The View from Westminster

Published: 20 January 2025

This column is called “The View from Westminster” but, if I’m being upfront with you, it’s about you, it’s about Bournemouth. It’s about home.

As a new MP I’m learning all the time and it’s in my nature to be a positive person. But I am constantly frustrated by the enormous extent to which Parliament is a bubble.

Moreover, I am astonished by how little people know about our town in Parliament. I’m doing everything I can to change this – to talk about Bournemouth in Parliament and to Government all the time about why we’re brilliant. No wonder a Conservative MP from Dorset greets me as “Bournemouth”!

I want to hear from you because I want to tell your story about Bournemouth. I visit a lot of businesses, charities, and organisations, hold my regular surgery appointments around our libraries, and knock on doors every weekend. I welcome your emails and letters and I directly quote residents in speeches and to ministers. This is about you, not me.

We all know how we got here. I don’t need to go over old ground. You elected me to fix problems, not talk about them or point the finger of blame. But it is my job to level with you and constantly say what is achievable and why.

I know people are impatient for change. I am too. We have a huge hole to dig our way out of. We can absolutely do it and I determined that we will do it.

It will take time and hard work. I point this out because we have all been let down and left behind. The last thing I want is for you to feel nothing is happening. I work with so many people locally to make Pokesdown Station accessible, increase dentistry, fill potholes, invest in the public services we need, and fix our playgrounds.

Indeed, nothing tells me that our town has been left to rot like broken equipment in playgrounds or roads filled with potholes. That’s why I fought for funding to fix roads and why the first parliamentary debate I secured focused on playgrounds. I was so honoured to quote over 30 parents and represent more to the Government in my debate, the first in Parliament in 8 years.

Better playgrounds might sound small compared with the state of our NHS, but they really matter and they’re a sign that I’m serious about restoring what’s been left to rot. And we’re getting somewhere. It may take a while longer to get the job done, but I will constantly keep you informed and keep working for Bournemouth.

I always want to hear from you. Please do search for me and follow me on Facebook and Instagram. I post daily about the work I do because it’s the work I do on your behalf.

Please do email me at [email protected] to let me know what you think about this column and what you’d like to hear more about.