Hi everyone - I know I haven’t sent an e-news for a while but now the dust has settled I shall send them from time to time. I sent these emails for years before I was an MP and I plan to update you on my work and views having left Parliament. However, if you want to unsubscribe then please hit the unsubscribe button or email back and I will do it for you. Over the summer I have enjoyed going to events and very much staying part of our community. It’s been hard because I loved helping residents and our area so much - so I’ve found adjusting quite an adjustment after over 9 years. The plus side has been getting loads of time with my son and husband - who probably didn’t even think I could make meals from scratch, and we have had some lovely family days out. We never had the time for this before and seeing my son’s face light up has been a real treasure. I am still a little miffed that they were such strict rules at our count, and they wouldn’t let me do a speech. Strangely ours stipulated only the winner could speak and I still wish I’d had the chance to thank everyone using that platform. I was there for about two hours before the declaration and thanked volunteers, but it wasn’t quite the same. However, I do want everyone who voted for and/or helped me to know how very much I truly appreciate it. Whilst we were close, we weren’t close enough and that’s the nature of the first past the post system that I will always defend. We will all have our opinions of the first few months of this Labour government but mine have been consumed with worry for our pensioners. They now face a harsh winter without the money many of them rely on to heat their homes. I don’t think this is fair or right nor were Labour up front about it in the election. I always have and always will champion the need to protect our pensioners and give them the dignity they deserve (and we would all expect) in their retirement. I’m the first to acknowledge that the Conservative government made many mistakes and faced a number of challenges. However, this government is certainly making mistakes from the off and creating some long term challenges which I intend to call out to help ensure our area doesn’t suffer any more than it has to. Over the last few months my team and I have been busy contacting active casework and asking if they would like to be passed over to their new MP. We have also been sorting the office - I had gone through all the hoops of getting a shop in Melksham (opposite Greggs) and sadly we missed formally opening it by a week or so because of the early election. If you ever want to contact me please do on [email protected] | 
