It’s my first day in Westminster today, picking up my pass, laptop, and getting familiar with a very different working environment.
Work has started to find a constituency office, and I expect to be advertising for staff soon. Watch this space if you’re interested …
It is an honour to have been selected to be the
@Conservatives
Parliamentary Candidate in Mid Bedfordshire.
I have lived here for nearly a decade, and I am the hard-working local politician in this campaign fighting to improve the things that matter right across Mid Beds.
It is an honour to be elected MP for Mid Bedfordshire.
I would like to pay tribute to all the candidates. We had a civil campaign here in Mid Beds and we should all be proud of that.
The hard work starts now. Fighting for our communities. And holding the government to account.
It is a great privilege to have been sworn in as the MP for Mid Bedfordshire. I will work tirelessly to ensure our towns and villages have a visible and approachable MP, and strong representation in Westminster.
I have now spent time with and listened to each of the
@Conservatives
leadership candidates and I believe
@JamesCleverly
is the person who will rebuild our party and provide the broadest possible appeal.
Read more about why I'm backing James here 👇🏻
🔗
Fantastic to listen to
@JamesCleverly
today. Since these
@Conservatives
hustings lots of members have told me they’re switching to JC. He’s a solid communicator and his personality shines through. So I’m not surprised he received the biggest and the longest standing ovation.
Delighted with my local election result, bucking the trend with a swing from Independent:
Reform UK - 165
Lib Dem - 123
Independent - 89
@Conservatives
- 778
Labour - 239
Glad to be joining Central Bedfordshire Council and serving my community. Sorry to lose great colleagues!
Great to pick up today's Daily Express to see my article backing
@JamesCleverly
to be the next Conservative Party leader.
James is a great communicator, giving us the best opportunity to articulate our values of family, home ownership, free markets, less red tape & lower taxes.
We can end new HIV cases in the UK by 2030. I’m determined to help make that happen.
It was great to meet with
@THTorguk
and
@NAT_AIDS_Trust
today to hear more about that historic goal and what’s needed in a new HIV Action Plan to make it a reality.
#0HIVby30
After being sworn-in this week I got to work in the constituency, joining the opening of the Banking Hub in Ampthill, and meeting the Wixams Residents Association to discuss how we’ll be working together. Spot the surprise cowmeo 🐮
Great to celebrate 🥳 ten years of 🇬🇧 equal marriage yesterday evening, with
@LGBTCons
@David_Cameron
at The Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery. Excellent venue, speeches, obligatory Tory raffle, & auction
@lukerobertblack
👍
Great
@Conservatives
team effort out on the doorsteps of
#MidBedfordshire
today.
Wonderful to welcome
@SuellaBraverman
to the constituency, and to be joined by such fantastic and hard working volunteers.
Thank you 🙏 🩵
Opt-out HIV testing has been an incredible success during its initial rollout and I'm proud that the last Government expanded its rollout to our local hospitals.
I've written to Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the hope we can begin the rollout as soon as possible.
My thanks to
@RobertJenrick
for joining us in
#Toddington
yesterday. Lots of great doorstep conversation on a wide range of topics, both local and national.
A chance encounter with
@Number10cat
today, before meeting colleagues from around the country including
@pinder_chauhan
, our fantastic hard-working candidate fighting the win in our county town
@BedfordTories
. 👍
Huge congratulations to
@Blake_MidBeds
for being selected as the Conservative candidate for Mid Bedfordshire.
Blake was one of our first supporters, and will be a fantastic MP.
Delighted to welcome members & supporters to our
#MidBeds
#byelection
campaign HQ yesterday evening, where
@Tom4Change
&
@Fest4BedsPCC
rallied the troops for the campaign to come. Cookie 🍪 came along too, but she was much more interested in the hog 🐷 roast!
#Festus4MidBeds
Good luck to everybody across Mid Bedfordshire picking up your A-Level, AS-Level, T-Level and Level 3 VTQ results this morning.
If you didn't quite get the results you wanted there are still plenty of options for you and I'll post some resources below 👇🏻
I’m backing James Cleverly
@JamesCleverly
for the leadership race. I called LBC and spoke to
@IainDale
to explain why I want James to be the leader of the
@Conservatives
💙 1/2
On the trail in Elstow today talking with residents about how I’m best placed to work with the
@Conservatives
Bedford Borough Mayor and our three Conservative councillors to deliver for the village.
