Welcome to my e-newsletter for the month of June.
It has been another busy month in Parliament. At Prime Minister’s questions, I spoke out once again on the Mayor’s plan for Ulez expansion, calling for it to be scrapped.
I maintained my focus on cost of living issues, urging Ministers to ensure they get inflation down. I also highlighted the importance of delivering the help with the cost of childcare which the Government has promised. Other issues I raised in Parliament included celebrating the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMP Empire Windrush; teacher recruitment and pay; ocean conservation; and potholes (a subject which crops up frequently on the doorstep).
I’ve also been keeping up my campaign to bring back the 84 bus route from Potters Bar to Barnet. Both Hertsmere and Hertfordshire Councils now say they have some funding they could use to support such a service, but it looks very difficult to get the service back without a contribution from TfL. They are still refusing to do this.
In line with my longstanding commitment to animal welfare, I kept up the pressure on the Government to bring forward the new legislation they have promised to ban live exports for slaughter and crack down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies. I have raised this three times in Parliament over the past few weeks, and also in a meeting with the Environment Secretary.
Many constituents have contacted me about the threat to Israel, and the wider Middle East region, posed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC). This month I met the Israeli Minister, Gila Gamliel, to hear her perspective on this, and I also asked the Foreign Secretary in the House of Commons Chamber if he would proscribe the IRGC.
My busy schedule included my regular doorstep calls to talk to constituents as well as attending the ground-breaking ceremony for a brand new building for St Andrew the Apostle School. This excellent school was set up under the Government’s ‘free schools’ programme and it is really encouraging that progress is now being made on a new building for them.
I also held a number of meetings on matters of interest to constituents. These included: Dogs’ Trust on animal welfare; the Guide Dogs charity on access to shops and restaurants; journalist Yan Mir on the situation in Kashmir; the Women’s Institute and the Marine Conservation Society on preventing microfibres from polluting the ocean; the Conservative Environment Network on deforestation around the world; the Neurological Alliance on improving care for neurological conditions; the UK High Commissioner to Cyprus, Irfan Siddiq; and Whetstone business TG Tunnelling to hear about their work on HS2.
Knowing how strongly people feel about access to NHS services, I welcomed the opportunity to meet a Barnet GP representing a local medical committee. I emphasised my resolute commitment to expanding GP capacity to tackle workload problems for local doctors, and also ensure people can get appointments when they need them.
After many months of pestering Ministers, I managed to secure a meeting with Health Minister, Maria Caulfield, for the Calzy foundation. This charity was set up by two of my constituents who tragically lost their son to suicide. Now they are campaigning for a dedicated national three digit phone line for people to ring if they are having a mental health crisis.
Lastly, I want to highlight the great success of three recent events: Barnet Medieval Festival, commemorating our battlefield heritage; Summer Soulstice which raises thousands of £s for local charity Cherry Lodge Cancer Care; and Barnet Vale festival, which highlighted the long running campaign to renovate Tudor Park pavilion.
Further information on my campaigns and activities is available in the links below to articles on my website. Please forward this email to anyone you think would be interested to read it or might like to join this mailing list.
All the best
Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers
Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet
MPs unite to save the 84 bus
Conservative MPs, Theresa Villiers and Oliver Dowden, are working together to save the 84 bus services between Potters Bar and Barnet. They are appealing to TfL to contribute to funding the return of the service which was discontinued in April last year after bus operate Metroline decided it was not commercially viable. Read more….
Barnet celebrates its medieval heritage
The MP for Chipping Barnet has praised the volunteers who put on another hugely successful Medieval Festival at the weekend. First established in 2018, this event takes place over two days at the Barnet Rugby Club ground in Byng Road and celebrates the 1471 Battle of Barnet. Read more….
Good news on 84 bus
Theresa Villiers, has welcomed reports that Hertsmere Council will provide funding to restore a bus service between Potters Bar and High Barnet. This route was previously served by the 84 but was discontinued last year after its operator, Metroline, decided it was not commercially viable. Read more….
Barnet MP attends blessing of new building for St Andrew’s school
At a blessing and ground-breaking ceremony for the new building for St Andrew the Apostle Greek Orthodox School, Chipping Barnet MP, Theresa Villiers, has praised the efforts of the Cypriot community in setting up this highly successful school. Read more….
Trade Secretary meets Cypriot community
Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has introduced members of the Cypriot community to the Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for Business and President of the Board of Trade. Mrs Badenoch spoke about the opportunities that international trade liberalisation offers to businesses in the UK and Cyprus. Read more….
How to contact Theresa
The best way to get help from Theresa is to email her on [email protected], ring her constituency office on 020 8449 7345, or write to her at 163 High Street, Barnet, Herts, EN5 5SU.
Theresa’s next diarised surgery takes place on the afternoon of 14th July at her constituency office at 163 High Street. Constituents wishing to see Theresa or her staff will need to make an appointment in advance. You will NOT be seen if you turn up without a pre-booked appointment. Bookings for face-to-face meetings or Zoom calls can be made using the contact details set out in the preceding paragraph.
