Speaking to businesses and communities across North West Essex and the country, the message is clear—this Government does not understand the issues we are facing.
This is evident from their axing of Winter Fuel Payments without adequate means testing, which will see over 18,000 pensioners lose support here in North West Essex. Nationally, it means that roughly five out of six pensioners in poverty will lose hundreds of pounds from their annual income. It is an ill-designed policy, made worse by the fact that during the election, Labour said there was "no plan to change" the Winter Fuel Payment.
The Schools Bill that is going through Parliament is an act of educational vandalism, dismantling over 25 years of cross-party progress that has seen students in England steadily climb up international league tables. Academies like Joyce Frankland in Newport will lose freedoms, such as the ability to attract the most talented staff from all walks of life. Pressure from the Conservatives, working with schools across the country, has forced the Government to amend the bill to prevent an effective pay cut for 20,000 teachers, but much more needs to be done.
Many of you will be aware of National Grid’s proposals for overhead pylons across the south of the constituency. Local voices must shape these decisions, but so far, the Government is refusing to listen. I have been working with neighbouring Conservative MPs to push for a cost-comparable underground alternative that will protect our rural environment while building the infrastructure the country needs.
Businesses in our constituency have told me that the announcements in the Budget on employment National Insurance may mean they have to shut down. Local hospices, charities like UCAN, GPs, and pharmacies are concerned about the impact, and despite raising it directly with the Prime Minister at PMQs, the Government has not been clear on which public services will be exempt or compensated.
What’s more, Labour’s tax hikes on farms and small businesses risk harming family livelihoods and increasing food prices. Farmers in North West Essex have staged protests at local supermarkets against changes that will force family farms to split up and sell off land. I’ll continue standing up for our farmers and entrepreneurs, who contribute so much to our local economy.
Some of you may have seen my first speech of 2025 last month, which focused on the importance of rebuilding trust and making it clear that the Conservative Party is now under new leadership. From now on, our party is going to be telling the British people the truth—even when it is difficult to hear. The truth about the mistakes we made, the truth about the problems we face, and making sure we are an effective opposition where the Government is failing.
The easy thing now would be to throw out policy ideas, but as Labour is learning the hard way, policies without a plan are not policies—they're just announcements. We will set out a plan that benefits communities like ours in North West Essex, offering an alternative to this disastrous Government.
Kemi Badenoch