Our thanks to
@RicHolden
for visiting
#MidBedfordshire
recently, to meet with some of our local members and supporters as we prepare for Police & Crime Commissioner elections and
#GE2024
A wonderful evening of mince pies 🥧 , mulled wine 🍷 and carols 🎶 by candlelight at St. Mary’s Church,
#Gravenhurst
#Bedfordshire
. Happy Christmas, one and all.
Farmers are custodians of our countryside. They put food on our tables.
Today is
#BackBritishFarmingDay
and at a time when food security is so important I'm proud to back the many incredible farmers we have across Mid Bedfordshire.
It’s Bedfordshire Day. Our historic counties - with their widely accepted geographical and cultural identities - should have a much more significant public purpose, but today we recognise our great county of
#bedfordshire
.
@RealCounties
In a Westminster Hall debate
@_LewisCocking
and I called on the Government to provide additional support for SEND services in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
I hope all parties can work together to deliver better support so young people can thrive.
Yesterday I met with the Chief Executive of
@LetsTalkCentral
to discuss priorities for local residents including:
➡️ Improving access to GPs
➡️ The switch to a two tier school system
➡️ A focus on road safety
➡️ The Central Beds Local Plan review
➡️ Infrastructure for Wixams
@BedfordTories
have been an absolute pleasure to campaign with, and after all the hard work it’s AMAZING that
@Tom4Change
has been returned as
@Conservatives
Mayor +
@GSCoombes
& team achieved a clean sweep in Wixams & Wilstead & held our seat in Wootton & Kempston Rural 👍 🍻
The PM
@RishiSunak
is absolutely right, and as I have said on
@BBCRadio4
@bbcpaddy
, it’s time for the people of Mid Bedfordshire to have clarity. Our great candidate
@FestAKINBUSOYE
is ready to represent us properly.
🚜 As harvest gets underway in
#MidBeds
I had the opportunity to meet with the National Farmers Union this week.
Can you believe that there are no measures in the King’s Speech to support farmers?
Our food security needs to be a much higher priority for the new 🇬🇧 Government.
I'm continuing to hold regular surgeries across the Mid Bedfordshire constituency and you can book an appointment by emailing me or leaving a voicemail.
If a virtual surgery works better for you please let me know and we'll look to put something in the diary.
👍 Eastern region
@Conservatives
conference yesterday. Many thanks to the organising team and all the speakers, in particular the inspiring “Why am I a Conservative?” talk by
@FleurButler1
. First class! ⭐️ 💙
#voteconservative
Very proud to be part of the organising team for yesterday’s Eastern Region Conference. A fantastic turnout from right across East Anglia, to discuss campaigning, policy, crime, Conservatism, and women’s rights
#VoteConservative
👍 🤝 🙏 Good job
@KemiBadenoch
for supporting ambitious 🇬🇧 companies looking towards the fastest growing economies on the planet 🌏 for trade opportunities.
I have just formally signed the UK’s entry into CPTPP in Auckland, New Zealand 🤝
This will be a big boost for British businesses and open up huge opportunities and unparalleled access to a market of over 500 million people in the Indo-Pacific and beyond 🇬🇧📈
A busy summer recess is over and we're back in Westminster.
I got stuck in straight away with a question to the Deputy Prime Minister and I'll be talking about improving SEND services, access to healthcare and opposing Winter Fuel Payment cuts later this week.
17 years after the first shovels in the ground, Wixams is still waiting for a GP surgery.
Housing growth must come with the appropriate infrastructure.
I hope the Minister will work with me, Wixams Residents Association, the ICB and our local councils to get the surgery built.
Having carefully watched the leadership campaign unfold I concluded that
@JamesCleverly
is the right person to rebuild our party.
He has a wealth of experience and the ability to unite us with action, not just words, and restore trust.
He gets my vote ✅
Glad to announce that after the meeting I hosted with
@RTErdogan
&
@SwedishPM
, President Erdogan has agreed to forward
#Sweden
's accession protocol to the Grand National Assembly ASAP & ensure ratification. This is an historic step which makes all
#NATO
Allies stronger & safer.
Great to meet
@BedsPCC
John Tizzard to talk about how we can work together to push for better funding for Bedfordshire policing.
