HELLO & welcome to my weekly update no.337

With so much going it is hard to know where to start…there was a time when American presidents only got the occasional mention in this newsletter but with Venezuela, Greenland and Iran that seems a long time ago. That said, the President has still not weighed in on step-free access at Ash Vale station so maybe we should count our blessings.

WESTMINSTER WHISPERS


PROTESTS IN IRAN Over the weekend, the Iranian regime escalated its violent crackdown on the protests currently erupting all of the country, with hundreds already confirmed dead ([link removed]) . It’s a regime I know quite well, having visited Tehran to try to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. The first thing to say is that the protestors are unbelievably brave. And secondly at the risk of making a prediction immediately proved wrong, this does feel like end-of-days for the regime. Not because their repression is failing (sadly it may not be) but because they are failing on the basics of running an economy that can feed ordinary Iranians. After Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan we are all alive to the dangers of Western-directed regime change (as I think is Trump, notwithstanding Venezuela). But that doesn’t mean we can’t hope.

PUB PICK-ME-UP I hope to be in the Merry Harriers in Hambledon this weekend to celebrate what I hope will be another u-turn from the government on business rates for pubs. As Chancellor, I maintained a 75% post-Covid discount which this government scrapped. In Waverley, the average rateable value of businesses is set to increase 19% this year ([link removed]) – an absolute nightmare not just for pubs but any high street business. It does, however, add to a sense the government is not really in control of events, not great whichever party you support given they will probably be in power for another four years.

GREENLAND GRIEF Tensions over Greenland are also on the rise, with President Trump remarking over the weekend ([link removed]) that the US would have Greenland “one way or the other.” I don’t believe Trump is planning an invasion (Peter Mandelson was very convincing about this ([link removed]) in his debut post-resignation interview yesterday). Rather he is trying to browbeat Denmark into a deal. Unfortunately the fact that he treats a loyal ally (that sent troops to serve alongside the US in Afghanistan and Iraq) means the damage to the Western alliance is already done. And one day he or his successors will regret that, even if not today.

SOCIAL MEDIA BAN Kemi Badenoch announced ([link removed]) today that the Conservative party would ban under 16s from using social media - something I wholeheartedly support. I spoke about it earlier this year ([link removed]) when the Australian ban came in and am really worried about what it is doing to the attention spans of young people. Too many friends have told me their kids just stop reading when they get a smartphone. Very pertinently, I met the brilliant Gemma Taylor of Smartphone Free Childhood ([link removed]) Surrey on Friday. Gemma is campaigning for all Godalming schools to ban smartphones, with already some successes locally to date (three cheers for St Edmunds, Godalming Junior and Busbridge Junior) but we need to go further both locally and nationally. Watch my video with Gemma:

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ADOLESCENCE TRIUMPH The superb Netflix drama Adolescence scooped up at the Golden Globes ([link removed]) for its superb portrayal of the inner life of some boys. Do watch if you haven’t. I was avoiding it, partly if I am honest because I thought the subject matter was so challenging. But it is utterly brilliant and I am pleased I didn’t. Distantly related, I did a podcast for someone called Pete Hunt (no relation) who specialises in talking about the issues faced by (grown) men. It is genuinely one of the most thoughtful podcast interviews I have done – check it out here ([link removed]) .

LOCAL LIFE

FINALLY PROGRESS ON A LIFT AT ASH VALE? Last week I asked Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander ([link removed]) when we will finally hear about funding for this vital project under the government’s Access for All scheme… take a look at her reply below - sounds like we should have news very soon…keeping everything crossed.

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Click on the link to view the video

POLICE AND CRIME PUBLIC MEETING IN ASH I have had lots of correspondence from Ash and Tongham residents about crime and anti-social behaviour so have invited the police to a public meeting and Q&A Please join me and Surrey Police on Friday 23rd January 2026 at Ash Manor School, Manor Road, Ash - starting at 18.30.

GODALMING TAXI ISSUES PICK-UP An overwhelming number of Godalming locals have expressed their dismay at the recent decision to prevent independent taxi drivers from picking up passengers on the station forecourt. Independent drivers are now required to get a permit from Clocktower Cars - but the sting in the tail is that the permit requires them to hand over 20% of every fare. I don’t think this is fair, and I want to support long trading Godalming independent taxi drivers, so I have raised it with SWR. They confirmed their forecourt operator, Infopoint, awarded the lease to Clocktower Cars. Do we want to shut out independent operators? I got a furious response to my video from Clocktower (hardly a surprise) but this feels like a big step backwards. I will keep on the case, check out my video ([link removed]) below..

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OUTSTANDING MILL MEDICAL PRACTICE well done to the entire practice team in Cattleshall for achieving an ‘Outstanding’ rating following inspection last November ([link removed]) . Second year in a row - what an amazing achievement! As the Health Secretary who introduced the ratings system I am particularly pleased.


SHAWFIELD LANE CLOSURE ASH UPCOMING SGN have asked me to pass on this road closure from Monday 02 February for two weeks, between the junctions of Underwood Avenue and Alexandra Road. A diversion route will be in place and bus routes impacted - more details here ([link removed]) .

SURGERY CALLS My first call was to a Godalming resident concerned, as I am, about a big piece of work he is doing to address the many problems the country faces. I then spoke to the Chair of Peaslake School, which my brother was closely involved with, about some local changes in the admissions policy of a neighbouring school that are of concern. I will do what I can to help. I then spoke to the person knocked down by an army truck in a horrible incident on Hankley Common that I mentioned last week, something that was totally unacceptable and I am taking it up with the army.

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 onFacebook ([link removed]) , X (Twitter) ([link removed]) , Linkedin ([link removed]) , TikTok orInstagram ([link removed]) (although email me rather than comment for a guaranteed reply.)

AND FINALLY Did you know that the beautiful ruin St Catherine’s Chapel, which overlooks Guildford, could have been funded by Eleanor of Provence, wife of Henry III - whose 6 year old grandson and heir to the English throne died in Guildford in 1274? History buffs should listen to this ‘Secret Surrey’ podcast ([link removed]) about this beautiful landmark.

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