Urgent need for Government commitment to progress Ely and Haughley junction improvements
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Urgent need for Government commitment to progress Ely and Haughley junction
improvements
Dear Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, and Chief Secretary to the
Treasury, the Rt Hon Darren Jones MP
The Government’s Plan for Change has made delivering economic growth across the UK its central mission. To achieve this, growth must be unlocked across every UK region. We are therefore writing to you to restate the six chief facts that make clear how upgrading Ely and Haughley rail junctions would directly contribute to the Government’s ambition to grow the whole of the UK.
These schemes have been in the pipeline for decades with the case for them strengthening year on year. They are now restricting growth and the country’s progress to cleaner, greener transport connections. We are now calling on Government to commit in this Spending Review to provide Network Rail with the funds to develop the Full Business Case for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancements, so it can be delivered as soon as possible with appropriate phasing, and to provide the relatively low level of funding needed to deliver the Haughley Junction upgrade.
The case for this investment is clear. It would:
1. Enable businesses from Land’s End to John O’Groats: Rail freight from the Port of Felixstowe primarily serves freight terminals in the Midlands, North and Scotland, with the greatest density of goods destinations being cities in the North of England. Unlocking this bottle-neck would increase international trade flows by enabling 2,900 extra freight services to and from the Port of Felixstowe every year, also releasing capacity on rail routes serving the growing Thames ports.
2. Unlock sustainable homes growth: It is anticipated that across the corridors which would see increased passenger services there will need to be 310,00 new homes built by 2404. People in these new communities will be the talent for the high-skilled, high-growth sectors in Cambridge, Peterborough, Norwich and Ipswich.
3. Relieve pressure on our stretched road network: By increasing capacity and reducing bottlenecks, taking 98,000 HGVs off the road and stimulating 277,000 extra rail passenger journeys per year, it will reduce congestion by 5.6 million hours per year. Ely is also referenced in the strategies of Transport for London, Transport for the North and Midlands Connect reflecting the knock-on benefits to capacity in the wider rail and road network.
. Payback the investment 5-fold: The scheme has a remarkably high benefit-cost ratio, returning £4.89 of benefits for every £1 invested. An additional £60m of wider economic benefits has already been identified within the Outline Business Case. However, this does not reflect fully the growth opportunities now centred on Cambridge and Peterborough, or the Freeports.
Align with, and unlock, private sector investment: Hundreds of millions of pounds have already been invested by the private sector in this trade corridor, including in new port capacity, vessels, rail rolling stock and logistics facilities. Only recently £130m has been invested from private sector levies to deepen the channel at the Port of Felixstowe. Public funding for Ely helps match and capture the full value of these prior investments, whilst also unlocking more in the future including upgraded rail freight terminal facilities and new bi-mode locomotives. But it needs clear signals from Government that rail freight capacity will be released.
Deliver greener transport: By supporting modal shift to rail, Ely will remove the need for 98,000 HGV journeys every year, and attract substantially more rail users as evidence of increased passenger frequencies across the East has already demonstrated. It would also reduce carbon emissions by 1.7m tonnes of CO2 over 60 years.
Delaying these projects further will delay national growth and productivity enhancements. We trust
you will view these schemes positively as you determine the Spending Review.
Yours sincerely
Jess Asato MP Co-chair, East of England APPG
Andrew Pakes MP Co-chair, East of England APPG
Marie Goldman MP Vice Chair,East of England APPG
Blake Stephenson MP Vice Chair,East of England APPG
Jack Abbott MP East of England Missions Champion
Alice Macdonald MP East of England Missions Champion
Bayo Alaba MP East of England Business Champion
David Burton-Sampson MP East of England Business Champion
Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group.
Adrian Ramsay MP presses Minister for urgent clarity on funding for UEA dental school.
11th of February 2026
Adrian Ramsay MP presses Minister for urgent clarity on funding for UEA dental school.
Adrian Ramsay, MP for Waveney Valley, has written to Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State for Care at the Department of Health and Social Care, seeking clarity on when funding will be confirmed to allow the University of East Anglia to open its new dental school.
The University of East Anglia has already secured General Dental Council accreditation, its new facilities will be completed this year, and it is ready to recruit its first cohort of students. The remaining barrier is confirmation of funded undergraduate places.
Speaking after sending his letter, Adrian Ramsay MP said:
“Norfolk and the Waveney Valley face some of the poorest access to NHS dentistry in England, while the East of England remains the only region without a dental training institution. Given the scale of unmet need across Norfolk and Suffolk, it is deeply frustrating that the only thing preventing dental teaching at UEA is confirmation of funding from the Department.
"Directing new training capacity to areas with the greatest need must be a priority if we are serious about improving access to NHS dentistry.”
In a Parilmentary debate this week Adrian said:
"The University of East Anglia stands ready to open a new dental school. It has permission from the General Dental Council but is awaiting the funded undergraduate dental places that will be needed to start training new dentists from 2027. Can the Minister set out how those places will be made available on the basis of regional need, so that dental deserts such as the east of England can start to build a sustainable dental workforce?"
Adrian Ramsay has again asked the Minister to set out the timetable for decisions on funded undergraduate places and how regional need will be reflected in the allocation process.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Full text of the letter is available here:
Dear Stephen,
I am writing to follow up on my recent remarks in the Adjournment Debate on NHS Dentists [5 February 2026] regarding the acute shortage of NHS dental provision across East Anglia and the readiness of the University of East Anglia to open a new dental school.
As you are aware, the University of East Anglia has secured accreditation from the General Dental Council, its new facilities will be completed this year, and it is prepared to recruit its first cohort from May 2026, with teaching due to commence in September 2027. The remaining barrier is the confirmation of funded undergraduate places, without which the school cannot begin teaching.
As I have raised on a number of occasions, the Norfolk and Waveney catchment area continues to experience some of the poorest access to NHS dentistry in England, with at least 3,000 patients for every dentist carrying out any NHS work, compared with around 2,220 patients per dentist nationally.
This is both a cause and a symptom of a wider structural problem: the East of England remains the only region without a dental training institution. This entrenched shortage makes the case particularly compelling for directing new training capacity towards areas of greatest need. I therefore welcome your indication that the Office for Students will play a role in allocating places and that ministerial advice will inform how those decisions are made.
