As we move into the New Year, I want to reflect on the past year and thank you for the privilege of serving as your Member of Parliament for Exmouth and Exeter East. Standing up for our area and pushing hard on the issues that matter most to local people remains the greatest honour of my life.
Over the past year, I have focused on delivering the commitments I made at the general election, both in Westminster and here in the constituency, making sure our community is heard and local concerns are taken seriously.
A major focus has been tackling sewage pollution and holding water companies to account. At the start of 2025, I was privileged to sit on the committee strengthening the Water Special Measures Bill, helping to ensure regulators have real powers and that companies face serious consequences when they fail customers or damage the environment. Locally, my team and I have brought South West Water into direct discussions with councillors through local water summits, keeping up the pressure for real improvement.
I have also continued to press for better local infrastructure, because roads have not always kept pace with the scale of housebuilding. In Exmouth, the Dinan Way link road matters because it will complete the ring road and cut congestion. In Exeter, I am pushing for funding to improve Bridge Road, a vital route that needs upgrading.
Young people’s mental health has also shaped my work. After receiving nearly 1,000 handwritten letters from pupils at St Peter’s Secondary School in Exeter in December 2024, I raised their concerns with the Prime Minister, and I am working with school leaders and local experts on practical support, resilience and access to clinical services when needed.
As we begin the New Year, I will keep driving this work forward and to keep pressing for the improvements our area needs and deserves. My team and I are always here to help, and I wish you and your families every good wish for the year ahead.