MP Newsletter #17: Summer Tour and Back in Parliament

Dear reader,

A warm welcome to my latest newsletter. As parliament settles back in for a new year and restart my weekly trips up to London, I wanted to reflect a little and update you on what I’ve been up to around the constituency over the last few weeks.

This edition includes:

• A review of my summer tour around the constituency
• The issues that came out as most important when speaking to constituents
• What I am doing to try to address those issues
• A look ahead to autumn in parliament
• An invite to tell me more about your local organisation or business

If you missed my previous newsletter, you can catch up here.  

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My office can be contacted via email at brian.mathew.mp@parliament.uk or by calling 01225 434216.

Summer Tour

This summer was a special one for me – my very first full summer as your MP since being elected last July. Over the last two weeks I set out on a tour of more than twenty towns, villages and communities right across the constituency. From bustling community campuses to quiet rural greens, from parish halls to riverside festivals, it was a chance to reconnect with people where they live. I heard first-hand what’s on your mind, and to see again the sheer variety and beauty of our corner of Wiltshire. 

I was fortunate to be joined at many stops by local Wiltshire councillors, whose commitment and insights are a great asset. I also had the pleasure of meeting with parish councillors in several villages. Their local knowledge is invaluable - they often know every pothole, every pinch point, and every planning proposal that affects their patch. Parish councils are the first line of democracy, and I want to thank them again for their tireless voluntary service. I have urged them to keep in touch with me so I can continue to raise their concerns at a county and national level. 

Over the summer tour, I visited Winsley, Westwood, Market Lavington, Urchfont, Box, Steeple Ashton, Keevil, Colerne, Monkton Farleigh, Atworth, Broughton Gifford, South Wraxall, Calne - and many more! Each place had its own flavour, but the conversations had a striking amount in common.

Health services were the number one issue. Many of you spoke about frustrations with reduced services at Melksham Hospital and the impossibility of finding an NHS dentist right across the constituency. I know how deeply this is affecting families, and I want you to know that I will continue to press the government to invest in frontline healthcare - both locally and nationally. Access to healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and it cannot be allowed to wither.

Planning and development was another concern raised in villages and towns alike. People are frustrated by developments that feel imposed, poorly thought through, or lacking in infrastructure to match. The recent government cuts to neighbourhood planning funding are a serious blow to communities trying to shape their own future. I am campaigning to see that funding restored so that parish councils and local groups have the tools they need to protect what makes their areas special while planning sensibly for the future.

My summer tour concluded at the Melksham Food & River Festival - this was an absolute highlight. I was there across both days, talking to residents, sampling the food stalls, and even zip-lining across the river before a more relaxing boat trip. The atmosphere was wonderful, and it reminded me just how much our community can achieve when we come together. At my stall, I set up a board asking people for their top issues, and healthcare once again came out on top. But I was struck too by the number of people raising international concerns – from the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine - alongside environmental issues and immigration. It underlined how outward-looking and thoughtful our community is.

I left each stop on my tour energised by the conversations, with a spring in my step and a notebook full of ideas and follow-up actions. These are not easy times for many families, but time and again I saw people’s resilience, their love for their towns and villages, and their determination to see things improve.

 
Back in Parliament

Now that Parliament has returned from its summer recess, my focus is on taking your voices into the debates and decisions that lie ahead. The autumn will be a critical period. The Budget is looming at the end of November, and with it a chance to press the government on investment in the NHS, social care, and the infrastructure our communities desperately need. I will be holding ministers to account on whether their numbers match the reality faced by families, patients, and councils here in Wiltshire.

On the international stage, two issues weigh heavily. First, the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The need for an immediate ceasefire and a massive humanitarian relief effort could not be clearer. I am continuing to push for the recognition of Palestinian statehood as part of a renewed push for peace. Second, Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine remains one of the greatest challenges of our age. Standing in solidarity with Ukraine is not optional - it is about defending democracy itself and the security of Europe.

Closer to home, Parliament will also debate environmental protections, immigration policy, and the continuing strains on local government finances. On each of these, I will be guided by the conversations I have had with you over the summer.

 An open invitation

This first full summer in the role has reiterated to me what a privilege it is to serve as your MP. But my work does not stop with the tour. I want to continue hearing from you - whether it’s about health, housing, the environment, or any other issue close to your heart.

I would also be delighted to visit local businesses, organisations, and community groups to see your work first-hand and to hear directly from you. If you would like to arrange a visit, or if there is something you want to raise with me, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with my office via email or phone.

Thank you again for the warm welcome you gave me over the summer - and I look forward to seeing many more of you in the weeks ahead.

Best wishes,

Brian Mathew MP

Your Member of Parliament for Melksham and Devizes

P.S: I always welcome feedback. If you have any suggestions or comments please do get in touch via email.