General Election 2024
Following the Prime Minister’s somewhat unexpected decision to call a General Election for 4th July, this will be my final newsletter of this Parliament. It is a great privilege to represent the people of the Maldon constituency in Parliament and I am honoured to have been reselected to contest the coming election as the Conservative Party candidate. I hope that you will support me in my campaign and on polling day. However, if successful, I will continue to do my best to help any of my constituents, regardless of their political views.
I am very much aware of the challenges that people have faced in the last few years, many of which are due to events which could not have been predicted, such as the Covid pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I have supported the Conservative Government in tackling these and welcome the clear signs that the Government’s plan is working with inflation down and the economy growing once again. I believe that our country’s best interests are served by the Conservative Government continuing office. If re-elected, I will also continue to campaign for better health care including a new hospital in Maldon and against overdevelopment of housing without the necessary infrastructure to support it.
Although all MPs cease to hold the position from the moment of dissolution at midnight tonight, I will be happy to assist any resident of the Maldon constituency who needs help during the course of the election campaign. If you need to get in touch, you can do so by contacting me via email at contact@johnwhittingdale.org.uk
I am pictured below signing the nomination papers, officially declaring my candidacy.
My Question to the Prime Minister on the future of St Peter’s Hospital
Many of my constituents have followed my campaign on the future of St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon intently. Therefore, they may be interested to watch my question to the Prime Minister from earlier this month, where I further pressed the issue during PMQs.
In my contribution I emphasised the risk of relocating services away from Maldon and asked the Prime Minister to tell the ICB to withdraw their proposal.
My constituents can watch the footage of my question by clicking the following link: Sir John Whittingdale MP asks the Prime Minister to help save St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon – YouTube
Meeting with Julie Taylor for Knife Crime Awareness Week
Along with a number of other Essex MPs, I recently had the privilege of meeting with Knife Crime campaigner, Julie Taylor, in Parliament, at an event marking Knife Crime Awareness Week.
Julie tragically lost her grandson Liam to a knife attack in Writtle, Essex, outside a pub on 31st January 2020, he was just 19 years old at the time. Julie has since campaigned against knife crime, raising awareness of the terrible impact on both victims and their families.
She now raises money for the provision of life-saving bleed kit bags and Essex County Council is supporting her by funding the provision of 60 bleed kits, which are to be distributed across all 12 Essex districts.
Julie also runs the St Peter’s Hospital Café in Maldon. I am pictured below alongside Julie on her visit to Parliament this month.
Defenders of Mariupol – 2 years in Captivity: Roundtable Discussion
In my capacity as Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Ukraine, I recently hosted a delegation in Parliament of former Ukrainian POWS and family members of Ukrainian soldiers who have been held in Russian captivity.
The meeting heard first-hand testimony from veterans whose treatment at the hands of their Russian captors was clearly in breach of the Geneva Convention. The veterans from the Azov brigade who defended Mariupol and the Azovstal steel plant gave a detailed account of the brutal war crimes committed by the Russian military against civilians and soldiers.
The meeting also heard from the Attorney General, The Rt Hon Victoria Prentis MP, about the steps the UK Government is taking to ensure there is accountability for war crimes, the ongoing efforts to set up a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression and the determination to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine recover from the devastating war.
I am pictured below alongside the visiting Ukrainian POWS and the family members of Ukrainian soldiers.
Dementia Action Week event in Parliament
I was very glad to attend the Dementia Action Week in Parliament this month. I encourage all of my constituents in Maldon with lived experience of dementia to take part in a first-of-its-kind national consultation.
The Geller Commission is an independent network of leaders from across the dementia sector including Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK, UKDRI, World Dementia Council and more. Together they will produce a report, alongside their academic partner University College London, with costed and practical policy recommendations for government to reduce dementia-related hospital occupation.
To help inform this report, The Commission launched a call for evidence from people from around the country with lived experience of dementia. This includes people living with dementia, their carers and family members. Further information on how to take part is available on their website at https://thegellercommission.org/call-for-evidence/.
Chair of The Geller Commission Laurence Geller CBE said, “We know that too often, when people living with dementia are hospitalised, the care that they receive is not always appropriate for their condition, and their time in hospital can increase the velocity of the disease. It is my hope that by convening this Commission, we can find practical solutions to improve the lives of people living with the impact of a dementia diagnosis and reduce undue pressure on the health service.”
When attending the event I said, “Reducing hospital occupancy for people with dementia in Maldon is crucial. I know from speaking to local healthcare networks and professionals, community groups and constituents that lots of people have important experiences to share. I strongly encourage them to submit to The Geller Commission’s public consultation and be part of their fantastic work to help improve the lives of people living with dementia.”
I am pictured below with Laurence Geller CBE.
Trade Mission to South Korea
From 7th to 9th May, I visited the Republic of Korea in my capacity as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy.
I had a very busy programme arranged by the British Embassy to strengthen links and promote trade between our two countries building on the State Visit of President Yoon to the UK last year. I met Representative Han JeongAe and Representative Kim Byung-Joo at the National Assembly. I also visited the leading K-Pop company, JYP Entertainment, and Naver, the Korean equivalent of Google.
During the latter visit, I discussed AI Regulation, ahead of the AI Safety Summit in Seoul the following week. In addition, I met representatives of a number of British companies both at the British Korea Chamber of Commerce and at Bio Korea 2024 exhibition.
I am pictured below outside the National Assembly Building in South Korea.
Primary Care meeting with the Minister of Health, Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP
Following my meeting with Longfield surgery in April, I had a meeting with Minister of Health, Andrea Leadsom, to discuss the challenges facing primary care.
In particular, the Minister outlined the new the Premises Cost Directive which will give ICBs much greater flexibility on spending for new GP premises. In addition, payments to encourage recruitment of new GPs should help to address the present shortage.
Visit to Marsh Farm
On Friday 24th May, I visited Marsh Farm in South Woodham Ferrers to see the new Dinosaur Adventure attraction.
I was shown round by manager, James Sinclair, who took over the running of the farm from Essex County Council in 2013 and has since invested in it so that it is now a major family tourist attraction.
I am pictured below with James Sinclair, Manager of Marsh Farmer.
Say no to Hammonds Farm!
On Saturday 25th May, I attended the public meeting in Danbury organised by the Parish Councils of Danbury, Sandon, Little Baddow and Boreham, to alert local residents to the proposal to build a new “East Chelmsford Garden Community” at Hammonds Farm.
This will consist 3,000 new houses with a further 1,500 after 2041, 43,000 sq m of new employment floor space and 20 Traveller pitches. This is now the preferred option of the Liberal Democrat Chelmsford City Council and the consultation on it closes on Wednesday, 19th June.
I share the view of the Parish Councils that unchecked expansion at Hammonds Farm will place an intolerable burden on our infrastructure, exacerbate traffic congestion, and irreparably damage our environment. I also believe that it will have a very damaging impact on residents of the Maldon District by making access to the A12 via Danbury even harder.
The proposal is unnecessary and the requirement for new housing could be much better met by expanding the new settlement in North East Chelmsford at Beaulieu Park and near to the new railway station at Springfield.
More details can be found at: Home – Say no to Hammonds Farm and I would urge constituents to register an objection through this website.
