This week, I’d like to use this space to update you all on a number of issues, campaigns, and progress I’ve been working on. First, I was very happy to offer my full support to my Liberal Democrat colleague Roz Savage, and her Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill she will champion in Parliament. I was very glad to see Roz pick such a worthy cause for hers, because as all of us have the privilege to experience firsthand down here in Cornwall, nature offers so many truly wonderful additions to all of our lives, and alongside the climate, should be protected at all costs. I wish her the best of luck with her Bill, and fully commit to standing behind her at every stage.

I was also very excited to once again attend a Cornwall Chamber of Commerce meeting, this time held in Bude. I met with the CEO, John Brown, and met so other many members who voiced their opinions, concerns, and perspectives to me about running businesses in Cornwall. Businesses of all types will remain among my top priorities as your MP, so it was a pleasure to visit the site of Bott UK (also in Bude) and have a tour of their factory, following a brief Q&A at the chamber meeting.

I also held another telephone surgery this week, this time from my office up in Westminster, to hear directly from constituents. It was a delight to hear from so many constituents, and as always turned out to be a truly productive session. These telephone surgeries will be happening regularly, alongside my in-person surgeries (held at various towns and villages across the constituency). The best way to stay updated with the dates and times of these is to keep an eye on my Facebook page (just search ‘Ben Maguire MP’), where the details are routinely posted. These will be by appointment only, so my team will help you get booked in ahead of time if you’re wanting to speak to me face-to-face.

I was also very pleased this week to officially announce my election to the Home Affairs Select Committee. I’ll be using this opportunity to further hold the Labour government to account - now with a specific focus on Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, and her department of the Home Office - even more than I am already. My focus will be on law and order, security and terrorism, community policing, tackling rural crime in areas like North Cornwall, and much more. I can’t wait to get started with this role, attending committee meetings and productively scrutinising the government’s policies and work alongside many other colleagues.

That’s all for this week - but, as always, feel free to drop me an email at [email protected] if you’re ever looking to get in touch, or write to me at: Ben Maguire MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. I very much look forward to hearing from you.

Ben Maguire

Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall