I just want to share a quick update on the latest with the A379 Slapton Line and coastal erosion in Torcross. 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 Back in May, I was delighted to share that the Environment Agency had secured £19.8m in funding to install rock armour in Torcross. This came after lots of campaigning in parliament and in the community. I hope the project will help secure residents’ long-term future in Torcross. Recently, the Environment Agency, the Sla

What if you don’t have a mayor? That’s a question I’ve asked myself a lot in the first weeks of Andy Burnham’s premiership. Because what runs though the endless announcements he’s made so far – be it in education or devolution – is an assumption that an area has a mayor in place, ready to implement the government’s policies. Now that makes sense for an area like Manchester which has a robust and mature mayoral system. It also works for London and Liverpool, too. But what abo

Andy Burnham’s first few weeks as Prime Minister could not have gone any differently from his predecessor’s. Starmer entered office fresh from a loveless landslide, receiving no honeymoon, espousing a fatalistic tone that dogged the rest of his premiership. Burnham, on the other hand, has zeroed in on change. To be fair, he’s not the first to do that. Politicians the world over have done the same. They say they will disrupt the status quo only to backtrack when in office. Ev

My Summer Surgery Tour is back for a second year!!! Across six days in August, I’ll be visiting over 50 communities in every corner of South Devon, hosting pop-up surgeries where you can come have a quick chat or talk about an issue affecting you. Last summer’s surgery tour was an absolute highlight of the year – trekking around the beautiful place we call home and meeting so many of you. I cannot wait to get started again on Monday 3rd August. Full details and timings wi

Last week, I spoke in Parliament calling for the government to reconsider the proposed changes to coastguard volunteer remuneration. I am delighted that the Department for Transport has listened to all those who have campaigned on behalf of Coastguard Rescue Officers, and yesterday confirmed that plans to move to the expenses-only volunteer model in September will not go ahead. They have committed to ensuring the views of Coastguard Rescue Officers are listened to, and outlin

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.