GOOD AFTERNOON & welcome to my weekly update no.307
It is so annoying when our lovely local newsletter is dominated by the actions of a certain President across the water but of course that is the case this week. But if you do manage to scroll down, lots of important local stuff happening too on mobile phone coverage, sewage, Ash green spaces and CIL…
WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER
MAKE AMERICA POOR AGAIN So it finally happened, and we are figuring out to pick up the pieces. On Wednesday, President Trump unleashed a tidal wave of tariffs in order to destroy the world trading system. Those - including me - who hoped it was a negotiating tactic to get fairer trade terms for the US were bitterly disappointed: 10% tariffs even on countries like the UK that don’t have a trade deficit with the US show that he doesn’t really believe in international trade and instead wants US consumers to buy products made in the USA. He is trying to find a shortcut solution to the problem that America (and others like the UK) have not been saving and investing enough. It won’t work and America - and the world - will become poorer as a result. Even worse, by attacking America’s friends he is abdicating American leadership of the free world. I wish I could be more optimistic about a country I have always deeply admired.
BUT DON’T GIVE UP AT HOME What should the UK now do? We have done better than others and in these topsy turvy times even the government has admitted a Brexit dividend. But our product exports to the US are around 2% of GDP so a 10% tariff (25% on cars) will hurt. It’s time to remember that many of our greatest industries (financial services, technology, life sciences and universities amongst others) have flourished because of our openness to the outside world as I argued in the Telegraph this week so we should strongly resist the temptation to join in a global trade war. It could take us into recession - as OBR forecasts show. Conversely staying open as the rest of the world closes will make us more competitive as Singapore has shown. That is the real lesson if we want to be Singapore-on-Thames which we can do perfectly well with our social safety-net. I made the same point on World at One on Friday(1318 slot).
SEWAGE SAGA Last week I met with Emma Hardy MP – who is the Minister for Water and Flooding – as a follow up to my recent parliamentary question about Thames Water’s pledged investment to reduce sewage discharge. The company has promised to invest more than £400m by the end of 2026 but I want to know what exactly they are planning to do. The Minister didn’t know either and is going to help me find out. Thames Water made us a promise and they need to keep it.
AND LET’S AVOID TRAGEDY REPEATING ITSELF Some of you may know the tragic story of Christopher Laskaris, the son of local resident Fiona Laskaris, who was murdered by a drug dealer aged 24. I am currently working with Fiona and fellow MPs Chris Coghlan and Jake Richards to change the mental health laws to make it easier for parental interventions to stop this kind of tragedy being repeated. Last week Fiona bravely shared her story with ITV and as part of the segment, I explained why this reform would be a good thing: by giving parents the right to ask for a mental capacity exercise to be done, more people that need help are given it. That would be an incredible legacy for Christopher so we are really hoping to get government agreement.
WHAT’S GOING ON LOCALLY
MOBILE NETWORKS PROGRESS Last week I met with Vodafone and O2 Virgin Media as part of my follow-up meetings with the mobile phone signal companies and we are making some albeit slow progress. We discussed the results of my signal survey, which almost 2,000 of you have brilliantly responded to, which shows just how dire things are. As a result Vodafone have sent their vans out to check out the issue - which they confirm is much worse than their initial numbers suggested. Vodafone and Three have promised to invest £11 bn in the network now their merger has been improved - and I want that with us please! O2 disappointingly had not really made progress since my December meeting but have promised action before the end of the month.
CIL TAKING THE MICKEY Last Tuesday angry homeowners joined Conservative Councillors to protest outside Waverley having been charged huge CIL (Communituy Infrastructure Levy) sums of between £40k-235k even though no homeowner should be charged it at all for expanding the property where they live. Waverley’s leader doesn't seem to understand the issue eithereven though LibDem West Berkshire council have actually done the right thing on this. I met with Waverley CEO Pedro Wrobel last Friday and wrote to the Minister for Housing and Planning to call for action. Meanwhile, £14.3m of collected CIL sits in Waverley’s bank account and the CIL committee has allocated funding for only a few projects again this year. See Cllr Jane Austin talking about this issue here.
ASH NEWS PART ONE… Ash residents will know that many Ash Lodge residents were promised a health facility in the middle of the development that has never materialised. Guildford Borough Council foolishly let the Section 106 lapse (despite assurances they would not) which means the developer has a free hand to use the land put aside as they wish. So I met the CEO of the developer, Bewley Homes, to see if a compromise could be found following a survey I did of local residents. He has already signed a contract with a care home but is going to come back to me with some options.
AND PART TWO Chester Bridge is very near to being opened with surfacing work now complete and a final inspection scheduled for April 10th. That means - sigh of relief - Foreman Road and Ash Church Road should fully reopen imminently. Thank you to John Tonks for his campaigning on this.
SURGERY CALLS My first call was to a lady from Seale whom I met at the opening of the Barley Mow Pub. She wanted to talk about where we are at with the expansion of the AONB (now called National Landscapes) and also the reorganisation of local councils. She was concerned that when developers break the rules the borough council can’t afford to take them to court. I then spoke to a Cranleigh teacher about the budget challenges of single form entry schools with a high proportion of SEN children. We had a long and fascinating discussion about the need for more SEN funding and the root causes of the explosion of neurodiverse children. I am going to follow the government’s review closely and visit her school.
DUNSFOLD DRAMAS I met with Waverley Borough Commander, Rob Brian on Friday to discuss antisocial behaviour in Dunsfold where lots has been happening. Several arrests have been made for illegal immigration and wanted offences plus a number of warrants have been issued and stolen plant recovered from a vehicle 'chop shop' near Dunsfold Aerodrome, with the stolen vehicles (including Porsches, Mercedes and BMWs) and parts estimated to be worth around £750,000. Whoever would have thought in our back yard.
GOING GOING GONE! Don’t miss the chance to bid on a few of the auction items that didn’t sell at the recent Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre dinner dance. There are some great items still available: from spa, leisure and shopping vouchers to designer sunglasses and vintage port. Email [email protected] for the full list and grab yourself a bargain!
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.
EASTER BREAK I’ll be pausing the newsletter over the Easter holidays and will be back on the 28th. Wishing you a very Happy Easter — let’s hope the sunshine sticks around!
AND FINALLY… my favourite post from 1st April this year was from Godalming Community Board, declaring that a McDonalds Drive Thru’ would be opening in Godalming High Street. Credit goes to Michael Starsman for the photo. Not sure that “I’m lovin’ it” and I am afraid many Godalming kids will be disappointed it was just an April Fool…
