Alistair Strathern MP

The story of the UK’s first ever community owned pub… 🍻 And why I’m backing @coopparty.party.coop’s campaign for stronger community ownership powers ✅ 👉 youtu.be/6_Gs7MHAyxU

No one should defend an asylum system that saw criminal gangs profit off our borders, and rip-off hotel operators profit off the chaotic backlog of decisions. Control, efficiency and fairness should be at the heart of any asylum system and that’s what we’ve started to deliver ✅

We've secured a £2 million investment for urgent care at Lister Hospital, which will ease pressure and reduce wait times 🏥 This comes on top of the funding we secured for a new children’s centre and ward upgrades, and crucial extra investment to expand local GPs ✅

I’m proud to back @alistrathern.bsky.social’s Bill to make relationship and sex education mandatory until 18. Children and young people are already receiving relationship and sex education – through violent pornography and the manosphere. We must offer them a healthy, positive alternative.

Much loved local booksellers like @nextpagebooksuk.bsky.social bring joy to our high streets 📚 Today I pressed Ministers to back them, and asked the Leader of the House if he’d take part in their fantastic #askmewhatimreading campaign… 👀

It was a privilege to meet Hitchin constituent Constance along with other campaigners affected by Friedreich’s ataxia. Access to a potentially life changing treatment has been prevented by a breakdown between NICE and the pharmaceutical company behind it. I'll continue to press both sides ✅

Practising with #pintsandponytails in Parliament ✨ Supporting dads to be there for their families is a big priority for me, so it was fantastic to chat with The Secret Life of Dads today. These sessions boost confidence and provide a space for men to open up. They're doing great work 👏

🎉 £140m+ in local SEND debts written off After years of campaigning, the Government has confirmed it is writing off Hertfordshire and Central Beds' historic debts. 💷 Now funding won't be wasted on interest payments - it will go towards helping young people

Rip off managing agents have been exploring local leaseholders and unadopted estates for too long ❌ That isn’t right, so we’re taking them on ✅ TBC v

Great to catch up with lads at Hitchin Boys about how their work to take on harmful gender stereotypes and be positive role models for their whole school community. Young men like this are showing what it means to 'be a man'. It was great to see 👏

We’re off to Liverpool for a series of events at Labour Party Conference. Our main event, ‘Will Burnham rebuild Labour’s coalition?’, is 3pm on Monday. With a fantastic panel, we’re sharing exclusive polling on Burnham’s first months, and what could win back Labour’s lost voters.

Delighted we’ve secured additional NHS funding to support the fantastic Garden House hospice 💙 With so many across our community depending on their dedicated care, I’ll always be a champion for investing in our hospices ✅

A real privilege to open day two of @edudetective.bsky.social’s Boys Impact conference. Education is failing far too many disadvantaged young men growing up in Britain today. But the inspiring practitioners brought together by Boys Impact show how we can do better.

After a packed and productive few weeks, Parliament returns tomorrow ✅ Thank you to everyone who got stuck into our events this summer. I’m looking forward to getting back to Parliament armed with your ideas and enthusiasm to keep improving things for our community 💪

From fires to floods, recent extreme weather has made us especially reliant on our fantastic fire services 🚒 So it was great to visit Hitchin Station this week to thank them 👏 We must continue to take on the causes of climate change though, or these risk only getting worse 🌍

Two years ago this July, at the 2024 General Election, I was given the greatest privilege of my professional life: the opportunity to represent our towns and villages in Parliament. It is the best job in the world. alistairstrathernmp.substack.com/p/two-years-...

Delighted that as part of the PM’s commitment to tackle homelessness, we’ve secured an extra £1.3m+ for Central Beds and North Herts 🏡 No one should be without a roof over their heads on this day and age. We showed we could tackle homelessness in Covid, let’s do it again ✅

Delighted we’re scrapping restrictions on disabled people’s bus passes 🚌 Up till now, those reliant on their disabled bus pass to travel weren’t able to take trips before 9.30am ❌ It’s not fair and makes no sense, so we’re fixing it ✅

Farmers should not carry the risk of a changing climate alone. So the Government is acting: 💧 Extending funding and flexibility for on- farm reservoirs 🌱 Boosting SFI funding by £50m 🚜 Increasing land management flexibility Backing farmers, backing climate resilience ✅

You have a lot to be proud of 👏

Don’t be taken in by knock offs like Provence or London, this summer get yourself to Hitchin!

