% of the national spend on cancer.
Please do sign the petition: Invest in brain cancer and give rights – turn terminal into treatable - Petitions
In the Constituency
Back home in the constituency, I’ve been continuing to work hard on addressing the issues raised with me by local residents.
For example, in early September I wrote to Oxfordshire County Council to ask when the Woodbank path in Madley Park will be resurfaced, to allow more people pedestrian access from Madley Park both to bus stops and the town centre.
Accessibility is not great at the best of times, let alone if you are in a wheelchair or if you have a pushchair. More news to come soon, I hope!
I had a great visit to Donaldson Timber Systems at their offices and factory in Witney. This local company has some extremely advanced systems for building roofs, walls, and floors offsite, so that they can be installed in days rather than weeks onsite.
I was really impressed by how they have used technology to overcome the challenges they face in labour and skills shortages and ever-rising costs. My thanks to the team who showed me around!
I enjoyed an interesting visit to Witney-based MGI Engineering and was given a tour of the manufacturing facility by CEO Mike Gascoyne.
It was great to see that their sustainable cargo range features innovative marine and eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) products, exemplifying the company’s commitment to eco-friendly solutions that reduce environmental impact while maximising efficiency.
On another visit, I was hugely impressed by the fantastic operational team at the HM Prison Bullingdon and I am very grateful for the time they gave me.
Our prisons are in a dire state and our government needs to do much more on many fronts, including stopping drones delivering drugs, reclassifying prison warders as a skilled rather than unskilled role, lowering the completely unreasonable retirement age from 67 and allowing prisoners on remand to access programmes which will help, currently programmes are only accessible to those already sentenced.
I shared my thoughts following my visit in this Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17daKVXdmL/?mibextid=wwXIfr
I really enjoyed attending the latest Hexagon Business Breakfast Event at Elmfield in Witney at the end of last week. It is such a useful forum to catch up with local business leaders.
Delegates discussed a range of local issues, from climate action to local growth and economic development – it was a brilliant success overall. Particular thanks go to David Parry of David Parry Employment Law, Brendon Cross and the Hexagon Business Services team, and the Economic Development team at West Oxfordshire District Council for their sponsorship and organisation of the event.
Another really enjoyable meeting I had this month was the opening of the new Early Years building at Bampton Primary School.
It was fantastic to meet with head teacher Carol Phillips and chair of Governors Stuart Homer to learn about how the new building – which can accommodate up to 30 children aged two to four will be used.
Just this past Monday I visited The Leys in Witney with Courtside’s Jeff Hunter to see their multi-activity hub that is taking shape. It is going to be a great asset to our community.
Just a few of the other interesting meetings I attended this month included:
- Being shown around the lovely site at the Faringdon Grange Holiday Park and discussing challenges in the planning process
- Meeting the team at Shrivenham Pharmacy
- Attending the 40th anniversary of Faringon Day Centre
- Celebrating the opening of a defibrillator at Cogges GP Surgery - huge thanks to the surgery for giving their wall and free electricity, and to Gerald of Cox Electrical Services who installed it for free and to Julie, Wyn and the Lions team who raised the money and made it happen.
Party News
Some of you may know that the political parties traditionally hold their conferences in Autumn. Last weekend, I spent a few days in sunny Bournemouth for the Lib Dem Party Conference.
This is an opportunity for colleagues from across the party to come together and discuss some of the biggest issues facing the country and our response to them as Liberal Democrats. I joined some really interesting discussions on everything from getting the national debt down to supporting flour millers and other agricultural businesses. I also met with River Action and Surfers Against Sewage to discuss campaigning to get a grip on our failing water sector.
One of the privileges of attending Conference is being able to speak on the motions. I spoke on the direction of the party, where I highlighted my view that we need to continue building on our record of robust, sensible economic policies as well as grappling with some of the big national security challenges posed by the world today.
I also spoke about the desperate need to get a grip on the awful events unfolding in Sudan and the need for an urgent resolution to the conflict.
One of the big takeaways from Conference was how much we can achieve when we pull together as a team.
In West Oxfordshire, we’ve got some big elections coming up next year – and of course my own re-election in a few years – and we’ll need all hands on deck to keep making a difference for Witney. Whether it’s giving a bit of time, chipping in a donation, or even joining the Lib Dems, every little helps us turn ideas into action locally.
Thank you as ever for reading about what I’ve been up to – and for making it to the end!
If you’d like to arrange to meet, or there is an issue you’d like to raise with me please reach out on Charlie.maynard.mp@parliament.uk and my team will be happy to help.
Best wishes,
Charlie Maynard MP