Caroline Voaden

EXCLUSIVE - Caroline Voaden: South Devon MP Caroline Voaden said 85% of farmers in her constituency have told her that they could be affected by IHT changes, with average tax bills starting at £637,000

Pleased to contribute the below article to Farmers Guardian, where I reflected on what Labour’s first year has meant for our farming and rural communities. Have a read here. 👇

www.farmersguardian.com/blog/4516792...

YouTube video by Caroline Voaden MP Caroline Voaden MP: Will the Government recognise the state of Palestine?

In my contribution to the debate on Monday, I had a simple message: the time for words ended a long, long time ago.

We must introduce widespread sanctions, end all arms sales to Israel, and recognise Palestine as a state.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=We9r...

This week, the Government joined thirty-one other countries as signatories to a letter calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza.

By the time the Foreign Secretary stood to speak about the letter later that afternoon President Netanyahu had already rejected it.

Again and again, the Government says the situation in Gaza is intolerable, grotesque, horrific, and yet, nothing changes.

Children in England ‘living in almost Dickensian levels of poverty’ Children’s commissioner says any Labour strategy to tackle deprivation must scrap the two-child benefit cap

Lifting the two-child benefit cap is just part of the bigger picture, but it’s absolutely vital. As is fundamental reform of our social housing model – something that has not been addressed by the Government’s Planning bill.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

It’s hard for many to imagine the deep levels of poverty children are living in the UK. Solving this crisis surely must be one of the most urgent challenges for our government to address.

I fear that without these exceptions pharmacy closures will become even more common than they already are. As you can hear in the report, the Minister gave a positive response to my question on this recently. I’ll continue pushing for his words to turn into action.

I’ve been pushing hard for the Government to introduce rural exceptions to the pharmacy funding model. Currently far too much weight is placed on footfall and other metrics that rural areas like ours struggle with.

Sign the Petition Overturn NHS Resolution's Decision for Leatside Pharmacy

Really pleased to see the Leatside Pharmacy campaign feature on ITV West Country this Friday.

If you want to add your name to the thousands calling for Leatside Pharmacy to reopen, then do so here: www.change.org/p/overturn-n...

Sign the Petition Overturn NHS Resolution's Decision for Leatside Pharmacy

The campaign is picking up steam ahead of the closure of the petition this coming weekend. If you want to add your name to the thousands calling for Leatside Pharmacy to reopen, then do so here:
www.change.org/p/overturn-n...

Pleased to have signed this letter with my Liberal Democrat colleagues

Happy 77th Birthday to our NHS 🎉

Thank you to all the incredible healthcare workers across South Devon who do such an amazing job in often difficult circumstances.

Ministers urged to keep education plans for children with special needs Campaigners warn thousands of children could lose access to education if the plans are abolished.

Parents need to have confidence that support is there, regardless of whether their child has a EHCP or not.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The system requires complete overhaul with investment made into more specialist support for children, particularly early years support.

We want to see children offered support as soon as it becomes clear they need extra help. If this was happening, then the need for an EHCP wouldn’t be as acute.

Any talk of changes to EHCPs is bound to cause concern among parents. However, it’s clear to anyone involved that the system is broken, and in many places, it takes far too long for a child to get the support they need.

In opposition, Labour said they would protect our national parks. In power, they’ve done anything but.

Dartmoor National Park Authority uses reserve funds to pay staff A delay in receiving a government grant had a

This is shocking and yet another example of Labour’s totally careless attitude towards our national parks. Back in April, I wrote to the Nature Minister about national park funding, which, it turned out, had been heavily slashed.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

We’ve made great progress in the last 97 years, but there’s still plenty to do! I look forward to supporting Centenary Action’s aim to reach a gender equal parliament by 2028.

But, despite this parliament’s diversity, women still don’t represent 50% of the seats, and only 693 women have ever been elected, meaning there still hasn’t been a full parliament’s worth of women elected since 1918.

I’m so proud to be part of the most diverse parliament ever, and it was great to see so many of my fellow female MPs from across every party this morning.

