News - Justin Tomlinson

Parliament Prorogues Ahead Of The King’s Speech

Oct 30, 2023

This week Parliament has prorogued, which means that the last parliamentary session has come to an end before the King opens the new session next week. During the last session the Government passed 39 bills. These included laws to stop the boats, bolster our energy security, and keep people safe by cracking down on disruptive protests, protecting children from harmful content online, and ensuring minimum service levels during strikes. Bills that received Royal Assent include: The Social Securi...

Swindon Advertiser Column - Prorogation Showcases Parliament's Rich History

Oct 26, 2023

The King’s Speech is coming up shortly, which means Parliament must ‘prorogue’ and draw a close to the current Parliamentary session. It is a fascinating period, which includes a number of traditions which date back over hundreds of years. During the period when Parliament is prorogued, neither the House of Lords nor House of Commons sit until the King has delivered his speech. There is always a lot of parliamentary business to clear before the speech, so it’s been a busy week as we have voted t...

£2 Bus Fare Cap Extended For Third Time

Oct 25, 2023

The Government has announced that the Get Around For £2 bus fare cap scheme will be extended again to continue to help people save money. The cap had been due to rise to £2.50 but will instead remain at £2, and continue until 31 December 2024 thanks to the redirected HS2 funding behind the new Network North plan. This takes total government investment to cap bus fares at £2 to nearly £600 million. Since the £2 bus fare cap was introduced across the UK on 1 January 2023, millions of passengers ha...

Justin Judges At The Swindon Beer Festival

Oct 20, 2023

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson attended the Swindon Beer Festival, where he played a very important role. Justin was invited the festival organisers to attend the festival as one of the judges for the Best Bitter category. The festival, now in its 35th year, showcases a variety of beers, ales and ciders from both the local area and from across the country - and this year’s event has a whopping 90 beers and ciders for visitors to try. In homage to the ongoing Rugby World Cup there were a handf...

Justin Wears It Pink In Support Of Breast Cancer Now Campaign

Oct 20, 2023

Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon, added a splash of pink to her usual Westminster attire to support Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink fundraiser, which will take place on Friday 20 October to raise vital funds for world-class breast cancer research and life-changing support. Justin was joined by other parliamentarians in Westminster this week, to raise awareness of one of the UK’s biggest and brightest fundraising events. Justin is calling for her constituents in Swindon to join hhim, as we...

Justin Open The Community Office For Mental Health First Aid Training

Oct 20, 2023

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson welcomed Draycott Sports Camp and Headstart Skillz to the Community Office as they undertook Mental Health First Aid training. The group spend the day in the office learning how to spot mental health issues in young people and intervene early to ensure they receive the correct help. The course taught the group: an in depth understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental illness t...

Swindon Advertiser Column - GWA Sport Pitch Decision Opens Up An Important Community Asset

Oct 19, 2023

I have been contacted by residents this week to highlight a campaign led by the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) ahead of the upcoming Autumn budget. The campaign is asking the chancellor to cut beer duty, end the ban on take home pints, extend business rate relief, and support pubs with rising energy costs. I absolutely understand the importance of pubs to local communities, and will certainly feed these suggestions in. The campaign was very well timed, as yesterday I was lucky enough to be a judg...

Justin Continues His School Engagement Work With Latest School Visit

Oct 19, 2023

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson continued his work to engage with local schools as he visited another Swindon School. It was the turn of Greenmeadow Primary School to take part in Justin's interactive assembly and learn more about the democratic process. Greenmeadow is just one of a number of schools Justin has visited over the last few weeks as he seeks to speak to young people and get them enthused about politics and the UK's democratic process. Justin said: "My school engagement work i...

Justin Catches Up With Blunsdon Community Shop

Oct 13, 2023

North Swindon MP, Justin Tomlinson, met with volunteers from the Blunsdon Community Shop, to learn more about how it is supporting the local community. Having been based in a portacabin for 19 years, the shop recently moved to a new brick and mortar building giften to the by the developer of a site nearby. Community shops are owned by members (also known as shareholders) and are run democratically on the basis of one‑member‑one‑vote. Membership is voluntary, affordable and open to all, and is th...

Swindon Advertiser Column - Expressing Solidarity With Terrorists Should Be Met With The Full Force Of The Law

Oct 12, 2023

If my recent round of local school assemblies is anything to go by then the future of UK politics is in safe hands. I’ve enjoyed recent visits to Haydon Wick & Rodbourne Cheney Primary Schools where pupils have enjoyed my school assembly in which we recreate Parliament, and pupils get to pass a school parliamentary bill based on what they would like to see – on both occasions it was more school sport. In only one assembly did the King choose not to grant royal assent, though thankfully chang...