Merry Christmas

An issue a lot of you asked me about during my campaign for re-election was homelessness within Chippenham constituency. I have worked on this topic since first being elected in 2015 including sitting on the bill committee for the Homelessness Reduction Act. I have mentioned many times in the House of Commons our local charity Doorway and their fantastic work. So I am delighted that yesterday, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced funding of over £260m to prevent homelessness and support vulnerable people on our streets.

I am aware the problem of homelessness is multifaceted and complex and we need to keep progressing ideas that will help us try and prevent people becoming homeless in the first place. £200m of this funding is in the form of Flexible Homelessness Support Grants - FHSG was introduced in 2017 and means that local authorities can freely fund a range of housing options which are appropriate for specific needs. FHSG funding gives local authorities the tools to combat homelessness in ways that work for their area.

Where FHSG has been successful, councils are now spending 5 times as much on homelessness prevention than on temporary accommodation, treating the causes, not the symptoms, of homelessness, some have used FHSG to invest in support workers to work with families with complex needs to ensure they do not become homeless.

For the South West, our share of this extra funding is £15.6m and I will fight hard to make sure Chippenham gets it’s fair share to help those who find themselves homeless in our area.

It has been an honour to represent my home over the last four and half years and I must say a huge thank you for the privilege to continue to work for you.

Plus a massive thank you to all of my team of volunteers who have helped me over the last few weeks - including those who have pounded the pavements through some of the grimmest conditions. Thank you to everyone who has done their bit.

Together we have worked our socks off during this campaign and rest assured as your returned MP I will work my socks off for our community

We ran a positive local campaign which we can be proud of, one which will help us nationally to break the Brexit gridlock, honour the referendum result and allow us to get back to focusing on our NHS, education, environment and all the other pressing domestic issues.

So thank you once again to the 30,994 who voted for me. Now the hard work begins and I shall stand up for you - whether you voted for me or not - I will deliver for you. Click HERE to watch my speech at the election count.