Today we marked 97 years since women won the vote on equal terms with men with a commemorative photocall of women MPs – organised by @centenaryaction.bsky.social

Each MP received a beautiful, personalised sash by Remake Newport, marking their place in the history of #WomenInParliament.

Thank you for your considered response to the recent debate on Dementia Care. As the debate demonstrated, dementia is an issue that is close to the heart of many Members of Parliament, and is a condition with which you are all too familiar yourself. It was moving to witness colleagues from across the House coming together to share their own experiences as well as those of their constituents, and to call for greater support. It was also a pleasure to hear tributes to the hundreds of organisations across the country that are doing amazing work supporting those living with dementia, many of which rely on committed volunteers to keep going. As many Members mentioned, early diagnosis is key. I was therefore pleased to hear confirmation of the Government’s commitment to the diagnosis target of 66.7% and that work has been initiated to reduce the regional disparity – nowhere is this more key than in my constituency, which has the lowest diagnosis rate in the country. I also welcome the Government’s support for scientists and organisations working to deliver new treatments and ways to care for people living with dementia. I am writing on behalf of the colleagues undersigned to ask the Government to take urgent action to ensure every NHS acute trust has a specialist dementia nurse service, providing much-needed support in the community and enabling those living with dementia to be cared for at home for as long as possible. Investing in dementia support is known to save the NHS money in the long term – keeping people out of hospital who don’t need to be there – so we urge the Government to bring forward ringfenced funding for specialist dementia nurses.

"Thank you again for your support on this issue." 2nd page showing signature of Caroline Voaden and co-signed by supporting MPs including Dr Danny Chambers.

"Investing in dementia support is known to save the NHS money in the long term - keeping people out of hospital who don't need to be there..."

Very pleased to sign this letter from @carolinevoadenmp.bsky.social

My statement ahead of today's debate on the Government's proposed welfare changes. 👇

‘All teachers to be SEND teachers’ in major education shake-up Minister for SEND’s pledge worries teachers and parents who fear reliance on mainstream staff could deny pupils the support they need

It’s vital all teachers are prepared to meet a range of needs in the classroom, so this additional training is welcome news. But mainstream teachers cannot be expected to meet the needs of the highest need children, so adequate SEND provision will always be required.

inews.co.uk/news/educati...

Devon Council's £156m care home plan unveiled A multi-million-pound plan aimed at keeping more children in care in Devon will seek to “remove the amoral aspect of profit” from services for vulnerable young people.

www.totnes-today.co.uk/news/devon-c...

Absolutely what is needed from Devon County Council. This will bring in the stability that is so important for kids going into care.

If they can stay in a familiar environment and be looked after and supported near home, they’ll have much better chances of improved long-term outcomes.

About 200 new nurseries to open at schools in England in September Sites will accommodate 4,000 children as part of ministers’ plan to improve childcare, Bridget Phillipson to announce

This is welcome news, but I constantly hear from private nurseries that current government funding does not cover costs, so while more places are welcome, it’s only going to work if the free hours are sufficiently funded. Many nurseries are already on the brink!

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

I’m looking forward to co-chairing a joint Fisheries APPG & APPG for Shellfish Aquaculture event tomorrow with my colleague @melanieonnmp.bsky.social.

We’ll be exploring how to use the #FishingAndCoastalGrowthFund to support thriving #seafood communities. Register to join at loom.ly/293nmg4.

Cancer Prevention Action Week 2025 | World Cancer Research Fund Lose the booze for Cancer Prevention Action Week 2025 (23-29 June) as we highlight the links between alcohol and cancer

Alcohol is a cause of 7 cancers, yet awareness is worryingly low.

Everyone must have the information they need to make informed decisions about their health.

Read more at: 🔗 wcrf.org/CPAW25

YouTube video by Caroline Voaden MP Caroline Voaden MP: Will the Government introduce rural exceptions to the pharmacy funding model?

Today, I raised this with the Health Minister and asked if the Government was considering introducing rural exceptions or an adjusted funding threshold to the existing pharmacy funding model.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mttv...