☕️ Another excellent 'Brew with Ben' event yesterday at Sea View Farm Shop (joined by local Cornwall Cllr. David Garrigan!) where constituents had the chance to ask me questions, hear about my work on their behalf up in Westminster, and chat about some of the priorities that matter most to them.
Lots of issues like parking and speeding in Delabole were raised, on top of some of my broader ongoing campaigns around NHS dentistry, sewage, rising fuel costs, and the Camel Trail extension - all of which I'll be raising in Parliament on their behalf in the coming weeks. 🤝
Thanks to all of those who made it - and keep an eye out here on my socials for details on future events like this, if you'd like to stop by! 🙂
🐠 Proud to be celebrating Cornwall's centuries-old fishing industry today as part of #Fish24!
It's a 24-hour social media celebration of the UK's fishing and seafood industry, highlighting an industry that has unfortunately been overlooked by government after government.
As the MP for North Cornwall, an area with a rich and proud fishing history, I've been championing our fishermen and their communities in Parliament, listening to their needs and fighting for a fair deal on their behalf.
I’m looking forward to meeting with the fishing community again in a few weeks' time (joined by the Chair of the DEFRA Committee, Alistair Carmichael MP) for a fishing roundtable here in the constituency.
Days like this are a great chance to shine a light on a (very important) industry that too often goes overlooked. 🤝 ⛴️
🚨📩 Today I’ve written jointly with Cllr Rosie Moore to the Chief Exec of Royal Mail, demanding urgent action to reinstate the postbox in Trelights.
My constituents were promised a replacement within weeks after the original postbox was removed from the village. We’re now more than six months on, and Royal Mail have still failed to action this urgent replacement.
For many older residents especially, this is having a huge impact on their day-to-day life. We’ve now demanded Royal Mail provide urgent answers, and set a clear date for reinstatement on behalf of constituents.
🚨☕️ REMINDER of my 'Brew with Ben' event tomorrow - at @seaviewfarmshopcornwall just outside St Teath / Delabole!
Come along to hear an update of my work on behalf of North Cornwall, ask any questions you might have, or just have a chat over a cuppa. 🙂
⏰ 5pm - 6pm
📆 Thurs 14th May
📍 Sea View Farm Shop
I look forward to seeing you there! 🤝
🚨〓〓 My North Cornwall constituents face a cost of fuel crisis.
With petrol & diesel costs having skyrocketed since Trump’s illegal invasion of Iran, the prices of everything from food to clothes have also shot up as a result. 📈
Cornwall just does not have the public transport system that big cities and other areas benefit from, meaning people here rely on their cars far, far more in our region than elsewhere.
We Liberal Democrats have called for an emergency 10p cut to Fuel Duty to keep Britain moving - alongside slashing the bus fare cap from £3 to £1, as part of our (fully costed) plan to tackle the fuel crisis.
I’ve received hundreds of emails from residents demanding action. Here’s what I’ve been doing about it so far.
🚨🚅 RAIL PLAN FOR CORNWALL: Exciting progress to share on bringing new rail lines to North Cornwall with the ‘Kernow Connect’ project! 👇
I have asked Cornwall Council to move this vital project forward with a feasibility study, and I’ve also secured a meeting with Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, to put the plans directly in front of the Department for Transport.
The plans outline a fully electrified line from Okehampton to Launceston, then onto Bodmin, before joining an electrified main line West further down into Cornwall. It’s a hugely ambitious project for the whole of Cornwall and the Southwest, with a target date of 2050.
One of my core priorities as North Cornwall’s MP has been transport (bus routes also need significant work!) and I’m determined to see that Cornwall, and the wider South West, finally gets the proper infrastructure investment that other areas have benefited hugely from.
Kernow Connect would provide a massive boost for our connectivity, unlock much-needed growth, and will crucially support a significant increase in freight capacity for the Duchy’s critical minerals industry.
A big step forward but of course there is a huge amount of work to progress this into reality!
Looking forward to keeping you all updated as progress unfolds.
- Ben ✍️ 〓〓
🗓️ Happy one year anniversary to all our newly elected (and re-elected) Cornwall Councillors! 🎉
Last year North Cornwall elected eleven hard-working Lib Dem Councillors to represent them at County Hall - and what a year it’s been! 🙂
They've already had lots of successes: battling with housing developers to deliver vital infrastructure, holding them (and South West Water) to account - and passing crucial, cross-party motions with unanimous backing, on important issues like NHS dentistry and more.
I'm incredibly proud to work closely with such a brilliant team, on the issues that matter most to North Cornwall’s residents 🔶 🙌
📚 It was a real pleasure to meet the team behind @storybookdads , a wonderful charity that helps children maintain relationships with their parents in prison via storytelling.
Having started at HMP Dartmoor over twenty years ago, when stories read by prisoners were sent to their families on CDs and DVDs, they’ve now expanded their brilliant work to almost every prison in the country.
Recently they’ve released a phone app to increase contact between parent & child, adding in to their amazing work in keeping family ties alive (which has shown to be incredibly important in reducing reoffending).
🍔 ☀️ Great to stop by North Cornwall’s @native.burger in Bodmin for lunch today. Can’t beat a Phillip Warren burger 👌🏼
#bodmin #localbusiness #shoplocal
🚨📉 With the Tories and Labour having completely collapsed right across the country in this week’s local elections, it’s clear that the Liberal Democrats are now the main opposition fighting against NIGEL FARAGE and Reform. ❌
Electing Reform comes with chaotic consequences: just look at the Reform council group here in Cornwall…
Of the Reform Councillors elected last May, SEVEN have already resigned or defected in the first year alone - including their leader and TWO successive deputies. Those defecting have cited Reform’s total lack of focus on Cornish issues. 👎
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrats will get on with the job of tackling the cost of living, making our NHS fit for the future and ensuring we can defend our country against foreign adversaries.
🇸🇩 CRISIS in Sudan: I recently raised the catastrophic situation in Sudan directly with the Foreign Secretary in Parliament. Many of you have asked me to make sure Sudan is not forgotten.
I highlighted that an estimated 34 million people are in humanitarian need & affected by famine (with millions displaced from their homes) due to the ongoing civil war. I pressed the Government on reports that aid deliveries are being obstructed by the Sudanese Armed Forces and opposing RSF - which is severely worsening an already disastrous situation.
The UK CANNOT continue to look away while millions suffer, and the Government must do much more to work with international allies on the worsening situation. Sudan cannot be forgotten. 👇
🚨📚 STATEMENT ON LAUNCESTON COLLEGE / ATHENA LEARNING TRUST NEWS
Today it was announced that the CEO of Athena Learning Trust, Ben Parnell, will be stepping down from his position.
I have had a number of concerns raised with me from worried parents and pupils at Launceston College, specifically around SEND and the culture of discipline and other systemic issues, which I have raised with the senior management team.
We have another meeting coming up next week with senior representatives from Athena Learning Trust, as well as officials from the Department for Education. This follows a meeting I had directly with the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson about these issues.
I’ve continued working constructively with Launceston College, and the Trust, in the best interests of staff and students alike - but these serious concerns around suspensions and other matters have persisted.
While I am pleased that Athena is now looking for new leadership, it is extremely important these serious concerns are properly addressed. I’ll continue to work collaboratively cross-party with other Councillors and MPs on these important issues.
- Ben ✍️ 〓〓
