Parliament is back which allows me to get on with the job of holding Government Ministers to account in person – on your behalf. This is particularly important now that we’re seeing a significant rise in covid across the country. While cases are still relatively low in our community, they are creeping up at the fastest rate in months. I urge you to continue to exercise caution through adhering to social distancing and wearing masks in indoor public spaces. It’s clear the Government is still struggling to get a functioning test and trace regime and this must be resolved with urgency if we are to avoid further lockdowns.

Since being back, I have questioned the Education Secretary twice on the challenges for our schools – focusing on the safety, as well as provision of laptops to ensure every pupil has access to learning from home when needed. I want to take this opportunity to thank school staff and leadership teams, including governors, for their work getting schools ready for reopening. We must exercise extreme caution, and I will be regularly checking in with schools, but there has been an enormous effort to get pupils back which should be recognised.

I must mention Brexit, as the topic creeps back into the news. The deadline for agreeing a trade deal with the EU is looming. The Government promised that it had an ‘oven-ready’ deal: that it would strike a trade deal by December and that is what must be delivered. This must mean free trade in goods and services, and maintaining protection for workers, consumers and the environment. A ‘No Deal’ would be seriously damaging for our manufacturing sector and I can assure you that I will do all I can to hold the Government to account on these promises, which are vital to the long-term prospects of our country.

If you wish to contact me about coronavirus, please check the Covid-19 section on my website -?you are likely to find an answer there.? Otherwise, I can be contacted by email at ‘matt.western.mp@parliament.uk’ or you can ring my office on ?01926 882006.

Congratulations to all students who recently collected their GCSE and A Level results. This year has been incredibly challenging for students, who have faced uncertainty and stress over their grades and futures. I wish you every success in the next steps, whatever you have chosen to do.

I was pleased the Government finally announced a u-turn on their grading fiasco: students for both A-Levels and GCSE’s will now be given the grades assessed by their teachers and college lecturers. This is a huge victory for all local students that have made their voices heard.

The Government had months to prepare, yet it ignored repeated warnings about the consequences of its marking system and gambled with the futures of these young people. Many local students have sadly lost their university offers; they now meet the grades but the places have been filled. The Government urgently needs to provide students and the Higher Education sector with clarity and a credible plan to resolve the chaos it has caused.

The next big challenge now is to ensure children can return to school safely in September. I hope the Government succeed, as we all want our schools fully functioning as soon as possible, but I’m afraid this most recent shambles does not instil confidence. I do not see any evidence of a proper plan for schools returning, let alone a plan B if covid cases begin to significantly rise again. Why hasn’t the Government used the last few months finding additional space for our schools to use to allow for proper social distancing? Will teaching staff have access to proper PPE? I’ll be pressing these questions when Parliament returns next week.

If you wish to contact me about coronavirus, please check the Covid-19 section on my website first -?you are likely to find an answer there.? Otherwise, I can be contacted by email at ‘matt.western.mp@parliament.uk’ or you can ring my office on ?01926 882006.

The scale of the jobs crisis is becoming more clear and I fear that the worst is yet to come. I have been warning for months that without further targeted support (through ‘sector deals’) to key industries that have been severely affected, more jobs will be lost unnecessarily. Locally, the automotive industry – which is crucial to our prosperity – is still struggling and the Government have ignored my calls – together with others – to implement an economic package to stimulate demand and protect jobs. The Government must act urgently to safeguard jobs before we see the worst jobs crisis in many generations.

These next two weeks are important in the academic year and I would like to congratulate students on receiving their A-level results and I wish you all well in your next steps. Unfortunately, many students will have seen their results unfairly downgraded. Awarding these results, after a disruptive year and the cancellation of exams, is inevitably difficult. But it seems that the way the Government has handled this will let down so many young people.

Saturday marks Victory in Japan (VJ) Day. It marks the end of the Second World War after Japan’s surrender 75 years ago. So many British and Commonwealth soldiers lost their lives many thousands of miles from home in a ‘theatre’ of war that involved so many nations but is often overlooked. I think of those who fought to liberate Malaysia, Singapore, and other countries in the Far East, many of whom died or were incarcerated in POW camps and caught malaria or suffered dysentery and cholera. On this occasion, we must remember those who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today and work together to ensure that we live in a peaceful society for generations to come.

If you wish to contact me about coronavirus, please check the Covid-19 section on my website first – you are likely to find an answer there. Otherwise, I can be contacted by email at ‘matt.western.mp@parliament.uk’ or you can ring my office on 01926 882006.

Matt Western MP calls on the Government to ‘step in’ and provide more investment to tackle the issue.

A report by NFU Mutual released today (4^th August) suggests rural crime in Warwickshire in 2019 was the 7^th most costly in the UK, and up 8.5% from the year before.

