Last week the local elections for Devon in May were confirmed to happen as scheduled by the Government. The request by the Devon County Council Conservative administration to delay the election for a year was denied.
As I walked to the train on Monday it nearly felt like spring – snowdrops in flower, a moment of warm sunshine and vibrant crocus flowers ready to bloom.
I’m not sure I can remember another weekend when we had two named storms. I hope that the storms didn’t impact you too badly, but if you did get damage or flooding - you have my deepest sympathies.
This week I managed to secure a Westminster Hall debate about the state of the railways in the South West.
As the new year begins, most of us start to think about the year just past, and the year ahead. For some that means new year resolutions - wanting to change themselves or their situations. I for one will be adding more exercise into my routine!
In the run-up to Christmas many of us are looking forward to meeting up with family and friends, and we also think of those less fortunate than ourselves and those that dedicate their time to others.
Local Government Reorganisation isn’t usually what many people would think of as big news, but this week it is - Monday’s announcement from the Government suggests big changes are in store.
Thank you to all the people out this weekend helping during the gales and the recovery from Storm Darragh. I can’t remember seeing so many trees and powerlines down, and roof tiles and trampolines where they shouldn’t be.
It was a long week in Parliament last week, ending with the debate on Assisted Dying on Friday.
Storm Bert has hit the area hard. With rivers bursting their banks, and roads and railways underwater we are seeing the result of a month’s or more rain falling in a day – again.
The good news from Government this week is more money to support Bus Services, the bad news is the closure of the Crown Post Offices, including the Post Office in Teignmouth.
Remembrance Day is a time to stop and think, to thank those that served in our armed forces, and those that are currently serving. I find this very impactful having grown up in an armed forces family.
The main event of the week in Parliament was Labour’s first budget.
I am happy to announce that I now have an office up and running in Newton Abbot. We have been able to move into a space next to Tucker Maltings and will now start doing surgeries by appointment in person, as well as the virtual ones we have done so far.
This week saw Liberal Democrat Parliamentary debates on ‘Carers allowance’ and ‘Access to Primary Healthcare’, and I gave my first speech in the house. This is known as an MP’s Maiden speech.
The first few weeks of Parliament have been a mix of weeks when the House is sitting, or in recess for various things – most recently for party conferences.
This week marks one year since the horrendous attack by Hamas, killing 1,000 people and taking 250 people hostage.
Last week the Teignbridge Planning Committee chose to defer the final decision for details of the road through the planning area called NA3 an area around the Wolborough Fen SSI.
Party conference season continues with Reform over last weekend and Labour this week. The mood from the Labour event is reported as somewhat mixed, with signs of hope and positivity starting to show.
Last week in Parliament the opposition parties tried to stop the cut to the winter fuel allowance.
Empty second homes have blighted many of our communities in the South West. It has been a crisis that has been allowed to spiral out of control over the years.
