Freddie van Mierlo MP 🔶

Widow's petition calls for change in police family support Jason's Law would help bereaved families in cases where someone has taken their own life.

I am always truly inspired and in awe of those who channel pain into doing good for others. Mimi Condor of Chinnor, and the family of Jason, has done so and can be incredibly proud of their work to highlight the issue of support for families bereaved by suicide.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

👏Good news for the future of RAF Benson. Despite drone warfare, helicopters are still an important capability. My Lib Dem colleague @adamjamesdance.bsky.social has been instrumental in securing a future for helicopter manufacturing here in the UK. 🙌🙌

Constituents have contacted me regarding poor access to HRT implants, which are essential to their physical and mental wellbeing.

I asked the Minister what action is being taken to secure a reliable supply of this treatment ASAP.

The government is not providing enough funding for SEND care.

In Oxfordshire, there is a significant lack of specialist places and the funding provided by EHCPs often falls short of what is needed.

Steps must be taken to improve SEND funding and reduce the burden on parents to fight for EHCPs.

Yesterday with Liz Twist I joined Jayne Hepburn to hand in a petition at 10 Downing Street for Jason’s Law.
Jayne speaks movingly about losing her son to suicide. We’re calling for better, joined-up support for families bereaved by suicide.

This week marks 4 years since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It is a time to remember the lives lost and the many Ukrainians who have suffered as a result of the war.

We must continue to stand with Ukraine and take action to ensure democracy and freedom for its people.

This week I spoke about the ill-thought-through proposals in Chalgrove.

Developers unfairly return again and again to push for approval of their plans, as seen in the recent decision to allow 160 homes on appeal, as reported by the Oxford Mail.

Congratulations to Henley-on-Thames Town Council on being nominated as a finalist for the ‘Climate Response of the Year’ Star Council Award.

They are involved with brilliant initiatives like home energy efficiency projects, real-time E. coli monitoring, and achieving bee friendly town status. 🐝🌱🌊

Protection for children from online harms must be implemented as a matter of urgency.

Many social media platforms are highly addictive and display a multitude of harmful content. Age-rating platforms would incentivise companies to clean up their act and promote lower-harm, peer-to-peer products.

During the Liberal Democrats Opposition Day, the House debated Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Titles should not protect individuals from scrutiny.

I thank the media outlets for their work in bringing important information about this matter to light.

Two weeks is not enough.

When raising a child, couples face many challenges, and the current paternity leave offer only adds to their burden.

Paternity leave should be increased to at least six weeks at 90% of earnings, with self-employed parents also eligible.

Liberal Democrats want to table a bill to protect children from online social media harm. I’m voting to see that bill heard in Parliament

The government’s introduction of new requirements for dual nationals has been chaotic and unfair. We’re calling for a grace period.

I spoke during Maya Ellis MP’s Debate on Healthy Relationships to mark Valentine’s Day.

The government must take meaningful steps to tackle the structural barriers couples face when starting a family.

I spoke to Radio 5 following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

He said: “Anyone who spends time with parents knows how worried they are about the promotion of eating disorder material through social media and AI chatbots.

“The Government has been far too slow to respond to this new threat to children.”

👇 My comments 👇 to the i on chatbots 🤖

Freddie van Mierlo, a Liberal Democrat MP on the same committee, said he was “appalled” by The i Paper‘s findings and urged the Government and Ofcom to force firms to improve protections.

Chatbots offer teens 600-calories-a-day diet plans as part of ‘dangerous’ advice Children are using AI to plan calorie restrictions and rate their looks, according to the NSPCC

I shared my concerns with the i newspaper following their investigation into ai chatbots providing access to content promoting eating disorders. I’ve been pushing the government to get on top of this issue before the horse bolts the stable
liveapp.inews.co.uk/category/423...

I was pleased to welcome @hrwallingford.bsky.social to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s Innovation Showcase.

HR Wallingford is doing important work on water challenges and the UK must invest in sovereign science to strengthen our position as an attractive hub for innovation.

The death of Heather Preen: how an eight-year-old lost her life amid sewage crisis In 1999, Heather Preen contracted E coli on a Devon beach. Two weeks later she died. Now, as a new Channel 4 show dramatises the scandal, her mother, Julie Maughan, explains why she is still looking f...

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

A harrowing but important read. As a child, I also got the e-coli strain 0157, we think from a stream in the lakes. I remember the excruciating pain. I was lucky, but now as a father am so deeply saddened by this story. We must do better.

Have you used maternity or neonatal services in England?

Share your experience with the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation and help shape the future of care for women and families.

Have your voice heard by taking part in the Call for Evidence.
matneoinv.org.uk/call-for-evidence

Liberal Democrats have fought tooth and nail to stop this stitch-up and the Government has been forced into a humiliating U-turn.

Labour are terrified of Reform. We are the only party willing to stand up to Farage and beat him, as we do week after week in council by-elections.

In Parliament, I raised how rural pharmacies in Benson and across Henley & Thames are being penalised. Under Pharmacy First, thresholds have risen from 5 to 30 consultations — leaving many effectively delivering the service unpaid. I asked what will be done to fix it.

❤️ This Valentine’s Day, I’m backing the Dad Shift campaign.

Two weeks of paternity leave isn’t enough.

Families deserve better. Fathers deserve better.

The government needs to increase paternity leave and pay

In January, we responded to 1,834 constituent enquiries. Thank you for trusting me with the issues that matter to you.

Most raised: proposed social media ban for under-16s, potholes, and changes to the Oxfordshire Fire Service. Get in touch if you need help.

I questioned the Minister about the suitability of the Pharmacy First scheme for rural areas. In Benson, pharmacists are struggling to meet the threshold for consultations. The Minister committed to raising my concerns with his department to ensure that Pharmacy First can be delivered effectively.

Thank you to Dr Jasmine Kelland and the Future Men's Fathers Team for joining us to speak during the most recent meeting of the Fatherhood APPG.

Both shared valuable insights into the challenges facing families with fathers in prison, and the work they do to improve outcomes.

ITV covered ‘Taste of Oxfordshire’ in The Last Word, highlighting the importance of supporting local business.

All these businesses contribute so much to the community and prove that local is best 🌟🍰

Today, I was grateful to attend the UK Safer Internet Centre’s drop-in event to raise awareness for Safer Internet Day.
This year’s theme focused on AI and its impact on young people, and it was important to hear directly from them about their experiences, concerns, and hopes for the future.