MP Newsletter #23: SEND, Digital ID, Postal Workers, Wiltshire Museum, Flooding
A warm welcome to my final newsletter of 2025.
I really do hope you’ve found these updates helpful over the course of the year. Please do feel free to share this email with anyone you think might be interested. If you have ideas or suggestions for what you’d like to see included in future newsletters, I’d love to hear from you at brian.mathew.mp@parliament.uk.
I want to begin by wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. I’ll be taking a short break over the festive period to spend time with family and friends. On Christmas Day, I’ll once again be helping to serve Christmas lunch in Devizes, and I sincerely hope that all of you are able to find some time over the next few weeks to rest and to spend time with those closest to you.
📌 In this edition:
- 🌊 Flooding update for Bradford on Avon and Melksham from the Flooding Minister
- 🎒 SEND reform – have your say
- 📱 Digital ID – my opposition
- 📮 Spending time with our postal workers
- 🏛️ Good news for Wiltshire Museum in Devizes
- 🌍 Sudan – continuing to speak out
- 🏛️ Keeping up with my work in Parliament
🌊 Flooding Update – Bradford on Avon and Melksham
Flooding remains one of the most pressing concerns for many residents and businesses across our constituency, particularly following the devastating flooding we’ve seen in Bradford on Avon and Melksham over previous winters.
I’ve now received a response from the Flooding Minister, Emma Hardy MP, following my letter pressing for clarity on flood recovery funding and long-term protection. While the government highlights £2.65 billion of national investment in flood defences, the reality is that very little of this has yet translated into tangible protection on the ground, particularly in Bradford on Avon.
I’ve made clear that big national promises mean little if funding remains difficult to unlock locally. I’ve raised concerns about the pace and delivery of the Environment Agency, and I’m working closely with Bradford on Avon Town Council to push for progress. I also attended the Flood Forum earlier this year to raise residents’ concerns directly.
I’ve welcomed the Minister’s indication that she would consider a visit, and I will continue to press for that to happen. What people need now is proper flood protection, not just warm words. To that end, I am actively engaging with local residents who could help with nature-based mitigation and also working with colleagues to look at a more holistic approach to flooding on the Avon.
🎒 SEND Reform – Have Your Say
I’ve heard from many families across the constituency about the ongoing failures in SEND provision - long waits for assessments, lack of support, and children being let down. This is not just a local issue it’s happening right across the country.
The Government has now launched a national conversation on SEND reform, and this is a real opportunity for parents and carers to help shape a system that actually works. It’s encouraging to see parent-carer voices involved, including the National Network of Parent Carer Forums, but meaningful change will only happen if families speak up.
If you’ve been affected, I strongly encourage you to take part. There are still online sessions available, and your experience really does matter.
👉 You can find out more and get involved here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-national-conversation-on-send
📱 Digital ID – My Opposition
I remain firmly opposed to the Government’s plans to introduce a mandatory Digital ID scheme.
This week, I made a brief intervention in a House of Commons debate on the issue. I was only allowed ten seconds to speak, but I felt it was vital to raise concerns - particularly about the timescale, feasibility, and wider implications of such a scheme.
As I said in Parliament, if it took Singapore two years to implement it, how long would it take us? 10 years?
Thousands of residents across our constituency have already signed the petition opposing Digital ID. Trial by technology, without public consent and without clear safeguards, risks eroding trust and personal freedoms. I will continue to oppose this proposal and to make sure local voices are heard.
📮 A Thank You to Our Postal Workers
Over the past few weeks, I’ve really enjoyed visiting sorting offices in Bradford on Avon, Devizes and Melksham, meeting many of our hardworking postal workers.
At one of the busiest and most pressured times of the year, I was struck by their good humour, professionalism and pride in the job they do. With ever-increasing numbers of parcels, they’re adapting constantly, often under significant time pressure, to make sure we can all prepare for Christmas.
A huge thank you to all our postal workers and posties for the work they do, not just at Christmas, but all year round.
🏛️ Fantastic News for Wiltshire Museum
I wanted to share some excellent news you may have missed. Wiltshire Museum has secured £8.5 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund towards the £14.8 million Assizes for Devizes project.
This will transform the long-derelict Assize Court into a spectacular new home for the museum. I’ve seen first-hand the dedication and hard work that’s gone into reaching this milestone, and the benefits for Devizes and the wider area will be significant - boosting tourism, supporting education, creating jobs, and bringing an important historic building back to life.
Huge thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their confidence in Devizes and in this transformational project.
I look forward to working closely with the team at Wiltshire Museum as they bring this project to fruition.
🔗 Find out more: https://www.wiltshiremuseum.org.uk/assizes/
🌍 Sudan – Continuing to Speak Out
As many of you will know from my previous updates, Sudan is a country close to my heart, having lived and worked there in 1989 and 1990. What is happening there now is truly devastating, with awful atrocities continuing to be committed against civilians.
As we approach a time of year that should be about peace, I have reiterated my belief that the UK must be pushing harder for a ceasefire and should work with international partners to convene a peace conference to help bring an end to the suffering.
The world must not turn away, and I will continue to use my voice to press the Government to act.
🗳 Keep Up with My Work in Parliament
You can keep up to date with everything I’m doing in Parliament on your behalf — including speeches, questions, votes and Early Day Motions — via my official Parliament page:
Thank you again for taking the time to read this update.
I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
Best wishes,
Brian Mathew MP
Lib Dem Member of Parliament for Melksham & Devizes
