The gambling industry has had a free pass for too long. Today, Liberal Democrats have passed bold new policy to put public health at the heart of gambling regulation, read more from @maxwilkinson.bsky.social www.libdems.org.uk/news/article...

I hosted a Parliamentary reception for some of the brilliant people working hard to build on the success of Cheltenham’s biggest sector: cyber security and tech. We heard from two students on vocationally focused cyber security degree courses. 1/2

There's currently a funding gap of £70million for the junction 10 project, due to inflation caused by delays. I will continue pressuring Ministers from across different departments to prioritise this project, particularly as the Golden Valley development is of national significance.

The arrest of four people after this incident is an outrageous affront to the freedom of expression enjoyed by UK citizens. It is a human right we all enjoy and is protected in law. 1/2

I joined members of the local community & Parish Councillors to officially ‘open’ new exercise & play equipment at Salisbury Avenue Park. It was great to see what the investment means to local people of all ages & to hear how students at Bournside School were involved in choosing the equipment. 1/2

"Farage said Brexit would fix our borders — instead, it’s made things worse.” @MaxWilkinson.bsky.social

It was wonderful to host so many Cheltonians in Parliament this week as part of my Unlocking Democracy Tours. Visitors enjoyed a Parliament tour before sitting in Westminster Hall to discuss flooding, planning, the state of Cheltenham’s roads and the economy. Thank you to everyone who came along.

I spoke to BBC Gloucestershire about the positive impact of the proposed Midlands Rail Hub. Hundreds of new services will mean easier access to the midlands from Cheltenham. Before the spending review I joined cross party efforts to keep the project on the agenda. I’m delighted it will progress.

I was invited to officially open the new Tourist Information Centre in Cavendish House. I wish it every success in helping visitors and locals alike enjoy their time in our beautiful town. Thank you to all the volunteers for all the work they are doing. www.punchline-gloucester.com/articles/aan...

I’ve written to Ofcom urging them to review the BBC’s coverage of Nigel Farage and Reform to see if it is line with broadcast guidance. The disproportionate coverage of Farage is damaging to the BBC’s reputation as well as our democracy. 1/2

The BBC must balance their political news so it doesn’t boost Nigel Farage’s dangerous, divisive politics.

I am concerned and disappointed to hear news that the Aveta Birth Centre at Cheltenham Hospital will remain closed, with no date for reopening. It closed 'temporarily' in 2022 due to staffing recruitment and retention levels, which is a problem facing the whole country.

I was invited for a first look at the new tarmac that’s been laid as part of the A417 Missing Link project. It was interesting to see the project taking shape and to take a closer look at this huge feat of engineering. 1/2

The hypocrisy displayed by Nigel Farage in the US this week is as blatant as it is dangerous. He makes laughable allegations that the UK is like North Korea while his own Reform councillors move to ban journalists in Nottinghamshire. 1/2 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli....

I rolled up my sleeves to help tidy up our town centre with the team from Cheltenham BID. From litter picking to cleaning graffiti, we all got stuck in. While I’m always sad this kind of work is necessary, I’m also thankful we have volunteers who take it on and I was happy to do my bit. 1/2

I’m supporting the Making Space for Water campaign. The ongoing sewage scandal means water pollution continues to damage our rivers. Only a third of UK rivers are in good ecological health and we have some of the unhealthiest rivers in Europe. Find out more here: theriverstrust.org/making-space...

"Reform councillors refusing to talk to press, I think is a bit of a betrayal of British values." @MaxWilkinson.bsky.social

🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻🙋🏻‍♂️ Do you have a specific issue you’d like to discuss? Or perhaps you’d simply like to meet? I will be in the Up Hatherley area between 2pm and 5pm on Friday, 12th September. Appointments are limited. Please email [email protected] to book.

I’m calling out Nigel Farage for putting MAGA jet-setting above his duties in Parliament. Choosing to play truant on the first days of the autumn term so he can go on another MAGA trip tells you everything you need to know about the man. 1/2

🎙️Thanks to Mark Owen at Punchline for inviting me to discuss local and national events, including migration, AI, development, business and the economy. Great to chat with Julie from Cheltenham Lido, Greg from Stroud Brewery and Glenn from Hazlewoods. m.youtube.com/watch?v=015S...

I’m calling for a freeze on rail fares. A price hike of 5.8% is looming, which will cost Cheltenham residents commuting to London an extra £787.41 a year for a season ticket. www.punchline-gloucester.com/articles/aan...

As part of my Unlocking Democracy Tours, I'll be welcoming more of my constituents to Westminster on Monday 8th September. There are still a few places left to book, so if you are a Cheltenham resident and would like to join, please email [email protected] for more information.

Congratulations to everyone receiving their GCSE results! 🎉 Whatever the outcome, you should be proud of the hard work and determination you’ve shown.

Whatever your results today, I hope you feel incredibly proud. Your hard work now will unlock so many incredible opportunities for you.

I recently spent time with a local foster parent. She’s calling for better pavements so she can get around more easily with her son, who uses a wheelchair. I’ll be sharing my findings with the relevant County Council teams to encourage them to do more to accommodate families with mobility issues.

It's clearly not right that a platform now more watched than almost any traditional broadcaster is still operating under a 'lighter touch' advertising regime. YouTube ads must be regulated much more like TV and radio ads to protect UK consumers from misleading or harmful content.

