Rushcliffe MP James Naish writes his monthly column to update the community.
James writes:
‘I am delighted to be writing my first column for the West Bridgford Wire, updating you on my work as Rushcliffe’s new MP. Thank you to everybody engaged with the democratic process in July – Rushcliffe had the fourth highest turnout in the country which shows how much people care about life here and further afield.
‘As I write, it’s still less than six weeks since polling day, so I’ve been busy focusing on practical measures such as setting-up a new office, redesigning my website and recruiting a small team of staff so that I’m able to quickly support residents across the constituency.
Please contact james.naish.mp@parliament.uk and we will come back to you as quickly as possible.
‘I’ve also started to focus on some of the key priority areas for Rushcliffe through initial meetings with organisations and ministers in Westminster.
‘One of my first events was with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU). I know that for many people in Rushcliffe, food security, sustainability and the environment are important issues, so I will be one of 20 MPs undertaking a year-long fellowship with the NFU so that I can see first-hand how sustainable and affordable food production effectively links to caring for the environment, providing a home for nature and finding solutions to climate change.
‘It was also great to meet with Louise Haigh MP, Secretary of State for Transport, to talk about buses, rail and active travel as part of a team of MPs from the East Midlands. I know that having efficient, reliable and accessible transport is incredibly important for towns and villages across Rushcliffe, and look forward to supporting the new East Midlands Mayor with this agenda as powers are slowly devolved to her.
‘I also joined a meeting with Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, to talk about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Dozens of you have already written to me to explain how you and your children are being let down by a broken system. I’ve been assured that addressing SEND inadequacies is a top priority for the new departmental team and have arranged meetings in August and September with parents and schools in Rushcliffe to hear directly about their challenges.
‘Elsewhere, I’ve been elected as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fusion Energy. This builds on my work in the energy industry over the past seven years or so; and as a council leader in North Nottinghamshire where a multi-billion-pound fusion energy project will commence around 2030. Since its establishment in 2021, the ‘Fusion Cluster’ in Oxfordshire has grown from a handful of companies to more than 200. My role as Chair of the APPG will be to build a bridge between Parliament and the emerging industry, and to support the development of the industry including more high-skilled jobs in the East Midlands and beyond.
‘I’ve also met with the teams that lead the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Hong Kong and Nottingham Stands with Hong Kong. There are around 4,000 Hong Kong people living in Nottinghamshire now and they care deeply about both Hong Kong’s and the UK’s future, so I am looking forward to working with them in the coming months.
‘Politically, the past month has been dominated by two key things: the King’s Speech and the protests which followed the tragic deaths of three young girls in Southport.
‘It was good to hear King Charles III announcing a range of measures to help grow the economy including establishing Great British Railways, Great British Energy and giving new powers to metro mayors and combined authorities. I was also pleased to hear pay rises being proposed across the public sector by the Chancellor, given the need to drive improvement in our hospitals and schools which cannot be done without engaged and appreciated staff. I know that proposed changes to winter fuel allowance eligibility to help balance the books have caused some concerns; and while I welcome widespread promotion of Pension Credit to close potential income gaps, I will continue to raise constituents’ views with the Treasury as the policy changes are finalised.
‘Everybody has the right to protest peacefully but events clearly got out of hand over recent weeks with unacceptable levels of violence and abuse on streets across the country. I am pleased to see ministers talking directly to social media platforms about their important role in limiting the spread of misinformation and hate online, and I’d specifically like to thank Notts Police for its local response which was excellent.
‘With parliament in recess until 02 September, I’m spending August in Rushcliffe. I’ve got a packed diary of events and meetings, and will be reporting back on these in my next update in September.’
