I’m very pleased to begin this weekly update on a high note: The controversial plans made by Conservative-controlled Cornwall Council to sell Cornwall Airport Newquay have been abandoned.

From the outset, I called for greater scrutiny and public consultation, yet the council pressed ahead with a deal that was doomed from the start. The result? Over £1-million of public money wasted by the council, all while we face steep cuts to essential services like Special Educational Needs and Adult Education. Neither local residents nor I, the MP whose constituency covers the airport, were properly consulted. It’s an absolutely unacceptable breach of public trust, and I’ll be pressing for answers about how such a significant project was botched so badly. Cornish taxpayers deserve far better.

On a proactive front, I introduced my Rural Crime Bill in Parliament this week. Rural crime cost communities across the UK more than £50-million last year, with many farmers here in North Cornwall among those bearing the brunt. Machinery theft, drug trafficking, and gang exploitation are just a few examples of crime inflicting real damage on our rural way of life. My Bill seeks to create an independent task force dedicated to tackling these issues head-on. It’s my hope that we can finally give our rural communities the protection they deserve.

Housing also made headlines in Westminster this week, where I voted in favour of banning no fault evictions. Despite the Liberal Democrats pushing the last Conservative Government to honour this promise, it never materialised. In North Cornwall, we all know how often tenants are evicted during their tenancy in favour of turning properties into short-term rentals or empty second homes. With over 20,000 people waiting for a home in Cornwall alone, we need far stronger protections and more affordable housing. Banning no fault evictions is a vital, if overdue, first step.

Turning to international issues, I welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza as a sign of hope after truly devastating events in the region. As Liberal Democrat Shadow Attorney General, I’ve been calling for the UK and other global leaders to build on this fragile truce. We must prioritise humanitarian aid, ensure the safe return of hostages, and work urgently towards a lasting two-state solution. Hundreds of you contacted me with heartfelt pleas for an end to the violence, and a path to genuine peace for both Israelis and Palestinians, and I want to thank each and every one of you for sharing your views.

Finally, I met with Devon and Cornwall Police on Friday to discuss policing in our communities. We talked about everything from rural crime concerns to general safety for residents, and I’m reassured that they share my commitment to making sure North Cornwall is a safe place to live and work.

If you’d like to get in contact with me, you can do so by writing to Ben Maguire MP at the House of Commons, SW1A 0AA, or dropping me an email at [email protected]

Ben Maguire

Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall