GOOD AFTERNOON & welcome to my weekly update no.304
A lot happening internationally, nationally and locally. As we find out if Putin will enter discussions on a ceasefire, we could also see the schools bill pass through the Commons unpicking years of rising standards (read this shocking article by the former Chief Executive of Ofsted). Locally the LibDems have got into a pickle after being found out trying to rig the new unitary council structures for political advantage.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER
BONFIRE OF THE QUANGOS The biggest news in Westminster law week was the government’s announcement that the UK’s biggest quango, NHS England, is to be scrapped. In what is probably one of the biggest reforms in recent history, NHS England is to be brought back into the Department of Health. As I said on Sky News, even though I was Health Secretary when NHS England came into being, it is the potentially right thing to do. The NHS is failing because it is micro-managed from the centre. So if this leads to greater autonomy, it could work. If, however, we just move from bureaucratic to political centralisation, the new structure will fail. In Parliament on Thursday, I asked Wes Streeting which it was going to be - and he gave an encouraging response.
PANDEMIC PLANNING Speaking of the NHS, last week I wrote an article in the Express about key lessons learned from the pandemic. Our Covid deaths were around the international average - but the price we paid was having to switch off too much other NHS care - leading to today’s long waiting lists. The lesson is more capacity in the system - and making sure the rest of the NHS (cancer care for example) is able to function even if A & E's are overwhelmed.
PUTIN’S PLAY News broke last week that Ukraine would agree to a 30-day ceasefire, admittedly after pressure from Trump which made many of us wince. But if Putin is now pressured to do the same, it could be the start of something no one previously thought possible, namely a 1953-style Korean ‘freezing’ of the conflict. I talked about this during a Channel 4 interview The challenge is that unlike in Korea, the US is not willing to provide security guarantees and European countries may not be able to - but full marks to Keir Starmer for trying to put such a ‘coalition of the willing’ together.
WHAT’S GOING ON LOCALLY
UNITARY SHENANIGANS This week Councillors across Surrey will give their view on the best structure for Surrey. Surrey County Council believe a two unitary format is best and some of the 11 Districts and Boroughs are expected to support three… but it will be Labour’s local government Minister Jim McMahon who makes the ultimate call. I support two unitaries (East Surrey and West Surrey) for a simple reason: I am worried that Woking’s £2.2bn debt is too much for us to absorb if we were just Guildford/Waverley/Woking without impacting on council tax bill. The Lib Dems are trying to rig the process to create three because they think they would control the smaller units, as revealed in this rather shocking video in which the Waverley LibDem leader asks the Council Chief Executive to ‘skew’ the report (and the supposedly apolitical CEO responding ‘this had already been done’.) Many councillors across Surrey have called for his resignation citing breach of the code of conduct. Take a look at the clip… what do you think?
Clip just prior to Waverley's Executive Council meeting last week.
MOBILE MISSION Broadband for Surrey Hills, known as B4SH, is a totally remarkable community organisation that has now sorted full fibre connections to over 600 homes in remote locations in the Surrey Hills. What I didn’t realise, until I met them on Friday, is that the fibre they have laid can also help mobile phone reception. So I am going to put them in touch with the networks and the Minister, Chris Bryant, who has agreed to visit Cranleigh. I worked closely with BT when I was doing the broadband rollout as Culture Secretary but when you meet B4SH you see that small really is beautiful!
Broadband 4 Surrey Hills
CRANLEIGH PRIMARY Cranleigh CofE Primary has been through a tough period but is really turning a corner under Head Kate Pelazza. Brand new playground, refurbished classrooms and highly motivated staff...thank you for your brilliant work and an excellent visit.
SHERE Always delightful to pay a trip home to Shere and have lunch at the Dabbling Duck. I love planters - but aren’t these ones just a bit oversized? Take a look at my video...
Click to watch
CANCER CENTRE GALA DINNER TICKETS SOLD OUT! But fear not, you can still get involved and support the brilliant fundraising campaign for the new Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre by bidding on something in their fantastic auction. Everything from gin and wine tours to one off jewellery, fine dining and holidays... check it out here: Friends of Royal Surrey Charity Gala Dinner
SUPPORT FOR NATASHA Many of you will know I lost my brother Charlie to sarcoma some 18 months ago. This truly awful disease is a vicious form of cancer and I continue to support Sarcoma UK, a charity that funds vital research. My constituent, Zoe Ruffley’s lovely step-daughter Natasha has been living with Myxoid liposarcoma for over four years now. Zoe is climbing Kilimanjaro for Natasha and to support Sarcoma UK. Please join me in supporting her - go Zoe!
Out in beautiful Chilworth with the team on Friday
JOIN ME Want to get more involved with my brilliant election-winning team locally? Email me at [email protected] to help support our work in our community. If you would like more regular updates of my work locally and nationally, do follow me on Facebook, X (Twitter), Bluesky or Instagram. Please don’t always assume I will see every comment on a post - email is a more reliable way to ensure a reply.
AND FINALLY…we are all frustrated with roadworks and utility company traffic lights at every turn - what about an air-taxi under development by this Californian firm? A short trip would be zero emission and can fit four passengers - perfect!