Given the scale of unmet need in Norfolk and Suffolk, I would be grateful for further clarity on the expected timetable for decisions on the allocation of funded places for the University of East Anglia.
Expanding training capacity must also be accompanied by measures to ensure that graduates are supported to remain in underserved areas and within the NHS. As I have previously highlighted, this will require targeted incentives to encourage retention, alongside meaningful progress on reform of the NHS dental contract to make long-term NHS practice financially sustainable.
I would welcome your response setting out when funding for undergraduate places at the University of East Anglia is likely to be confirmed, and what advice will be provided to the Office for Students to ensure regional need is properly reflected in the allocation process.
UEA Dentistry School
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The Hon Stephen Kinnock MP
Minister of State for Care
Department for Health & Social Care
39 Victoria St
London
SW1H 0EU
10 February 2026
Dear Stephen,
I am writing to follow up on my recent remarks in the Adjournment Debate on NHS Dentists [5 February 2026] regarding the acute shortage of NHS dental provision across East Anglia and the readiness of the University of East Anglia to open a new dental school.
As you are aware, the University of East Anglia has secured accreditation from the General Dental Council, its new facilities will be completed this year, and it is prepared to recruit its first cohort from May 2026, with teaching due to commence in September 2027. The remaining barrier is the confirmation of funded undergraduate places, without which the school cannot begin teaching.
As I have raised on a number of occasions, Norfolk and the Waveney Valley continue to experience some of the poorest access to NHS dentistry in England, and the East of England remains the only region without a dental training institution. This entrenched shortage makes the case particularly compelling for directing new training capacity towards areas of greatest need. I therefore welcome your indication that the Office for Students will play a role in allocating places and that ministerial advice will inform how those decisions are made.
Given the scale of unmet need in Norfolk and Suffolk, I would be grateful for further clarity on the expected timetable for decisions on the allocation of funded places for the University of East Anglia. Expanding training capacity must also be accompanied by measures to ensure that graduates are supported to remain in underserved areas and within the NHS. As I have previously highlighted, this will require targeted incentives to encourage retention, alongside meaningful progress on reform of the NHS dental contract to make long-term NHS practice financially sustainable.
I would welcome your response setting out when funding for undergraduate places at the University of East Anglia is likely to be confirmed, and what advice will be provided to the Office for Students to ensure regional need is properly reflected in the allocation process.
Yours sincerely,
Adrian Ramsay MP
Letter to Secretary of State for Education about the direction of travel on the Government’s proposed reforms to SEND.
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Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this letter along with Sian Berry MP, Carla Denyer MP and Dr Ellie Chowns MP.
Dear Bridget,
We are writing to you collectively as the Green Party Members of Parliament to raise concerns about
the direction of travel on the Government’s proposed reforms to the system supporting SEND
provisions ahead of the anticipated White Paper.
This is a critical moment for children, families, and schools. It is vital that the proposed reforms do not
weaken a child’s legal right to an education that meets their needs at a time when the system is failing
to deliver for children and families. The Education Select Committee has been clear that the SEND crisis
stems from failures of delivery, capacity, and resourcing. Earlier intervention and inclusive education
are achievable within current law; weakening rights would worsen inequity and reduce families’ routes
to challenge decisions. Any reforms should seek only to strengthen provision, not dilute statutory
entitlements.
1. Long waits for diagnosis and Education, Health and Care Plans
Families consistently tell us that navigating the SEND system is one of the most distressing experiences
they face, particularly relating to unacceptable delays in diagnosis and in securing EHCPs. These delays
undermine early intervention, exacerbate children’s distress, and have lasting impacts on mental health
and educational outcomes. We are aware of cases where children have been placed in mainstream
settings despite being non-verbal because no specialist language unit places were available, and where
families must privately fund speech and language therapy (SALT) after receiving only one NHS
appointment. In other cases, delays by NHS trusts in assessments have directly prevented children from
accessing EHCPs and the support they need.
2. Insufficient support for inclusive education in mainstream schools
Government data shows that the majority of children with EHCPs are already educated in mainstream
settings. Special schools are for children with the most complex needs and should not be used as default
destinations. Many schools put support in place even before EHCPs are secured, often beyond what
resources allow. Without sufficient capacity, children who could thrive in mainstream settings with
appropriate adjustments can experience exacerbated problems and, in some cases, school avoidance.
There is also growing evidence that inadequate support for children with autism or ADHD/ADD can lead
to long-term mental health harm.
We consistently hear from teachers who are committed to inclusive practice that they lack the staff,
specialist expertise, and funding to meet the diversity of needs in the class. Teachers are operating
under intense and unsustainable pressure, with growing class sizes, rising levels of unmet need, and
insufficient specialist support. Many report expectations to deliver increasingly complex provision with
inadequate resources, contributing to burnout and low retention of teaching staff, and further
exacerbating resource pressures. This is a systemic failure, not a failure of school ethos or staff
commitment.
We are also concerned that rigid, standardised learning environments and testing create additional
barriers to inclusion. Children with SEND can show better academic and social outcomes when learning
is creative and dynamic, including through play and adaptive, relational approaches to education.
3. Shortages of suitable alternative provision and specialist places
For children whose needs cannot be met in mainstream settings, there is a serious shortage of
appropriate alternative provision and specialist placements. We are seeing prolonged periods where
children are left out of education altogether, moved repeatedly between placements that cannot meet
their needs, or placed in settings that even the schools themselves believe to be unsuitable. In some
cases, children have been out of education for a year or more, with devastating impacts on their
wellbeing and on families’ ability to work and function.
4. Financial pressures without improved outcomes
The National Audit Office has made clear that, despite increases in high-needs funding, outcomes for
children and young people with SEND have not improved consistently, and the system remains
financially unsustainable. DfE estimates that by March 2026 around 43 per cent of local authorities will
have high-needs deficits exceeding or close to their reserves, contributing to a cumulative national
deficit of up to £4.9 billion when current accounting arrangements end. This points to structural failure
and bottlenecks in assessment and provision. Bringing this liability onto national government will not
solve the problem with cost inefficiency.
5. Tokenistic engagement with families and professionals
We are concerned that recent ‘Conversations’ did not allow meaningful engagement from families or
professionals. Reform developed without genuine co-production risks repeating past mistakes and
undermining trust. Tokenistic engagement not only fails to improve policy design, but actively alienates
families and frontline staff whose expertise is essential to making reform work in practice.
