Steve Darling: Government might be U-turning but I'm committed to fixing our public services

It has now been just over a year since I was elected to represent Torbay in Parliament.

I remain deeply honoured by the trust you have placed in me and committed to working every day to deliver for our community.

Over the past 12 months, I have responded to more than 9,000 pieces of casework and policy queries, sent over 16,000 emails, and submitted hundreds of written questions in Parliament. My focus has been clear: to stand up for Torbay and to push for meaningful change both locally and nationally.

Here at home, we have made real progress. We successfully protected Paignton Post Office from closure, stopped some harmful pPCI coronary care plans being taken forward and secured Warm Spaces for residents during the winter months. 

I also lobbied hard for government investment in Torquay, and I was pleased to see a minister publicly acknowledge this.

In Westminster, I have taken a firm stand against unfair welfare proposals. I opposed cuts to Personal Independence Payments and the Winter Fuel Allowance, helping to secure reversals that protect vital support for vulnerable people. 

I have submitted hundreds of parliamentary questions and motions, ensuring that Torbay’s concerns are heard loud and clear in the corridors of power.

Looking ahead, one of my top priorities is securing £350 million in funding to upgrade Torbay Hospital. 

Our hospital is one of the oldest in the country, with more than 80 percent of its estate rated as poor or bad. Patients and staff are dealing with unacceptable conditions, including sewage leaks, ventilation failures, and even tuberculosis exposure in the mortuary. 

The previous government promised this funding but failed to deliver. Earlier this year, we learned that work might not begin until 2035. That is simply not acceptable. I have called on ministers to release the funding immediately and to fast-track their review of social care, which is currently expected to take three years. That review must be completed by the end of this year.

The Government’s one-year anniversary was marked not by progress, but by confusion and controversy. 

Its Welfare Reform Bill stumbled through Parliament in a chaotic and poorly managed process. As the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions, I led our party’s response in Parliament last week.

The Bill was rushed through without a full impact assessment. It would have cut support for new Personal Independence Payment claimants and created a damaging two-tier system. 

It also puts thousands of carers at risk of losing Carer’s Allowance, simply because their eligibility depends on the needs of the person they care for.

I have consistently challenged this legislation in Parliament and across the media. Communities like ours in Torbay understand the real impact of welfare decisions. This plan would hurt those who need help the most. 

While the Government has now dropped the proposed cuts to PIP, the Bill remains deeply flawed. It is a patchwork of U-turns and short-term fixes that fails to address the root causes of the problems in our welfare system.

They need to go back to the drawing board. A fair and sustainable welfare system should be built on solid foundations. That means reducing costs by fixing the crisis in social care, cutting NHS waiting lists, and helping people find secure and meaningful work. Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for a system that supports, rather than punishes, those who need it most.

As always, I am here to help. If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can email me at steve.darling.mp@parliament.uk or call 07908 349347. For regular updates on my work in Parliament and across Torbay, sign up for my newsletter at torbaylibdems.org.uk/newsletter.