For this week’s column I’d like to discuss some of the achievements over the last twelve months from both my office and the government at large. Whilst the hustle and bustle of news can be drawn into who’s up and who’s down, I think it’s important to focus on what we’re delivering to make people’s lives better on a day-to-day basis.
In that vein, in my election campaign I had so many discussions with residents about the loss of Honda and advanced manufacturing jobs that were leaving the town, at the time I knew if elected I’d have to do something to encourage large employers to stay but also bring in new companies to the town. This mission to secure better jobs led me to the drone industry.
With threats to global peace from Russia and other antagonist states, alongside both our and NATO governments uplift to defence spending I recognised placing Swindon at the heart of the UK’ Drone strategy would not only deliver investment into our town, we would be building on the patriotic legacy of our spitfire building past. This mission has seen its first stages come to fruition with STARK, TEKEVER, Flyby and Munin Dynamics combined bringing in over 1,000 jobs to the town. Alongside this investment I’m working to secure several apprenticeships in both the drone industry and other skilled roles in the town and have petitioned for Swindon to receive one of the government’s new technical colleges – again delivering on an election promise to advance access to skills in our town.
With this work, it’s incredibly important to me that both the new jobs and educational opportunities go to the people of Swindon as I was elected to represent your interests and deliver change for you.
Alongside my personal work, the government have passed several landmark pieces of legislation this past year, most notable among them being Workers and Renters Rights.
The Workers Rights Act ends the use of fire and rehire preventing employers firing a worker, changing conditions and then rehiring them, reduces protections from unfair dismissal from two years to six months, introduces a right to reasonable notice for shifts so workers know when they’re working more than a day in advance and provides a minimum guarantee of hours so people know how much money is coming in each month.
The Renters Rights Act abolishes section 21 no-fault evictions and establishes an ombudsman for private renters and their landlords to prevent cases escalating to court. It also prevents agents accepting rent above market price, ending rent bidding. It will also give tenants stronger rights to pets and apply the decent homes standard and apply Awaab’s law so everyone can live in a safe home and expect repairs in a timely manner.
Therefore, I’m proud that over the last year I’ve delivered jobs here in Swindon and the government have delivered landmark changes that will make a real difference to people’s lives over the next few years.
I look forward to delivering more for the people of Swindon North in 2026.
As always if you need support, please do contact me at [email protected]