I have enjoyed being out and about all across Chelmsford, knocking on doors and talking with people. It’s also been a chance to catch up with so many people I have been able to help over the past seven years and find out how they are doing now.
People know that I work hard for Chelmsford. Seven years ago, when I first stood to be Chelmsford’s MP, I promised to use my business experience to improve Chelmsford's infrastructure.
Today, we can see that the new railway station is nearly completed, our new medical school is training doctors for our local NHS for the first time in Essex’s history and the roof is on at the new GP Mega Surgery in North Chelmsford. This will take pressure off GP practices all across the city.
There are other projects that I have helped to set in motion. We have raised the funding for a new Army and Navy Junction, two new special schools for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities are being built and there are plans to entirely rebuild three of Chelmsford’s primary schools. Next year, when we roll out the new electronic patient records at our local hospitals, our GPs and specialist teams will be able to communicate about individual patients more directly. This will reduce delays and help lower waiting lists further. I would love the chance to see all these projects through.
This week was joined in Chelmsford by my friend, Tom Tugendhat, an army veteran who served in both the Iraq war and Afghanistan. Tom is currently the UK’s minister for Security. Safety and Security matters to me, it is personal. I lost my dad in an avoidable accident when I was just 10 years old. I never want other families to go through what we did at that time. Afterwards, I was lucky to have a loving stepfather who had devoted his working life to the Royal Navy, from D-Day to the Falklands war. I thought of him during the very moving D-Day memorial service in Chelmsford Cathedral and all he taught me about serving others, and the importance of peace and freedom.
I took Tom to the City Centre where we discussed the work that I have done alongside our Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to increase the numbers of police officers in Essex to record levels. I am focused on getting them out on the streets to tackle the issues that matter locally. Anti-social behaviour and crime levels have been dropping in Chelmsford. We have achieved a lot, but there is more to do.
Tom and I met with students from Chelmsford College who stopped for a chat. Some of them were studying the new T-levels which I am proud to have helped introduce nationally. They were pleased to hear of the Conservative plans for a further 100,000 Apprenticeships each year.
They also asked us about the plans for a new modern National Service. We explained that no young person would be conscripted into the armed forces, this would be optional for those that want to serve in this way. Others would be offered a range of options to spend some weekends volunteering, opportunities to learn new skills and help build their experience and CVs. Once we discussed this in detail, they were excited by the idea.
I spoke with Tom about the importance of border security to many local people on the doorsteps in Chelmsford. Both he and I have voted over 130 times to strengthen our border controls and tackle illegal migration. New powers that have been given to our Border Force make it easier for them to remove people who came here illegally.
I know times have been very tough for many people over the past few years. The pandemic and the economic situation following Russia’s war in Ukraine have put a deep strain on many people’s finances.
I have always worked to have good public services, but I also know that Governments must be careful with tax-payers money. It should not be wasted. One of the best ways a government can help people financially is to take less of their money in tax.
The reduction in National Insurance is already starting to help people’s pay packets, I’m pleased to stand on a manifesto that is committed to reducing this further. Our plan to put a triple lock on thresholds for pensioners will help older people, and the plan to expand the stamp duty exemption for first time buyers will help many younger people onto the property ladder. Hundreds of families are already starting to benefit from the expansion of free childcare and our plans to expand child benefit will help many more.
In the Chelmsford constituency, every school is now Good or Outstanding. We have record levels of jobs, low unemployment. We have a lot to be proud of.
What happens next, is up to you. Those of you who are postal voters may be making your own decision in the next few days.
I’ve always believed that an MP should be open and transparent with those they represent. Those who have read this weekly diary page over the years, know that I always work hard for Chelmsford. As a result, I have been able to deliver on the promises I made to this wonderful city at the last General Election. However there is much more to do, and I would be honoured to have the opportunity to keep fighting Chelmsford’s corner for you.