We discussed points in my recent letter including rural areas getting a fair share of resources, road safety and ensuring a visible policing presence.
This morning I had a coffee & a chat with Jo at her award winning Foodstore & Kitchen, Disco-licious. Jo has built a great little rural business and created local jobs. And the produce is fantastic! We discussed what we should do so more small businesses can thrive.
#MidBeds
The new Government has removed references to 'beauty' and 'beautiful' housebuilding in the NPPF.
In Mid Bedfordshire we want to see beautiful homes with the right services which are sympathetic to the traditional character of our communities.
Jam-packed agenda at the Wixams Residents Association meeting tonight. It was wonderful to meet so many residents who are passionate about improving their community. Thanks for having me.
#GE2024
#MidBed
@Tom4Change
@GSCoombes
Very well deserved
@PoppySimister
- you’re a great campaigner and you’ll be a fantastic MP! I’m looking forward to helping you out on your
@ConservativesSN
campaign trail.
Lovely spending time at
#Woburn
Market yesterday picking up some homemade bread and cakes 🍞
The market is held on the third Sunday of every month so do pop down in the future and help support our fantastic local farmers and producers.
#ShopLocal
Out talking to people in Silsoe today. Lots of people in
#MidBeds
want a committed local MP looking after our villages, and someone who is ready to throw their weight behind the No to Greenwoods campaign when it rears its head again.
Lovely to visit
@CatsProtection
in Wilstead to see first-hand the work they are doing to help cats in Bedfordshire and the UK.
Their Lifeline service provides support for people fleeing domestic abuse, by taking care of their cat until they can safely be reunited.
I have been working with
@FestAKINBUSOYE
for several years now, and I have seen first hand his enthusiasm, hard work and commitment as our Police & Crime Commissioner. He lives in our constituency and will be a passionate advocate for us in Westminster.
#GOTV
#FesusForMidBeds
The
#MidBeds
election staff have worked tirelessly since the election was called and they have a really long day ahead.
The democratic process is a wonderful thing. Smile. Enjoy. Say thank you. 😀
#GE2024
🍯 Wonderful to pop along to the Bedfordshire Beekeepers Association Honey Festival today at the
@forest_centre
.
Local beekeepers are showing their produce, there’s honey tasting and apple pressing to enjoy, and lots of information about pollination and bees 🐝
In the next few days I will be sending out the latest of my regular e-newsletters.
Thank you to everybody who has signed up so far.
If you would like to receive it, please head to my website and sign up.
I'm just about to head into the House Of Commons for the debate on Winter Fuel Payments.
The Labour Government's decision to remove access to this scheme for vulnerable pensioners in Mid Bedfordshire is wrong and I will be voting against it.
Thank you to our Police for everything you’re doing to protect our communities.
The recent disorder in Britain is staggering, and my thoughts are with the victims caught up in such senseless violence.
Everyone involved - whoever they are - must face the full force of the law.
The weather may be miserable this morning, but it was beautiful yesterday chatting to people at Disco-licious in Gravenhurst.
Thanks to Disco-licious for hosting me and to everybody who stopped to say hello.
Really great to spend time out in the constituency in Ampthill and Wootton chatting to people today.
I want to be an accessible, constituency focused MP so if you see me out and about please do say hello.
Tomorrow I'll be at Disco-licious in Gravenhurst from 1.30-2.30pm.
Having grown up on a farm I know how important it is to support our farmers &
#BuyBritish
. Farmers are countryside stewards & by supporting our rural economy we create local jobs, stronger communities, and a sustainable future.
#BackBritishFarmingDay
I’m honoured to now serve Central Bedfordshire as:
- Vice Chair of Sustainable Communities Oversight & Scrutiny
- Member of Development Management
- Member of Bedfordshire’s Police & Crime Panel
- Member of the Appeals Panel
- Substitute Member of General Purposes Committee
We are releasing our proposals for the Conservative Manifesto - Making it easier to buy a home, start a family and keep more of what you earn - these policies are essential for the Conservative's to win the support of working age people.
Hear what Director of Policy,
@NextGenTories
in addition to eye watering marginal rates for strivers, personal tax rules are so fiendishly complex that an army of accountants is required to help file tax returns.
I recall at one time HMRC proclaiming that ‘tax doesn’t have to be taxing’. Well, it is now!