The school holidays are already into their second week, and I hope everyone is enjoying the summer break – and managing the inevitable chaos that comes with it! Thankfully, the weather has been kind so far.
The first week of summer recess was a busy week for me, ending with my Tea in the Park community event in Dawley on Saturday. It was wonderful to meet so many residents alongside local partners, hear your concerns and discuss the issues that matter most to our community. These conversations are invaluable in helping me to stand up for Telford.
I also had the privilege of taking part in an important roundtable discussion with some of Telford’s incredible unpaid carers. Their dedication often goes unseen, and it was a valuable opportunity to listen to their experiences and discuss the support they need.
Alongside everything happening locally, there have been significant developments nationally with the arrival of a new Prime Minister. While announcements are important, the real priority now must be delivering change that people can genuinely see, feel and trust. We need to restore confidence that the future can be brighter than the past and ensure that working people share in that progress.
The Government has announced three measures aimed at helping households with the cost of living. Firstly, VAT has been removed from domestic energy bills, saving the average household around £50 a year. Combined with the £150 reduction introduced earlier this year, this means households could save around £200 on their energy bills. At a time when many families continue to face rising costs, every saving makes a difference. I also welcome the Government’s longer-term commitment to investing in clean, home-grown energy to strengthen our energy security and reduce our dependence on volatile international markets.
Secondly, the Prime Minister has announced a nationwide £2 bus fare cap, with some fares expected to fall by as much as a third from next January. Here in Telford & Wrekin we have already benefited from a £2 fare cap, so it is encouraging to see affordable public transport being extended across the country. My focus now is on ensuring our local bus services are reliable, affordable and reach every part of our community.
The third announcement is a 20% reduction in business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues. Telford has a thriving hospitality and entertainment sector, but I know from speaking to local landlords and staff just how difficult the current trading environment has become. This measure, which could save the average pub around £1,100 a year, has the potential to provide much-needed support and help protect the venues that play such an important role in our communities.
Finally, although the World Cup has now come to an end after an incredible 100 matches, I was delighted to hand over £14,000 raised through our World Cup Sweepstake to Lingen Davies Cancer Support. A huge thank you goes to the 48 Telford businesses that took part, as well as Shropshire Printing for their generous support. Congratulations to Box Of Goodness, who won the competition and received a £200 team voucher for The Brewery Inn, and well done to our runners-up, European Innovation, who joined us for the cheque presentation. It was another fantastic example of Telford’s business community coming together to support a truly worthwhile cause.
As always, if there is an issue affecting you or your family that you think I can help with, please do get in touch. Supporting local residents and working together to make Telford an even better place to live is the most important part of my role as your Member of Parliament.
You can find all the ways to contact me on my website, whether you’d like to email me, arrange to meet me at one of my regular advice surgeries, or sign up for my weekly newsletter to keep up to date with my work across Telford and in Parliament.
