Pippa Heylings: ‘As new MP for South Cambridgeshire, I’m committed to tackling these key challenges’
Opinion | Pippa Heylings, the new Liberal Democrat MP for South Cambridgeshire, writes the first of her new monthly columns for the Cambridge Independent.
As the newly-elected Member of Parliament for South Cambridgeshire, it’s been a busy time since 5 July when the result was announced.
It is both thrilling and overwhelming, simultaneously learning how Parliament works, debating the new government’s plans in the King’s Speech and giving my maiden speech - as well as being shadowed by ITV Anglia in the constituency as I visit residents to help address their pressing problems and meet the wonderful staff at the Melbourn ‘Health at the Hub’ initiative and the Granta Medical Practice… all whilst recruiting staff and finding premises for a local constituency office.
South Cambridgeshire is a remarkable place to live and I am honoured to represent it. Traditionally a semi-rural area, it is fast-changing. Home to world-leading innovation in AI, deep technology and life sciences, our constituency boasts Europe's largest biomedical centre, the Wellcome Genome Campus, the Babraham Research Campus among others, as well as more than 8,000 thriving start-ups and businesses.
It is our unique and precious chalk streams that connect us - our blue veins; the silvery threads weaving together our villages and wildlife habitat: the Rivers Rhee, Shep, Mel, Granta, Cam and Orwell and the streams of Bassingbourn, Fulbourn, Wilbrahams and Kneesworth. The dumping of raw sewage in our streams and rivers is inexcusable and must be stopped. It was a key part of my campaign and I will be working hard to save them, alongside all of the volunteer local river action groups, and make sure the water companies clean up their mess.
Our constituency faces some key challenges and I am committed to championing an inclusive and positive vision for all residents, leaving no one behind.
Devastatingly, 15 per cent of children in South Cambridgeshire are living in poverty, with increasing numbers dependent on food banks and free school meals, isolated in villages with poor public transport, cutting them off from post-16 academic and vocational opportunities. Our future needs to be shaped carefully with and through the local authorities, giving local people a voice and tackling affordable housing, the water supply, transport and grid infrastructure gaps in a way that allows communities, businesses and nature to thrive.
The Liberal Democrats have consistently prioritised healthcare, particularly the NHS and social care, which are on their knees after years of neglect by the former Conservative government. I have already started advocating for fairer funding for our GPs with a letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, because the current funding formula is leaving them struggling to keep their heads above water.
Unfortunately, it seems the Conservative pledge to construct new hospitals has proven to be just another empty promise. In light of the Chancellor's recent statement, it was revealed that several infrastructure projects, including the 40 new hospitals, are under review as a result of the black hole in the country's finances. However, given the advanced stage at which it is at, the funding for Addenbrooke’s new cancer hospital must be protected and I look forward to meeting the health secretary to discuss these concerns. I will also be seeking guarantees that funding for the ground-breaking Cambridge Children's Hospital remains secure.
I am profoundly honoured and humbled by the trust that the residents of South Cambridgeshire have bestowed upon me. Their desire for change was evident and the outcome of the 4 July election was indeed historic, winning the seat away from the Conservatives for the first time since its creation.
I aim to be a hard-working, visible and accessible MP for all my constituents. Do look out for my regular surgeries that I will be organising around the constituency.