I had an un-brie-lievably tasty visit to The Cheeseworks in Regent Street. The family-run business, recognised as one of the UK’s finest cheese shops, has been in Cheltenham for more than 30 years. Now things look set to get even feta [sorry]… 1/2

I was invited to Cheltenham Animal Shelter to hear about the work they do to look after pets – and owners – in our town. It was a particular delight to meet a cute kitten, now apparently christened ‘Max’, and Maggie the Great Dane. Thanks to Peter, Clare and Alison for the warm welcome and tour.

House of Commons Library research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that the top private equity companies providing SEND schooling have seen their annual profits increase as the SEND crisis has worsened. Some are making margins of over 20%. 1/2

I was invited by Cheltenham resident Carly to meet her and her colleagues at eco planning consultancy Tyler Grange. We had a great discussion about how to increase the supply of UK homes while protecting nature. I will continue to push for sustainable development, as I have with the Sunshine Bill.

I welcome the Prime Minister’s recent announcement. But Liberal Democrats are urging Keir Starmer to go further, listen to Parliament and recognise Palestine right away.

I enjoyed a fascinating visit to Printwaste’s head office in Cheltenham this week. We discussed how vital government is in driving and supporting green policies, how Liberal Democrats are keeping environmental issues on the agenda and concerns around the impact of the NI hike on growth. 1/2

So many of us stream music. I’m a Spotify subscriber myself and use it daily. But, as I said in Parliament this week, a new deal is needed to ensure artists get fair payment. 1/2

It was an honour to be invited by The FA to celebrate with the Lionesses outside Buckingham Palace 🦁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Their achievement has inspired so many of us - particularly young women and girls who now have a new set of positive role models to follow.

@joshbabarinde.bsky.social is charismatic, inspiring and a creative political thinker. He's a natural team player who brings people together too. I know he’ll be a brilliant party President.

It’s a scandal that £350k was spent on such a poor job. The lack of respect for Cheltenham people and lack of care for our town shown by the Conservatives needs to be questioned. www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/chelten...

Thank you to Gloucestershire Cricket Club chair Peter Matthews for the warm welcome (and cold ice cream too). The Cheltenham Cricket Festival is a fantastic part of our town’s heritage. It’s going on until 5 August. You can find out more and get tickets here: www.eticketing.co.uk/glosccc/Even...

🌞We’ve all been sweltering in the heat. My Sunshine Bill campaign successfully helped bring change in the form of mandatory solar panels on new builds. Now it’s time to combine that with other tech like heat pumps to keep us cool in summer and warm in winter. I pressed ministers to do more to help🌞

It was a pleasure hosting Fr Liubomyr Pidluskyi in Parliament. I first met Cheltenham's Ukrainian Church leader when he blessed the 100th defibrillator installed by our brilliant Public Hearts campaign. I thanked him for all he does for Ukrainian refugees in Cheltenham and reaffirmed my support.

I spent a lovely morning at Rowanfield Junior and Infant School discussing the challenges faced by the education sector and the school’s innovative approach to active learning. After a challenging game of rounders with some of the pupils, I got to meet the lovely Mabel, Rowanfield’s school dog.

I braved the weekend heatwave to follow the incredible 'Lions at Large' trail around Cheltenham in support of the Big Space Cancer Appeal. I'm a strong supporter of the campaign, having raised almost £2,500 by running a half marathon. Find out more and donate to the appeal here: lionsatlarge.co.uk

…and just like Tom Cruise, I do all my own stunts! ⚽️ And I’m up for taking on my own Mission Impossible - getting Premier League football on free to air channels.

I invited Gloucestershire County Council's new administration to Cheltenham to show them why a better standard of work is needed to maintain our town centre. The quality of repair by the previous administration is disappointing. Encouraged by the positive meeting, I hope to see improvements soon.

I had a brilliant time at the Cheltenham Animal Shelter open day. It was ace to meet Doodle the dog, volunteer Kim and event organiser Erica. You can find out more details about animals for adoption and how to support the animal shelter’s work here: gawa.org.uk

Following comments by the local NHS about an uptick in midwife recruitment, I’ve written to Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust and NHS Gloucestershire to ask for an update on a decision regarding reopening the Aveta Birth Unit at Cheltenham General Hospital.

Ed is right. The BBC needs to reconsider its approach to Farage and Reform. The corporation has a duty to report all sides of a discussion - that doesn’t mean making special allowances for one party. It risks losing the trust of even more licence fee payers.

Happy 77th Birthday to our NHS 🎉 Thank you to all the NHS staff working hard to care for us and keep us healthy. The Liberal Democrats will always fight to protect our NHS and social care, and deliver on William Beveridge's great liberal idea.

One year on from the General Election, Liberal Democrat MPs are leading the fight for change. Check out 5️⃣ big Lib Dem policy wins from the past year ⬇️

@MaxWilkinson.bsky.social - solar panels on all new-build homes - By requiring solar panels on all new-build homes, the Sunshine Bill will cut fuel bills, boost energy security and help tackle the climate crisis.

It’s been a year since I was elected Cheltenham’s MP. It has been a privilege to serve the town. Together we have made progress. I’m heading into year two with as much determination as ever to do all I can to speak up for Cheltenham.