Two years as Hitchin’s MP

Two years ago this week, back at the 2024 general election, I started the best job anyone could wish for. Representing the towns and villages across our community in Parliament. 

It may not be the easiest time to be in politics, but there is no job like it. From coffee mornings and pub discussion evenings to conversations out on the doorstep or walking through Market Square, it's impossible not to be energised by all of your commitment to helping to improve our community and country. 

Two years ago I ran on five pledges to take us closer to that future that we are all want: getting the NHS back to being there when we need it; making our area the best place to grow up: proper infrastructure for new homes; defending our natural environment and safe and successful local businesses and high streets. Two years in, these are still my focusses, whether I am found across the constituency or down in Westminster.

Together I'm proud of some of what we've been able to achieve. We’ve secured £25m for crucial upgrades at Lister Hospital, including a new children’s centre and ward upgrades. We’ve got stuck locally too to help unlock GP surgery expansions and ensure thousands more appointments are now on offer locally. 

For local families, thousands can now access up to 30 hours of free childcare each week, with funding for two local nursery expansions secured to boost places. With broken system of special educational needs provision letting down far too many young people across our community, we've been one of the leading voices for reform, securing the largest funding increase in the country for Hertfordshire and a big boost for CBC. Working closely with local teachers and families too, we delivered national change to ban phones from schools and toughen up restrictions on social media for under 16s.

In Central Bedfordshire, where there have been significant pressures from development in recent years, we persuaded the Government to change policy and allow any Tempsford new town to count towards CBC's housing targets, significant reducing development pressures across the area. 

On the environment, we secured national change to make solar panels mandatory on new homes, and robust local action against pollution and over abstraction from water companies, as well as continuing to be a leading voice in Parliament for investing in sustainable farming methods. 

On all these and a whole host of issues from securing big increases in highways funding, to securing new bus powers for Hertfordshire, to taking on everything from local floods to industrial fires, my work has always been better for your input and challenge. 

I know there is so much more to do though. Whether it's further action on business rates to support our high streets, or a long-term funding settlement for our hospices after we had to help secure crucial short term grant funding, rest assured I'll always be speaking up for our community’s priorities.

Thank you as ever to all those who have taken the time to engage with me over the last two years. Whether we agreed on everything or nothing, you are a big part of what makes this the best job in the world.