Summer is here and life is at last returning to a pace that we remember pre the pandemic. This last year has been very tough for so many people, but it has been great to see how our local communities have pulled together to help those in need.

After an immensely successful vaccine rollout we are slowly able to see life return to normal. Vaccines are a vital part of ending the pandemic, and the rollout, which is the largest inoculation programme this country has ever launched, has been a truly remarkable achievement.

Despite the huge focus on tackling COVID, my efforts have continued on all my local South Northants priorities as well as my work in parliament. I am incredibly proud to be MP for South Northamptonshire, and here is just a flavour of what I have been doing as your representative.

Towcester Relief Road

The Towcester Relief Road is a top priority for local residents and the surrounding villages, and I have been in regular contact with the developer and visited the site to see the work that is progressing with its construction. The Relief Road will help to cut congestion and improve air quality through Towcester, and I continue to press Persimmon and Highways England, with support from West Northamptonshire Council, to push this project forward and speed up approvals for the A5 and A43 roundabouts. I am strongly lobbying the Department for Transport to provide the funding that could bring this project to A road standard, so that the A5 Watling Street through Towcester could be de-trunked. The Relief Road is due to be finished by 2023 and I am hopeful that we will meet this important milestone.

Farthinghoe Bypass

I have met with representatives from West Northamptonshire Council to argue for work on the Farthinghoe Bypass to begin. The authority has confirmed that an update paper regarding the Farthinghoe Bypass will be brought to West Northamptonshire Council’s September Cabinet meeting. The paper will provide the results of the latest consultation and the work proposed to progress this scheme with a view to developing an application for the Levelling Up Fund. The highways team are also considering shorter term options to help alleviate traffic issues in the village.

HS2

I continue to raise individual constituent problems directly with the HS2 Minister, and I was pleased that one of his very first ‘line of route’ visits post the lifting of lockdown restrictions was to South Northamptonshire. Andrew Stephenson MP visited Radstone and Chipping Warden, hearing directly from constituents about their concerns. He also met with the South Northants Active Travel Group and heard about the impact of HS2 construction traffic on Farthinghoe.

The Chipping Warden bypass has opened after many years of lobbying and construction. This has been a result of many years of hard work by local residents, local Councillors and my own Parliamentary team to make the case at the HS2 select committee hearings as well as to keep the project on track over subsequent years. Whilst there are some concerns about the speed limit and landscaping, it is great to see the road finally open.

HS2 have also rectified issues with dangerous gates and bridleways in our area, removing the gates that posed a safety risk to riders.

I continue to strongly air my concerns and opposition to this project – and will continue to do so on behalf of my constituents who are adversely affected.

Salcey Forest

I am pleased to report that Forestry England are currently in the process of securing a contract for the inspection of the steelwork and production of the design for the work on the Treetop Walkway! I am delighted, as I’m sure you will be that this is still planned to be restored.

This will provide a more accurate cost and time estimate of the work needed to make the Walkway safe and get it reopened to the public. The Salcey Forest team will then submit a business case to secure the funds to carry out this work.

The work is likely to begin in spring 2022 due to minimising the impact on local wildlife and protected species.

I have been contacted by many constituents about their concerns over several big proposed developments (DHL and Podium Business Park) as well as questions over the opening of the play area opposite Towcester Racecourse. The Council is currently waiting for applications for these large-scale projects to be submitted as part of the planning process, and I will continue to raise your objections with the local authority.

Locally, I have recently held two action days in Towcester and Wootton, and at last been able to welcome a number of students to my office for work experience! Last year we were not able to offer work experience due to the pandemic, but I’m pleased that this summer we managed to catch up with a good number of students from last year as well as the current year. We have now had four weeks in which students have met with all my team, discussed every aspect of politics, met with constituents, drafted replies on policy issues, and written reports for my MP notice board outside my office. For the students, and for my team, it has been an excellent experience and one that I hope will prove useful to them in their future studies.

It has been fantastic to get away from the computer screen and visit charities, businesses and community groups in person once more! I have visited Field of Dreams, the Digital Manufacturing Centre at Silverstone and Hackleton Community Hub to name a few. I was also really pleased to once again hold an in-person surgery – the first since the pandemic stopped face to face meetings last year.

My work in Parliament has been wide ranging, but with a significant focus on my role as Chairman of the Early Years Healthy Development Review. The report - a Vision for the 1001 Critical Days - which I launched on March 25th with the Prime Minister, is focused on giving every baby the best start for life.

The report, which contains 6 Action Areas for change, is now Government policy, and since March I have been working hard with the Start for Life unit of civil servants to implement the recommendations.

The Action areas are:

• seamless support for families: a coherent joined-up Start for Life offer available to all families

• a welcoming hub for families: family hubs as a place for families to access Start for Life services

• the information families need when they need it: designing digital, virtual and telephone offers around the needs of the family

• an empowered Start for Life workforce: developing a modern skilled workforce to meet the changing needs of families

• continually improving the Start for Life offer: improving data, evaluation, outcomes and proportionate inspection

• leadership for change: ensuring local and national accountability and building the economic case

A particular highlight for me has been launching my first podcast! The 1001 Critical Days podcast features real stories from parents and carers who gave birth during lockdown, and also discusses the science, psychology and experiences of the early years with professionals, academics and volunteers from the sector.

I am also really pleased to be working with Policy Exchange as Co-Chair of their Beyond COP26 programme. In June we launched the ‘UK’s Green USPs’ report, calling on the Government to focus on the UK’s three unique selling points – science and technology, financial services and political leadership on climate action. Specifically, we called for the government to go further to promote the development of full UK supply chains for low-carbon technologies like electric vehicles and offshore wind, and back a ‘zero-emission vehicle mandate’ which would encourage manufacturers to meet binding targets for the production of electric cars. Those that fail to do so should purchase carbon credits from other manufacturers. This will encourage innovation and can help attract companies like Tesla to invest in the UK and reinvigorate our car manufacturing sector.

You can read more about our ideas here.

I have also joined the Advisory Board of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit Advisory Board, supporting their important work in the run-up to COP26 and beyond.

Other areas of interest during this parliamentary term have been work on the union and the world of employment post the pandemic.

On the former, I chair the Conservative Union Research Group’s Advisory Board, working with parliamentary colleagues from both Houses on policy ideas and positions to boost our precious Union. Our United Kingdom remains our best response to the challenges of the 21st century. Our future will be shaped as we respond to the challenges we face at home and around the globe. Whether it is climate change, pandemics, technological disruption, or terrorism – the United Kingdom leads the world in developing solutions.

With the majority of us now returning to offices and workplaces following the lifting of lockdown restrictions, I believe that embracing flexible work as standard can help transform the way we work. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that allowing – even encouraging – people to work flexibly will boost productivity, increase diversity in the workforce and help our wellbeing. I hope that the Government will consider the role it can play in our recovery. You can read more about my ideas here.

It has been fantastic to be back in the Chamber, participating in debates and represent the views of constituents in person! Since January I have spoken in debates on international aid, education recovery, the economy, the restoration and renewal of Parliament, early years, policing and crime, the budget and domestic abuse.

I’ve raised questions on HS2 and support for businesses affected during the pandemic and asked the Prime Minister two questions at Prime Minister’s Questions.

To watch questions, debates and media appearances please visit my Facebook page or subscribe to my YouTube channel.

If I can help you with a specific question, query or concern then please email me on andrea.leadsom.mp@parliament.uk or call my constituency office on 01327 353124.