Don’t be taken in by knock offs like Provence or London, this summer get yourself to Hitchin!

For a summer #SmallBusinessSaturday shout out, it had to be Hitchin Lavender 🪻🌻 Yet another reason there’s simply no better constituency out there!

🚨 I’m hiring 🚨 With my previous Head of Office off to work in Number 10 (we’ll have words Andy 😅), I’m on the hunt for someone to head up our fantastic Parliamentary team! If this sounds like it could be of interest, find out more 👉 www.w4mpjobs.org/JobDetails.a...

LCEF is proud to have supported this - with extreme heat becoming a regular occurrence in UK summers, it’s vital that we help keep people safe, cool and comfortable in their homes, as well as decarbonising to combat climate change. Air to air heat pumps will be an important part of the solution.

To tackle the climate crisis, we need to embrace new technology, provide incentives for people to go green and move fast. Thanks to @alistrathern.bsky.social for leading on this important issue with air to air heat pumps. Very happy to support and be a signatory to the below.

Thank you to everyone who joined a fantastic discussion at The Red Lion in Preston this evening 🍻 From revitalising local busses to how we deliver more affordable housing, it’s fair to say we covered plenty of ground!

Having spent many a glorious and grimy evening at gigs and playing at iconic local haunts like Bedford Esquires growing up, grassroots music venues have always been close to my heart. Delighted the Government is supporting them with at 20% business rates cut ✅

Thank you to everyone who came along to a great ‘Pint with your MP’ in Great Wymondley this evening 🍻 Lots done, lots to do, but always better for the chance to debate the issues that matter most to our community ✅

So I wrote about it again lads. See what you think. It's just my view of the Britain I think exists. Would love to know yours, and what you think our v specific silly British things are – because there were simply too many good ones to list www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Thanks @alistrathern.bsky.social - brilliant to have you with us. If you missed it, you can find the recording in Ali's thread below. Check out our reports on why policy making has served this group poorly and what government can do about it here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/our-work/top...

Every teenage boy deserves to feel seen, supported, and safe. Ensuring every young person has a trusted adult at school is vital in making that happen. Great to join Football Beyond Borders’ #LostBoysTaskforce to celebrate schools who are leading the way on this 👏

Why should the Burnham government prioritise targeted grid upgrades in its first 100 days? How would this save consumers money, revitalise our industries and lead to new and innovative growth? And what are constraint costs anyhow? 👇

After an eventful week, it’s always good to put the world to rights back home 🍻 Thank you to everyone who joined some great local discussions, events and visits over the last two days 👏 Have great weekends all!

This latest heatwave has shown us the existential consequences from climate change, and this Carbon Budget vote was an important step in meeting that challenge. Hear from @steveracemp.bsky.social, @alistrathern.bsky.social and @janetdaby.bsky.social on why it's crucial to back the targets 👇️

Our former chair @alistrathern.bsky.social has written a powerful reminder in his op-ed that climate impacts are not felt equally: "From parched fields to overheating classrooms and overstretched water systems, the impacts are tangible and unevenly felt. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

These heatwaves show leadership cannot mean stepping back from climate action - important piece from @alistrathern.bsky.social www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

Gareth Southgate’s BBC documentary spotlighted the powerful impact male role models like Hitchin’s Dan Gaze can have for young men growing up in Britain today. That’s why I’m urging the Government to encourage more men into teaching and youth work roles right across the country.

Why this extreme weather event should be a call to arms for climate action - @alistrathern.bsky.social for Politics Home ⬇️ www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

This bad take keeps getting worse. Reform have a problem with women. Even Reform women have a problem with women. Domestic abuse is not on the players of the match, it’s on the perpetrator.