Happy New Year!
I hope you all had a joyful festive season surrounded by loved ones, and that the new year has started on a positive note. Although Parliament tends to quieten over Christmas and New Year, there are still plenty of things to share with you since my last update.
End of an Era
In late December, after 13 years on Medway Council—both in opposition and as a Cabinet member—I resigned. From starting as the youngest councillor in 2011 to becoming one of the longest-serving members, I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved.
This resignation coincided with those of my two Medway Labour parliamentary colleagues, Lauren and Naushabah. As a result, three by-elections are now set to take place on Thursday, February 6.
It goes without saying that I will continue to work with colleagues, albeit wearing a slightly different hat. Find out more information on the election here.
Our Rivers
When I entered Parliament, I never anticipated that one of my first issues would involve Novichok-like substances threatening honeybees and nearly 500 other harmful chemicals which are polluting our rivers. Shockingly, our River Medway—a chalk aquifer, no less—is now ranked as one of the most polluted rivers in the UK.
Action is being taken in the form of the Water (Special Measures) Bill which is currently on its long-awaited journey through Parliament. This bill aims to overhaul the regulation, governance, and special administration of water companies at a time when water bosses are pocketing billions without proper regard for the environment and long term sustainability of their systems. This bill seeks to hold these large water companies to account, ensuring that they are reinvesting large profits back into their systems, making them fit for 21st century Britain, while regulating the environmental consequences by cutting toxic and dirty runoffs into our rivers, including the River Medway.
Tobacco and Vapes
At the turn of the millennium, smoking was responsible for 20% of all deaths among adults aged 35 and over. Fast forward 20 years, and thanks to a lot of hard work, that number has dropped to 15%. While this is progress, it’s still far too high. In Chatham and Aylesford alone, this percentage equates to 2 double-decker buses filled each year, every year, with preventable deaths.
Now, working alongside my colleagues on the bill committee, I’m helping to review the Tobacco and Vapes Bill line by line, with one goal in mind: tougher action to protect people from the harms of smoking.
These plans include:
- Expanding the Indoor Smoking Ban to Outdoor Spaces: This would extend the ban to areas like school entrances and hospital grounds—keeping our children and vulnerable people safe from second-hand smoke.
- Tougher Regulations on Vapes: We’ll ban the advertising and sponsorship of vapes, and clamp down on the marketing of flavoured vapes, ensuring they aren’t targeted at kids.
- Cracking Down on Underage Sales: Retailers who sell tobacco or vapes to young people will face instant £200 fines.
- A Ban on Disposable Vapes: Coming in June 2025, we’ll ban disposable vapes under new environmental laws, addressing waste and pollution.
Video Games and Esports
I’m an active member of several APPGs (All-Party Parliamentary Groups), but the APPG for Video Games and E-sports holds a special place for me.
Most dread the first day back at work after a week or two of festive indulgence, but for me, the start of the year was a privilege. I had the opportunity to visit Mid Kent College’s Medway Campus and take part in a student-led debate on the future of gambling and regulation in the esports industry. The students dove into critical topics, including PEGI ratings, in-game currencies, and safeguarding measures—issues that will undoubtedly shape the future of this rapidly evolving field.
The video games and E-sports industries are growing at an incredible pace, and Medway has a unique opportunity to establish itself as a key player. Over the coming months, I’ll be working to bring these young people together with decision-makers and creatives from the world of video games and esports, ensuring they can be at the forefront of this journey.
Consistency Progress
Just before Christmas we talked about the much-needed partial resurfacing of Luton Road, which was met with a warm welcome on the doorstep. It’s great to see Luton Road finally getting the attention it deserves after decades of neglect, and Medway Council rightly continues to prioritise it.
Council colleagues have just finished reaching out to gather your views on proposed new road safety measures for Luton Road. If these proposals move forward as they are, we can expect to see traffic calming measures similar to phase 1, including extensions to existing junction build-outs and the continuation of the popular tree-lining.
Devolution Discussions
Devolution—the transfer of decision-making powers from Westminster to local areas—could mark a transformative change for Kent and Medway, but devolution is not new. Over the past two decades, we’ve seen Metro Mayors and Combined Authorities spring up in regions like Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, empowered to overhaul transport, housing, and economic development.
Across the country, the current system often makes little sense. One layer of government may be responsible for collecting your bins, while another entirely is tasked with disposing of that waste. This patchwork of responsibilities creates inefficiency, confusion, and restricts meaningful change and accountability.
Here in Kent, devolution discussions are advancing. Kent County Council, Medway Council, and districts like Tonbridge and Malling are working together on a combined authority proposal.
Devolution isn’t just about new powers—it’s about reforming local government to work for everyone. While devolution offers exciting opportunities, challenges remain—particularly in how resources will be shared across diverse areas and how new boundaries are drawn.
Read the English Devolution White Paper here (A word of warning: it’s 118 pages long)
Renters’ Rights
The 11 million renters in England deserve the security of knowing their homes won’t be taken from them without good reason. For too long, the fear of sudden, unjust evictions and spontaneous rent increases has disrupted lives and fractured communities.
The Renters’ Rights Bill isn’t just about legal protections—it’s about dignity, stability, and fairness for those who need it most. The bill has successfully passed the House of Commons, with its report stage and third reading completed on January 14, 2025. It is now progressing through the House of Lords, with the second reading scheduled for February 4, 2025. If enacted, the bill will ban ‘no-fault’ evictions and cap rent increases to once a year.
Assisted Dying
The journey to assisted dying is by no means over. A rigorous process will now begin, ensuring that the implications of such a sensitive issue are thoroughly considered. There is always the possibility that Parliament will determine the bill cannot be sufficiently safe and may choose to reject it altogether. This underscores our collective responsibility to listen, debate, and make decisions that reflect the interests of the country as a whole. I encourage all of you to continue our dialogue on this important issue.
Lastly
If you need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me and my team using the contact details below. I also welcome any success stories—it’s just as important for me to know what’s working as it is to understand what isn’t, so that we can share best practices across the constituency.
