Greetings.
This is the March edition of my newsletter. It helps me to keep you posted on what I've been doing around the constituency and in Westminster, working on your behalf. It's been a pleasure to meet many of you out and about!
Around the constituency
I'm delighted to report that we have now got on top of the backlog of constituent correspondence. So, if you do write in, we should reply promptly from now on. If there is anything I can do to help, we can best be reached by emailing charlie.maynard.mp@parliament.uk.
Please do get in touch if you would like to book a slot at my weekly online surgery. Additionally, if you represent an organisation or business that you would like me to visit please do contact me and my team will be happy to arrange this.
On 6th February, I met up with local Lib Dem supporters at the Como Lounge in Witney for a drink and a chat. I explained a bit about what I’d been up to at Westminster over the past six months and fielded some questions. It was also an opportunity for me to thank the party’s volunteers for the tireless work they do on its behalf – and for getting me elected last summer!
Also on 3rd March I was delighted to attend the Advanced Oxford business networking breakfast at the Oxford Centre for innovation. I met business leaders from across the county. I gave an overview of what I’m hoping to achieve in the years to come as MP for Witney. Lots of detailed conversations about local connectivity, infrastructure problems and productivity, discussing the best ways to overcome such issues and move forwards as a county.
I met, along with people from West Oxfordshire District Council, Brize Norton Parish Council, Windrush Against Sewage Pollution and Thames Water. We met to discuss the 20 years of sewage dumping in Brize Norton. We need more flow monitors so that we can isolate the problem and find a solution. Thanks to Thames Water representatives for showing up and I look forward to fast action.
With my sister, Georgie, 46, who is living with a glioblastoma, I visited Nuffield Department of Medicine at Oxford University to see how funding from The Brain Tumour Charity is helping to research the most unforgiving cancers. Our mum and Nicola Durrant, who lost both her brother and her husband to glioblastoma 10 years apart, both came along, too. Prof. Daniel Ebner’s laboratory uses robots to analyse thousands of combinations of compounds to identify any small molecules that may exploit a vulnerability in glioblastoma tumour cells. He explained the challenges of understanding the condition, running a lab, the constant need to apply for grant funding, and the value of funding which allowed him to employ the ‘bright minds’ needed to figure out the complexities of tackling the disease. As a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Less Survivable Cancers I want to see less survivable cancers like brain tumours brought to the forefront of our national health agenda.
On International Women’s Day, 8 March, I was with my mum and my three sisters. Georgie (second from left) is the reason we took this photo. She’s been extremely brave, determined and focused on how she can best help others in the time she has. To that end she is organising a Bluebell walk for the Brain Tumour Charity in Oxfordshire on 27 April. Please come – or give – if you can!
On 8 March I met Charlie the Monkey and his friend Tony Payne at one of my surgeries. Tony is from Carterton and has over 30 years experience as a teacher and has worked in over 150 educational establishments over that time. It was great to learn from his experience. You can find him at learnwithtony.uk
On 15th I attended Burford Eco day. This was an event at Warwick Hall in Burford looking at issues related to Land, Energy, Transport and Community. A very interesting and useful meeting. It gave me the opportunity to talk to local people about Thames Water and what I've been doing and what needs to be done on that front.
On 20 March, I enjoyed a 90-minute visit to Little Dots Nursery in Witney. I was shown around the impressive facility, accompanied by parent and county council candidate Ben Morel-Allen. SEN support from OCC is poor. Speech and language referrals are taking around three years, and it seems to be luck of the draw in terms of what support children with additional needs get.
On 24th, I was delighted to visit BMW Mini Group at Plant Oxford earlier this week along with colleagues Calum Miller, Clive Jones and Freddie van Mierlo. It was very interesting to learn about the history of the plant, the current challenges facing the automotive sector, and manufacturing operation both in Oxford and around the globe. I also enjoyed a fantastic tour of the plant’s assembly line seeing the work of the plant in action. Thank you to Markus, Alex and the entire team for hosting us!