Responding to the figures, Matt Western, the MP for Warwick and Leamington said:

“Rural crime is costing Warwickshire farmers and rural communities dearly, and that cost is rising. I’ve been working closely with the police and the NFU to raise awareness of and tackle issues such as sheep butchery, which local farmers are increasingly facing. This led to the welcomed establishment of a rural crime unit within Warwickshire Police who are doing great work, but more must be done.

“I’ve been urging the Government to step in – they promised to meet with me last year to discuss what can be done, but they never did. I’ll keep on lobbying for more investment in rural policing to ensure our farmers can get on with doing their important jobs without the fear of crime.”

Parliamentary business is now on hold for a few weeks as MPs return to their constituencies. It has been a strange few months not being able to meet people freely or to visit schools, businesses and other organisations. Myself and my team will be continuing to work hard so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if there’s something I can help with.

Last week, I took the opportunity in the Commons to thank everyone who has helped the local response to covid-19 – especially our health and social care workers, local authorities, Mutual Aid volunteers, teachers, supermarket staff, farmers, bus and train drivers, food bank volunteers, and many more. I know it has been tough, but I am proud of our community’s response.

Despite the fantastic effort in recent months, it’s vital that we continue to take extra care in preventing the spread of the virus. Even though cases are currently low in our community, we’ve already seen rises in Leicester and elsewhere. Cases are now rising on the continent too as European economies open again, as many people will know who have been affected by the changed travel advice for Spain. Please continue to social distance, wear a mask in public spaces, wash your hands and avoid large gatherings of people.

Finally, I was pleased to take on the Myton Hospice Cycling Challenge – riding an exhausting (but enjoyable?) 111 miles last Friday. If 111 miles is hard to imagine, this is the equivalent of riding from Leamington to Southampton! At the time of writing I’ve raised 90% of my £2500 fundraising target so please help me get over the line by donating online at bit.ly/3gaNxW0. All charities’ fundraising efforts have been hit by the pandemic so please continue to give, where you can, to the many local organisations who continue to serve our community.

If you wish to contact me about coronavirus, please check the Covid-19 section on my website first -?you are likely to find an answer there.? Otherwise, I can be contacted by email at ‘matt.western.mp@parliament.uk’ or you can ring my office on ?01926 882006.

Matt Western, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Motor Group, has responded to the news that the automotive industry’s production has slumped to the lowest since 1954, according to the industry’s trade body, SMMT.

The MP for Warwick and Leamington has renewed calls for an economic package to support the industry by stimulating demand and protecting jobs. It comes as the sector has reported over 11,000 jobs have been lost this year.

Mr Western said:

“The figures released today are devastating and a true indicator of the real economy.

“Thousands of jobs have been lost, and there will be many more, I fear, once furlough arrangements fade away. Consumer demand is soft due to people’s financial concerns and the wider uncertainty – all this before Brexit at the end of the year.

“For months I’ve been calling for greater support for the industry. Our economic recovery simply isn’t possible if the automotive industry is allowed to fail.

“We need to see a good trade deal struck with the EU, but we also need an economic package which protects jobs and stimulates demand – similar to what has been announced for the hospitality and construction industries.

“Time is against us, and the Government can and must act to save the industry to save thousands of jobs and give our economy a chance at recovery.”

To see the figures released today, please go to smmt.co.uk/2020/07/uk-car-production-down-42-8-in-first-half-as-sector-sheds-more-than-11000-jobs-amid-coronavirus-crisis/

Matt Western has described the need for an ’interim and urgent’ investigation into the deaths, particularly in care homes, in Warwickshire as a result of Covid-19.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday (22^nd July) before the summer recess, the Warwick and Leamington Member of Parliament outlined his thanks to many in the community who helped in the effort against the virus. He described, however, that he had “real concerns about the failure of some and lack of leadership in recognising the threat of the pandemic”. Mr Western specifically mentioned the response to the crisis in our care homes, believing there was an “absolute blindness” to the issue.

To date, there has been at least 394 ‘excess deaths’ in Warwickshire care homes this year.

Mr Western said:

“[We have seen] 65,000 excess deaths. I believe we cannot wait for a Government inquiry”, he argued that “we need an interim urgent inquiry to take place, and I certainly want to see one in Warwickshire.”

The MP has previously called out local and national government for their responses to the social care outbreaks. Back in May, Mr Western said “locally, Warwickshire County Council were slow to prioritise social care in important Covid-19 response meetings – omitting the issue of social care completely – until I intervened.” He also said “Shockingly, Public Health England’s guidance in March said that care homes were “very unlikely” to see an outbreak of Covid-19. At the same time, the WHO declared a global pandemic and people were already dying in the UK.”

