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Latest News from Priti Patel MP
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Announcements
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General Election
I am honoured to be re-elected as the Member of Parliament for the Witham Constituency and to continue working hard to represent my constituents and the local community. I look forward to resuming the important work I have been doing locally on opposing the National Grid's plans to impose new pylons and overhead power lines across the Witham constituency, opposing plans for new quarrying sites and continue working to ensure that there are accessible health services in Maldon and the Witham Constituency.
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Constituents can continue to contact me on [email protected] if they have any issues that they need help with.
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Get Witham Reading 2024
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On the 5th July, my annual literacy campaign across the constituency to celebrate Get Witham Reading took place. I first launched this initiative in 2012 when across the constituency children’s literacy levels were below the national average. At the time, national statistics highlighted that one in six pupils were leaving school without gaining the literacy skills expected of an 11-year-old.
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This year, over 1500 pupils joined the event to engage in a range of interactive reading and literacy activities, all based on the theme of the 2024 Olympics, which are taking place in Paris, France.
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9 schools took part in Get Witham Reading this year, Powers Hall Academy, Terling Church of England, Templars Academy, Chipping Hill Primary School, St Luke’s Church of England Primary School, Feering Church of England Primary School, Lakelands Primary School, St Andrew’s Junior School and Infant School in Hatfield Peverel. Powers Hall Academy kindly hosted the launch event this year.
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I presented the participating schools and children with new books and certificates, bookmarks and stickers to commemorate this day and celebrate the importance of reading. Primary schools across the constituency have been outstanding in raising pupil outcomes, especially when it comes to literacy skills and I look forward to supporting them further as they build on this important progress.
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Priti in Parliament
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I am backing British Farming
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I was delighted to join the NFU leadership, farmers and colleagues in Parliament to celebrate British farming and produce. In Witham, Essex and across the UK we have the best farmers and highest quality produce, not only supplying the domestic market, but also exporting great British produce across the globe. I will continue to work with our farmers and growers to look to campaign to reduce the burdens they face, encourage more people to buy locally sourced produce and back an increase in exports.
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Health and Social Care Questions
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Sir John and I have been working with Sir John Whittingdale MP and local campaigners to make the case to maintain and improve local services at St Peter's Hospital in Maldon. We are pressing the new Minister to listen to local concerns about the proposals to remove health services from the St Peter's site which we oppose.
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Speaking during the statement on early prison releases
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I raised my concerns during the Government's statement on their plans to release 5500 prisoners from prison early under their early prisoner release scheme. I reminded the Labour Government that the first duty of any Government is the protection, safety and security of the public. I object to this policy and to the approach the Labour Government are taking to free criminals from prison early with little regard for the impact this will have on their victims.
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Raising pylon concerns in Parliament
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I spoke in the King's Speech Debate to raise my objections about the National Grid’s plans to impose over 100 miles of pylons and overhead power lines across the East of England, including around 50 more pylons in the Witham constituency. This policy is backed by the Labour Government and I am encouraging local residents and communities to speak out as this government is ignoring the views of the local community.
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Out and About Across the Witham Constituency
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I was delighted to join in on the annual carnival celebrations in Witham this year. I am a longstanding supporter of the event and was delighted to see the wonderful display of talent and community spirit which was on show. Thank you to all those involved in making this very special event in the Town’s calendar a reality, in particular the Carnival Committee and Court and all of the sponsors for their dedication promoting Witham. It is their dedication to our community which makes Witham great.
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Visiting industry leading Essex business
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This month I met with Jim Irvine, the Operations & Development Director of the TCP Group during my visit to their Maldon Headquarters to celebrate their 35th year in business. TCP have reached the landmark of now holding 500 hydrogen-powered lighting towers in their fleet, which is believed to be the biggest fleet of hydrogen equipment anywhere outside of China.
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Addressing constituents' concerns over missing post with Royal Mail
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Constituents have been in touch with me recently over ongoing issues with post deliveries in the Colchester area. On their behalf, I met with David Gold, Director of Public Policy and the local Royal Mail leadership team to discuss these important concerns. I have been assured by Royal Mail that they are planning to turn things around and ensure all post is delivered in a timely fashion, however, I will continue to work to ensure that this promise is upheld.
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Save Maldon Medical Services
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Sir John and I met with the Save Maldon Medical Services group for the first time since the General Election to discuss the findings of the recently published draft report on the public feedback to the Mid & South Essex ICS consultation regarding St Peter’s Hospital. The main focus of the meeting was on the draft report that was published earlier this year and to discuss the next steps ahead of the ICS board meeting which will take place on the 30th September. The consultation report shows how most residents reject the current proposed plans as they would lead to the closure of many essential healthcare services.
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It was a great honour to visit the St Aubyn Centre in Colchester to meet with the staff looking after the children in this facility alongside representatives from EPUT, NELFT and CAMHS to discuss how we can improve mental health outcomes and reach young people earlier who may be neurodiverse as well as seeing first-hand the life changing care that the nursing staff at The St Aubyn Centre provide.
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I was pleased to visit The Tanzporium, a newly opened business on Kelvedon High Street. It was great to meet with the founders Danielle Hawes and Martin Hopwood to discuss their plans for the business which offers bespoke and unique beauty treatments.
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Transport Update
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Witham Station Visit
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It was a great pleasure to visit Witham Train Station and meet with Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs, Joanne O'Donnell, Head of Development and Planning and Simi Tinubu, Customer Service Manager to discuss some of the ongoing rail issues in my constituency and to catch up about our shared local priorities, including the redevelopment of Witham Station and the work required to make Marks Tey step free.
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Greater Anglia
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Greater Anglia is offering up to a 50% discount on rail tickets for families travelling on the Stansted Express from London to Stansted Airport over the summer holidays. Families travelling to the airport from London Liverpool Street, Stratford and Tottenham Hale to the airport can book the offer online by following the weblink below. This offer is open for travel up to and including Friday September 2024 and the offer is valid for 1 or 2 adults travelling with 1, 2 or 3 children aged between 5 and 15.
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Here to Help
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My team and I are always available to support constituents with any issues they may be having. Please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail ([email protected]), with your full address and postcode and a summary of the issue that you require assistance with.
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As ever with best wishes,
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Member of Parliament for Witham
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