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

https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/0a378fe5-0a46-4985-b945-4618db6cb14d?in=10:09:22

Fighting for human rights in Kashmir

Every human being should be entitled to the ability to protest for equal rights. Unfortunately, this basic human right is being oppressed in the region of Kashmir in Pakistan.

With Woking’s large Asian population, over 50% have ancestral links to Kashmir. I have been contacted frequently by many of the people about their fears and concerns. I’ve been working hard to urge the Government to engage in diplomatic dialogue with the Pakistan Government to help bring an end to this conflict, speaking out in the House of Commons and joining my fellow MPs in signing a letter to the Foreign Secretary to address these injustices.

Read more on my website

https://lnk.ua/azQkDjPXU

Watch me speak about this in Parliament

https://youtu.be/3e7_dVItnIw

Every human being should be entitled to the ability to protest for equal rights. Unfortunately, this basic human right is being oppressed in the region of Kashmir in Pakistan. Simple protests over the cost of electricity and flour have turned into violence, unjust arrests, and a region wide blackout. Even with the region’s people having been cut off from the internet and phone network it has been reported that about 200 people have been killed. Who knows what that number could reach when the people gain access again.  

With Woking’s large Asian population, over 50% have ancestral links to Kashmir. I have been contacted frequently by many of the people about their fears and concerns - that is why I have joined my fellow MPs in signing a letter to the Foreign Secretary to address these injustices. 

Not only is this affecting many of the residents of Woking, but this situation is something that I believe is my duty to speak out against - not only as the MP for Woking, but as a human being. It is vital that peace is found in the Kashmir region for the safety of the people of Kashmir and for the friends and family here in Woking that are worried about their loved ones.   

I have used my platform to address these injustices and put pressure on the Government to help resolve these issues. I started by reminding the Government of its moral responsibility to help ensure a free and democratic election. This would allow the Kashmiri people to choose their own governance, and put their human rights front and centre. 

Upon being pressured the Government has claimed that it is up to India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution. I have pushed back against this policy by questioning its effectiveness. Britain has maintained this neutrality since the conflict began almost 80 years ago and almost nothing has changed. That is longer than many of us have been alive! Surely, that must mean it has been an ineffective strategy.  

By maintaining neutrality we have been complacent in the injustices that have plagued the region of Kashmir. I urge the Government to engage in diplomatic dialogue with the Pakistan Government to help bring an end to this conflict. It is our duty to ensure the safety, freedom, and rights of the Kashmiri people - while it is my duty to soothe the worries of those in Woking who fear for their loved ones.  

Watch me speak about this in Parliament.

Protecting vulnerable children has been central to my work since being elected as Woking’s MP – whether that be improving child protection rules following the appalling murder of Sara Sharif or supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities. I feel very passionately about the need to protect our most vulnerable members of society.

This week, I’ve had the opportunity to show my support for vulnerable children across the globe at the Soccer Aid for UNICEF Parliamentary Reception. This event celebrated 20 years of Soccer Aid, which has raised an extraordinary £121 million to support children worldwide.

It was fantastic to hear about all the incredible projects this money has supported abroad – and I also got the chance to meet legendary former England, Arsenal and Soccer Aid goalkeeper, David Seaman.

The generosity shown by all those who donate is a testament to the incredible humanitarian spirit we have here in the UK – further evidenced by a showcase from UNICEF UK’s OutRight programme, which shares the views of hundreds of UK school children on international development. I’m delighted that this positive spirit has passed on to the next generation.

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.

Many Woking residents are understandably concerned about the ongoing situation in the Middle East. It’s extremely tense, unpredictable and already impacting our day to day lives. Whether that be through increased fuel prices or rising inflation; the impacts look set to continue for the foreseeable future.

My Lib Dem colleagues and I share these concerns; we have repeatedly called for dialogue and de-escalation to prevent the conflict spreading further.

Unfortunately, whilst the world’s attention is focused on Trump’s illegal war in Iran, Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Government have continued annexing land in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank – actions that will only serve to further inflame tensions.

Following Viktor Orbán’s defeat in Hungary, it’s expected that the EU will agree to take a tougher line on Israel. I believe this is an important step that could help push Netanyahu to reconsider his expansionist policies – and I’ve pushed the Government to join the EU in doing this.

Watch my speech

https://youtu.be/Yg8crEp0f6c

Many constituents have contacted Will to share their views and concerns about asylum accommodation. Below is the response Will has been sending to constituents who have written in on this matter, setting out his position and the Liberal Democrats’ approach.

The Liberal Democrats agree that the UK’s asylum system is broken. Years of mismanagement and neglect have left it in crisis. Wrap-around support for asylum seekers was cut by the Conservatives, a cruel and short-sighted decision that has worsened the situation for thousands of vulnerable people.
 
The Conservatives trashed the asylum system, triggering spiralling backlogs and the costly legacy of asylum hotels, while Labour has so far failed to get a grip on the crisis. The Lib Dems are disappointed that the Labour Government has responded to this rhetoric with counterproductive policies like the immediate suspension of family reunion pathways and reducing the move-on period for new refugees, rather than properly challenging Reform and the Conservatives.
  
This is a humanitarian crisis purposefully created by the former Conservative government. As a direct result of their decision to stop processing asylum claims, more than 90,000 people are now stuck in the Home Office’s asylum backlog awaiting an initial decision. Of these, over half have been waiting more than six months, and over a quarter more than a year. Thousands are living in unsuitable accommodation, unable to work or rebuild their lives, and many now live in fear due to rising protests and intimidation outside asylum hotels.
 
That is why we are calling for:

• The Government to declare the asylum backlog a national emergency.
• The immediate establishment of Nightingale processing centres to clear the asylum backlog within six months.
• An end to the use of asylum hotels by speeding up application processing so people aren’t left in limbo. Those with valid claims should be allowed to work, integrate, and contribute to society, while those without a right to remain should be returned swiftly.
• The lifting of the ban on employment for asylum seekers who have waited over three months for a decision.
• The immediate restoration of family reunification pathways for refugees.

 
Everyone deserves to live free from fear and discrimination, and we remain committed to treating all people with dignity, empathy, and respect throughout the asylum process.
 
The Lib Dems are calling on the UK Government to reject the politics of division offered by Reform and the Conservatives and instead build an asylum system that reflects Britain’s values of compassion, fairness, and decency.
 
Kind regards,
 
Will

Will Forster
Member of Parliament for Woking 

Will is grateful to everyone who has taken the time to get in touch. Hearing directly from constituents helps inform his work in Parliament and his ongoing engagement with the Government on issues that matter to Woking.