The Chancellor delivered his emergency financial statement last week. Britain should have had a Back to Work Budget, but the announcements fail to face up to the scale of the challenge our country faces.

Whilst I welcome the schemes to support young people into work, as well as the support for the hospitality sector, I have grave concerns about the implications for unemployment levels by not extending the furlough scheme for the hardest hit sectors. The ambition on the green recovery was too low, and there was absolutely nothing for the self-employed and struggling sectors like nurseries, universities, and most shocking of all, manufacturing. Without massive investment in manufacturing, particularly automotive, thousands of jobs could be lost, and our transition to a green future is simply impossible. A stamp duty tax cut would have been better spent building the council housing we desperately need to solve the housing crisis and ensure our homeless aren’t returned to the streets.

I have raised all of this in Parliament in the days since and will continue to push for a comprehensive plan to ensure we can protect and create jobs, and build a greener, better future.

Face coverings will be compulsory to wear in shops from the 24th July. The Government may have dithered and delayed over making a decision on wearing face coverings, but I haven’t. I’ve worn masks in public spaces since the start of the crisis as countries like South Korea and Taiwan have done so. They’ve had effective responses to the virus (they learned lessons from SARS.) The Government was too slow in responding to this crisis effectively and continue to show a lack of leadership. I urge Warwick and Leamington residents to please wear face coverings in enclosed workplaces, shops and busy public spaces to help stop further spread of the virus.

If you wish to contact me about coronavirus, please check the Covid-19 section on my website first -?you are likely to find an answer there.? Otherwise, I can be contacted by email at ‘matt.western.mp@parliament.uk’ or you can ring my office on?01926 882006.

The last couple of weeks have been crucial in beginning to re-start our economy. Earlier this week I participated in the debate on new laws that will allow cafes, pubs and restaurants to offer additional seating outside. I welcome this legislation – with some minor reservations – and wish all local businesses reopening on 4^th July every success. We must however ensure these laws do not make our high streets inaccessible for people with sight loss and other disabilities.

There is a duty on us all to prevent the spread of the disease, demonstrated by the uptick in cases in Leicester. I recently visited Warwick town centre and was impressed by the way that shops have responded with safety measures. Many businesses had concerns about the road changes in the town centre reducing footfall and I made representations to Warwickshire County Council on their behalf: I am pleased that the Council listened and that alterations have now been made.

The Chancellor is expected to provide a major economic statement next week. My party has been clear that this must be laser-focused on protecting and creating jobs, given that unemployment is likely to rocket. I’ve written to the Chancellor and Business Secretary asking to meet with me to discuss urgent economic measures for our automotive industry, which is already suffering significant job losses.

Elsewhere, the Government’s negotiations with the USA to strike a trade deal are well underway. As I sit on two committees which scrutinise the Trade Bill, I have seen first-hand the plans this Government has for this deal. Unfortunately, the Government has refused to put into law important safeguards to protect our NHS from increased medicine costs and further privatisation, and similarly refused to put into law protections on Britain’s high food standards. I am also particularly concerned for the future of the UK automotive industry.

If you wish to contact me about coronavirus, please check the Covid-19 section on my website first -?you are likely to find an answer there.?Otherwise, I can be contacted by email at ‘matt.western.mp@parliament.uk’ or you can ring my office on?01926 882006.

The impact of coronavirus on the UK has been extremely serious: we have the worst death rate in the world and economists are predicting we will be the hardest hit of all major economies.

The job losses announced by Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover are very concerning and will affect many people locally. I have been calling for greater support for the automotive industry throughout this crisis and have written to the Chancellor regarding further economic measures which could help the industry, while supporting the transition to clean vehicles.

While I have reservations about the Government’s timing of reopening retail, I am pleased to see our town centre shops getting back to business and wish them every success. I am also pleased the Government reassessed their decision to prematurely reopen primary schools without any plan for safely doing so. Last week, I asked the Education Secretary what happened to the laptops he promised schools two months ago to ensure all pupils can continue to learn from home – I understand Warwickshire County Council have since started receiving these. I’m also relieved the Government u-turned on their decision not to continue providing free school meals to our least well-off children.

Finally, but certainly not least, I sent a message of solidarity to the protesters in Leamington (where I urged for social distancing), who were using their voice to demand justice for George Floyd. Whilst I can’t condone public gatherings at this time, such moments of collective anger and purpose are often fleeting and must not be allowed to pass. Black and minority ethnic communities in the UK continue to face vast inequalities and we need urgent action to address this. As a starting point, I have added my name to the many MPs calling on the Government to immediately end the sale of riot equipment to the US.

If you wish to contact me about coronavirus, please check the Covid-19 section on my website first – you are likely to find an answer there. Otherwise, I can be contacted by email at ‘matt.western.mp@parliament.uk’ or you can ring my office on?01926 882006.