As the colder autumn weather begins to take its toll on the UK, the Labour government has been taking its toll on the British people as well. The Winter Fuel Allowance continues to be a pressing issue for the 22,000 pensioners in Boston and Skegness, and recently, more constituents than ever have been voicing concerns about “Free Gear Keir” and the perks he’s been receiving.
Since my last update in September, parliament has been on break for the annual party conferences. A few weeks ago, Reform UK held its conference in Birmingham, drawing 4,000 members—our biggest turnout yet. It was great to see so many of you from Boston, Skegness, and Lincolnshire attending the two-day event at the NEC arena. The conference offered a fantastic opportunity for Lincolnshire members to network and discuss future plans.
You can watch my full speech, where I talk in depth about Boston, Skegness, and broader national policies, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s66sS4ACOhg&t=3s. And just to clarify, I paid for my own suit in the video.
In the past week, I have engaged with the local council and the Town Board with some big ideas and suggestions on how we improve the town centre for all. These are the first initial steps of our plan to make central Boston thriving and safe for all.
In addition, our campaign against the pylons battles on. There are a horrific number of additional proposals being proposed in Lincolnshire and the coordination between them all has been poor. An independent cumulative impact assessment MUST take place that takes into account ALL of these proposals and their impact.
September featured two important national days: “Back British Farming” earlier in the month, followed by “National Manufacturing Day” last week. I had the privilege of meeting farmers throughout the constituency, all facing both shared and unique challenges. Food security is vital for the UK, and Lincolnshire plays a critical role. During our conversations, we discussed the absurdity of the Government’s obsession with Net Zero and how it threatens agricultural land with endless rows of unsightly solar panels. The current government is choosing energy security over food security, without realizing that both can be achieved. Ed Miliband’s fixation on Net Zero is relentless, and I will continue to challenge him in Parliament over the coming years.
Last week, I visited Mastenbroek for National Manufacturing Day, and what an impressive operation they have! It’s an inspiring company that encourages local schools and colleges to visit and learn more about their work. Most of their unique machinery is made with parts manufactured on-site, which is incredible to see.
Parliament returns next week, bringing new opportunities to hold this government to account. I have submitted questions and applied for debates. As always, feel free to reach me at Richard.tice.mp@parliament.uk with any concerns, comments, or anything you think might be of interest!