6. Lack of clarity about how the reforms will improve support for all children
It remains unclear how the proposed reforms will improve the system’s ability to meet the needs of all
children and young people with SEND. The five ‘principles’ cited by Ministers are already embedded in
law and policy, so reforms should focus on making those duties work in practice, not on redesigning the
framework. Proposals that narrow eligibility for Education, Health and Care Plans or weaken routes of
redress risk excluding children whose needs are currently unmet and would undermine inclusive
education, rather than strengthening the system’s capacity to support every child to thrive.
Our requests
We ask for your clear assurance that the White Paper and associated SEND reforms will:
Address structural bottlenecks in education and health services that delay assessments
Expand and properly resource specialist and alternative provision so that no child is left without
suitable education.
Invest in workforce capacity and inclusive practice in mainstream school
Co-produce with families, children and young people, and frontline professionals.
Preserve and strengthen existing legal rights to support that meets their needs.
Retain access to SEND tribunals and effective routes of redress for families.
Prioritise full and consistent implementation of existing legal duties, including timely diagnosis,
assessment and early intervention.
We would welcome your feedback on the above suggestions which are made in good faith to support
this process. Our proposals were formulated following numerous conversations with parents and
professionals from across our four constituencies, with the sole aim of genuinely resolving the SEND
crisis while upholding the rights and wellbeing of children and young people. We believe that solving
systemic challenges with diagnoses and intervention, and with targeted investment in schools and
specialist settings, every pupil will have the support they require to thrive.
Yours sincerely,
Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this letter along with Sian Berry MP, Carla Denyer MP and Dr Ellie Chowns MP.
Letter to Chair of the Nursing and Midwifery Council on Government commitments to nursing career progression
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Ron Barclay-Smith
Chair of the Nursing and Midwifery Council
23 Portland Place
London
W1B 1PZ
Adrian Ramsay MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
09.02.26
Dear Mr Barclay-Smith,
I am writing to you regarding the proposed increase in registration fees for registrants with the
Nursing and Midwifery Council. I am concerned about the potential impact of these changes
on nurses, midwives and nursing associates across the country.
The proposed 19% increase in the main registration fee comes at a time of acute cost of living
pressures, alongside sustained real terms pay erosion.
I appreciate that professional regulators are reliant on their funding from registrants, but I am
concerned that this increase is disproportionate to the current rate of inflation and could
negatively affect recruitment, retention and workforce morale.
At a time when the NHS continues to struggle with staff shortages in many areas, we should
be doing all we can to ensure nurses, midwives and nursing associates remain in their roles
and encourage new people to join these professions.
This proposed increase is also likely to serve as a particular disincentive to the many part-time
workers in the health service or those considering reducing their hours before or after
retirement who must pay the full fee despite not receiving a full-time salary.
I recently heard from UNISON who highlighted concerns about the impact of the proposed
increase on registrants. UNISON represents over 1.3 million members across public services,
and a substantial proportion of their membership is made up of those professions regulated
by the NMC. A recent survey carried out by the union found that there is widespread opposition
to the fee increase, with only 10% of respondents considering it affordable.
I am aware of the NMC’s ongoing work to improve fitness to practice, promote equality,
diversity and inclusion and foster a positive organisational culture. However, forcing already
stretched nurses, midwives and nursing associates to pay significantly higher fees is not the
solution to address these challenges and could further damage trust in their regulator.
I therefore urge the NMC to reconsider your current proposals to increase registration fees
and to look at other options to increase your funding such as further targeted work to increase
the number of decisions made at the screening stage and reduce unnecessary referrals from
employers and members of the public.
I look forward to your considered response.
Adrian Ramsay MP
Waveney Valley
Pensions the PHSO Report Response
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Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
and Torsten Bell, Minister for Pensions
Department for Work and Pensions
Caxton House, 6-12 Tothill Street,
London
SW1H 9DA
BY EMAIL
6 February 2026
Dear Ministers
Re. Pensions Update 29 January 2026 on the PHSO Report Response
We collectively represent millions of women born in the 1950s and express our grave disappointment that the Government has once again chosen to reject compensation for the 1950s women affected by state pension age changes. This was the wrong decision, but you have the opportunity to put this right.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found that maladministration and injustice had occurred and, as a result, they recommended compensation.
In your Oral Statement on 29 January, you stated "[w]e also agree with the Ombudsman that women did not suffer any direct financial loss from the delay". However, this sadly represents only part of the PHSO's determinations which conclude with recommendations to compensate, not on the basis of ‘direct financial loss’ but on the basis of a ‘lost opportunity’ injustice. This has caused significant concern that the findings and recommendations of the PHSO’s report have not been fully considered in making the decision not to compensate.
To quote the full paragraph directly from their 2024 final report's summary of findings, in the section 'Injustice', page 8, paragraph 12:
"We find that maladministration in DWP’s communication about the 1995 Pensions Act resulted in complainants losing opportunities to make informed decisions about some things and to do some things differently, and diminished their sense of personal autonomy and financial control. We do not find that it resulted in them suffering direct financial loss." (Emphasis ours.)
Then in their consideration of 'Financial loss that is not direct financial loss', p68-69 they state:
"We do not think it is appropriate to quantify losses stemming from lost opportunities to make different choices in the way that we do with direct financial loss.... The sample complainants told us they lost out financially because they made decisions they would not have made if they had known, or known earlier, that their State Pension age had changed. Even if the sample complainants would have made different choices, any financial loss resulting from the choices they made is not direct financial loss. Their loss would flow primarily from the choices they made, for which DWP is not directly responsible or accountable. To decide what is an appropriate amount of compensation in these circumstances we apply our severity of injustice scale... When considering
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where a ‘lost opportunity’ injustice sits on the scale, we consider the significance of the opportunity that was lost." (Emphasis ours.)
Finally, in their consideration of injustice, section E. 5, page 83, paragraph 459, they state:
"For most sample complainants we consider the primary injustice is that they were denied opportunities to make informed decisions about some things, and to do some things differently, because of maladministration in DWP’s communication about State Pension age. That is a material injustice." (Emphasis ours.)
On the issue of financial remedy they state, at section F.3.1, paragraph 489:
“We have explained our thinking about where on our severity of injustice scale the sample complainants’ injustice sits. We would have recommended they are paid compensation at level 4 of the scale.” (Emphasis ours.)
