Ian Sollom MP 🔶

📢 We Liberal Democrats believe in an education system that is broad, balanced and forward-looking, and gives young people the tools they need to thrive throughout their lives, not just in the classroom.

We will continue to apply pressure to the Government to reverse these cuts.

Our post-16 education system should not be either-or, so it was frustrating and disappointing to hear the Minister misrepresent the arguments my colleagues and I had made as being critical of A-levels in any way.

There is a clear contradiction between the Government's spoken intentions and its decision to make damaging cuts just to save a truly microscopic amount (£2.5m, or 0.0025% of the Education budget).

Research from the Engineering Professors Council shows that IB graduates are disproportionately women, and they are twice as likely to pursue further STEM study after their first degree.

Just last week, I participated in a debate marking Ada Lovelace Day, where the Government claimed that it was committed to unlocking the potential of women in STEM and improving girls' progression into advanced maths post-16.

A-levels are brilliant for some, but not for all. Young people deserve choice in their education, and these cuts rip that choice away.

👉 This is particularly important in the context of supporting more women into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Yesterday, I pressed the Government on its damaging decision to cut funding for the International Baccalaureate at state schools.

A good education system offers different pathways for those who want to specialise early and for those who want to maintain breadth. (1/7)

If you need my help or would like to speak to me about an issue, please email me at ian.sollom.mp@parliament.uk and a member of my team will be in touch.

✔️ Held my regular MP surgery online and in person, this time in Over, listening to the concerns of local residents and advising them on help I can give.

✔️ Celebrated Diwali with Hindu Samaj Northstowe, enjoying dance performances from members of the community, and lighting the ceremonial lamp.

✔️ Pressed Care Minister Stephen Kinnock to urgently address cuts to funding for beds at Arthur Rank Hospice.

Ian standing in front of a BATA - British Assistive Technology- sign. He is with four people who are smiling at the camera.

✔️ Hosted a drop in event with the British Assistive Technology Association (BATA) to raise awareness of the Government’s recent cuts to funding for non-specialist spelling and grammar tools for disabled students.

✔️ Responded to the Government’s statement on its ‘Post-16 Education and Skills’ white paper, expressing concern about the international student levy and scrapping BTECs before assessing how well the new V-level qualification is working.

Inside Histon Baptist Church, Ian is sitting with two police officers who face the room. You can see two people facing the police officers. They are sitting on red chairs that are lined up around the church.

Ian outside Histon Baptist Church with two police officers and Cllr Ros Hathorn

✔️ Held a community meeting for residents of Histon, Impington and Orchard Park to speak to local councillors and police officers about crime and community safety.

✔️ Met with Longsands Principal, Francis Bray, and Astrea CEO – I was pleased to hear of the appointment of an experienced SenCo at the school. We also discussed plans to address the significant decline in Year 12 students.

Ian outside Histon Baptist Church with two police officers and Cllr Ros Hathorn

Ian in the House of Commons chamber speaking.

Ian standing in front of a BATA - British Assistive Technology- sign. He is with four people who are smiling at the camera.

Here is my weekly roundup of highlights from last week in Parliament and across St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire. 👇

A man in a grey suit looking to the right at a map on a white wall. A lady wearing black with a white bag is pointing at the map.

Three people wearing dark clothes all looking at a piece of paper with coloured images on it, leaning on a wooden table. The person in the middle is pointing at the paper and explaining something. They are looking focused.

A lady in dark blue top is pointing at a plastic bag held by a man wearing a maroon jumper and grey jacket. On the right is a lady in black with blonde hair, smiling. The mood is happy and they are smiling.

A man in black on the left is pointing at a piece of paper with three people looking on. On a white table in front of him is a long tube full of mud with a yellow end cap. The people are looking serious and interested in what the man in black is saying.

Hosting MP Ian Sollom at @bas.ac.uk as part of @royalsociety.org Pairing Scheme! Chats with #geology colleagues and visit to our new Polar Sediment Core Facility.

We all enjoyed that Ian was so interested and engaged with our work. Thankyou @iansollom.bsky.social and #pairingscheme2025 !🧪🔬❄️

It was also noted that Neighbourhood Watch schemes are a really useful way for residents and police to work together. Please do email SouthCambsNPT@cambs.police.uk to find out more.

The police urged residents to report crimes, rather than post on social media, as this means incidents are logged and the police can take action. You can report a crime by dialling 101 or online via Report | Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Or anonymously at crimestoppers-uk.org or 0800 555 111.

Issues that were raised with us included speeding and speed limits; e-scooters; and working with schools and young people to reduce anti-social behaviour.

It was a great opportunity to hear from residents regarding crime and safety concerns in the local area, as well as a chance to discuss actions that the police are taking and what they can do in the future to address the problems.

Thank you to the residents, councillors and community leaders who joined the South Cambridgeshire police team and I on Saturday at the meeting in Histon Baptist Church.

Our Liberal Democrat petition to save our precious palliative care beds at Arthur Rank now has over 14,000 signatures. You can join our campaign to restore the funding deficit here by adding your name here: snmclibdems.org.uk/campaigns/sa...

In order to truly bring healthcare back into the community and free up our already overstretched hospitals, hospices like Arthur Rank must be given the funding to continue giving the excellent care they have been giving for so many years.

While capital investment is of course welcome - covering land and buildings, research and development and equipment, amongst other costs - this answer does not cover the huge operational cost deficit that hospices are facing.

It was deeply frustrating to hear the Minister continually dismiss other MPs' concerns by referring to general capital investment the Government has made in the NHS.

Today, I asked the Minister for Care whether he recognised the clear contradiction between the Government's policy to bring healthcare out of hospitals and into communities as part of its 10 Year Plan, and the recent decision to withdraw funding for 40% of beds at Arthur Rank.

If you need my help or would like to speak to me about an issue, please email me at ian.sollom.mp@parliament.uk and a member of my team will be in touch.

✔️ Held my regular MP surgery online, listening to the concerns of local residents and advising them on help I can give.

✔️ Attended a debate on Government support for people with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) to hear more about the struggle those suffering with the under-recognised condition go through in order to receive diagnosis and treatment.