February news from Freddie van Mierlo

The post-Christmas cobwebs have been swept away and we’re back to working hard for you across Henley and Thame as well as a full legislative timetable!

Local campaigns

Further meetings have been held on the Marsh Lock Bridge in Henley, this time with National Trails UK about funding for trails including the Thames Path and Ridgeway, and I'll be meeting with the Environment Agency again in the coming weeks. Making progress feels like fitting together the pieces of a 10,000-piece jigsaw, but progress is being made, nonetheless.

I was very impressed to meet 9 year old Claudia Fennell this week, she has already gathered well over 3000 signatures for her petition to fix Marsh Lock Bridge - I'm looking forward to working with her on the campaign in the coming months

In Parliament I raised the importance of the Thame-Haddenham Greenway again, calling for an increase Active Travel budget beyond what has already been announced to in parliament. 

Concerningly, many residents are also getting in touch with me to raise their personal experiences of the crisis in the NHS. One such frequent topic is the lack of access to ADHD services in Oxfordshire. I raised this with the Leader of the House of Commons, and over the course of the past few months I have written to  to every relevant NHS body. We must restore meaningful and effective ADHD services to Oxfordshire.

In Parliament

January saw more important Private Members Bills come before the house, as well as progress made on some of the governments core legislation, including the Water (Special Measures) Bill (on sewage).

Both Labour and the Tories failed to back the very reasonable amendments Liberal Democrats tabled to improve the rather limited Bill on water. The government has described their Water Bill as a first step – but it’s a rather small one. Our modest improvements, for example strengthening bans on bonuses for failing water bosses, were rejected at every stage. During the 'remaining stages' debate in the House, I was called to speak and backed an amendment that would enforce high ecological standards in National Landscapes and on National Trails.

More Liberal Democrat success was recorded, with the government promising action on solar for new homes as a result of Max Wilkinson’s ‘Sunshine Bill’ and on climate and nature following Roz Savage’s campaign on the Climate and Nature Bill. James MacCleary’s bill on European Youth Mobility passed its first reading (though the vote was largely symbolic).

I was pleased to have the opportunity to raise the issue of public sexual harassment in a debate on violence against women and girls. The tone of this debate, with many women giving personal and emotive accounts, contrasted greatly with the PMQs of the previous day in which political gain was being sought over the important issue of grooming gangs. During the debate there was an incredibly touching moment when one Labour MP gave an account of her escape from an abusive relationship - she was later comforted by MPs from all sides of the House, the news doesn’t show such moments on the TV, but it really was parliament at its best.

Local thanks

It was a delight to be welcomed to the Johnson Matthey Sonning Common campus. The company is an important local employer and is a globally important player in the world of all things platinum – a metal vital to the energy transition and clean air. 

It was brilliant to get out and about in Watlington last Sunday - thank you for the great doorstep chats!

I also really enjoyed my grilling by the good folk of the Nettlebed Farmers Club, and the lovely and informative visit Great Milton post office this month

I'd like to particularly thank Alex Clark for taking the time to discuss Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and how I can support the campaign for urgent access for young patients to a new life-changing drug.

I'm also grateful to the parents of the Oxfordshire Smartphone Free Childhood Thame for an informative meeting on the crucial topic of how we can improve online safety for our children ahead of the second reading of the Safer Phones Bill on 7th March.

Looking ahead:

I look forward to updating you on upcoming meetings about the future of the  Royal Berkshire Hospital; the Government's decision to move it into the last wave of planned new hospitals is a huge blow - we can't wait until 2040 for a new hospital, a false economy which will see hundreds of millions spent on repairs in the interim.

As always, my team and I are here to help - you can contact me by emailing freddie.vanmierlo.mp@parliament.uk