In November, thousands of farmers gathered outside Parliament to protest the ‘Family Farm Tax’, which will land farmers with an inheritance tax bill costing hundreds of thousands of pounds. We then forced a vote in Parliament on the tax, as it was announced in the Budget without any consultation. Over 170,000 people across the country, including more than 1,000 from South Shropshire, signed our petition to axe the tax. This vote was an opportunity for government's MPs to stand united with us, the farming communities, and hold Ministers to account on this brutal act of rural vandalism. Farmers are the stewards of our environment and the producers of the food on our tables. They have my full support.
It was great to visit Ludlow Market and meet representatives from the hospitality sector. They will also be impacted by a key decision in the Budget: increasing employer’s National Insurance Contributions. I have also been contacted care homes in South Shropshire. Just like businesses in the hospitality sector, they will be impacted by the tax hike, which costs an extra £800 per employee. They provide places for thousands of elderly and vulnerable people, with 31% of residents in South Shropshire being aged 65 or over. Together with our GPs, dental practices, pharmacies, and hospices, they offer vital services in our local community. I believe that there is still much more the government can do to help these sectors.
7th December marked Small Business Saturday. This was an ideal opportunity to support thousands of enterprises in South Shropshire that provide the goods and services we all rely on. They create the jobs, growth, and revenue that helps our community to flourish. I would encourage everyone to nominate their favourite small business via my website and support them throughout the winter and beyond to keep them thriving. I also invite every small business to take part in my online local priorities survey.
Bereavement can be traumatic at any age, especially as a child. I know this from my own experience. My father, Samuel, died when I was just aged eight. In Parliament, I was delighted to meet John Adams. A funeral director from Bridgnorth, John has a similar experience of childhood bereavement. He was just 12 when his mother, Maria, died. This inspired him to launch a petition for content on death, dying, and bereavement to be added to the National Curriculum. His petition has been signed by 11,322 – including 1,699 from Ludlow, Bridgnorth, and the surrounding areas. I was pleased to endorse John's campaign in a parliamentary debate. I spoke about how during my personal experience, nobody – not even my teachers – knew what to say, so my bereavement was never discussed. Schools can play an integral role in supporting children and families with the emotional impact of such a devastating loss. We must better equip them to do so.
In December, my advice surgeries returned to Much Wenlock. This marked my 53rd surgery appointment, which have been touring South Shropshire since my election. I have responded to over 3,000 cases spanning areas such as health, education, and housing. Road safety is also a major issue. From your feedback, I have identified key hotspots and got to work in addressing this issue. I was delighted to meet Morville Speed Group alongside the Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion and local council candidate Dominic Stanford, who has been championing these issues. Together, we are determined to tackle speeding and build safer neighbourhoods. I was also pleased to meet Ludlow Town Council, present businesses in Much Wenlock with awards for their contribution to ‘Plastic Free Much Wenlock’ and to visit Shropshire Hills National Landscape Team. It was fantastic, too, to meet local groups and businesses such as Community Money Advice, Tough Furniture Ltd., SAS Utilities, Craven Arms Mosque, and the Royal Mail Delivery Office in Craven Arms as it gears up for the festive period.
