November news from Freddie van Mierlo MP

At the start of November, we remember the fallen heroes of the First and Second World War and subsequent conflicts. This year, I laid a wreath in Henley and a representative of my office has done so in Thame.

Campaigns 

In October, I continued to press for action on a range of health issues; demanding an update from local health bosses on ADHD waiting times, and access to a new drug called Givinostat for boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. I was honoured to be asked by Duchenne UK to chair a roundtable on the topic of early access to the medicine. 

I also met with  Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP to discuss Chalgrove Airfield and attended Homes England’s exhibition in the village. The Minister sadly refused to intervene with Homes England to stop the proposal for a new town threatening the operations of fantastic British defence company, Martin-Baker. Homes England have promised to bring forward a planning application in short order - they will be met with very stiff resistance.

I continue also to be the Environment Agency's most frequent flyer; I held a roundtable in Parliament on the state of the River Thames with local business Hobbs of Henley, Minister Emma Hardy's team and MP colleagues Sir Ed Davey, Sarah Olney, Charlie Maynard and Clive Jones.

I also continue to hold my now regular call to chase progress on Marsh Lock Bridge - it remains the case that the design work is due to be completed by March and I am continuing to push the Environment Agency to begin planning for the next phase. 

In October, it was brilliant to attend the launch of Chiltern Railway's brand new trains and see first-hand improvements to the passenger experience that I have been calling for, including greater capacity and comfort for journeys between Oxfordshire, London and Birmingham.

In Westminster 

Following the terrible reports in the New Statesman and Channel 4 on failings at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) maternity wards I used my first PMQ (to the Deputy PM, David Lammy) to demand a sea change in the country’s maternity services. Whilst the response from the Deputy PM was short, I saw the Health Secretary Wes Streeting nod as I asked the question from the Government frontbench.  

Still on health, I asked Wes Streeting to commit to meet with me to discuss the outcomes of the Duchenne UK roundtable, highlighting OUH as one of three trusts in the UK not to deliver the new drug for Duchenne early. Sadly this time there was no nod and he declined to meet.

Meanwhile, in Westminster Hall I supported my Oxfordshire colleague Olly Glover MP’s debate on the Government's removal of funding for the international baccalaureate in state schools, which will affect the Europa school in Culham. 

Back in the chamber, I raised concerns about the impact of cuts to UK aid on our ability to respond to the conflict in Sudan, and asked the Education Secretary to consider ebooks and online libraries in her new schools curriculum. 

I also attended events to show my support for important campaigns including Breast Cancer Now, Hospice UK, the MS Society and ADHD 360. It was also an honour to join colleagues from across the House for a photocall to mark the 75th anniversary of the re-opening of the Commons Chamber after it was destroyed in the Second World War (see top photo).

Last but not least, I voted down Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage’s dangerous bill on ECHR withdrawal which would have trashed our human rights and put the Good Friday Agreement in peril. 

Around the constituency 

October was a cycling heavy month; Cycling UK put me through my paces cycling a section of the new Royal Chiltern Way which spans from Wallingford and Goring up to Dunstable. Whilst an excellent initiative to draw riders in for a day or more and undoubtedly benefit local hospitality businesses, I did need to gently advise them I’m not nearly as fit as they expected and had to walk up a few of the hills!  

On a gentler incline, but far more frightening course, I braved the B481 between Sonning Common and Emmer Green with riders from the Sonning Common Cycleway group to highlight the need for a safe off road, segregated greenway. Later next month I’ll be doing the same between Thame and Haddenham.

At the opposite end of the constituency, I attended a town hall event in Wheatley with Bicester & Woodstock MP Calum Miller to discuss Local Government Reorganisation proposals for a ‘Greater Oxford’ which would swallow up the rural villages and greenbelt around Oxford. It was clear from the evening no village wants this, and I support them in fighting back against Oxford's land grab attempt.

It was a real pleasure to join a discussion after the Chinnor screening of 'A River Sings' by filmmaker Nicola Schafer - her film tells the uplifting story of the recovery of the River Evenlode through low-cost nature based restoration.

Congratulations to Sonning Common School for reaching the fundraising target to upgrade their pool, thus preserving an incredible community resource - it was great to attend the re-opening.

Many thanks to the Thame Smartphone Free Childhood team who invited me to join local Headteachers, Town Council members, school governors and school SLT members for a useful and informative discussion about how to shape our community's response to the impact of smartphones on childhood. 

Thanks go to Henley College for their lively welcome - I loved talking to students about my journey into politics and life as an MP, and also to those who shared their valuable time and expertise explaining the current reality of the criminal justice system during a day shadowing Oxford Crown Court.

Final thanks go to the team who showed me around Oxford Sewage Treament Works, the insight provided by Bunge a global agri-supply business based in Thame, Mind Older People Peer Support Group in Henley for their warm welcome and also residents in Chinnor for their invaluable feedback during doorstep chats this month.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any concerns you wish to raise - you can email me at freddie.vanmierlo.mp@parliament.uk.  I thought it would also be useful to share the link to sign up to my monthly newsletter in case your neighbours, friends or family are interested in receiving these updates too, please advise them to visit: www.oxonld.uk/local-party/sign-up