Last week marked two years since the General Election. It’s been whirlwind, working to deliver change under an endlessly changing government. I’ve lost track of how many different ministers have represented the various government departments I’ve worked with!

By the end of next week, we’ll have a new Prime Minister, and I hope that he brings with him the stability needed to bring real change. With nearly 20 policy U-turns under Starmer, it’s hard to imagine it can be much worse!

Despite the turmoil, I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved in these two years.

I’ve worked hard to deliver for Woking through extensive casework – supporting local residents with an enormous range of issues – from pension problems, to housing, complex child support cases and more, it’s at the heart of everything I do.

I’ve also been working hard in Westminster, having already spoken in Parliament more times than my predecessor did in 14 years – and within that work I’ve had some notable wins! I thought I’d highlight three of them today...

Securing an unprecedented £500 million write off for Woking’s debt

Even before being elected, I knew that Woking Borough Council’s vast debts were going to be top of the agenda if I became the MP. I’m delighted that after many months of lobbying the Government finally agreed to provide support through a historic £500 million debt write-off.

This is the first time a government has ever written off an individual local authority’s debt before. We’re not out of the woods – there is still a huge amount of debt to contend with – but the government have conceded that more support will be needed in the future.

I’ll continue working with colleagues to ensure that the new West Surrey Council doesn’t start life on the back foot.

Improving protections for vulnerable children

Countless parents and guardians have contacted me about Surrey County Council’s failing children's services. These horror stories sadly come as no surprise. The safeguarding report into the tragic murder of Sara Sharif made it abundantly clear that she was badly let down by social services – and that change is needed to prevent something like this happening again.

I have repeatedly raised this with the Government, including directly with the soon to be ex-Prime Minister, and I’m pleased that they are listening and progress is being made. I’ve helped change the law so that people who are under suspicion of child abuse can’t homeschool their children to hide it.

More still needs to be done. We need national reforms, stronger early intervention, mandatory information sharing and tougher oversight of high-risk cases. I will continue pushing to strengthen services and improve funding to protect children now, not when it is too late.

Securing funding for Goldsworth Park Neighbourhood Health Centre

I’m also pleased to have helped secure funding for a new Neighbourhood Health Centre in Goldsworth Park. This money will see Goldsworth Park Health Centre expand which will increase the number and range of appointments available to patients.

Having a one stop shop of GPs, nurses, physios, mental health workers and much more is a great investment for Woking and residents. I will continue working with NHS leaders to ensure that Woking gets the modern, accessible health it deserves.

Continuing to stand up for breweries and pubs

As many of us know, earlier this year our beloved brewery, Thurston’s closed its doors for the last time. This was Woking’s only local brewery, and whilst the owner - John - has managed to keep the Crown pub open next door, he’ll no longer be able to serve his own beers – much of the blame must fall on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

This tax means pubs and breweries are paying twice to get rid of glass bottles. If the government doesn’t abolish or amend EPR, we’ll continue to lose more of our beloved pubs and breweries if no change is made and I know that I am not the only one who is afraid of that future.

EPR has harmed countless local businesses, which is why I have continued to speak in Parliament against this economically damaging tax. I see how it is affecting the people of Woking. We have business owners struggling to survive and not only that but the loss of pubs and breweries is also a loss to our community. What is most astonishing is that our EPR tax is higher than anyone else in Europe!

That is why I have requested a roundtable meeting with other MPs and more importantly local business owners to come together to find the best path forward. I will not let the Government continue to be ignorant of the hardships of our local businesses.

Watch me question why our EPR tax is so much higher than Europe

Fighting for young care leavers

I want to ensure that every young person has the best possible start in life. Unfortunately, young care leavers are among the most vulnerable people in our society. Many have already experienced significant challenges growing up and, on top of this, often leave care without the financial knowledge and support needed to live independently.

The Law Society has found that up to 57% of care leavers struggle to manage their money and stay out of debt. That is why I successfully campaigned for both Surrey County Council and Woking Borough Council to exempt young care leavers from paying council tax, helping to give them a better chance of making a successful transition to independent adulthood.

However, much more needs to be done at a national level. I have pressed the Education Minister to ensure that local authorities have the funding and guidance needed to provide this support across the country – and I will continue working to make sure that every young care leaver gets the support they need to thrive.

Watch me press the Education Minister

High Street businesses across the country are struggling. From pubs to hairdressers, the cumulative impact of rising business rates, energy bills and increases to national insurance contributions means it’s never been more difficult for them to succeed.

Only a couple of weeks ago, West Byfleet lost its last bank – and Woking also recently lost its last Brewery, Thurstons. It’s former owner, John, called the demise “death by a thousand cuts”.

Add to this the inflation caused by Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis reducing customers spending power, it’s more important now than ever to push for additional support.

