Welcome to this week’s constituency newsletter for residents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire.
On Tuesday, I was pleased to present my Bill in Parliament for improving the safety of the A34 slip roads at East Ilsley and Beedon. On Wednesday, along with my colleagues Matt Rodda and Yuan Yang, I was delighted to show the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting around the Royal Berks hospital to see the amazing work that the staff do on a daily basis and so he could see why it is so important that we get the new Royal Berks built as soon as possible.
I was absolutely thrilled with the news this week that the sale of Reading FC has finally been completed, and there was great economic news as well, with figures showing the UK is now the fastest growing economy in the G7.
To keep up to date with what I am doing in Parliament and in the constituency, you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Bluesky.
A34 slip roads
On Tuesday, as part of my campaign to secure improvements to the slip roads at East Ilsley and Beedon, I presented the A34 Slip Road Safety (East Ilsley and Beedon) Bill in House of Commons. This was a Ten Minute Rule Bill, which is an effective way to bring the Government’s attention to a specific issue.
In my speech, I thanked the nearly 500 residents who responded to my survey about the slip roads. In February, I shared one of these stories in Parliament – a resident who never uses the Beedon junction when he has his young family in the car and who is even considering moving house because he feels the junction is a real risk to their lives. Subsequently, I have met with the Regional Director for National Highways and took the National Highways Route Manager on a site visit to East Ilsley and Beedon to experience the issue first hand. We spent the morning having to accelerate along these slip roads, grappling with short bends and blind spots, and dodging HGVs.
I am proud that this Labour Government is committed to improving the safety of England’s roads. We’re delivering the first road safety strategy in over a decade and have provided £4.8 billion funding for National Highways for the next year. And I welcome the fact that National Highways will be investing in safety measures on the A34 in the short term.
I presented the Bill this week, because I said I would use all legislative levers available to me to make these slip roads safer, and this is one of them. National Highways have already recommended a review, known as the A34 Improvements North & South of Oxford Study. I want to see this delivered quickly, alongside any necessary improvements so that people in East Ilsley, Beedon and surrounding areas who use the slip roads no longer feel afraid commuting to work, or every time their child drives into town.
Building an NHS fit for the future
Earlier in the year in Parliament I asked the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting to come and visit the Royal Berkshire hospital to see the amazing work that the staff do on a daily basis and to see why it is so important that we get the new Royal Berks built as soon as possible.
On Wednesday, along with my colleagues Matt Rodda and Yuan Yang, I was delighted to be able to show him around the Royal Berks and to see the new Urology Department that is due to open this July. This Government’s investment in the NHS is bringing down the appointment backlog, improving current facilities and is fully funding the New Hospitals Programme to secure the NHS for the future.
Wes restated his commitment to a new hospital and confirmed that instead of unfunded, empty promises from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, this Government has set out a clear and budgeted plan to build a new Royal Berks, continue to bring down waiting lists and build an NHS fit for the future. I, along with Matt and Yuan, will continue to push for progress on the hospital build to deliver a new Royal Berks as soon as possible.
Mental health support for children
Tackling children’s mental health is a priority for parents across Reading West and Mid Berkshire – myself included. Research shows that mental health support can have a transformational impact on school attendance, attainment and future prospects.
Over the next year, Labour is rolling out mental health support in schools so 900,000 more children can access professional help. This will include identifying children’s needs earlier, peer support sessions, one-to-one support, and tackling poor absence.
Under our plans, all pupils will have access to mental health support in school by 2029/30, and this announcement means that we are well on our way to fulfilling that promise.
Reading FC
I was absolutely delighted with the news this week that the sale of Reading FC has been completed. This is wonderful news for the club, for the community and for the fans.
I want to pay particular tribute to Sell before we Dai for their determined efforts to save our club from the brink. They have run a brilliant campaign, alongside STAR and all Reading fans. And, I want to thank the players and the staff at the club who have more than kept things going through this difficult time.
I wish the new owners all the best – they have my support and I know they will have the support of the whole community to take the club forward to a brighter future.
Delivering our plan for change
There was great economic news this week, showing that the UK is now the fastest growing economy in the G7 so far this year.
This week’s growth figures have been made possible because we have taken the right decisions to restore economic stability. We have signed trade deals with India and the US, saved jobs in the British steel industry, given a pay rise to 3 million of the poorest workers and created the conditions for interest rates to be cut four times – putting more money in the pockets of working people.
Economic growth also relies on investment in skills here in the UK, which is why I welcomed the announcement this week that we will reform the immigration system to ensure that companies who rely on workers from overseas must invest in skills training here.
The Conservatives undermined the immigration system and lost the trust of the British people, whereas we will ensure that it is both well-managed and fair.
Lastly, I am really pleased that Britain is back on the world stage under this Labour government, and I am looking forward to seeing the outcomes of next week’s EU summit.
The choice is clear – more of the same with Farage and Badenoch, or a pragmatic approach to improve our international relationships, bring growth and deliver security under Labour.
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
An important day in the House of Commons today as we began the Report Stage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. At this stage, MPs vote on the amendments that have been tabled to the Bill. After Report Stage, the Bill will have a Third Reading – where we will vote on whether it should proceed to the next stage.
My primary concern remains the provision of adequate safeguards in the Bill, and I will support amendments which seek to add these. Today, I had the opportunity to vote for Amendment (a) to New Clause 10 , which would allow for an organisation – like a care home – to have a no assisted dying policy.
There are many more amendments to consider when MPs meet again to debate on 13 June. In the meantime, I will continue to engage with local people, experts, campaigners and my colleagues on the Bill and its contents.
Dates for your Diary
Sunday 8 June – Community Drop-in, Pangbourne **PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE**
If you live in Pangbourne and would like to come along for a chat with tea and biscuits between 3.00pm and 4.00pm, please email and my team will confirm the venue a few days in advance of the event.
Best wishes for the week ahead
Olivia