This week in Westminster has been extraordinary. MPs across the House have come together, united in preventing the Prime Minister from forcing through a “catastrophic” No Deal Brexit. 

Parliament passed a Bill that will legally require the Prime Minister to seek an extension to the Brexit process if the Government cannot secure a deal with the EU. This wouldn’t be a problem for the Government if they were being honest about seeking a deal with the EU. However, they have no interest in delivering anything other than a No Deal. Not even Johnson’s brother can trust him. Nor the 21 other MPs who he removed from the Conservative Party including Churchill’s great-grandson. Remember, in July Johnson had claimed the chances of a No Deal Brexit “were a million to one”. 

Johnson then tabled a motion for a General Election – after claiming just days before that this wasn’t what he wanted. MPs across the House, myself included, voted against it. With the 31st October Brexit deadline on the horizon, our primary focus must be on restoring Parliament and bringing the Brexit process back under democratic scrutiny and control. I and Labour colleagues will support an election once we can be sure a No Deal Brexit has been avoided. 

Locally, at long last, Conservative-led Warwick District Council has ceased its arrangement with private sector partners PSP Warwick to deliver proposed new Council offices. This has only come about because of public outrage and my petition. I have written to the Council under a Freedom of Information request asking them to disclose how much taxpayer money has been wasted in its dealings with PSP Warwick. 

However, the council is yet to commit to scrapping the council offices project entirely. I have been consistently vocal against the move which residents tell me is an unnecessary vanity project and which would be so damaging to our town centre and the local economy. I will continue to campaign against their relocation project, regardless of PSP Warwick’s involvement. 

As ever, I can be contacted by email at ‘matt.western.mp@parliament.uk’ or you can ring my office on?01926 882006.  

This week and next will be some of the most important for our young people as they receive their A-level and GCSE results. Together with their amazing teachers, they will have defied the odds given the shocking £244 per pupil cuts that state schools in Warwickshire have suffered. I wish them all well.  

May I also wish a Happy Eid Mubarak to everyone who has been celebrating the festival of Eid Al Adha. 

Elsewhere, the new Prime Minister appears to be hell–bent on undemocratically forcing through a ‘No Deal’ Brexit against the wishes of Parliament. As I’ve said repeatedly since I was elected, it would be a catastrophe. This week Michael Gove, who is heading up the Government’s no deal preparations, has been told by his civil servants that a significant increase in food prices is inevitable in the event of a no deal. The Government should not be making its citizens poorer, especially at a time when essentials like fuel are already creeping up in price. He has also been told that the Government’s plans for no checks at the Northern Irish border would be unsustainable, a situation which risks the delicate peace there. 

Mr Gove has said the Government will spend ‘whatever it takes’ to prepare for no deal, now budgeted at £6.3 billion. Is this more important than our children’s education or investing in our hospitals? You be the judge. And if you find yourself walking past another rough sleeper in our town centres, just figure this: that sum of money would be enough to fund around 60,000 council homes. 

On a more positive note, I was delighted to attend the amazing Art in the Park event held in Jephson Gardens the weekend before last. Some 40,000 people were expected to attend and I was pleased to bump into many of you. The event, which is just six years old, is a fantastic showcase of the creative talent we have across our wonderful region. Well done to everyone involved. 

As ever, I can be contacted by email at ‘matt.western.mp@parliament.uk’ or you can ring my office on?01926 882006.? 

On Sunday I’ll be fundraising for Myton Hospice in a 50km cycle ride. If you’re able to sponsor me I’d really appreciate it. Please donate online at justgiving.com/fundraising/matt-western17

Elsewhere, Boris Johnson is now Prime Minister. There is widespread concern about his appointment, even among Conservative MPs.

He was a poor Foreign Secretary and has no mandate to push through a disastrous No Deal Brexit. Johnson’s first policy announcement in the leadership contest was to give the wealthiest in society an income tax cut. In pursuit of a trade deal with Trump, this government risks selling off this country’s national treasure. We do not want to see US corporate involvement in our NHS.

