As the King’s Speech sets another parliamentary session in motion, May has been another busy month with exciting policy announcements and events here in Luton South and South Bedfordshire.
Read on to see what I’ve been up to representing our area!
Get involved with Pride in Place!
Apply to join the new Central Luton Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board!
I’ve secured £20 million for Central Luton under the Government’s Pride in Place Programme. This long-term investment could be used to back community projects, improve local facilities, clean up our streets, and more!
Importantly, it is Central Luton residents who decide how to spend it through a Neighbourhood Board of local people and community leaders.
Do you have strong ties to Central Luton and want to make a difference? Apply to chair or join the Neighbourhood Board to be the voice for your community and make change!
What 150 years of Luton means to me
As we celebrate 150 years of Luton as a borough, this month in my column for Luton News I reflected on what this landmark anniversary for our town means to me.
From the hat trade and Vauxhall Motors through to milestones I myself marked, including attending the first Luton Carnival as a child in 1976, celebrating Luton Town’s 1988 League Cup win, and watching the Olympic Torch parade through our town in 2012, we really do have a history to be proud of.
Pavement Parking Petition- Update!
Hundreds of you signed my petition to enforce against obstructive pavement parking in Luton!
I was pleased to meet with the new Portfolio Holder for the Public Realm and Sustainable Transport, Cllr Javeria Hussain, to pass on your concerns, take a look at the problem, and discuss what action Luton Council will take.
I’m pleased that Javeria confirmed Luton Council will take up new powers introduced by the Government to enforce against pavement parking when they become available later this year.
Thank you to everyone who signed my petition. Keep an eye out for future updates!
Luton Carnival!
This month we celebrated the 50th annual Luton Carnival! It was brilliant to come together with people from all over our town to mark this anniversary in style.
Carnival is all about our Luton community coming out to have fun, dance and share good vibes! One town, one love, no place for hate.
As a child I was at the very first Carnival and have enjoyed so many great days come rain or shine over the years.
Well done to everyone involved who made this year’s Golden anniversary such a brilliant celebration!
The King’s Speech
This month, the King’s Speech set out the Government’s ambitious programme for the next Parliamentary session. Legislation will be introduced to:
- Boost economic security through an industrial strategy that creates high-paid jobs and apprenticeships, while reducing inflation and interest rates
- Strengthen energy security by expanding homegrown renewables and protecting households and industry from global price shocks
- Tackle the opportunity crisis through more social housing investment, leasehold reform, faster unsafe cladding remediation, and higher school standards
- Renew public services by reforming policing and the NHS, cleaning up our waterways, and establishing Great British Railways
Read the King’s Speech in full here.
In my contribution to the debate on the King’s Speech, I was glad to highlight how the Government is set to build on the great work it has already begun securing our energy future through Great British Energy, as well as tackling long-term housing shortages through investment in social and council housing, restrictions on Right to Buy, and reforms to the planning and leasehold systems. Watch below!
Reflecting on this Government’s first Parliamentary session
With the new session of Parliament bringing with it a new slate of legislative proposals and priorities, I’ve also been reflecting on the landmark legislation this Government has passed so far!
Read more here.
Community Cohesion
The Security Minister recently gave an important statement following the horrifying anti-Semitic attacks in Golders Green, and a terrible increase in acts of anti-Muslim hostility.
I took the opportunity to ask the Minister how the government is working with local police and authorities to ensure they have the resources they need to not only keep people safe, but build and maintain strong social cohesion.
Watch below.
Govia Thameslink comes under public ownership!
Today (31st May) is a big day as Govia Thameslink Railway officially comes under public ownership!
It is the 5th and largest operator yet to be nationalised, with the rest set to follow by the end of 2027. Together, they will form the new Great British Railways, which will deliver simpler, more reliable, and better value journeys across the UK.
I welcome this great news for a key transport link across our area and the benefits it will bring to passengers and staff alike!
