MP Newsletter #20 Remembrance, Pubs, LED Headlights
Dear reader,
As the autumn leaves fall and we approach the season of remembrance, it’s been another full and varied few weeks across our towns and villages - and in Parliament too. From reflecting on the sacrifices of those who came before us, to speaking out against today’s atrocities abroad, to championing local pubs and safer roads, there’s much to share.
There’s far more happening than can fit in one update, but here are a few highlights.
In this issue:
Honouring Remembrance across Wiltshire
Standing up for our community pubs
Tackling flooding and exploring nature-based solutions
Shining a light on dangerous LED headlights
Speaking out on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan
Hearing from the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament
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My office can be contacted via email at brian.mathew.mp@parliament.uk or by calling 01225 434216.
Lest We Forget – Remembrance Across Wiltshire
Remembrance has always been one of the most important times in our national calendar – a moment for reflection, gratitude and unity. This year, I’ll be at the service in Devizes, while wreaths will be laid on my behalf in Bradford on Avon, Calne and Melksham.
Earlier this week, I also placed a poppy in the Parliamentary Remembrance Garden, representing all those from our constituency who served and sacrificed so much.
It’s always humbling to pause and remember, especially when global conflicts continue to remind us how fragile peace truly is.
🍻 Save Our Locals – Standing Up for Community Pubs
There’s nothing quite like a good local pub. They’re where people come together, share stories, and build community – especially in our rural areas.
That’s why I was pleased to meet with CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) recently to discuss their “Save Our Locals” campaign. The latest figures are deeply worrying – more than 1,000 pubs have already closed this year, with many more at risk. Once a pub shuts its doors, it’s not just a business that disappears, but part of our shared community.
I’m backing CAMRA’s call for the Chancellor to use the upcoming Budget to support pubs, landlords and brewers through fairer business rates and beer duty reform. Let’s make sure our locals survive and thrive.
🌧 Tackling Flooding and Supporting Nature-Based Solutions
Flooding is a constant concern across Wiltshire, particularly in Bradford on Avon, Melksham and surrounding areas. I recently met with the Wessex Area Director of the Environment Agency to press for updates on local flood mitigation work and to ensure our area isn’t overlooked in new national funding allocations.
I know Bradford on Avon Town Council is also in discussions with the Agency, and I’ve visited one of the potential upstream sites that could be part of a nature-based solution by creating wetlands and natural flood plains to slow the flow of water, reduce flood risk, and boost biodiversity.
This kind of forward-thinking approach can protect homes, strengthen our environment, and make our communities more resilient in the long term. I will continue to work with all agencies and push the care for our most flood-affected communities.
💡 Shining a Light on Dangerous LED Headlights
In Parliament, I spoke recently in a debate on LED car headlights, which have become an increasing concern for drivers across the country.
The statistics are striking - four in five drivers say vehicle lights are too bright, and more than half have been temporarily blinded while driving. I raised the issue of automatic headlight systems, which don’t always dip until it’s too late, and called for better research and standards - including a potential kitemark for night driving glasses to help reduce glare.
I also urged the Government to make the law clearer around illegal LED bulb fittings and to publish data on enforcement. It’s a simple but important issue that affects road safety every day.
🌍 Speaking Out on the Atrocities in Sudan
In the same week we remembered the fallen from past wars, I led an Adjournment Debate in Parliament on the ongoing atrocities in Sudan – one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Right now in Sudan, a war as murderous and horrible as any the world has faced is shattering the lives of civilians, including many children & women - in a way we can scarcely countenance.
I spoke about the devastating siege and fall of El-Fasher, where countless civilians have been killed, and called on the UK Government to use every diplomatic tool to press for peace, open humanitarian corridors, and impose a binding arms embargo across Sudan.
As Penholder (the country leading negotiations and drafting resolutions) on Sudan at the UN, the UK have the means and the moral responsibility to act and ensure that we and the rest of the world do not turn our backs once more.
As a former aid worker who lived and worked in Sudan, this issue is deeply personal to me. I also urged Ministers to convene a peace conference in London - a first step toward reconciliation and rebuilding.
Standing with Ukraine
Last month, I was privileged to hear Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, address MPs and Peers at Portcullis House. His message was a powerful reminder that the war in Ukraine is far from over – and that the Ukrainian people continue to show extraordinary courage and resilience.
Here in Wiltshire, I’m constantly moved by the generosity of those who’ve opened their homes to Ukrainian families. Your compassion continues to make a real difference. We must keep standing firm against Putin’s aggression and supporting Ukraine’s right to live in peace and freedom.
🗳 Keep Up with My Work in Parliament
You can follow all my speaking contributions, written questions, voting record, and Early Day Motions directly on my Parliament page:
👉 View all my contributions here
Stay in Touch
As always, I want to hear from you. If you’d like to speak with me at a surgery, please do get in touch with my office below and we can let you know the next available dates.
📧 brian.mathew.mp@parliament.uk 📞 01225 434216
Thank you, as always, for reading and for your continued support. Whether it’s local flooding, transport, schools, or international affairs, I’ll keep working hard to make your voice heard — both here in Wiltshire and in Parliament.
Best wishes,
Brian Mathew MP
Your Lib Dem Member of Parliament for Melksham and Devizes