Then at paragraph 502:
“As a matter of principle, redress should reflect individual impact. But the numbers of people who have potentially suffered injustice because of the maladministration, the need for remedy to be delivered without delay, and the cost and administrative burden of assessing potentially millions of individual women’s circumstances may indicate the need for a more standardised approach. HM Treasury’s ‘Managing Public Money’ requires compensation schemes to be efficient, effective and deliver value for money. It also says the administrative costs associated with compensation schemes should not be excessive." (Emphasis ours.)
And finally at paragraph 503:
“Parliament may want to consider a mechanism for assessing individual claims of injustice. Or it may consider a flat-rate payment would deliver more efficient resolution, recognising that will inevitably mean some women being paid more or less compensation than they otherwise would.” (Emphasis ours.)
As such, the PHSO clearly determined that compensation should be paid on the basis of ‘injustice’ and they advised that Parliament may wish to consider either an individual or flat rate compensation scheme. At no point in the report did they determine that issuing no compensation at all should be an option.
We believe that the PHSO’s advice to Government was clear and ignoring it is not only unprecedented, it also undermines the authority of the Ombudsman and sends a damaging message to the public about how the state responds when it gets things wrong.
Women pensioners have lost their homes and their savings, and their health has been impacted over this matter. The Government have rightly apologised for the wrong; now they need to put that wrong right.
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We urge you to urgently engage with the impacted women and reconsider this decision again. Yours sincerely,
Rebecca Long-Bailey MP (APPG on State Pension Inequality for Women Co-Chair) Bryn Davies, Lord Davies of Brixton (APPG on State Pension Inequality for Women Co-Chair) Rt Hon Sir Julian Lewis MP (APPG on State Pension Inequality for Women Officer) Liz Jarvis MP (APPG on State Pension Inequality for Women Officer)
Rt Hon Sir John Hayes MP
Abtisam Mohamad MP
Adrian Ramsay MP
Alison Hume MP
Andrew George MP
Andrew Ranger MP
Andy McDonald MP
Ann Davies MP
Anna Dixon MP
Anna Sabine MP
Apsana Begum MP
Beccy Cooper MP
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
Ben Lake MP
Brian Leishman MP
Carla Denyer MP
Cat Eccles MP
Cat Smith MP
Chris Hinchliff MP
Chris Webb MP
Clive Lewis MP
Colum Eastwood MP
Douglas McAllister MP
Elaine Stewart MP
Ellie Chowns MP
Emma Lewell MP
Euan Stainbank MP
Graham Leadbitter MP
Grahame Morris MP
Helen Morgan MP
Ian Byrne MP
Ian Lavery MP
Imran Hussain MP
Iqbal Mohamed MP
Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP
Jess Brown-Fuller MP
Jim Allister MP
Jo Platt MP
Jodie Gosling MP
Rt Hon John McDonnell MP
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John Milne MP
Jon Trickett MP
Jonathan Brash MP
Julia Buckley MP
Kate Osborne MP
Kim Johnson MP
Kirsteen Sullivan MP
Kirsty Blackman MP
Lauren Edwards MP
Lee Barron MP
Lee Dillon MP
Lee Pitcher MP
Lillian Jones MP
Rt Hon Liz Saville Roberts MP
Llinos Medi MP
Lorraine Beavers MP
Manuela Perteghella MP
Mary Foy MP
Mary Glindon MP
Michelle Scrogham MP
Nadia Whittome MP
Navendu MishraMP
Neil Duncan-Jordan MP
Olivia Blake MP
Patricia Ferguson MP
Paula Barker MP
Pete Wishart MP
Peter Dowd MP
Prem Sikka, Lord Sikka
Rachael Maskell MP
Richard Burgon MP
Robin Swann MP
Roz Savage MP
Ruth Jones MP
Sarah Champion MP
Sarah Dyke MP
Sarah Hall MP
Seamus Logan MP
Sian Berry MP
Dr Simon Opher MP
Rt Hon Stephen Flynn MP
Steve Darling MP
Steve Witherden MP
Tom Gordon MP
Rt Hon Valerie Vaz MP
Warinder Juss MP
Wendy Chamberlain MP
Yasmin Qureshi MP
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Adrian Ramsay MP welcomes today’s news that a new Post Office will open in the Eye this spring
5th of February 2025
Adrian Ramsay MP welcomes today’s news that a new Post Office will open in the Eye this spring, after the previous office closed more than two years ago and left residents without this vital service. District Councillor Lucy Elkin has worked to restore the post office service as soon as possible.
Adrian, speaking after learning the news, said
“I'm delighted that, following a lot of behind-the-scenes work from Green Councillor Lucy Elkin, Eye will soon have a permanent post office, located in a new convenience store. For far too long, residents have been left without this vital service since the previous post office closed over 2 years ago. With no bank in the town, having a post office is crucial for businesses and residents alike. In Parliament, I have been pushing the need for local post offices to be restored, and I congratulate Lucy, who has worked hard to restore the Eye post office service, assisting local postmaster Minesh Patel in finding a suitable location in the town. I wish Minesh, who already runs the post office in Mendlesham, all the best with this new venture and look forward to visiting.”
Adrian Ramsay MP visits Burston School and tours new community orchard bug hotel.
2nd of February 2026
Green Party MP for Waveney Valley, Adrian Ramsay, visited Burston Primary School this week, where he spoke at a school assembly and was shown the new bug hotel in the community orchard beside the school.
He was joined at the orchard by Green County Councillor Catherine Rowett, who helped the parish council secure funding for the project, and Vice Chair of the Parish Council Keith Cowley.
After speaking at the assembly, Mr Ramsay met with pupils who proudly showed him the bug hotel they had created to support local wildlife and biodiversity.
Speaking after the visit, Adrian Ramsay MP said,
“I always love speaking at school assemblies across Waveney Valley and the boys and girls in Burston were so enthusiastic about showing me their new bug hotel in the community orchard - a great way to foster their care for nature. It is really great to see the orchard thriving after so much work by the parish council supported by County Councillor Catherine Rowett.
ENDS
Adrian Ramsay MP has welcomed the Government’s announcement on business rates, after raising the issue in Parliament last week.
29th of January 2026
Adrian Ramsay MP has welcomed the Government’s announcement on business rates, after raising the issue in Parliament last week.
