December news from Freddie van Mierlo

Far from hibernating in the winter months, my team and I are beavering away to respond to constituency emails and go the extra mile with our case work. In November we received close to 2,000 emails, or 100 for every working day!

Local campaigns

Steady progress is being made on some of the key local campaigns that you are regularly writing to me about.

On transport, I held the Secretary of State for Transport to account for overcrowding on Chiltern Rail and urged her department to get on with approving additional rolling stock. Likewise, on the Henley Branch line, I’ve written to GWR to urge for action on overcrowding there impacting students coming to Henley College.

On the closed Marsh Lock Bridge in Henley/Shiplake, I’ve winkled out a commitment from the Environment Agency to develop a plan to replace/repair the bridge and am now awaiting said plan (yes, I know this should already exist, but progress is progress!).

We’ve also had news from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the loss of step-down beds in Henley, who confirm that ICBs and local authorities have a duty to engage or consult locally.

In Parliament

We’re now deep into the Winter Parliamentary Session, with bills coming thick and fast.

Last Friday’s vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (commonly known as assisted dying) was a momentous occasion. I’m proud of how Parliament conducted itself, and the well informed and serious nature of the debate. I also feel immensely privileged and thankful to everyone who has shared heartfelt experiences with me, which I know for many has brought back difficult memories. After much thought, I voted in favour of the bill

November also saw voting on the Government's plans to scrap Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and increase employer national insurance contributions (NICs). On both of these, I voted to support our family farms and small businesses. I raised in the House concerns around the impact of the family farm tax on incentives to invest in farming businesses, and the impact of NIC raises for GP practices.

I'm grateful in particular to all the farmers who came to speak to me in Parliament on 19th November, and to Robin and David for showing me around their farms in the Nuffield area

Despite the Government’s overwhelming majority, Lib Dems are proving effective opposition parliamentarians, and all credit goes to my colleagues Sarah Olney for narrowly winning a vote on proportional representation, and to Danny Chambers for gaining cross party support for his private members bill on puppy, kitten and ferret smuggling. His bill passed with unanimous support immediately after the vote on assisted dying.

Around our area

Work across our constituency continues to be the perfect antidote to the hubbub of the chamber. I was honoured to take up the Mayor of Thame’s invitation to lay a wreath on Remembrance Sunday at a moving and well attended ceremony.

I was also delighted to field questions from pupils of Nettlebed Community School and Chilworth House School, as well as catch up with the Head of Lord William's School to discuss wider challenges in education.

My thanks go to the Henley Society, St Helen’s Church in Benson, Nomad Youth and Community project, Nettlebed Creamery and Cheese Shed, Watlington Methodist Lunch Club and HMP Huntercombe for such informative and welcoming visits.

Thanks also to Father Jeremy of St Mary’s in Henley for meeting me to discuss his role as the Chair of Trustees for Henley Churches Debt Centre, a charity up to help people struggling with debt in and around Henley. 

Looking ahead

I’m thrilled to have secured an hour long debate next week in parliament on rural cycling infrastructure. The Westminster Hall debate (the commons’ second debating chamber) will take place on Tuesday 10th December. I intend to use the opportunity to highlight need to get on and deliver the Thame-Haddenham Cycleway.

January will also see the Climate and Nature Bill come to parliament, a date that is firmly fixed in my diary.

If you would like to follow me now on Bluesky – you’ll find me at @freddievanmierlomp.bsky.social (or click on the icon below).