​MP for South Devon
Priorities
Healthcare
From disappearing NHS dentists and declining mental health services to stretched GPs and surging waiting times, every aspect of our health system is at breaking point after years of chronic underfunding. The crisis is even more severe in rural areas, with the high cost of housing and poor transport links complicating the recruitment of healthcare workers.
As your MP, I’ve been actively standing up for rural healthcare. Whether it’s calling for the introduction of rural exceptions for pharmacy funding or pushing back against the delayed repairs to Torbay Hospital, I’m committed to fighting for the services we depend on.
Education
Rural communities are consistently missing out when it comes to education. Devon schools face a significant shortfall every year thanks to the current funding formula. These funding concerns, along with other education challenges, like SEND provision, smartphone use in schools, and safety online, came up again and again on the doorstep during the election.
One of my first acts as MP was to join the Education Select Committee. There, every week, I actively question experts and policymakers, striving to improve education in rural areas like ours.
Housing
Solving the housing crisis in South Devon is not simply about building more homes, despite what the Government thinks. They want to increase Torbay’s annual house-building target from 599 to 996, and South Hams by 165%. It’s unachievable, and there’s no requirement for these new homes to be affordable.
How will a house priced close to £300k help someone trying to get on the housing ladder? Or local people or young families desperate to buy a home? What we need is properly funded councils so they can build the social homes we need.
We must also tackle the practices of estate management companies. I was proud to lead a debate on this and raise the profile of an issue that I fear could become the next great scandal of our times.
Environment
After much handwringing, the Government has finally started to act to hold rogue water firms to account, including by adopting the Liberal Democrat call to abolish Ofwat. My first meeting as an MP was with Susan Davy, CEO of South West Water, and throughout her last year as CEO, I challenged her repeatedly on SWW’s poor practices, particularly around the devastating cryptosporidium outbreak in Brixham.
Beyond the water industry, I’ve also been a strong advocate for protecting and boosting green spaces. I introduced my Green Spaces Bill, which sought to create a government office to advise on the preservation of urban parks and neighbourhood areas. I’m also an active supporter of the right to wild camp on Dartmoor and believe this right should be extended elsewhere.
Rural Services
If the Government wants our economy to grow, it must remember that nearly a fifth of the population of the UK lives in rural areas. Judging by their performance so far, they’ve clearly forgotten this!
People in rural areas have been left with declining or disappearing services for too long. In many places, bus services don’t exist, broadband and mobile connectivity is shockingly poor, and pubs, pharmacies, post offices, and banks are closing at an alarming speed.
In a debate I led on the rural/urban divide, I urged the Government to provide rural councils with a funding settlement that reflects the rurality and sparsity of the areas they serve. I’ll continue fighting until our oft overlooked areas are not overlooked anymore.
Business
Labour dealt a series of hammer blows to business in their first year in office. In a constituency where hospitality is a major employer, I am seriously worried about what the impact will be. As part of my role as MP and Vice Chair of the APPG for Hospitality and Tourism, I am committed to standing up for our hospitality sector in parliament.
As a former small business owner, I am also aware of the challenges many SMEs face today. Small businesses are the backbone of our rural communities. I have consistently spoken about the issues many have with connectivity and the unequal battle against international giants.
Addressing the failures of the Conservatives Brexit deal is also a priority of mine. A potential new veterinary agreement with the EU is good news for our fishing and agricultural businesses, though the potential implementation date of 2027 feels very far away. The Government must be more ambitious and brave enough to make the choices that would unlock the stasis in our economy.