Welcoming Luton Council’s new leadership
Congratulations to Cllrs Tahmina Saleem and Umme Ali on becoming the new Leader and Deputy Leader of Luton Council!
I look forward to working alongside them both to continue to build a stronger and more equal town where everyone can thrive.
Also huge thanks and well wishes to our outgoing Leader Cllr Hazel Simmons for her almost 20 years of dedicated service leading Luton Council. It was a pleasure to come together with representatives from across our business and community sector, as well as some familiar faces from Luton Council’s recent history, at a civic event this week to reflect on her achievements.
Hear more about Tahmina’s priorities for our town here!
Visiting Queen Elizabeth Academy
I was so pleased to join students and staff at Queen Elizabeth Academy this month.
It was great to speak with year 10 about the new Representation of the People Bill, which will introduce votes at 16, and meet with the school Parliament to talk more about my role as MP for Luton South and South Bedfordshire.
Lovely to see their engagement and lots of ideas about how we can make sure young people’s voices are heard on the issues that matter to them.
Read my recent article about the Representation of the People Bill and how we can support young people with voting here!
Parliamentary Roundtable on the Thameslink Growth Corridor
After recently chairing a roundtable on the importance of the Thameslink section of the Midland Mainline for development in our area, I was glad to come together with colleagues from across Parliament for a wider discussion about unlocking economic growth across the whole of the Thameslink Growth Corridor.
With our area sitting right at the heart of exciting infrastructure projects including growth of Luton Airport, Universal Studios in Bedford, and The Stage and Power Court developments here in Luton, it’s vital that our transport networks can keep pace to maximise our community’s connections and opportunities.
I was especially pleased to highlight the importance of creating skilled, well-paid opportunities for our young people- which these key projects and growth of our railway network will help to facilitate.
Protecting the British Steel Industry
I was very proud to vote for the Steel Industry Nationalisation Bill in Parliament, which will safeguard our domestic steel industry by giving the Government the power to bring steel companies under public ownership.
Brilliant to see this Government protecting British businesses, backing skilled, unionised jobs, and charting a course for economic growth.
Luton Made: Vauxhall Exhibition
Great to pop up to Stockwood Discovery Centre for the start of the Luton Made: Vauxhall exhibition, charting the history of Vauxhall motors in Luton.
The ‘cars on the lawn’ event showcased a number of iconic Vauxhall cars and it was great to see so many people talking about their passion for Vauxhall which was so important to our town for over 120 years.
The exhibition is open until 28 June with free entry – highly recommended!
Visiting Riverbank Primary School
It was lovely to visit Riverbank Primary School to meet with members of their School Parliament!
Always great to get the chance to speak with young people from across our constituency, answering their questions about what it’s like to be an MP and emphasising the importance of everyone having their say in our democracy.
If you’d like me to visit your school or youth group, get in touch with my office by emailing [email protected]
Cost of living support
This month the IMF upgraded the UK’s growth forecast and, thanks to the Government’s action to reduce energy bills at the Budget, inflation fell by more than expected to 2.8% in April.
I know many households across Luton South and South Bedfordshire are struggling with the cost of living, so I was pleased to see the Chancellor announce further support including:
- Extending the fuel duty freeze for the rest of this year
- Upping tax-free mileage rates by 10p per mile
- Suspending tariffs on over 100 different foods sold in supermarkets
- Making bus travel across England free for children aged between 5 and 15 throughout August.
Alongside these savings on the essentials, the Government has also launched the Great British Summer Savings scheme, which will cut VAT on summer attractions and kids’ meals from 20% to 5% over the summer holidays, helping more families to get out and enjoy time together.
Appledown Dog Show!
Another lovely Appledown Dog Show and fun day! My Maisie was delighted with the squirrel plush toy I won on the tombola.
Lots of gorgeous pooches strutting their stuff, getting belly rubs and cooling off in the paddling pools!
Appledown in Eaton bray do great work with stray and rescue dogs and rely on donations to support what they do.
Find out more: https://www.appledown.co.uk