Adrian Ramsay MP, Waveney Valley, has welcomed the Government's announcement, after raising the case of Blue Boar in Walsham le Willows in Parliament last week. Adrian highlighted that, like village pubs across Waveney Valley and around the country, the Blue Boar would have faced significant increases in business rates from this April against a backdrop of rising costs such as national insurance, energy bills and food prices.
Adrian said,
"I was pleased the Minister engaged with me when I raised the impact of business rates on local pubs in Parliament last week. I broadly welcome the news that the Government is reducing and freezing business rates for pubs for the next three years.
“However, for local pubs to really prosper, the Government now needs to use the three year review period to properly engage with independent pubs across the country, particularly in rural communities like Waveney Valley, where pubs are socially and economically essential local businesses at the heart of their communities. This engagement is needed to build a long-term and sustainable future for independent pubs and needs to include things like reviewing VAT which has a big impact on the hospitality sector.”
ENDS
Adrian Ramsay visited Roydon Primary School, where he met with teachers and support staff and looked round the SHIP
29th of January 2026
Green Party MP for Waveney Valley, Adrian Ramsay, recently visited Roydon Primary School in Roydon near Diss, where he met with teachers and support staff and looked round the SHIP, the school’s new classrooms designed to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), which will open to children later this month.
During the visit, Adrian joined the school assembly, where he answered questions from pupils. Following the assembly, he was shown around SHIP (Specialist Hub of Inclusive Practice), where new classrooms have been created to help children with SEND access education in ways that work best for them, helping every pupil reach their full potential.
Adrian said,
“It was great to be shown around the SHIP, the school’s new classrooms supporting children with SEND needs. They provide the right support while keeping children at the heart of the Roydon School community.
"With fantastic new facilities and dedicated staff, this is exactly the kind of provision we need more of. Specialist support within the school benefits the children who are based in the SHIP and strengthens support to the wider school community as well.
"From my casework, it is clear there is a severe shortage of spaces like this. Too many children are not getting the support they need, whether in mainstream settings or alternative provision, and this also places huge pressure on teachers. More funding and support are clearly needed, and I will be responding to the government's forthcoming consultation to make this case and put forward the evidence from Waveney Valley."
More information on SHIP
The SHIP, located in Roydon Primary School, is run by Norfolk County Council and supports children from across a wide area. The provision, which has space for 16 children, has its own entrance and outdoor play area and is based on the same site as Roydon Primary School. This shared site allows all pupils, both in mainstream classes and in the SHIP, to benefit from being part of the same school community. The SHIP will open to pupils after the February half term.
Compensating women affected by the Government’s communication of State Pension age changes.
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Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Steve Darling MP.
The Rt Hon. Pat McFadden MP
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
January 2026
Dear Secretary of State,
Re: Compensating women affected by the Government’s communication of State Pension age changes.
We are writing following the out-of-court settlement reached between WASPI and the Government on 2 December 2025, and your commitment to undertake a full review of all the evidence relating to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO)’s investigation within 12 weeks.
We welcome your acceptance that the Government’s initial decision not to compensate 1950s-born women was flawed, and the new opportunity which has arisen to reconsider the case for compensation and restore public confidence in the independent bodies that exist to hold the executive to account.
Women born in the 1950s have suffered a clear injustice, as detailed in the PHSO’s thorough and comprehensive report which took six years to produce. The investigation concluded those affected were denied the opportunity to make alternative arrangements for their retirement and still suffer the consequences today.
As you know, the PHSO found maladministration in the way the DWP failed to act on its own research which showed that significant numbers of 1950s-born women did not know about forthcoming increases to their State Pension age. The DWP has yet to explain why this occurred.
The Government was right to carefully reconsider its position on the Winter Fuel Payment, Personal Independence Payments, and most recently, inheritance tax relief on agricultural properties. We hope the coming weeks will allow you to reach the right decision for 1950s-born women.
We urge you to update the House on your plans to ensure that women born in the 1950s are finally treated fairly and properly compensated at your earliest convenience, or by 24th February 2026 at the latest.
We look forward to your response.
Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by Steve Darling MP.
Letter to the Prime Minister urging a review of the business rates changes in the November 2025 budget.
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Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by the Music Venue Trust.
Keir Starmer MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA
Xx December 2025
Dear Prime Minister,
We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the decisions on business rates announced in the November 2025 Budget, which will have severe consequences for grassroots music venues (GMVs) across England.
We acknowledge the Government’s intended interventions to ease bills from business rates, including the transitional relief scheme and lower tax multipliers for hospitality. For grassroots music venues, however, these measures merely address symptoms rather than fixing the underlying problem.
Analysis of the incoming 2026 Rateable Values from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), conducted by Music Venue Trust (MVT), reveals a catastrophic picture. The GMV sector faces a collective £7.2 million increase in its tax base. Hundreds of venues will see rises of over 50% in their Rateable Value, with dozens experiencing increases of 100%, 200%, or more. In some cases, venues that have never previously been liable for business rates will now face bills of thousands of pounds. For venues operating on passion and razor-thin margins, these are not bills - they are closure notices.
Grassroots music venues are at the heart of communities and our constituencies. They provide jobs, entertainment, access to local culture, and vital platforms for emerging artists. Yet the VOA’s methodology values them solely as commercial property, blind to their cultural role, community function, and contribution as the research and development engine of the UK’s world-leading music industry.
This creates a direct contradiction: while the Government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan seeks to drive growth through culture, the VOA’s approach dismantles the very infrastructure on which that plan depends.
The November 2025 Budget compounds this crisis by reducing rate relief from 40% to zero, following the 2024 cut from 75% to 40%. The lower multiplier means a further reduction down to 12% instead of 40%. In 2024, the entire sector of 810 venues returned a gross profit of just £2.5 million yet was asked to absorb £7 million in additional premises taxes. Transitional relief cannot bridge this gap, nor that created by higher rateable values. Data from MVT shows that a venue with a rateable value of £30,000 will see its bill rise from £8,000 under 40% relief in 2025 to £11,000 with no relief in 2026, even on the lowest multiplier.
MVT projects that around 600 GMVs in England face an average 28% increase in business rates, with some reporting rises of 91%. Based on 2025 data, this will directly close 80–120 venues, place another 120–180 at risk, and lead to 200–300 closures over the next four to five years.
