Caroline Voaden: Government too quick to abandon pledge to the planet

Parliament broke up for recess last Thursday and closed the door on what has been an incredibly busy first six weeks of the political year.

The news agenda has never felt faster and this term I’ve discussed everything from changes to Ofsted inspections, to misogyny, to a UK-EU Youth Mobility Scheme – and even foot-and-mouth disease.

As well as speaking regularly in Westminster, my team and I have dealt with 2,000 emails, had over 50 meetings, and I’ve visited schools, fisheries, Buckingham Palace and Brussels!

I wasn’t kidding when I said it’s been busy…

But it’s been very inspiring too, and nowhere more so than in education. Sitting on the Education Select Committee I’m lucky enough to listen to experts and campaigners every week who are trying to improve schooling for our children.

We’ve heard from some excellent witnesses already this year, including Claire Agnes Agyepong, founder and CEO of Global Black Maternal Health, who I questioned about SEND inclusion.

After I asked about the disproportionately high rates of SEND pupils being excluded in school, she highlighted the need to embed a SEND approach throughout schooling to change how behaviour policies are policed.

This is something I know many of you care deeply about. The SEND provision in this country is so poor that many children are running into a school’s behaviour policy before they get the care and support they need.

In Devon, just 4.9% of EHCPs are currently being delivered within the 20-week window and many parents are having to take the Council to court to get their children support.

One reason why I was so pleased to hear it confirmed that Devon County Council elections will go ahead this May, so we can deliver our verdict on the Conservative-run administration that has been failing our children for so long.

But, given the SEND backlog, we can’t afford to wait until May, and I’ve asked the Schools Minister for a meeting to discuss how we can speed up the delivery of EHCPs in Devon.

The environment is another topic that’s dominated my inbox this year. In fact, the expansion of Heathrow Airport was one of the issues I received most emails on.

Despite being nearly 200 miles away from South Devon, many of you recognise, as I do, that the decision to expand Heathrow sums up the Government’s approach to climate, which, to put it bluntly is: we care about the climate but not if it inhibits growth.

Another example of this thinking was the Government’s reaction to the Climate and Nature Bill. Debated last month, this landmark Bill could have marked out the UK as a leader on climate and nature restoration, but the Government made sure it was kicked firmly into the long grass.

I found this, combined with their backing for a third runway at Heathrow, pretty depressing and it throws into question how seriously they are committed to their promises on the environment.

The rumoured sign-off for the Rosebank oilfield will test these promises further. Please know, I’ll be doing everything in my power to hold the Government to account on its climate commitments.

I’ll also be pushing the Government to reconsider its decision to delay Torbay Hospital repairs until 2032, and to introduce a new funding model for pharmacies – two focuses of mine for this year.

Finally, on a different note, I’ve bravely (foolishly?!) signed up to take part in Strictly Rowcroft this year! Despite politicians’ mixed fortunes on dancing shows, I couldn’t be prouder to be doing this on behalf of Rowcroft Hospice, who do such vital work in our community.  

I hope to see many of you at the live show at the Princess Theatre in May, and you can find out more about the event here: strictly-rowcroft.raiselysite.com/caroline-voaden