As this is my first View from Westminster since the election, I would firstly like to thank all the voters in Meon Valley and I look forward to representing everyone regardless of how they voted. I enjoyed meeting many people on the campaign trail and tried to knock on doors in every village during the day. I will also continue to hold ‘Meet your MP’ events in pubs around the constituency and will publicise them on my website. If you are a constituent, please let me know if you would like to be on my email mailing list.
There were several issues that came up on the doorstep. Climate change was one of the biggest and I will be campaigning to ensure new Meon Valley housing developments are sustainable and that communities receive good public services and communications. Which brings me on to another issue: broadband and mobile coverage. In some villages, it’s impossible to receive a mobile signal. In other areas, broadband is too slow and there many businesses or people working from home, so this is going to be a priority.
At Westminster we hardly had time to draw breath after the election before we were back to business in Parliament on the following Monday - I would not have had it any other way! As the Prime Minister said, people lent us their votes, we should never forget that they can change their mind at the next election if we don’t do a good job. The EU Withdrawal Bill has, of course, dominated parliament’s business and we leave on 31st January. But soon, there will be other bills on the government’s domestic agenda which sets out measures to support workers and families, enhancing workers’ rights and supporting flexible working - plus the establishment of a new Office for Environmental Protection which will be welcomed by many residents in Meon Valley.
There is, then, a busy agenda for this next year. I hope that you will all have a successful 2020 and look forward to meeting many of you.
