Newspaper Column – The Cornishman – 07/09/26

• New Prime Minister, Any Burnham, responded warmly to me at his first-ever Prime Minister’s Questions. But I need more than warm words; I need him and his Ministers to back my Private Member’s Bill (PMB) to deliver desperately needed homes for locals. 

The housing crisis is worsening. Inequality is widening. Tax loopholes still subsidise holiday homeowners while housing need grows. The planning system favours land-value speculators over families in need. Things must change. The new Prime Minister has the power to do it. My Private Member’s Bill would help him deliver that change. 

The PM’s mood music is encouraging. Now’s the time to act.   

 

• I also appreciate Andy Burnham referring to me as his “honourable friend” in another reply to me. We’ve campaigned (and played footie) together in the past. He responded positively to Cornwall’s case for meaningful devolution. It’s a sound start, but again, there’s still much more to do. 

Many thanks to Cornwall Council Leader Leigh Frost and my 5 MP colleagues for working so effectively as a team to get us to where we are, preparing for a meeting with the PM soon. 

 

• Great news. Lifeline inter-island winter boat services will be protected this year. I spoke to the Maritime Transport Minister, Kier Mather MP, last week. I thanked him for his welcome offer of interim funding which gives us time to find a longer-term sustainable solution.  

Though great relief for islanders, we recognise this has just bought us time – this winter. 

 

• The Climate Emergency is too important to be relegated to the usual Westminster “Punch & Judy” show. That’s why I welcome the Liberal Democrats’ call for cross-party talks, especially following the recent drought, climate volatility and the impending ‘Super El Niño’.  

I’ve tabled a cross-party supported motion calling on government to alert the country to the seriousness of crisis – through a prime-time screening of the National Emergency Briefing. But we must do more. 

 

• In case any of you need more evidence, South West Water (SWW) was named last week as top of the table for sewage spills. 

SWW has been great at rewarding top execs, exploiting its risk-free monopoly status, pocketing a large portion of what has always been the highest water bills in the country and feathering the nests of its shareholders. But not so good at stopping sewage spills or delivering resilient, safe drinking water.  

Recent rainfall has coincided with multiple sewage spills again. Indeed, even on dry days. 37 years after privatisation and over £80 billion of water rate payers’ money going in exec rewards and shareholder dividends across the industry, the privatised water industry should hang its head in shame.  

This needs stronger regulation and conversion of the companies into community benefit societies (if it proves too expensive and legally complex to nationalise) with an independent environmental champion on every board.