February was, as ever, a bustling month. I started it off on Boston Endeavour FM with Stuart Sands, answering your questions. Unlike my debut interview with Stuart a few months back, this time I could respond directly to the queries you’d sent in. You can catch the full hour here if you fancy a listen.
Recently, I’ve begun visiting parish councils across the constituency, kicking off with my first round of meetings. With nearly 50 to cover, this will take some time— many are pencilled in for the summer when Parliament takes its recess. It’s been eye-opening to hear about the ultra-local issues affecting different parishes, and my team is doing everything possible to address your concerns. If we haven’t reached your parish yet, hang tight — we’ll be in touch to arrange a meeting.
My first outing of the month was the Skegness Jobs Fair, which drew a brilliant crowd of firms and locals alike. A heartfelt thank you to the organisers for inviting me. It was encouraging to see reputable companies offering vital local jobs, despite the Labour government’s best efforts to throttle businesses with higher taxes — a frustration echoed by many employers I spoke to there.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Heidi and the team at the Butterfly Hospice and seeing their work up close. I was chuffed to learn their support extends beyond the elderly, regularly helping young adults with disabilities too. They’ve got a cracking operation going, but like most hospices, they’re desperate for more funding. I’m exploring ways in Parliament to bolster their support — and I might’ve signed up for something well out of my comfort zone to raise a few quid. Keep an eye out!
You may have heard about my press conference in London last month, where we tackled the pylon issue blighting our constituency and Lincolnshire. We’ve issued National Grid an ultimatum: bury those cables underground, or a Reform government in 2029 will make them do it at their own expense. With Reform riding high in the polls, this isn’t a pipe dream — National Grid ought to factor that into their risk assessments.
I’ve been keeping tabs on proposals for solar farms and Battery Energy Storage Systems on our farmland. I’ve visited sites and joined residents’ meetings, and let me be clear: I won’t stand for Lincolnshire’s fields being squandered on these projects. Food security is critical in today’s shaky world, and I’ll oppose every single plan that comes up. Our countryside won’t be a casualty of Labour’s reckless Net Zero agenda.
Mid-February saw the much-anticipated Boston Brilliance event—a town-first festival organised by Boston College and the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership. Huge thanks to Principal Claire Foster and everyone who made the two-day spectacle happen. The light show was out of this world, and it was fascinating to see Boston buzzing in the post-Christmas winter gloom.
In Parliament, I spoke 13 times in February, doing my utmost to be your voice for Boston and Skegness. All my media appearances and parliamentary contributions are logged at Richardtice.com. I dropped by Swineshead Post Office ahead of a debate on the future of Post Offices in the UK, and it’s the same story at every post office I’ve visited since July: regulars popping in for errands, a natter with staff, or help with a form, leaving with a smile. Some constituents told me they’d be utterly lost without a post office to turn to.
We often hail pubs and village halls as community lifelines, but post offices deserve that credit too. In a world racing towards all-things-digital, they’re a bridge between old habits and new realities. I’ve urged the Government to expand the services post offices offer, especially for our pensioners who rely on them. By doing so,
As always, we’re holding monthly surgeries in Boston and Skegness. To book a slot or find out how we can assist, email Richard.tice.mp@parliament.uk or call 01754 241 241 (Monday to Friday, 11am-3pm). Many issues can be sorted swiftly without a surgery, so we might suggest chatting to our casework team first. Rest assured, anything you share with my staff stays strictly confidential. We are here to help.