The Government needs to give business a break. That is why I’ve urged Ministers to look at Liberal Democrat proposals to cut VAT, including a 5% cut for pubs, the hospitality sector and, I hope, hairdressers.

Property taxes – business rates, council tax and stamp duty – are some of the most controversial and despised taxes in the country. We should look at property tax reform and genuinely reform business rates.

I’ve also urged the government to look again at the effectiveness of the high street rental auctions scheme. At the last count, Woking town centre had 112 properties that have been empty for a year or more. I’ve demanded the government reviews the scheme and works with local authorities to ensure they are empowered and have the resources to bring those properties back into use.

I am pleased that the Government have given support to some businesses, but the fact that they are tinkering around the edges shows that the whole system is broken. If the Government make at least some of the changes I am calling for, we can grow our economy, provide employment and training for young people, and ensure that our high streets thrive.

Watch my speech

Trump’s illegal war in Iran is not only unsettling the Middle East, causing death and destruction and pushing up fuel prices. It is also set to slash family budgets as Trump-flation is expected to hit mortgage bills by thousands of pounds a year.

Across the country, homeowners already face massive price increases. According to MoneyFacts, the average interest rate for a two-year deal has jumped from 4.84% at the end of February to 5.87% now.

Here in Woking, that equates to a rise of £217 per calendar month or a hit of £2,609 per year compared to what people would have been paying if they’d taken out their mortgage before Trump’s Iran war, as the effect of “Trump-flation” pushes up borrowing rates.

Unfortunately, it’s not just homeowners who are feeling the squeeze; renters are also likely to be hit as landlords are set to pass on rising mortgage costs to renters. In a cost-of-living crisis, to see such huge increases to mortgage payments while young people and families are trying to get on the housing ladder is a scandal.

The Government must crack on with a proper proposal to get costs down – starting with the Lib Dem plan to take 12p off the cost of every litre of petrol, and reduce train, bus and EV prices too to keep the country moving.

It’s completely unacceptable that hardworking households are being punished by a Trump-flation crisis that’s sending costs soaring. I will continue pushing the Government to ensure measures are put in place to minimise the impact.

Since I was elected as MP for Woking constituency in July 2024, housing has consistently been the top issue in my post bag – my team and I have helped with thousands of individual cases!

We clearly do not have enough housing locally, and the social housing that we do have is not of high enough quality. Every Woking resident deserves a safe, warm and dry place to call home. Unfortunately, damp and mould issues are two of the common problems raised with me.

This is in no small part due to the previous Conservative administration on Woking Borough Council unlawfully removing more than £4 million from the housing revenue account - ring-fenced, local authority accounts specifically for managing and maintaining council-owned housing -   which has resulted in a huge backlog of issues.

In Parliament this week, I asked the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook, what steps this government is taking to ensure that that does not happen again to add further woes to our social housing stock.

With local authorities under such severe financial pressure, it’s clear that they need support from central government. The Minister did confirm that the Government is taking steps to assist local authorities whose housing revenue accounts are under pressure.

However, more needs to be done. I will keep pushing the Government to provide local authorities with further support to improve their housing supply, so that everyone in Woking can have a safe place to live.

Watch my exchange with the Minister

With rumours growing that the Government may be preparing to row back on business rates increases, Will Forster, Liberal Democrat MP for Woking, has said that Ministers need to provide “urgent clarity” to pubs, hospitality and high street businesses. 

Mr Forster said that vital high street businesses are “on their last legs”, warning that action on business rates may be the “last and only chance” for the Government to save the high street. 

The beer and pubs sector is a key part of Woking’s economy, contributing £100 million and supporting more than 1,800 jobs. Woking is also home to the UK headquarters of brewing giant Asahi, alongside many independent and chain hospitality venues. 

Mr Forster has long championed the hospitality sector. He has backed the Liberal Democrats’ call for an emergency VAT cut for hospitality, opposed the Government’s Extended Producer Responsibility ‘glass bottle tax’, and held a parliamentary debate calling for a reduction in beer duty. 

Will Forster, Liberal Democrat MP for Woking, said: 

“This is the last chance saloon for our hospitality sector. From the cruel jobs tax to sky-high energy bills, I’ve heard from countless small businesses in Woking that they are on their last legs and urgently need support as they face higher business rates and a punishing employers’ National Insurance hike imposed by this Labour Government. 

“The Government has a chance to reverse its mistakes. It must respond by u-turning on business rates and announcing support for all hospitality businesses, including Lib Dem proposals that would immediately cut VAT from 20% to 15% for hospitality, accommodation, and attractions, boosting struggling high streets and slashing prices for hard-pressed families. 

“This is a pivotal moment for Ministers, they must provide the urgent clarity that these struggling businesses need. It is their last and only chance to get our high streets thriving again.”