HELLO & welcome to my weekly update no.330

Parliament is on short November recess but the BBC impartiality scandal has suddenly overtaken the budget to become the main story in Westminster. Locally we have had many moving Remembrance Sunday services (thank you Cranleigh for hosting me for a wonderful occasion) and the Hunt family had a lot of fun at the Chiddingfold bonfire.

WESTMINSTER WHISPERS

BBC SCANDAL Since the Telegraph’s bombshell report ([link removed]) last week that revealed that a Donald Trump speech had been selectively edited by Panorama, the organisation has been under huge pressure over its impartiality standards, finally leading to last night’s resignation by BBC Director General Tim Davie. ([link removed]) I know and like Tim but what none of us understand is why the BBC took so long to take action over something that was so obviously a breach of its rules. What’s so sad is that we really do need a strong BBC. In my book Can we be Great Again? I argue that the BBC has a vital role in combatting fake news as one of the world’s most trusted news sources, something Craig Oliver talked about on the Today programme this morning ([link removed]) . There is clearly a long way to go…

END THE SCANDAL OF ‘NORMAL’ BIRTHS One of my major areas of focus as Health Secretary was improving maternity safety. Some progress was made including reducing baby deaths by 20% ([link removed]) but a particular cultural problem that still needs addressing is the way pregnant mums can be pressured to have a ‘normal’ birth even when a C-section would be much safer. The Sunday Times did an excellent piece of investigative journalism ([link removed]) into this which was published yesterday and I contributed this opinion piece. ([link removed]) The solution? Of course women must make the final decision but it is vital they know all the facts before they do.

DON’T DO IT RACHEL! Horrible tax rises are almost certainly to feature in this month’s budget but ultimately it is a political choice not to tackle welfare and public sector productivity ([link removed]) which could have avoided them. That doesn’t mean I don’t have some sympathy for the enormous pressure Rachel Reeves is under, as I discussed with Nick Ferrari on LBC ([link removed]) last week. People will be angry if there are tax rises but even angrier if there is no discernible plan to grow the economy out of its current rut.

LOCAL LIFE

BROADWATER GOLF CLUB SITE Steve Farmer (along with many locals) wants to see Broadwater former golf course turned into a community sports facility in memory of his wife Laura who tragically died last year, but he’s very frustrated by the lack of progress. The project has already taken longer than the London 2012 Olympics from start to finish! Last week Waverley asked for more cash and pushed the completion date back to 2031 – super frustrating. I met Steve last week on site to discuss.
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CRANLEIGH REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY My grandfather fought in the Indian Army in WW2. Nearly all of his regiment lost their lives and when he got home to Godalming after 7 years he didn’t even recognise my father. Thank you to him and so many others for the freedoms we sadly now take for granted. And thanks to all in Cranleigh yesterday for a truly moving Remembrance Sunday ceremony - including an excellent sermon by Revd Erik Heemskerk on what we can learn from Solzhenitsyn’s Gulag Archipelago.
Cranleigh Remembrance Sunday
TO BUS OR NOT TO BUS It can be a nightmare getting to a medical appointment using public transport, especially if you live in Cranleigh, Bramley or Shalford, so on Friday I met the MD of Stagecoach Marc Reddy to talk about improving services to our local hospitals. We really need to understand more about potential user numbers on each route so next step is a meeting with Louise Stead, CEO of the Royal Surrey and Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council.
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SKILLWAY Last week I paid a trip to Skillway in Godalming, a brilliant local organisation that motivates and builds confidence in 13–16-year olds by teaching them woodwork and metalwork alongside other practical and life skills. At the end of their training students are awarded AQA Unit Awards to contribute towards their professional development. It was fantastic to see their training in action - thank you to Jack Tomes, Derek Pollard and the team for showing me around.

ALBURY VILLAGE HALL With Albury Village Hall seeming to be under threat of closure, County Councillor Bob Hughes attended the Parish Council and the public meeting last week. Fortunately, local residents have stepped forward to form a committee to run the hall, led by Julian Harley who runs the Albury Produce Show and Sandra Dennis a former Parish Councillor. Bob Hughes, the Parish Council and Michael Baxter of Albury Estates, who will all be part of this initiative to help achieve a solution that will work in the long term to protect and enhance this vital community facility.

CHIDDINGFOLD BONFIRE Spectacular bonfire night at Chidd…and perfect weather! Thanks to all the brilliant volunteers who make this such a fabulous, friendly and fun evening…and well done to St Mary’s for once again doing a rather unusual guy in line with the village tradition!
FIRESIDE CHAT IN HOLMBURY ST MARY There are still a few places left at The Royal Oak in Holmbury for my fireside chat with locals and visitors on Friday 21st November 6-8pm. I’ll be discussing my Book, Can We Be Great Again? as well as taking questions from attendees. Contact Jonny at the pub for tickets ([link removed]) and more information.

CASH 4 CLUBS is a small grants scheme for community sports clubs. In 2026 they will have £500,000 to help 250 grassroots sports and community clubs across the UK. Grants of up to £2,000 are available to clubs and organisations to help keep adults engaged with sport. We need people doing sport, not watching screens! So for more info or to apply for a grant click here ([link removed]) .

JOIN ME Want to get more involved with my brilliant election-winning team locally? Email me at [email protected] to help support our work in our community. If you would like more regular updates of my work locally and nationally, do follow me onFacebook ([link removed]) ,X (Twitter) ([link removed]) ,[link removed] orInstagram ([link removed]) (although email me rather than comment for a guaranteed reply.)

Knocking on doors in Ash Vale last Friday

AND FINALLY RHS Wisley is planning its most spectacular tulip displa ([link removed]) y next spring - gardening teams are busy planting over 100,000 tulip bulbs ([link removed]) right now. But in the meantime their always wonderful Christmas Wisley Glow opens on 21st November - click here ([link removed]) for further details or to book. Always a family favourite!

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