The country needs a change of Government that will work to heal divisions, rebuild the economy and reverse the damage caused by years of austerity. Johnson’s Government will do the opposite.

In other news, I am delighted to have been elected as the new Chair for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Electric Vehicles. Chairing this will give me the opportunity to sink my teeth into two areas I have long been passionate about: the climate crisis and the automotive industry. Having worked in the industry for over 25 years and now proud to represent some of the UK’s leading car manufacturers in our region, I am confident I will be able to steer the APPG to a position to influence government policy.

Last week I enjoyed the Warwick Beer Festival held in Pageant Gardens behind the Court House. Organised by the Court Leet, it is a terrific event and made even better by the new location. On Thursday, I had the pleasure of watching Billy Bragg play at Warwick Folk Festival 2019 – its 40th year! Thanks go to Dick Dixon, John Plumb and every one of the volunteers who help make this one of the leading festivals across the UK.  Finally, on Saturday, I was delighted to join thousands of others for the annual Smith Street Party.

As ever, I can be contacted by email at ‘matt.western.mp@parliament.uk’ or you can ring my office on 01926 882006.

THIS week marks the end of the academic year for most of our schools. I’ve spoken several times recently in the commons on the topic of education cuts. I questioned the prime minister about 18-year-old constituent Sian and her fellow students who have been teaching themselves A level German for the last two terms, due to cuts to the school’s teaching staff. Our primary schools are also facing a crisis. One in south Leamington has lost almost £650 per pupil. Similarly, a school in north Leamington has had to cut £570 per pupil and six teaching assistants. In Whitnash, one school has lost £540 per pupil. I commend headteachers, leadership teams, all staff and governors who are steering our brilliant schools through these challenging times. I want to see the next Labour government invest in a National Education Service, ending Conservative cuts to our schools and increasing per pupil funding in real terms.

I was pleased to attend the Federation of Small Business’ annual small business engagement event last Friday to talk about our remarkable small businesses and to hear about their issues. I was also delighted to receive the Small Business Friendly award (Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull) for my work in parliament and the area. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and government must do everything it can to support them, whether through reforming the business rates system, offering business support and expertise, or simply providing the certainty they are sorely lacking currently.

Finally, I got on my bike for the Buwan Kothi International Trust’s (BKIT) annual charity cycle last weekend. For the past 13 years, BKIT have raised over £70,000 for the Gilly Mundy Memorial Community School in Haryana, North India. Former Labour councillor Mota Singh started the school in memory of his late son Gilly. It is an extraordinary achievement and through his dedication the school continues to flourish. If you donated, thank you.

LAST Saturday was Armed Forces Day and I was pleased to be able to attend the event held at St John’s Museum in Warwick. A good number of stalls featured including those for the cadets and Royal Logistics Corps based in Kineton.

The day is an important event in the calendar to celebrate the sacrifice and achievements made by the people who protect our country. It is also, however, an opportunity to reflect on how our society rewards their service.

Unfortunately in recent years our armed forces personnel have been badly let down. They have been dealt a real-terms pay cut for seven years running, Ministry of Defence housing is often in poor condition due to outsourcing, and it is difficult for armed services personnel to find places for their children in their chosen school when they must move for work. I believe there is a need for us to ensure fair pay, decent housing, support for forces children, and a need to give a voice to servicemen and women. We must protect our protectors.

I attended several other great local events at the weekend. Whitnash Fun Day is a good example of the community spirit thriving in our area. I was delighted to play my part in the judging of the ‘superhero’ float competition, won by Whitnash Beavers for their imaginative Batmobile float. A big well done to them and all the Brownies and Cubs from Whitnash, Warwick Gates and Bishops Tachbrook that took part. I would also like to thank and congratulate Coun Adrian Barton and everyone else who made the event happen.

This year’s SCBU Fest was another success. In the past year the organisers, led by Nicki and Lucy, have raised an incredible £30,000 for the Warwick Special Care Baby Unit, which I know is hugely valued in the area. The festival is a great way to raise funds, while providing a fun day of family entertainment locally and I was pleased to get along.

