James Naish MP writes his monthly update for Rushcliffe constituents.
James writes:
‘Let me start by wishing everyone a very happy Easter. I hope that you enjoyed the bank holiday weekend and are looking forward to some warmer, brighter and – hopefully – drier months.
‘March was a very busy month locally as well as nationally (and, sadly, internationally), so let me start with some of the good things that have been happening locally…
UK Town of Culture competition
‘Starting with West Bridgford potentially becoming the first-ever UK Town of Culture in 2028! I wrote to Rushcliffe Borough Council with cross-party support from other West Bridgford councillors to encourage it to apply, and was pleased to see 4 in 5 local people backing this bid.
‘I’ve asked the Secretary of State to introduce a regional stage to the competition in response to the very high number of applications received across the length and breadth of the country, and hope that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will find a way to facilitate this.
‘This would mean that we can spend more time talking about what is great about so many of the places where we live – which is good for everybody’s well-being.
Local education investments
‘Elsewhere, there has been a flurry of positive announcements by the Department for Education which will hopefully benefit families across our constituency.
‘First, it was announced that Nottinghamshire will receive over £16 million to expand school places and improve facilities for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The consultation on the Schools White Paper is underway and will remain open until 18 May, and I’d encourage as many people with SEND experiences as possible to respond.
‘Second, another five primary schools in Nottinghamshire are being supported to offer an on-site nursery, including St Edmund Campion in West Bridgford.
‘Third, it’s been confirmed that Nottingham College – which has a campus in Ruddington – will receive £3.8 million as part of the Further Education College Condition Allocations, placing it in the top 7% of recipients nationally.
‘These are the types of investment that will make a tangible difference to communities like Rushcliffe, and I’m pleased to see words starting to turn into action and much-needed cash.
Championing local transport
‘I’ve also been talking a lot about transport this month.
‘I started by convening a meeting with a range of local stakeholders to think more deeply about what the plans for a “Trent Sports Quarter” might mean for local areas – not just Rushcliffe but the wider city too.
‘Dialogue has also continued with the East Midlands Combined County Authority about potential tram extensions (this is a slow-burn project), and I launched the campaign to “Protect the 11” bus service which serves Cotgrave, Tollerton, Gamston, Lady Bay and Trent Bridge, connecting them to the train station. The reduction of the service from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes is the opposite of what the Bus Services Act 2025 promises.
‘Nottingham has also enjoyed a visit from the Secretary of State for Transport to announce the government’s ‘Better Connected’ national transport strategy. Heidi Alexander MP said that Nottingham is an exemplar for high-quality integrated transport and used the opportunity to announce “tap-and-go” travel across trains, trams and buses. A £6 million pilot on rural bus services connecting directly with trains was also announced. This will take place in Derbyshire, but I hope Rushcliffe can be an early adopter if the scheme is successful.
‘We finished the month with confirmation that funding is in place for the A52 junction schemes, for a bypass on the A46 at Newark, and for resurfacing the Widmerpool section of the A46 – all of which will directly benefit Rushcliffe constituents.
Potholes
‘No update about transport is complete without a brief detour caused by potholes.
‘In early March, I welcomed MPs from across Nottinghamshire to Rushcliffe to meet with Nottinghamshire County Council. It was a frank discussion about the condition of our roads and the long-term choices that have led us here, including the previous Conservative administration’s decision to end surface dressing in 2017/18, which has contributed to faster deterioration.
‘I have now shared the full list of 269 pothole-ridden roads in Rushcliffe – as reported by you – with Nottinghamshire County Council for review as part of its evolving capital programme, and am pleased that several key roads have been included in the Highways Capital Programme for 2026 to 2029.
‘By the end of this parliament, overall road maintenance funding will have doubled compared with 2024, with a further £7.3 billion being allocated over a four-year period. Claire Ward, the East Midlands Mayor, has also just announced another £21.6 million on average over the next three years for Nottinghamshire to invest in the road network, on top of the £47 million she’s already committed in 2026/27. This money now needs spending wisely!
Supporting local news
‘Bridging local and national news, this month, I attended a parliamentary drop-in on the future of local journalism which highlighted just how fragile parts of the media landscape have become.
‘The East Midlands now ranks ninth out of 12 UK regions for the number of local news outlets, and this media outlet – West Bridgford Wire – stands out as a vital independent voice .
‘Local journalism and local accountability go hand in hand, and it is important we recognise and support that role.’
Key activities in Westminster
‘A lot of the same themes have dominated my time in London, where I led a debate on productivity and growth in the East Midlands in mid-March. What came through clearly is that our region has too often been recognised in principle but not properly backed in practice. This gap between rhetoric and reality is something we need to close if we are serious about rebalancing opportunity across the UK.
‘I also spoke in a debate about NHS capital spending. At Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, three critical incidents were declared this winter, with patient numbers regularly exceeding safe capacity. This pressure inevitably impacts the whole system, including local services that Rushcliffe residents rely on. I’m working with the NHS Trust to identify some solutions.
‘I’m also banging the drum for ALL health centres to receive investment, not just those serving 50,000+ patients or in deprived areas. In places like East Leake, concerns about the health centre have still not been resolved after more than 20 years of discussion, with some facilities now completely out of use. I continue to argue that investment in community healthcare is not just better for patients but essential for relieving pressure on hospitals.
‘Finally, I’ve been talking a lot about rurality. The Labour Rural Research Group launched its report on rural poverty https://www.labourruralresearchgroup.com/; there has been a £345 million investment into British agriculture; the Sustainable Farming Incentive has been relaunched and redesigned to tailor support towards small- and medium-sized farms; and the Land Use Framework has been published. For the first time ever, the Framework recognises the strategic importance of how land is used across multiple sectors. The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management has said that it is “optimistic” about this piece of work, noting that: “This should be a watershed in terms of creating coherent land use policy.” I certainly hope so.
Brief comment on events in the Middle East
‘Clearly, everything is extremely volatile at the moment because of what is happening in the Middle East. I think we are all agreed that Iran’s regime has committed appalling abuses against its own people and has fuelled instability across the region for decades through its proxies, its ballistic missile programme, and its support for violence beyond its borders. It is also clear that Iran’s recent retaliation has been indiscriminate and reckless, with missile and drone attacks across the Gulf and beyond, including against civilian infrastructure. This has put British nationals, British personnel and our partners in the region at real risk.
‘But two things can be true at once. We can and should be clear that the Iranian regime is a malign force that must be treated with utmost caution. At the same time, any response by the UK and its allies can and should be lawful, proportionate, coherent and directed towards de-escalation. Britain should not outsource its foreign policy to the impulses of others, nor be drawn into offensive action without reverting to Parliament. Badenoch and Farage would have run head-first into an unplanned conflict to cosy up to the Americans. I am very glad that our Prime Minister didn’t do that. He made the right call.
‘As always, my team and I are here to help with any local or national concerns. Please get in touch at james.naish.mp@parliament.uk or call 0115 646 6404.’
