It was an honour to be elected to be the first MP for the new constituency of Bicester and Woodstock on 4 July. I am grateful to the residents of the constituency for placing their trust in me. Whether you voted for me or not, I am here to represent you, and will do so through hard work here and in Parliament.
Before and during the campaign, I spent a lot of time in Eynsham, and appreciated the warm welcome from many residents. Produce from the market fuelled me in the last week of campaigning! I came to the Carnival on the Saturday after the election, and enjoyed the Shirt Race and festivities.
This new constituency is made up of many communities that have their own clear and distinct identities. Part of my job as your MP is to make sure that these differences are respected. There clearly are some pressing problems that concern the whole of Oxfordshire, and indeed the whole country. Things like the appalling pollution of our rivers and the neglect of the NHS in key areas including dentistry. But other issues are more local, including Eynsham’s ongoing concerns with the A40 and with the Botley West solar proposals.
One of my first tasks is to set up an office so that I can be as responsive as possible to the needs of residents, and I will share those details as soon as I have them.
I look forward to meeting many more Eynsham residents in the months to come, and I look forward to being an open, responsive and effective champion for you.