Of the 801 GMVs identified in 2025, 38.1% were registered as not for-profit entities, a 15.4% increase on 2024. Despite this number, very few venues receive discretionary rate relief due to dwindling local authority resources. MVT has repeatedly explored multiple avenues with local authorities to aid venues with business rates but, like transitional rate relief, it is merely a sticking plaster on a much deeper wound, and one that is now very rarely a viable option.
HMRC’s fiscal rules further exacerbate the crisis, as operators who can foresee future insolvency risk being deemed to trade recklessly. Once closed, these venues will not be replaced.
The fundamental flaw remains: the system is designed to value property, not cultural purpose. As long as venues are treated as speculative assets rather than cultural utilities, relief measures, however welcome, amount only to temporary stays of execution.
We therefore support the Music Venue Trust’s call for the immediate implementation of an emergency 40% rate relief for GMVs, akin to the relief granted to film studios in 2034, recognising GMVs as critical creative infrastructure.
Reform to date has not gone far enough and the effect on this sector is chilling. Events in these local GMVs sustain high streets across the UK by bringing visitors willing to spend money in hotels, bars, restaurants, shops, and taxis and other businesses.
Without urgent and thoughtful policy solutions, the outcome will be the continued closure of GMVs, with devastating consequences for communities, culture, and the UK’s music industry.
We urge you to act swiftly to safeguard this vital part of our national cultural infrastructure by introducing emergency rate relief for grassroots music venues and establishing a rapid inquiry into the valuation methods for event spaces.
Kind regards
Adrian Ramsay MP co-signed this cross-party letter initiated by the Music Venue Trust.
Adrian celebrates small and independent businesses and encourages everyone to show their support in the lead up to Christmas
4th December 2025
This week, in the lead up to Small Business Saturday, Waveney Valley MP Adrian Ramsay visited a number of small businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk and attended A Taste of Suffolk, Wine and Cheese in Parliament.
Speaking after the event, Adrian said,
“Small and independent businesses are the backbone of our communities. They create local jobs, bring life to our high streets, and help our market towns thrive. Their success sends out benefits that reach well beyond any single town or high street.”
After speaking with Flint Vineyard, Adrian said,
“Waveney Valley is blessed to have a diverse and thriving independent business like Flint Vineyard just outside Bungay. It is creating outstanding wine - showing the diversity of what can be grown in East Anglia - and supporting local jobs. Reducing VAT for hospitality and reversing the employer National Insurance rise, as the Green Party has proposed, would ease pressure on small businesses like this.”
Adrian added that he always makes a point of visiting local traders.
“Whenever I am in one of our market towns, I try to drop into a few businesses, including local gems such as Zoe’s Kitchen, a beautiful cafe by The Mere in Diss. I talked to the owner about the challenges of rising costs and also about how there's a lot of support locally for our high streets.”
Why we urgently need more banking hubs in Suffolk
29th of October 2025
Recently spoke in a debate in Parliament about an issue affecting communities across Waveney Valley and beyond: the urgent need for more banking hubs in rural areas. Nationwide, an average of 53 bank branches have closed every month since 2015 and over 85% of banks across Waveney Valley have shut during that same period. This situation is not sustainable.
With advances in technology, banking has become easier for many people. But not everyone can, or wants to, bank online. Many people still prefer face-to-face contact, and many small businesses depend on handling cash safely. As you all know, getting reliable broadband and mobile signals in parts of the constituency can be hard at the best of times, so it is not realistic to expect everyone to "just use the app".
Access to banking should never depend on owning a smartphone or having a fast internet connection. That is why banking hubs are invaluable. They bring physical access that so many people rely on.
In Halesworth, the recent closure of the post office that was housed in Coopers has really affected access to banking. This will be made worse when Barclays, which has been operating a weekly pop-up at the library for some time, closes its service in December as well. Alongside our Green councillors I have been urging the post office to prioritise the search for potential alternative sites in Halesworth.
Meanwhile, Eye has been left with just one cash point, no banking facility and no post office. Green Councillor Lucy Elkin has been working with local business owners to try to bring a post office back to Eye. These losses show exactly why banking hubs are essential and why the Government must accelerate the rollout of the hubs. Like in Eye, Bungay has lost all banks and the Barclays banking service in the library has also closed.
I frequently hear from residents and business owners that managing everyday banking has become increasingly complex without a local branch. People are struggling to deposit cash, pay bills, or receive in-person advice. Small businesses that handle cash daily are finding it harder to bank their earnings safely. Older residents who do not use online banking are at an extra disadvantage as they must travel to the nearest town. For those without cars and with poor public transport links, the loss of local banking services is a serious barrier to independence.
That is why I have been calling for the Government to accelerate the rollout of banking hubs across the country, prioritising rural areas. A banking hub is a shared space where the post office and several high street banks work together to provide face-to-face services. Customers of different banks can visit on set days to withdraw or deposit cash, pay in cheques, or get advice from a representative of their own bank.
In Harleston, a banking hub has been operating in a temporary location for some time, making an enormous difference. It helps keep people coming into the town centre, supports local shops and cafés, and ensures that vital financial services remain accessible to everyone.
We need the long-term future for existing banking hubs to be secured, and we need more hubs across our region. Banking hubs are not just about convenience. They are about fairness and inclusion. They allow everyone, regardless of age, income, or digital ability, to manage their finances confidently.
It is deeply worrying to see banks withdraw entirely from communities, especially while many report record profits. Access to banking is not a luxury. It is an essential service that underpins local economies. When banks close, the impact is felt across the community. Small businesses lose cash services, older residents lose independence, and high streets lose footfall. A thriving market town needs essential services that keep it connected and alive.
I’ve been worried seeing banks leaving our community, especially as the high street banks are reporting record profits. Access to banking cannot be treated as a luxury for the future. It is an essential service, and when private banks cannot or will not provide it, the Government must ensure that communities are not left behind.
I will continue to raise this issue in Parliament and with both the Post Office and the Treasury. We cannot allow rural East Anglia to become a patchwork of communities without access to cash or local banking. Halesworth, Eye, Bungay and other rural towns deserve better, and I will keep fighting to make sure they get it.
Adrian is proud that he & his staff are Dementia Friends
14 October 2025
Local MP Adrian Ramsay is proud that he & his staff are Dementia Friends. Recently, the local branches of the Alzheimer's Society gave training to Adrian Ramsay MP and his team. After the training, Adrian said:
“I am proud to share that my constituency team and I are now all fully qualified Dementia Friends, thanks to the support of the Alzheimer’s Society. I cannot thank the Society enough for working with my team.
