I’d like to take the time today to set out a few of my priorities for 2025 going forwards. The issues below are by no means an exhaustive list of my key focus areas this year, but are some issues that I campaigned on, have received lots of casework emails from constituents about, and are things that really affect our lives down here in North Cornwall.

The first of my top priorities will be to continue the fight against sewage dumping on our beaches, and into our rivers and seas. I arranged an urgent meeting with South West Water’s chief executive, Susan Davy, and laid out her company’s failings in black and white. I led a debate in the House of Commons and called for Susan Davy to resign, and my priority going forward will be to put pressure on the government to put a stop to this mess once and for all. My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I will be working hard to keep sewage dumping at the forefront of Parliament’s business agenda.

On the issue of housing, I spoke up for North Cornwall in Parliament to highlight our desperate need for affordable homes for local people. Far too many families are being priced out of the communities they grew up in, and I will continue working closely with councillors and campaigners to make sure real, affordable options are available for those who live and work here. I will also continue to push the government to re-look at the percentage of homes that should be designated ‘affordable’ when developers are planning and building.

Turning to our NHS, I’ve met with Health Minister Karin Smyth to discuss the severe lack of dentists accepting NHS patients in North Cornwall, the worrying cancellation of new hospital projects at Treliske, Derriford, and Barnstable, and the long wait times that many of you have faced in recent months. We cannot allow Cornwall’s healthcare to be degraded further than how the Tories left it, and I’ll press on with campaigning for more investment, fairer funding, and immediate solutions to the dentist shortage, and I’ll hold the Government’s feet to the fire to deliver on their promises.

Transport will also continue to be another huge priority for me, as North Cornwall is constantly overlooked and constituents are really getting fed up. I’ll continue to demand long-term road safety improvements at the Plusha junction, after the Tories’ repeated failures to solve the deadly accident blackspot. I’ve also called repeatedly for clarity on the status and plans of a Camelford bypass, because residents deserve to know what exactly is going to happen. In a similar vein, I launched my campaign for the Camel Trail to be extended to Camelford, to help both the environment and the economic development of the town, and will be pushing forward with this throughout the year. Lastly, I’ll be seeking further clarity over the future of Newquay Airport to ensure it remains a viable regional hub for residents, tourists, and local businesses.

Ben Maguire

Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall