HELLO & welcome to my weekly update no.332.

Wow so much happening - lots of debate ahead of the Budget. Locally some progress on the CIL scandal and our long campaigned-for 30% increase to the National Landscape (AONB) edges nearer.

WESTMINSTER WHISPERS

BUDGET BLUES Last week I debated with the Zack Polanski, new darling of the left and economically illiterate head of the Green Party in the Today Programmes's debate on who should pay more tax ([link removed]) . Zack, who is very personable, argued it doesn’t matter how many millionaires leave the country as long as we slap a big wealth tax on them. As I explained on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg ([link removed]) , the Chancellor's job is not just to reduce the gap between rich and poor but actually raise money for public services - and fewer millionaires means fewer doctors and nurses. That is the central choice in the budget: reform welfare or raise taxes – and if you want growth it should be the former as I wrote in the weekend Telegraph ([link removed]) . But as of now the budget has been decided, as I explained this morning on Sky
News ([link removed]) , so the time for these debates is over. For a friendly and actually quite enlightening 25 minute summary of the budget arguments, you can also check out the BBC Newscast ([link removed]) show I did straight after the Kuennsberg show.

PENSION PRINCIPLES Whilst Rachel Reeves today appears to be busy targeting people saving for their pensions via salary sacrifice schemes, no one seems to be talking about how much money could be saved if we instead made public sector pensions a little fairer. I had a shot at it in the Sunday Times ([link removed]) yesterday and it stirred up a hornets nest online. But I am sticking to my guns: if we really care about fairness and not loading up future generations with debt, public sector pensions should go through the same process of reform that has happened in the private sector.

PRAY FOR A U-TURN Let’s hope this week Rachel Reeves does a quiet-ish U-turn on the family farm tax. The changes she made to inheritance tax don’t just impact farms but every family business - take a look at my video below:
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Stop the Family Farm Tax - click on the link to view the video

UKRAINE PANIC Some progress appears to have been made ([link removed]) on the terrible peace deal Donald Trump was trying to force on Ukraine. Some of the details of the original deal ([link removed]) would weaken Ukraine and make a future war more not less likely. Insiders think it is unlikely to succeed anyway. So the real question becomes whether, with the US abdicating responsibility (something, sadly, I never thought I would write), Europeans are prepared to do the right thing. The UK is Europe’s biggest defence power so it really is a chance for Sir Keir Starmer to LEAD. As I said yesterday, he’s had a terrible year but this is perhaps the only of his decisions that history will actually remember. Let’s pray he gets it right.

AND LET’S NOT FORGET THE NHS… In the latest edition of the Patient Safety Watch newsletter ([link removed]) I discuss ‘normal birth’ ideology about which there was another excellent article in this week’s Sunday Times ([link removed]) . I also look at compensation culture, the duty of candour and what stops safety recommendations being implemented. On the safety recommendations, the Patient Safety all party group – which I chair – has recently outlined in this document ([link removed]) how to make sure the many recommendations knocking around the system don’t just gather dust.

LOCAL LIFE

WAVERLEY SCANDAL COMES TO WESTMINSTER With neighbouring MP Greg Stafford and Cllr Jane Austin I had an encouraging meeting with Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook this week about the unfair charging of the Community Infrastructure Levy to local councils. He agreed that what Waverley and some other Councils are doing is totally unreasonable and restated his sympathy for the residents affected. I asked him about it in the House of Commons this afternoon too. We reiterated our request for Councils to be issued guidance on how to deal with those hit and suggested that the minister write to Waverley councils to clarify what action they should be taking instead of sticking their heads in the sand.

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Click on image to view video clip

BETTER BUSES How do we get better bus services from Cranleigh, Bramley, Shamley Green and Shalford to our local hospitals? It's really hard for many, especially the elderly ([link removed]) to get to our local hospitals with no direct bus routes. I asked a question to the Minister last week ([link removed]) and got an underwhelming response.

NEARLY THERE Absolutely fantastic news that Natural England has formally issued notification ([link removed]) of their intention to extend the Surrey Hills National Landscape by approximately 30% ([link removed]) . This means the Boundary Extension project has reached its final notification period - the last steps before the 30% expansion we have all been pushing for years. Next stop is the desk of the Secretary of State. Thanks to the Surrey Hills team for keeping me updated, not long now….

ARISE CRANLEIGH ARTS! A huge congratulations to the team at Cranleigh Arts for receiving this prestigious Award for Voluntary Service. It’s a tremendous accolade and truly well deserved, recognising the dedicated group of volunteers who work tirelessly to create such a vibrant and welcoming hub for the community. For more details on the programme of exceptional arts and entertainment, click HERE. ([link removed])
WE CAN BE GREAT! Brilliant book talks this week at the Cranleigh Chamber of Commerce where Rosemary French played Jeremy Paxman and then the fabulous Royal Oak pub in Holmbury St Mary where we had a packed house and great questions from Jonny and the team.


RECYCLE HELP FOR BLISTER PACKSI have been contacted by a constituent who is collecting/recycling medical blister packs for charity but has been let down by the company which takes them off him. Does anyone need them for a good cause ? If so please email me on [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

FABULOUS FENCING Huge congratulations to Thursley resident Paul Wedge for winning Gold last week for Team GB - take a look at Paul’s fencing in action here ([link removed]) .

BUSINESS BREAKFAST? Did you know I host regular business-breakfast events at West Surrey Golf Club, where we invite guest speakers while enjoying a cooked breakfast? On Friday, 5 December, Andrew Griffith MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Business & Trade) will be joining us. For further info or to book email: [email protected]

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 Instagram ([link removed]) , TikTok or,X (Twitter) ([link removed]) ,Facebook ([link removed]) (although email me rather than comment for a guaranteed reply.)

AND FINALLY Feeling festive? Possibly not if you passed this mura ([link removed]) l generated by AI and placed for shoppers in Kingston, Surrey last week. Now removed, the mural looked fine from a distance but up close it depicted a dog with a bird’s head wading through partially frozen water and a snowman with human eyes and teeth. Frostie becomes the Nightmare Before Christmas?

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