With one in three people born in the UK today expected to develop dementia in their lifetime, we all must understand more about the condition and how to support those affected. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, but there are many types, and all have a profound impact on individuals and families.
As part of the Dementia Friends training, we learned five essential facts that everyone should know:
Dementia is not a natural part of ageing
Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain
Dementia is not just about losing your memory
There is more to the person than the dementia
A little understanding makes a big difference
I encourage everyone to consider becoming a Dementia Friend. Small steps in understanding and kindness can help make our communities more supportive and inclusive for people living with dementia and their loved ones.”
Hana Richardson, Alzheimer’s Society Local Services Manager, said: “This has been a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness, reach those that might need our support and create a society of Dementia Friends within the local community in Norfolk and Waveney.
“Around one million people are living with dementia in the UK. The impact of dementia is devastating. It can often leave people feeling excluded and cut off from everyday life. Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends is all about increasing people’s understanding of dementia and inspiring everyone to make a difference for people affected in their communities. It could be checking in on a friend who is caring for someone with dementia, being more patient in the shop queue or taking part in a fundraising event. Whatever you choose to do, a little understanding makes a big difference.
“At Alzheimer’s Society, we know the steps it will take to create a future where dementia no longer devastates lives. No one can beat dementia alone. It will take a society to beat it. Join us and become a Dementia Friend today, visit dementiafriends.org.uk”
The Government has finally acknowledged the NHS dentistry crisis. Now it must take action.
8th of August 2025
When I stood for election a little over a year ago, the one issue that came up time and time again was the near-complete collapse in access to NHS dental care locally. It was raised by parents who couldn’t get appointments for their children, and by people sometimes travelling hours just to be seen. I’ve even spoken to people in so much pain that they resorted to pulling out their teeth. This cannot be right.
I’ve long believed that dentistry is the forgotten sibling of the NHS. A vital service that has been chronically underfunded for decades.
From day one in Parliament, I made it a priority to press the Government on this issue. I’ve repeatedly raised it on the floor of the House, submitted questions, and met with the British Dental Association (BDA) and the campaign group Toothless in England multiple times to hear directly from those on the front lines. Their message has been consistent: the current system is broken.
Dentists are willing and able to help, but many are leaving NHS work because the contract model is unworkable, and the funding is not there. That is why I have sought to work with the BDA to secure a new workable contract - one that serves dentists, patients, and the NHS.
The Government’s response until now has been lacklustre to say the least. They have promised reforms that never materialised and continued to allocate funding that, infuriatingly, went unspent. In fact, despite the Government’s initial action and announcements and schemes that were supposed to fix things, the proportion of dentists working in the NHS in Norfolk and Waveney continues to drop.
I took the opportunity in Parliament last month to ask the Minister of State for Care whether the recently announced additional funding for the Department of Health and Social Care would lead to substantial investment in NHS dentistry. I asked a simple, direct question. Will the Government ensure that the extra funding that has been put into the Department is actually reflected in extra funding for NHS dentistry?
This time, the Minister gave a clear and welcome commitment. He said, and I quote, “Every penny that is allocated to NHS dentistry must be spent on NHS dentistry.” He also acknowledged how outrageous it is that we have seen underspending in dentistry budgets at a time of rising demand. Crucially, he recognised that areas like East Anglia, which have been underserved for years, must be prioritised.
As someone who has worked consistently on this issue, both inside and outside Parliament, I am pleased that the Government is finally starting to recognise the scale of the problem. But let’s be clear. Words are not enough. Promises mean little unless they are followed by action. What we need is for this Government to live up to its commitment to spend every penny allocated to NHS dentistry, and to follow through as soon as possible with the contract reforms so we can stop – and then reverse – the exodus of dentists from the NHS.
For people in Waveney Valley and across East Anglia, this needs to result in more NHS dentists on the ground. It needs to mean appointments that are available when needed. Patients must not be forced into private treatment or left waiting for months or longer for basic care.
There is also a broader question here about how we view dentistry as part of our health system. For too long, dental care has been treated as a separate or second-tier service. That must change. Oral health is not an optional extra, it’s a vital part of our overall health. Until the Government sees this, we are going to get nowhere in improving our overall wellbeing.
Untreated dental problems can lead to severe pain, serious infections, and, in some cases, leave people unable to eat. Tooth decay is the number one reason for hospital admission for children – a total scandal. The idea that this essential part of healthcare is now out of reach for so many people is not just unfair. It is a public health failure.
The Government may have come to its senses on NHS dentistry, but this must now be a turning point, not just a passing gesture. In the months ahead, I will continue to work with the BDA and Toothless in England to push for tangible action, not just words.
No one should be in pain because they cannot afford to see a dentist. No child should be denied basic healthcare because of where they live. It’s time the Government made good on its promise and delivered NHS dentistry that works for the people who need it most.
I will not let this issue drop. I will continue to fight for a system that works, for patients, for dentists, and communities like ours.
Adrian Ramsay MP Welcomes Swift Brick Pledge and Calls for Greener, Nature-Friendly Housing Standards
7th August 2025
Adrian Ramsay MP, Co-Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales and Member of Parliament for Waveney Valley, has welcomed Saffron Housing Trust’s new commitment to install swift bricks in all suitable new build homes on their future developments – calling the move “A great example of what should become the norm, not the exception.”
Saffron Housing announced that they have made this decision following representations from Adrian Ramsay on behalf of his constituents.
Speaking on the commitment Adrian Ramsay MP said
“With swifts now on the UK’s Red List, we urgently need to protect and restore their nesting sites. That is why I welcome Saffron Housing Trust's commitment to install swift bricks in all suitable new build homes on their future developments. Swift bricks are a simple, low-cost solution that offer real benefits to these birds and many other species.
“We need to make nature-friendly design and high environmental standards the norm in all new developments. We must build homes that are fit for the future – that means measures that are good for wildlife, and also measures that are good for people and reducing bills such as including renewable energy and high insulation standards as a matter of course. I commend Saffron Housing Trust for taking this step and I want to see all housing providers ensuring the highest environmental standards.”