Parliament is currently paralysed by the Conservative Party leadership contest determining the next Prime Minister. It is not an edifying spectacle nor is it helping us address pressing challenges. The candidates appear to be engaged in a race to the bottom on who will implement the hardest Brexit or the biggest tax cuts for the wealthy. The frontrunner seems unwilling to stand up to scrutiny from his own party, where on earth would that leave us as a country?

There has been little debate on the urgent issues of our time such as housing or climate change. I continue to raise these in Parliament. Last Thursday, I held a debate in the House of Commons chamber on a motion calling for the Government to set a target to build 155,000 social rented homes a year. Unfortunately, social rented housebuilding has dropped to all-time lows with little over 6000 social rented homes built in England last year. Our Council have only built eight social rented council homes in four years. I was pleased to pass the motion expressing the view of the Commons that we need a mass social housebuilding programme to fix our housing crisis.

I also recently held a debate on my proposals to limit the driving hours of local bus drivers, known as Rowan’s Law after seven-year-old Rowan Fitzgerald who lost his life in the 2015 Coventry bus crash. The Government is reluctant to legislate to restrict drivers’ hours, but I will continue to push for these changes alongside Rowan’s family.

Away from Parliament, I opened the station improvements at Warwick Parkway and Leamington train stations. I’m grateful to Chiltern for their significant investment across the area. I always receive very positive feedback on their customer service from passengers and use their trains to travel between Leamington and London myself. I also had the pleasure of attending the Leamington Peace Festival. This is always a fantastic event and it’s great to see it getting bigger and better each year.

As ever, I can be contacted by email at ‘matt.western.mp@parliament.uk’ or you can ring my office on 01926 882006.

THIS week marks the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings that turned the tide of World War II. On June 6 1944, 24,000 British, US and Canadian troops landed on France’s shores, catalysing the liberation of Nazi-occupied France and laying the foundations for an allied victory.

This week is an important time to reflect on those who tragically lost their lives in the pursuit of European peace. It is also a poignant reminder of what can be achieved when we stand united with our European neighbours and world allies.

Therefore, I find some irony in the fact that the anniversary coincides with President Trump’s state visit. It is extraordinary how some in the media are celebrating his visit, ignoring how he is undermining some of our most important global institutions. He is a misogynist, racist, homophobe with divisive rhetoric and isolationist policies. Simply, he should not have been afforded a state visit, at huge public expense. Few presidents before him have been afforded the same – not even President Reagan or Clinton.

His visit is predicated on the government’s utter desperation to strike a trade deal with the US, which would ultimately be on the US’s terms, leaving the UK open to exploitation and de-regulation. Trump himself declared that everything, ‘the NHS or anything else’ would be on the table in post-Brexit trade talks. Meanwhile, our same government is currently distracted by another drawn-out leadership contest.

Last week in parliament, I raised the need to make the Parliamentary Contribution Pension Fund fossil-free. Sadly, the largest holding in the pension fund is BP. As a county councillor, I proposed a similar initiative for the Warwickshire County Council fund, unfortunately, it never came to fruition. In our transition towards a carbon-neutral world the public sector needs to lead by example with sustainable investments. That’s why I’ve signed the divest parliament pledge to demand that we phase out investments in fossil fuel companies.

I joined the SEND National Crisis picnic in Leamington last Friday, which was part of a nation-wide protest against the government’s cuts to special needs provision. Since 2015, the government has cut funding for pupils with special educational needs by 17 per cent, while demand for these services has risen. Despite government’s claims that ‘austerity is over’, it’s clear that our most vulnerable children and their families are still suffering.

EU elections are taking place this week. For many these elections will be focused on Brexit and I have made my position clear: we need a confirmatory vote if we are to resolve this impasse and begin reuniting the country.

>However, we also now have an unexpected opportunity to vote for progressive candidates that will work at the heart of, and engage constructively with, the European Union. What we need is to reform Europe from within; we don’t need a group of MEPs seeking to destabilise Europe at a time of such considerable global uncertainty.

