During the last month I’ve been very busy in the Wokingham constituency, and in Parliament.
Many constituents and NHS staff at the Royal Berkshire Hospital have told me they are heartbroken that the Government have further delayed the re-build of the Royal Berkshire Hospital. The Labour government have added a further 6-year delay, on top of the 7-year delay announced by Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives in 2023.
I have secured a promise from the Prime Minister that Ministers will meet with me and local residents to discuss the challenges caused by this further delay. When I questioned the Prime Minister in the House of Commons about these delays, he quite rightly pointed out the original Conservative plans for the new hospital building programme were pie in the sky and they didn’t provide the necessary funding for the completion of the plan.
Only this week Thames Water increased their borrowing by £3 billion at a massive interest rate of over 9% adding to their already £16 billion debt pile. This might just enable the company to limp along until its next bail out. In the meantime, the Thames Water customer picks up the cost of this extra debt. Little of this borrowing will go towards the repair of leaking pipes and the stopping of the dumping of raw sewage into our rivers. Liberal Democrats believe it’s time that Thames Water was put into special administration rather than delaying the company’s inevitable collapse.
It’s been a pleasure to host several receptions in Parliament to raise awareness for a number of charities. Last week I hosted a reception supporting the excellent local charity, Building for the Future., who provide a community centre for disabled children and their families. I also co-hosted events for Cancer Research UK and Leukaemia UK around World cancer day. These charities were able to show to other MP’s the innovations that they are making to improve cancer treatment in the UK.
On World Cancer Day I was delighted that the Secretary of State for health confirmed that the government would be keeping its promise made to me in parliament that they would publish a national cancer strategy later in the summer. I will be working hard to hold them to account and ensure that this strategy improves cancer diagnosis’s, treatments and outcomes, especially for rare and hard to detect cancers.
I have also continued to meet with many other charities and businesses involved with cancer services such as Macmillan cancer care, Moderna (medical research) and NICE (the national Institute for health and care Excellence).
For many people around the country and here in Wokingham there have been difficulties in providing education for those with Special Needs or Disabilities (SEND). I have taken part in debates in Parliament on this and this week held a meeting with senior civil servants in the Department of Education who will be passing on my concerns to Ministers.
Like many of you I was disappointed that we haven’t yet been able to get a Banking Hub in Wokingham. I will continue to fight along with the former Wokingham Town Mayor Lynn Forbes to get the facility we need.
King Charles hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace for newly elected MP’s and new peers. There were at least 300 people there. I had a conversation with his Majesty, and met with the Queen, the Duke of Glouster and the Duchess of Edinburgh. I also took the opportunity to speak to the Prime Minister about a proper maintenance programme for the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
Last Saturday I held a public drop-in surgery in the café of Tesco’s in Wokingham. It was great to talk with people about their thoughts on a wide range of issues. My casework team are now helping a number of people who spoke to me. I will have similar sessions across the constituency in similar venues during the year.
I and my staff will continue to be very happy to help and support residents of the Wokingham Parliamentary constituency. If you need our help, or want to raise a concern, please email me at clive.jones.mp@parliament.uk
Clive Jones is Liberal Democrat MP for Wokingham
