This was the toughest speech I've yet made, but an honour to recount the service and self-sacrifice of SSgt Olaf 'Oz' Schmid in Afghanistan. As a global leader in mine clearance and in support for victims, UK International Development Funding should return to 0.7%. youtube.com/watch?v=F_li...

Some highlights of the months in pictures. Full update on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/share/p/1KZb...

Beautiful Bourton on the Water!

Rain, sun and storms - none of it stops us communicating with residents throughout the year and not just at election time @libdems.org.uk

As a Member of Parliament for a rural constituency, I am gravely concerned by the Government's decision to abolish the Rural Services Delivery Grant from the local government funding settlement. I am pleased to have signed @timfarron.bsky.social and @vikkislademp.bsky.social letter to the SoS.👇

I am pleased FirstPort met with me and my Lib Dem colleagues in Parliament last week, but a pledge to address 'specific issues' sidesteps the broader cultural issues within the company, as evidenced by the breadth of national complaints. As the industry leader, it must do better for customers. 🔶

Lib Dem MPs will get a free vote on Friday's Terminally I'll Adults Bill. Cameron Thomas MP plans to vote Aye.

Tewkesbury is OPEN for business and is beautiful even in the rain!

As the effects of climate change continue to deepen, the government's National Planning Policy Framework must empower our local authorities to keep our remaining floodplains undeveloped. Thank you @steffanaquarone.bsky.social and @charlotte-cane-mp.bsky.social for the opportunity to speak. #LibDems

Forget the circus surrounding Jeremy Clarkson and consider the personal struggles faced by our farmers. These are robust and resilient people, but they're at breaking point. They deserve to be supported and the government must axe its Family Farm Tax. www.nctld.uk/news/article...

Today @cllrsarahhands.bsky.social and I had the opportunity to meet with @libdemcam.bsky.social before sitting in on the #EnvironmentalAuditCommittee to hear MPs raise questions before they produce their report on the National Planning Policy Framework #NPPF. Thanks Cameron for inviting us.

Interesting stats ahead of County & unitary elections next year. Labour sharply down, Tories gaining from them but @libdems.org.uk still moving forward. Bodes well for rural county results.

Made a fleeting visit to the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre this week. Throughout my RAF career, I'd not spent enough time operating alongside the RN or RM, so observing their training and equipment was a genuine eye opener.

Last week I had a wonderful time getting grilled by the children of Tewkesbury Church of England Primary School. "Messi is the more gifted footballer, Ronaldo is the greater athlete. Both are incredible." Thank you to the staff and children who are making this school so special.

The Milestone School in Longlevens is one of the largest special schools in Gloucestershire, hosting over 300 of our most vulnerable children. They've been awfully affected by flooding this year and I've written to the Education Secretary, to try to help them secure funding for a new building.

Did you know? Tewkesbury is the only town in Gloucestershire where the Town Crier, the local Reverend and the MP all use the same barber. Featuring Crier Rich Whincup and Reverend Nick Davies.

"You can't have a ten year plan for the NHS if you don't have a serious plan for social care too." Ed Davey talks to Laura Kuenssberg about the need for cross-party collaboration on social care. youtu.be/W8fZqmn83MQ

Tewkesbury Liberal Democrats are on Bluesky, serving our communities across Tewkesbury Constituency and Tewkesbury Borough.

Topical situation this evening after spending most of this week meeting residents in several parishes about issues with our Victorian systems!

A quick round up of last month! Really enjoyed the #LGA conference, meeting volunteers from GWSR railway, helped residents affected by flooding and met a royal visitor to name just a few highlights

Caught up with Channel 5 about excessive sewage dumping in Cotswolds rivers and the need for robust action from the new government 👇