Elsewhere, I was pleased to speak in another debate on the legalisation of medical cannabis. It is extraordinary that six months after Parliament voted in favour of its legal prescription, families are still unable to access these medicines. Many children, including Alfie Dingley, suffer intractable epilepsy and whole plant cannabis products are transformational for treating their conditions; likewise, for so many others who need pain control.

Many of you will know I’m a keen cyclist and that I try to cycle around the constituency as much as possible. However, last week a handful of newspapers put out a story about me claiming cycle mileage expenses for trips to meetings and events in the local area (as I do also for car mileages) – insinuating I was somehow in the wrong. Not only are cycle mileage expense claims considerably less than car mileage claims, they are totally legitimate and entirely within Parliamentary standards on expenses. In total, I claimed £8.60 (all of which goes to charity together with part of my salary).

By coincidence the story broke in the same week that the worst air quality in the UK was registered in South Leamington! My cycling is not just campaigning but practicing what I preach and leading by example. Fortunately, this story has already raised awareness about cycle to work schemes in this area and I have received a lot of support from constituents and fellow cyclists.

As ever, I can be contacted by email at ‘matt.western.mp@parliament.uk’ or you can ring my office on 01926 882006.

The local Council Elections took place last Thursday including for Warwick District, the three towns and our parishes. The Conservatives, who have led the District Council for the last four years, lost ten seats and its overall majority.  Given that it is now under no overall control, I would expect the flawed new Council Office project to be scrapped. I will continue to campaign with all my energies against the move along with community groups and local residents. I still believe that my agenda is the right one – scrap the council offices project and instead start building social housing at scale and eliminate rough sleeping. It is astounding that not a single social home was started to be built in the District since 2015. We cannot afford another Council who will be complacent on housing.

After having requested a climate change debate a couple of times in the past couple of months, I was delighted to speak in the Parliamentary debate on the issue last Wednesday. The climate change strikes by young people and the Extinction Rebellion action has been so important: they have brought us all together to discuss this important topic. As a county councillor in Warwickshire, I was proud to propose that we make all our pension fund fossil-free. Sadly, that proposal was not accepted, but I wish all authorities would consider that step, because it is the sort of wholesale systemic change that we need. Likewise, I proposed a Warwickshire energy plan to introduce renewable energy for all citizens in Warwickshire. Yes, the challenges are systemic and behavioural, but we can address them. We just need the political will.

Finally, I recently met with the Chancellor to discuss the pressing issues facing the UK automotive industry. I urged him to change the way that diesel taxation works to help companies such as Jaguar Land Rover and enable a better, more managed transition to Alternative Fuel Vehicles.

I hope everyone was able to enjoy the fine weather of last weekend and had a Happy Easter. I was delighted to give one of the lent addresses at the beautiful St Mary’s Church in Warwick a couple of weeks ago and reflected on faith and how we educate. Then, the weekend before last, I was pleased to attend the Warwick and Leamington Gurdwara Sahib for Vaisakhi.

We are living through disturbing times, with terrible terrorist atrocities such as the attacks on the churches in Sri Lanka and the earlier one on the mosque in Christchurch. We are witnessing a growing religious intolerance and rising racism in our communities, we must work to ensure the freedom of worship and I have written to the Police and Crime Commissioner to ask what safeguards are in place in our communities.

Elsewhere, local households received their council tax bills earlier this month and council tax is being increased by an eye-watering £92 for a typical household. Yet, everyone knows our services are getting worse due to continued austerity. At a time when households are under huge financial pressure, facing large rises in food prices, energy costs and other utilities, the increases by both Conservative-controlled district and county councils fails to recognise just how tough things are out there.

We’re also in the middle of the worst housing crisis in our post-war period and Warwick District Council fails to build enough social rented housing, instead choosing to flog off precious land to the private sector to build unaffordable, unwanted private housing – as is the case with their offices move. If you have been following my column, you will know I have been at the forefront of protests against the office move. I took the opportunity to meet local residents again last week who protested outside the Town Hall.. Despite the council’s cynical postponement of the final decision until after the local elections, this issue will not go away and anger is only rising.