The world’s on a roller coaster and there’s a lot of news. Buried amid the moves towards peace in Ukraine, and among briefing on welfare reform and the scrapping of NHS England, Defra quietly suspended the Sustaining Farming Incentive, a key part of the post-Brexit agricultural subsidy system. This comes on top of the decision to hit family farms with 20% inheritance tax, and the new plan to authorise Compulsory Purchase Orders of agricultural land for housing, power stations, rewilding, and anything else the Government thinks matters more than food production, or private property. There was a debate in the Commons on farming - I couldn’t be there as I was in the second chamber, Westminster Hall, representing the opposition in a debate on education for young carers; but I made this little video with a summary of what I’d wanted to say.
As for Ukraine, I’ve had a lot of correspondence from constituents about the behaviour and policy of Donald Trump - on that and other topics - and this is what I replied:
“Without going into specifics on Ukraine or other areas, I will lay out my general view about the new American leadership. In my opinion we need to distinguish between the style of Mssrs Trump, Vance, Musk et al (often brash, rude, and ignorant of detail), their policies (a mixed bag, with some steps - in my view - in the right direction on immigration, trade with China, and reform of the Washington bureaucracy, albeit mistakes will no doubt be made in these areas, and others, too), and their strategy or vision, where I am in strong agreement with them. The world needs a better governing idea than the march of progressive liberalism, which has failed to deliver social stability or economic prosperity at home, or peace abroad. Trump's worldview is one of realism, a recognition that international affairs are a competition between powers (and that this competition, if well managed, keeps the peace), and that the job of a nation's government is promote the interests and reflect the values of its citizens. When the nation in question is the most powerful on earth, and the effective leader of the West, it has additional responsibilities to the rest of the world, which I earnestly hope the new administration will fulfil.”
Speaking of war, I spoke briefly in the statement on the Government’s (very good) plans to mark VE Day this year, the 80th anniversary. I cheekily took the opportunity to make the case for special commemoration in Wiltshire, the launchpad of Operation Overlord. Thousands of men left our bases for France in 1944, never to return. See here.
I had a sad visit to the pedestrian crossing over the railway at Pewsey where an elderly lady and her dog were killed by a train last month. The footbridge she normally used has been closed for repairs since last summer, but no work has even started. I met the deceased lady’s neighbours, who told me the bridge was built 120 years ago when residents complained to Lloyd George, the relevant minister, after the death of a boy on the level crossing. Since I posted this video Network Rail have been in touch to fix a meeting to explain (I hope) when the bridge will be fixed.
A happier visit to St Mary’s, Marlborough - an outstanding primary school (Ofsted don’t use these single-word descriptors anymore but it’s clear from their recent report this school is excellent in all respects) which supports a large number of children with special needs or challenges at home. Here I am with the deputy head making an appeal for support for their lovely Forest School.
Some other topics I’ve got stuck into: on the lethal A338/A346 here, and the government’s plans for roads through Wiltshire generally, here; on bovine TB here; on solar farms here; and on smartphones and children here. I’ll spare you the latest on the Assisted Dying Bill, whose committee stage is approaching its end with the Bill (in my view) now more dangerous than the version the Commons approved in November.
