HELLO & welcome to my weekly update no.331

It’s just 9 days before the Budget and as someone who wanted this government to succeed (whatever we may think of its policies) it gives me no pleasure to report Sir Keir Starmer’s most disastrous week to date. Only Shabana Mahmood’s announcement today on asylum laws has given some sense of direction. Locally the biggest concern is some huge new developments in Tongham.

WESTMINSTER WHISPERS


KEIR’S CRISIS A cack-handed attempt by No 10 to squash leadership plotting exploded last week. I have seen No 10 ‘in a bunker’ many times and the first reaction is always to blame everyone else, mostly (but not always) completely erroneously. That’s what happened this week when Wes Streeting was accused by No 10 spin doctors of being ‘on manoevres.’ ([link removed]) The next thing is to say ‘if only we were better at getting our message across’ when the problem is always an issue of substance not communications. Instead of starting a circular firing squad, Sir Keir should look in the mirror: if he doesn’t know what he wants to do as Prime Minister (not platitudes like ‘grow the economy’ but how he plans to do these things), why should anyone else? However Shabana Mahmood does seem to know exactly how she wants to stop illegal migration - not surprisingly she is now being talked up as a successor ([link removed]
d-woman-of-british-politics-and-potential-successor-to-starmer-13471232) .

TAX TURNAROUND I told Matt Chorley’s Urgent Questions ([link removed]) that if you are going to put up taxes (which I would not), income tax is one of the least damaging ways to do it. But it appears that having led us up the hill, that is no longer on the cards ([link removed]) . It should be good news… but I have two big concerns: firstly will the tax rises we do end up with (still potentially £20 billion odd) kill off growth (see my Times article ([link removed]) today on our promising but vulnerable tech sector) and secondly the chaos in economic decision making is really not a good look internationally, as I told Cathy Newman on Times Radio ([link removed]) on Friday.

COVERUP CULTURE I talked about the need to reform maternity services in last week’s Sunday Times ([link removed]) and last week had a fascinating discussion about the issue with campaigner Kayleigh Griffiths on The Fourcast ([link removed]) , a Channel Four News podcast hosted by Krishnan Guru-Murthy. As health minister I put in place numerous safety initiatives and, although baby deaths went down 20% as a result ([link removed]) , there is still much work to do. For a fascinating insider's view as to why such initiatives don’t work as well as ministers hope, take a look at this brilliant new book by Lorin Lakasing ([link removed]) .
GIBRALTAR ROCKS I was at the Gibraltar Literary Festival over the weekend talking about my book Can We Be Great Again? It was a particular thrill as it was my first time in what is a totally remarkable city, calmly and impressively confident in its British identity. I have never seen so many restaurants proudly selling delicious fish and chips! Listen to my interview with the Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation ([link removed]) which covered BBC woes amongst other topics.


LOCAL LIFE

THAMES WATER INVESTMENT Although frustrations remain with the way Thames Water operates, good news that the £46 million Guildford to Shere 9km pipeline project is now nearing completion ([link removed]) . It will tackle long-standing resilience issues for residents in Cranleigh and surrounding villages. Even better, we now have confirmation (following numerous private discussions) of a £35 million investment upgrade to Shalford Water Treatment Works - the source of those power “brown outs” back in 2023. And a very welcome 5km pipe replacement along Guildford Road in Rowly will commence in January - where residents have endured repeated bursts and disruptions for years. These are important improvements,
but the job is far from done - especially in areas like Alfold.

YET MORE HOMES IN TONGHAM? Last week Taylor Wimpey announced proposals ([link removed]) for a major development adjacent to the Hogs back Brewery (known as the ‘Manor Farm development’), plus a further 900 homes proposed ([link removed]) between Normandy and Flexford just to the north of the Godalming and Ash boundary. The consequences of Labour's recent doubling of local housing targets are now hitting hard: Guildford's target has risen from 560 to over 1,100 and Waverley's from 710 to more than 1,400. Because neither councils can demonstrate a forward five-year housing supply (LibDem Waverley’s is just 1.3 years despite inheriting a five-year supply from their Conservative predecessor) we now have the dreaded “tilted balance” in place - which means developers basically win all their appeals. We absolutely need to
build homes for our young people, but Tongham, Ash and other areas feel they are taking more than their share. More to follow on this… but in the meantime thanks to Tongham Parish Council keeping me updated - and fill in Matt Furniss and Sallie Barker’s Tongham survey ([link removed]) to make your views known.

SEE IT SAY IT SORTED? I got the MD of South Western Railway, Lawrence Bowman, to come and see for himself how badly Ash Vale needs a lift. He hadn’t realised you have to go up two floors of steps. He said our bid was the most advanced…and now it is a question of ministers signing it off.
[link removed]
With South Western Railway MD Lawrence Bowman at Ash Vale Station. Click on the image to view the video.

SURGERY CALLS Today’s call was to a Chilworth resident about the waiting times at the level crossing in the village. He said that the queuing by as many as 35 cars meant many people couldn’t get out of their driveways and the pollution is horrific. Obviously the crossing has to be safe but I will get in touch with the MD of SWR to find out if there is any flexibility that could alleviate the issue.

UNAUTHORISED DEVELOPMENT I am receiving huge volumes of emails concerned about unauthorised developments across numerous sites. Thank you to the Pilgrims Way Residents Association for keeping me informed about the planning inquiry at Monkshatch which is at GBC Millmead office at 10 am on 25th November. The planning enforcement notice at Unstead Lane ([link removed]) (ref 25/EC/00341/APL) has also been appealed and the inquiry date is set for the 20th /21st January. I appreciate residents' concerns across a number of sites including at Stovolds, and am requesting a full meeting with the Head of Planning. In the meantime read this letter ([link removed]) I co-signed with 30 MP’s to demand urgent action from the Home Secretary on this issue.

SHAMLEY GREEN Work continues to find funding for the Arbuthnot Village Hall ([link removed]) redevelopment. With planning permission granted and £1,308,000 pledged that means just £232,000 left to fundraise. I will fully support a CIL application incoming soon but in the meantime please take a look at the proposals here ([link removed]) for this Arts and Crafts building. All donations welcome!
BUSINESS BREAKFAST? Did you know I host regular business-breakfast events at West Surrey Golf Club, where we invite guest speakers while enjoying a cooked breakfast? On Friday, 5 December, Andrew Griffith MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Business & Trade) will be joining us. For further info or to book email: [email protected]

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.)

AND FINALLY For those of you who have spotted the Russian dolls behind my desk here is an extract ([link removed]) of a very entertaining interview last week which explains all!

============================================================

This email and any attachments to it (the 'Email') are intended for a specific recipient(s) and its contents may be confidential, privileged and/or otherwise protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this Email in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone or email, and delete it from your records. You must not disclose, distribute, copy or otherwise use this Email. Please note that email is not a secure form of communication and that the Conservative Party ('the Party') is not responsible for loss arising from viruses contained in this Email nor any loss arising from its receipt or use. Any opinion expressed in this Email is not necessarily that of the Party and may be personal to the sender.

Promoted by Sean Donovan-Smith on behalf of Jeremy Hunt and Godalming & Ash Conservatives, all at 2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road, Hindhead, Surrey GU26 6TD.
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])
Copyright © 2025 Godalming and Ash Conservative Association, All rights reserved.
Membership

Our mailing address is:
Godalming and Ash Conservative Association
2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road
Hindhead
Surrey, GU26 6TD
United Kingdom
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
.
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
[link removed]