|
|
A year ago this week, I walked into the House of Commons as your newly-elected Member of Parliament. A great deal has happened in the twelve months since the General Election, ranging from the grave and serious, including the vote on extending air strikes to Syria, to matters more light-hearted, such as taking part in the Parliamentary Pancake Race, to the truly inspirational, such as supporting plans for a new free school in Mablethorpe - of which more later. I strive to do my best for you in Lincolnshire and in Westminster.
|
|
|
|
|
Rural broadband was my first campaign as a newly-selected candidate and it continues to be the focus of my attention, as it is vital to businesses, families and schools in the 21st century. As Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Broadband, we have made real progress by persuading the Government of the need for a Universal Service Obligation. The provision of broadband is improving across the constituency, but there is more to be done.
Last week, I met residents from Kirkby on Bain, Steve Brooks of OnLincolnshire and Cllr Craig Leyland, Leader of East Lindsey District Council, to discuss the local 'not-spots' of broadband. Rural areas need broadband just as much as urban areas and I will continue pressing for a better deal.
Accordingly, I was concerned to read reports in the papers over the weekend that the government may be watering down its commitment to the 5% who do not have superfast broadband.
I tackled the Minister about this on Monday and he has assured me that the government stands by its Universal Service Obligation for the 5%. I will watch this closely.
|
|
|
|
|
Recently, I asked the Secretary of State for Education, The Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP, about the particular needs of rural and coastal schools in the new funding formula in the video above.
|
|
|
Other work in Westminster has included scrutinising the Investigatory Powers Bill for the House of Commons, chairing the Home Affairs Select Committee session on Proceeds of Crime (see the video below) and appearing on BBC Radio 5 Live, Channel 4 News, Look North, BBC Radio Lincolnshire and BBC News.
|
|
|
|
The highlight of my last few weeks in Westminster has been welcoming my constituent Kody, aged 8, and his parents, Liam and Verity, to the Palace of Westminster to a reception on the treatment of Type-1 Diabetes. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Kody and his family and I look forward to visiting Kody’s school in the coming term.
|
|
|
|
|
|
On Friday, I chaired a public meeting at Monks Dyke Tennyson College in Mablethorpe to introduce the exciting plans for a new Coastal Free School.
The school will provide a highly vocational education in ways that will help families on the coast, with measures such as six-term years and extended school days to reflect the seasonal pressures on the coast.
It will teach English and maths in everyday contexts, so that pupils understand why they are being taught something, as well as how to do it. As someone who struggled with quadratic equations at school, I welcome this!
The plans were supported by Cllr Craig Leyland, Leader of East Lindsey District Council, and local businesses.
We now need the support of local residents to help make sure the school will open in 2018. Please do get in touch for more details using the form below.
|
|
|
I am anticipating another busy month in May, with visits to RAF Coningsby, a fully booked constituency surgery and launching the results of my Louth & Horncastle Constituency Commission.
I am also looking forward to welcoming the Secretary of State for Education, The Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP, to our constituency to see the great work of local schools.
|
|
|
|
|
Finally, I look forward to working with our new Police and Crime Commissioner, Marc Jones, who was elected last week. Marc is committed to tackling rural crime in particular, and I will use my experience of the criminal courts and my work on the Home Affairs Select Committee to help him achieve this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
