My Private Members Bill
Today I am announcing my Private Members’ Bill, ahead of its first reading in the House of Commons next week, and I’d like to take this opportunity to give you the inside story.
Just over a month ago, on 5th September, rather like the National Lottery or FA Cup draw, a white-gloved Deputy Speaker drew 20 numbered balls out of a glass bowl. This was to decide which MPs would get the opportunity to try to make a new law. My number was 396 and was the third one drawn, behind Kim Leadbeater, younger sister of the murdered MP Jo Cox, and Max Wilkinson, new Lib Dem MP for Cheltenham. Many MPs go through an entire career without being drawn in the ballot, so I feel incredibly fortunate, and determined to make the most of this chance to potentially get something significant changed.
The ballot result was barely announced when my email inbox exploded with hundreds of constituents, campaigners, and organisations, all wanting me to support their cause. I wish I could have taken on all of them, but I had to pick just one.
Fortunately, one issue far outnumbered all others and was in perfect alignment with my own heart, and with the future wellbeing of the beautiful South Cotswolds.
As most of you know, I have been an environmental campaigner for the last twenty years. This included rowing solo across three oceans, to raise awareness of the growing ecological crisis (right). While I was out there, alone in the middle of the ocean, I witnessed the beauty and strength of the natural world first hand. I realised how utterly reliant we are on the health of our planet, and how vulnerable we are to the Earth’s changing climate.
My determination to advocate for a more sustainable future was a significant factor in my decision to stand for Parliament. Now that I am an MP, I want to do everything I can to get to the root causes of the intertwined climate and nature crises.
So it will come as no surprise that my choice is the Climate and Nature Bill (CAN). The Bill has the potential to make the UK a world leader in tackling the climate and nature crisis, delivering a comprehensive, joined-up plan that is (finally) aligned with what the science says is necessary. It can pave the way for a truly fair transition, while ensuring that citizens have a real say in the way forward.
I’m excited about this chance to champion our natural environment in Parliament, and to build backing from MPs of all parties for this vital change. The CAN plan had lots of MP support in the last Parliament but did not progress. But because I’ve topped the Private Members’ Bill ballot, we finally have a chance to take the CAN Bill all the way through the Commons and the Lords, and then—we hope—off to Buckingham Palace for the King to sign it into law.
This is a chance to make a big change for the better. I hope you would will support me in my endeavours to put the South Cotswolds and the UK as a whole on track to a cleaner, more nature-rich, fair and sustainable future.
MAIDEN SPEECH: This has been a big week all round. I was due to give my maiden speech on Monday evening during the debate on the NHS and the Darzi Report. Unfortunately some MPs talked for longer than expected (quelle surprise!) and we ran into the immoveable 10pm deadline without me having been called by the Speaker. Two other Lib Dem MPs also missed out on their maidens that night, which was a shame for our friends and family waiting in the gallery.
So I set my sights on giving my maiden during the debate on food and farming on Tuesday instead. As a maiden speech is meant to make at least a passing reference to the topic of the debate, this involved quite a substantial rewrite – but at least it was on a subject very dear to my heart.
I finally rose to deliver my speech a little after 6pm on Tuesday. I’d rehearsed the Monday speech quite a lot, but had no time at all to practice the Tuesday version – but despite the lack of rehearsal, it seemed to be well received by MPs of all parties, including a very gracious intervention by my Conservative neighbour in the North Cotswolds, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.
You can read my speech here in Hansard, or watch it by clicking on the image below and starting the video at 14:33:20. It’s about 10 mins long.
A few of the things I’ve done this week…
We’re back up in Westminster after the conference recess, and finally I’ve thrown off the Lib Dem lurgy that had me laid low for most of the break. We now have a more or less straight run through to Christmas, and the opportunity to really get into the Parliamentary groove.
✅ Delighted to welcome Poppy Fair back to our team! Poppy was our constituency organiser for the General Election, and did a phenomenal job of organising literature, deliveries and canvassing, while keeping our South Cotswolds volunteers happy and busy. We now welcome her to my MP team as our Constituency Support Officer.
✅ Met the Stop Lime Down team and allies for a campaign update
✅ Met students from Cirencester College who were visiting the Houses of Parliament
✅ Preparations for the launch of our Climate and Nature Bill campaign, including a photo shoot with colleagues (lots of happy Lib Dems pictured at the top) and recording this short video (below) in Parliament Square
✅ COP16 roundtable in advance of the climate summit in Colombia
✅ Preparations for the launch of our Climate and Nature Bill campaign, including a photo shoot with colleagues (pictured) and recording this video (below) in Parliament Square
✅ #BackYouth event to meet 11 leading UK youth organisations with decades of experience in delivering impactful youth services nationwide
✅ NHS/Integrated Care Board briefing where I again pushed for a commitment to the new proposed Sherston GP surgery – no commitment yet forthcoming
✅ Westminster Hall debate on maternity provision in Gloucestershire
✅ All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sustainable Flood and Drought Management to explore more integrated and deeply embedded catchment management, and a nature-based approach with suggested actions for Government (pictured left)
Quote of the Week
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
– Albert Einstein
Wishing you a great week!