This week has been dominated by the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day when the Allies invaded Nazi occupied France in 1944.
I was invited to the event in Portsmouth on the 5th but because I was expecting to be doing my Private Members Bill committee stage, I had to turn it down. I did go and see the drone display and that was excellent. I also attended a service at the D Day memorial in Southsea. My grandparents were fighting elsewhere in World War Two but it has been very moving to see the TV programmes and to listen to the dwindling band of veterans. I have walked the Normandy beaches – where the Allies landed – and makes it more understandable. I was pleased we announced more support for veterans, including tax breaks for businesses employing veterans, reducing the cost of their railcards and a veterans’ Bill enshrining veterans’ rights in law for the first time.
Politically this week, we laid out our plans to build 100 more GP surgeries and expand the Pharmacy First programme where pharmacists can prescribe drugs for common ailments. We have exceeded our 2019 manifesto commitment to deliver 50m more GP appointments. In fact, there were 62.8m appointments in the 12 months to March 2024 than March 2019, an increase of 20.4%. Having visited most GP surgeries, I have seen how hard they work and this is why I am pleased we have more GPs and the money will be put aside for the new surgeries. That will help with appointments and relieve the stress on GPs. With all the housebuilding going on, we need more healthcare in our communities.
On Tuesday, we had the first leaders’ debate. I am obviously biased and thought that the Prime Minister did well. He is right to point out that Labour have £38bn worth of spending promises which will cost the taxpayer. There is another leaders’ debate tonight for all parties and more to come so we will get a measure of what parties are saying. On the doorstep, I am urging everyone to read the Gov.uk website to understand what legislation has really been passed and to read the manifestos carefully to see what each party is promising. I am concerned people think I have voted against good legislation such as our environment laws. This is, of course, not true, I have voted against opposition amendments that are generally not helpful. It can be tricky to understand how it works but the Gov.uk website is very helpful.
An issue that comes up regularly is immigration. This week we announced we will ask the Migration Advisory Committee to recommend an annual immigration cap that will fall every year. It will be voted on by Parliament, ensuring overall immigration falls to sustainable levels. Our plans on illegal migration already include working closely with our EU partners to break the people traffickers. This will help but I am afraid we need to spend far more helping developing countries to improve economically and combat climate change.
Last weekend I attended Droxford and Kilmeston fetes in between canvassing on the doorstep. I think it is going to be impossible to attend every fete but a massive thank you to all the organisers as it is a lot of work. I launched my campaign in front of the King Alfred statue in Winchester properly with some supporters on Tuesday, although I have been out every evening canvassing for months. I am finding that most people want to talk about what they are thinking about the last few years and be reassured about the future of the country. We have passed a huge number of laws over the last five years, most of them are transformational to people’s lives, but much of the good that they are doing is shadowed by a few politicians’ antics. I suppose it doesn’t make good media copy but the government and backbenchers have worked extremely hard to get laws changed to benefit people.
I will be continuing to be out on the doorstep every day and have agreed to two debates, one in Winchester and the other in Alresford. Hope to see you there.