On 27th I met with members of the Witney Youth Council and officials from the Town Council who help to run the YC. They asked me about my life in Parliament and what I'm up to. I asked them about their priorities as a council, covering everything from warmer swimming pools, to the lack of fast food restaurants in Witney and their plans to host an event for the youth of the town. A very interesting and helpful meeting!
On Saturday 29th I was out doing another constituency walk through Bampton and Clanfield (above in the community orchard there), walking along the old Alvescot branchline (top left) and on to Filkins. It was great meeting constituents along the way. I was accompanied by Councillor Alaric Smith. We finished up at the Five Alls in Filkins (above right).
In Parliament
I wrote last month about my campaign to sort out failing Thames Water and that I had submitted evidence to the High Court urging them not to let Thames Water take on another £3bn of debt. Supported by local campaigners including Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP) and with an amazing legal team who all gave their time for free, I argued that I did not believe that this was in the interests of Thames Water’s customers. The money we pay through our bills needs to be spent on repairing our water infrastructure and cleaning up our rivers, not paying for Thames Water’s billions in debt and the huge interest repayments on it. Regrettably the court decided to let them go ahead with this plan, but I was able to appeal the decision. If you would be interested in hearing more about my work on this, you can find coverage here: Thames Water faces court claim that £3bn bailout is ‘poor, short-term fix’ | Thames Water | The Guardian Thames Water secures £3bn lifeline after court ruling - BBC News. I will of course continue to keep you updated on my work on this.
The Liberal Democrats held their Spring Conference in Harrogate last weekend and it was great to catch up with party members and colleagues from across the country. There were some really interesting discussions on policy - on everything from how the UK should respond to Trump, to animal welfare, to how we secure a fair deal for children with SEND. I was delighted to speak in the opening rally about the importance of getting out to campaign in local elections and to speak at a Liberal Reform fringe event on trade.
At the Business and Trade Select Committee we discussed how our current trade flow is inefficient and consumers are losing out. A closer relationship with Europe would help grow our economy. We should re-join the single electricity market with the EU.
I also quizzed Lord (Dan) Hannan, an advisor to the UK Board of Trade, on his ‘wilful blindness’ to the benefits of strengthening ties with Europe. Our biggest barrier to growth is that we are not part of the single market and customs union.
It was a great pleasure to speak to @wildfarmed at the Sysco parliamentary drop-in. It was great to hear about how regenerative farming can support our farmers and the environment.
I was delighted that the Business and Trade Committee was able to meet with the Export Control Joint Unit, the UK’s office for arms export controls. I’m looking forward to learning a lot more quickly about the transparency of the UK’s arms export data and the effectiveness of our arms export controls and sanctions enforcement.
The BTC had a fascinating tour of British Aerospace's naval shipyards on the Clyde where anti-submarine frigates are built. It's great to see the UK manufacturing first class products which are then exported to our global allies, keeping jobs in the UK and making the world a safer place.
In Westminster this month I attended a debate on the Government’s latest blow to farmers: shutting down the Sustainable Farming Incentive, with no notice whatsoever. Either this was because DEFRA was disorganised, or it was purposefully sneaky, but either way it further diminishes trust with our farming communities. The SFI was set up as part of the replacement for the Common Agricultural Policy after Brexit and is a funding stream designed to support and incentivise sustainable food production, while protecting and enhancing nature. It had been both popular and impactful to date. It makes no sense that the Government would shut it down and the way they did it – with no consultation or warning to the people it would affect - was unacceptable.
I also spoke in a debate about how we can improve research and treatment for rarer cancers – including by improving access to clinical trials for patients, encouraging more research into rare cancer treatments in the UK by extending patents, and when new drugs are developed, ensuring they are quickly made accessible on the NHS.
I have also quizzed the Health Minister on why there have been such delays in spending funding which was allocated for brain tumour research back in 2018. (Topical Questions - Hansard - UK Parliament).
With very best wishes,
Charlie Maynard MP
Witney