MP for South Devon
Priorities
NHS
Ask anyone on the street if the NHS is broken and unfortunately most would tell you it is. And looking across the system, it’s hard to disagree. From disappearing dental practices to declining mental health services, from stretched GP surgeries to surging waiting times, from missed targets to huge staff shortages, every aspect of the NHS is at breaking point after fourteen years of mismanagement and underfunding.
And we are feeling the effects of this in South Devon. Since the election, I’ve spoken to GPs and dentists, to NHS leaders and to people working in midwifery, radiography and speech therapy, and they all say the same thing: the system is running on goodwill and that goodwill is running out fast.
Urgent action is required to save our health service. The Liberal Democrats believe that people should be in control of their own lives and health, and that means everyone should get the care they need, when they need it, where they need it. Instead of just spending money firefighting crisis after crisis, investment must be paid now to save taxpayers’ money in the future.
In practice, this includes: investing £8.4 billion a year into the NHS and social care to tackle the deep-seated issues previous governments have overlooked; strengthening patients’ rights; fixing our crumbling hospitals; recruiting and retaining a workforce for the future; and re-establishing the UK’s place as a world leader in health research.
Cost of Living
The cost of living crisis has been in our lexicon for so long it can be easy to lose sight of what it really means, but here are some statistics that truly bring it home: in 2024, the share of children living in absolute poverty grew at its highest rate for 30 years; 3.1 million emergency food parcels were issued across the UK between April 2023 and March 2024; and 26% of parents are having to skip at least one meal a day to feed their children.
In South Devon, the picture is much the same. Over 5,000 children are living in poverty here, and with the county having a higher-than-average elderly population, the Government’s recent cut to the winter fuel allowance is set to exacerbate an already dreadful situation.
The damage left by the Conservatives to our economy is unforgivable but cutting payments to vulnerable pensioners across South Devon is no way to bring about the change the country deserves. I was proud to oppose the policy and will continue to press the Chancellor on how the recent cut fits in with the Government’s ambition to tackle fuel poverty among the elderly.
I can assure you that together with my Liberal Democrat colleagues in Parliament, I will continue to urge the Government to reverse their cuts to the winter fuel allowance and take action to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, end fuel poverty, and support pensioners.
But it’s important to remember the cost-of-living crisis impacts everyone regardless of age and further action must be taken across the board to tackle it. Extending free school meals to all children living in poverty is a start. As is making taxes fairer by taxing income from wealth in the same way we tax income from work.
Education
Devon schools are facing a significant shortfall of £23.5 million each year due to the current national funding formula used by the Government. This amount is equivalent to the salaries of 450 full-time teachers and is reflective of the fact that Devon has long been part of the F40 group, representing the 40 lowest-funded local authorities in England.
The current education funding formula is unfair and disadvantages rural areas like South Devon. I have raised these concerns with Devon County Council and am awaiting a meeting with the Schools Minister to discuss them.
This shortfall is having a profound impact on the support available for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in our area. To address this, the Liberal Democrats are calling for the creation of a national body for SEND, responsible for ending the postcode lottery of support for children with the most complex needs and ensuring consistency across the country.
I am also pushing for the Government to reduce the amount individual schools must pay towards the costs of a child’s additional SEND support and have highlighted the significant delays in issuing education, health, and care (EHC) plans, which are crucial for outlining the support a child needs.
Along with my Liberal Democrat colleagues, I do not support the Government’s plan to end the VAT exemption for independent schools. South Devon is home to several small independent schools, which all offer an alternative education to state schools and are a lifeline for children who struggle to fit in with the demands of the mainstream curriculum.
It is wrong that these schools – which often set their fees as low as they can make them – may face closure as a result of this policy. At a recent Westminster Hall debate, I urged the Minister for the Department of Education to consider a low fee threshold to protect these schools and the children thriving in them.
Dentistry
In 2021, it was found that no dentists in Devon were taking on NHS patients. This was still the case last year. And since the election in July 2024, I’ve been inundated with messages from constituents who are waiting in pain and struggling to get a dentist, let alone an appointment.
Recently, I wrote to NHS Devon to request an update on dentistry in the county, and along with my Liberal Democrat colleagues, I am committed to tackling oral health inequalities, the lack of NHS dentist access, and staff shortages.
We are calling for: reform of the NHS dental services contract; increased funding to ensure patient demand is met and dentists are incentivised to take on NHS patients; an increase to the number of dentist training places in the UK; continued recognition of EU trained dentists’ qualifications; proper workforce planning for health and social care to be written into law; and the launch of an emergency scheme to ensure children, pregnant women, and young mothers have access to their free check-ups on time.
The Liberal Democrat MPs from the South West signed an Early Day Motion on this subject in the first week of this new parliament. The current situation gives a new definition to the word unacceptable, and I will use every tool at my disposal to try and make progress on this issue.
Housing
We are living in a housing crisis in South Devon, but, contrary to what the Government believes, the solution to this crisis is not simply building new homes.
The Government introduced its National Planning Policy Framework in July, with the intention of massively increasing housebuilding across the country, but the sad truth is this policy will not help to solve our housing crisis.
Not only does it place extraordinary demands on our local councils, but, crucially, it does nothing to stop developers focusing their efforts on building houses that are unaffordable for most.
In Torbay, the annual house-building target has gone from 599 to 997, while South Hams has seen its target skyrocket by around 165%, the largest increase in southern England.
New built homes sold on the open market here start at £295,000. To afford a home at this price, annual income must be between £60,000 and £70,000. In other words, it is entirely out of the reach of most people earning local wages. This kind of development does little to help anyone trying to get on the housing ladder, local people, and young families desperate to buy a home.
The evidence has consistently shown that building more homes does not equate to lower prices.
What the Government must do is properly fund local councils so they can build the social houses we need. Unfortunately, we’ve seen little yet that indicates they will do this, but I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues will do all we can to get the legislative changes we need to start improving the situation.
Environment
England’s water companies have been allowed to get away with dumping sewage in our rivers, lakes, and coastlines for so long that it is no longer an exaggeration to say that our water industry is broken. Privatisation has clearly failed, and a different approach is needed.
Alongside my Liberal Democrat colleagues, I have been campaigning hard on this issue and believe the water industry must be reformed, with local environmental experts on company boards and legally binding targets on sewage discharges. Ofwat should also be abolished and replaced with a new body equipped with the powers to hold water firms to account.
After my election, my first meeting was with South West Water CEO, Susan Davy, when I took the opportunity to highlight residents’ concerns. I have previously joined Surfers Against Sewage to protest against sewage being dumped in our seas, rivers and lakes, and have also recently met with local and national campaign groups to discuss further action.
Grant funding for environmentally friendly projects must also be made more straightforward and easily accessible. Currently, the planning system makes it too complicated or costly to meet higher environmental standards.
Cutting down red tape is a must to make nature-based solutions workable. And that’s particularly true for farmers. There are currently dozens of different grants available, all with different deadlines and requirements, which must be streamlined.
