**
------------------------------------------------------------

GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my South West Surrey update No.191. You will have noticed Westminster is a busy place right now! I announced that I was going to stand a second time for the Conservative leadership (and therefore to be PM) but despite mulling that over in my mind I also managed to chair a panel at a conference on Freedom of Religion & Belief and speak to a campaign group about sewage in the River Wey so local work is very much continuing.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER

MY PLEDGE TO WIN BACK TRUST Yesterday I put my hat in the ring to be Prime Minister ([link removed]) for two main reasons: firstly because the two big challenges the country faces are the international crisis in Ukraine and a possible recession: I am both an experienced Foreign Secretary and a former entrepreneur who has the knowledge and vision to deal both issues. But I also called out the problems in Downing Street long before the other major candidates and believe that choosing someone who has not served in the current cabinet would send a strong signal that we have listened to the anger of many voters. You can hear me talk about the need for economic growth here ([link removed]) and here ([link removed]) . You can also see my launch interview with the Telegraph here
([link removed]) .

SURFERS AGAINST SEWAGE As you will know I started a local green spaces campaign recently because I am very concerned about the amount of sewage being pumped into the River Wey and other local streams (over 86 hours worth in 2021 in Bramley, Godalming and Grayshott). Just before Boris resigned I had an Interesting meeting with campaigning organisation Surfers against Sewage ([link removed]) about the potential for designating parts of the River Wey as Bathing Water. Only 14% of the UK’s rivers reach a good ecological status and this would be one way to put pressure on water companies to do more in places like Godalming Fish Pass and Tilford Bridge. There would also be good health benefits given some figures suggesting around half of people who have tried ‘wild swimming’ have fallen sick. It is quite a lot of work to get the designation but I will be writing to Waverley to ask them to
look into the matter.

SPEAK UP FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION & BELIEF Last Tuesday, I was privileged to host a number of local clergy to a Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast, including my own vicar the extremely energetic and effective Simon Taylor from Busbridge. This year’s breakfast coincides with something very close to my heart - a two day ministerial summit on Freedom of Religion and Belief. When I was Foreign Sec I was astonished to find out that the single most persecuted group in the world are Christians - 250 million people then, now risen to 360 million people. But it isn’t just Christians: the wonderful Ahmaddiya community based in Tilford have suffered terribly in Pakistan where there is sustained harassment, persecution and murders which have seen their population drop from five million to just 500,000. As Foreign Sec I started a campaign to champion Freedom of Religion and Belief by commissioning and accepting the results of an excellent review by the Bishop of Truro. Three years on, an interim independent
report as to progress made has been published here, ([link removed]) and I chaired an excellent panel discussion organised by National Ahmadi President Rafiq Hayat with the Coptic Archbishop Angaelos and US Ambassador at large on the issue Rashad Hussain.

COVID ALERT The ONS reported that 1 in 25 people in England had the virus ([link removed]) in the week ending 29th June. As of 9am the Covid dashboard shows that we have had a total of 22,240,042 positive cases of COVID-19 with 197,635 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 41,580 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 334 confirmed deaths with an estimated 355 currently active cases in Waverley.

The key number remains 0300 200 1008 for anyone with pandemic related difficulties. Also please check out my full list of local groups ([link removed]) working to support vulnerable residents.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

SURGERY STORIES My first conversation was with a lady from Farnham who needs help with the way her son’s school is dealing with his ADHD diagnosis. It is an incredibly difficult situation and I said I would contact the school in the autumn if she feels his treatment plan is not being implemented properly. Then for something completely different, I spoke to a resident of Enton whose company is financing an aluminium plant in the UK. Currently all recycled aluminium is transported to Germany to be remixed with new aluminium and sent back to the UK - but doing that final stage in the UK would massively reduce the overall carbon footprint of the process, potentially saving one million tonnes (and create 10,000 jobs). Even better, it would cost the government nothing. It reminded me that green growth is good business contrary to what some suggest.

LOCAL BUS SERVICES Over the past couple of weeks, many of you have contacted me about children being let down by Stagecoach both at pick up and drop off times on the Chiddingfold to Rodborough School route. Not only is this dangerous, but incredibly disruptive to education. For some there is no alternative means of getting to school, as was mentioned on BBC South last week. ([link removed]) I’m aware that Stagecoach is citing a shortage of drivers as the root cause of this issue (due to Covid), but it’s totally unacceptable so I’ve written directly to Martin Griffiths, CEO and will update you further as soon as I hear back. In a related issue in Farnham, I’ve been hearing of Ukrainian school children distressed by having to attend school miles away from their sponsor household. I raised this with Katie Stewart, Executive Director for the Environment, Transport & Infrastructure at SCC, who has since told me that they are preparing to roll out a free bus
scheme in the near future, including for educational purposes.

DAN ELEY FOUNDATION Local charity, theDan Eley Foundation ([link removed]) , have opened a pop-up shop (open until 23rd July) at 69 Godalming High Street, to raise funds for disadvantaged young people in Waverley. The foundation was formed by the remarkable Dan Eley in 2012 following an accident which left him paralysed from the neck down. Since then, Dan has used his experience to help local young people aged 5 - 25 by raising funds to provide immediate support and assist in vocational and educational opportunities, which can lead to paid employment. The pop-up shop will sell a wide range of items, including; antiques, jewellery and furniture donated by antique dealers, with over 80% of proceeds going directly towards helping young people in the borough. The charity aims to raise £12,000 and will be open Mon – Sat 10am - 4pm, so do pay them a visit.

MINDSET SPORT & COMMUNITY KIT BAG Mat, from the rapidly expanding local community project Mindset Sport & the Community Kit Bag, is seeking out a storage facility/office space for short-term use. Mindset Sport & the Community Kit Bag take in donations of good quality, used (sometimes new) sport equipment and distribute it to those who need it the most. Their aim is to help more people get into grassroots sports, which in turn, has a positive impact on both their physical and mental wellbeing. They are about to agree a deal with Active Surrey, meaning they will have a donation station in every town in Surrey - a huge achievement! If you have a suitable space which you think may be of use to Mat, please do contact him at: [email protected]

AND FINALLY… Leadership race or no race we are still raising money for the Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre at the Royal Surrey County Hospital! ([link removed]) There are just under two weeks to go until I run the Cancer Research Race for Life in Guildford’s Stoke Park with Guildford MP Angela Richardson. A big thanks to those who have sponsored Angela and I so far but here is the link ([link removed]) for anyone who has not yet donated and would like to do so.

As always, if you know anyone (a friend or neighbour perhaps?) who might like to receive this email, please do forward it on. Anyone can sign up here ([link removed]) to receive them and can unsubscribe at any time.

If you don't want to receive this email, please unsubscribe from the mailing list on the box below or let me know on [email protected].
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 MP and South West Surrey Conservatives, all at 2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road, Hindhead, Surrey GU26 6TD.

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

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
South West Surrey Conservative Association . 2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road . Hindhead . Surrey, GU26 6TD . United Kingdom