Marie Baynham-Davies - A member of Halesworth Swifts and Suffolk Save Our Swifts who highlighted the issue with Adrian in a constituency surgery, said
“This is a real boost for swift populations which have declined by 66% since 1995. Insulation in modern developments means buildings provide no natural nest sites for birds. Swift bricks provide a safe cavity for swifts to nest in and cost less than a nest box but last the lifetime of the building. It is fantastic that Adrian Ramsay is supporting the use of Swift bricks, and we hope that Saffron Housing's decision to install them shows that putting bricks in new developments is an achievable target for all planners and developers.”
ENDS
For more information, visit https://www.actionforswifts.com and https://hannahbournetaylor.com/the-feather-speech-campaign-for-swifts/
Saffron Housing announcement https://www.linkedin.com/posts/saffron-housing-trust-limited_socialhousing-developments-environmental-activity-7358888552119615489-G4h2?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAACXkKVkBzhFvdiHzxiiRBBCGJvHQaqgifLM
Adrian Ramsay MP joined the local community in celebrating Pride in Bungay over the weekend.
22nd of July 2025
Adrian Ramsay MP, Co-Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales and Member of Parliament for Waveney Valley, proudly joined community members at this year’s Pride celebration in Bungay to show support for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility.
Adrian Ramsay MP said at the end of the event "Pride is a time to celebrate the progress we have made in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and to uphold the idea that everyone deserves to live in safety, dignity, and with equal respect. I was pleased to support the residents of Bungay who are dedicated to ensuring we have an inclusive and welcoming community."
My first year as an MP
4th of July 2025
It’s hard to believe that it’s only a year ago that voters went to the polls, threw out the Conservatives and gave Labour its huge majority - and I became the first MP for the new Waveney Valley constituency, and one of four Green MPs, quadrupling our representation in Parliament.
The past 12 months have been a whirlwind and this seems a good moment to reflect on what’s happened since my election.
To start, the fortunes of both Labour and the Conservatives have tumbled. Labour’s promise of change has turned into more of the same brutal cuts to public services, causing them to haemorrhage support, while the Conservatives have slumped even further in opinion polls, to the point where their actual survival as a party is being questioned.
I’m glad to say that, in contrast, the Greens have built up our support across the country, while in Parliament I and my fellow Green MPs continue to hold the Government to account on issues ranging from support for public services to protection of the environment.
I’ve challenged ministers on the disastrous state of NHS dentistry in East Anglia; on cuts in education spending and the pressures on SEND provision; on the failure to address the roots of poverty; on the betrayal of farmers not only with the badly conceived changes to inheritance tax rules but also the abrupt pause to funding for sustainable farming; on the need to listen to residents’ concerns about the proposed new pylons route and properly consider alternatives for much-needed improvements to the electricity grid; and on the Government’s refusal to take a stand on the Israeli government’s attacks on civilians in Gaza – to name but a few of the issues that I know are important to my constituents.
Only last week, during Prime Minister’s Questions, I called on Keir Starmer to scrap the two-child benefit cap and the totally unacceptable cuts to universal credit for ill and disabled people which will push more and more people into poverty.
I’ve spoken about the lack of flood preparedness in Norfolk and Suffolk and given my backing to local natural flood management projects. I’ve highlighted the urgent need to hold water companies to account for the damage they have done to our rivers and beaches. I initiated and led a debate on the welfare of farmed animals and the horrifying increase in industrial factory farming. I believe in working with MPs from other parties in areas where we can agree and I’m glad that in both these areas, there has been cross-party support. Too often, the tribalism of our politics gets in the way of resolving some of the many challenges we face.
That is why I have supported the Government’s commitment to tackling the climate and nature crises – the issue which above all others brought me into politics. I only wish its actions lived up to its ambition, rather than pandering to the interests of the fossil fuel industry by pledging huge public investment in carbon capture and storage and keeping open the option of more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
When I was elected last July, I promised to be an active and visible MP in Waveney Valley. And this has been a key focus of my work – holding more than 40 constituency surgeries over the past 12 months and visiting many of the schools, businesses and local organisations across the constituency. I’ve received and replied to more than 4,100 emails from constituents voicing their concerns, whether it’s on national policy or their own difficulty in accessing vital public services.
I know people in Waveney Valley are proud of the area they live in and want to protect it. But I also know you feel let down by the loss of local services and the degradation of the local environment. The lack of NHS dentistry is a prime example of the erosion of public services so it’s disappointing that each time I have raised this with ministers, and the Prime Minister himself, I am fobbed off with promises of addressing the issue – but no firm date for reforming the NHS dental contract which is the root cause of the problem. I will keep up the pressure on this crucial issue.
I knew when I stood for Parliament that Waveney Valley was a remarkable place with a real sense of community. The people I’ve met over the last 12 months and the organisations I’ve visited have only made me even more proud of our great communities. It is a huge honour to be your MP.
I promised when I was elected that I would be Waveney Valley’s voice at Westminster, not Westminster’s voice in Waveney Valley. I hope I am fulfilling that promise as I continue to fight for the interests of all my constituents and ensure your voice is heard in the corridors of power.
Reflecting on his first year as an MP.
3rd of July 2025
Reflecting on his first year as an MP, Adrian Ramsay says his focus is on being active and visible in Waveney Valley while also championing local concerns in Parliament.
“As a proud East Anglian, it’s a real honour to serve as the MP for Waveney Valley. From day one, I’ve worked to be a visible voice for Waveney Valley. As I said in my maiden speech, I’ve sought to be Waveney Valley’s voice in Westminster and not Westminster’s voice in Waveney Valley.”
One year on, he says he remains committed to that promise.
"I’ve championed a wide range of local concerns in Parliament, from the need to restore NHS dentistry and other health services to pressing for more affordable housing and adequate funding for local schools and for nature friendly farming.”
He continued
“I’ve also been very active and visible in the constituency – which was the main thing residents told me they wanted when I was campaigning for election. I’ve visited businesses, charities, community groups and schools across the constituency and given support to a wide range of excellent local initiatives from natural flood management to the indoor marketplace in Diss and supporting Waveney Foodbank.”
In closing he said
“I’ve also taken up a wide range of issues. My team and I have supported hundreds of constituents with individual cases, responded to over 4,000 pieces of correspondence from constituents, and I’ve held more than 40 surgeries.
“It’s a huge privilege to represent such a wonderful area.”
ENDS