Ian Sollom MP 🔶

We have a duty to defend our brave British troops and citizens in the region, but that should be the limit of British operations. The UK must not be complicit in illegal or unwise military action again.

Starmer must come to Parliament and give MPs a vote. We should not agree to British participation in this conflict simply because Labour government lawyers say it is legal – as they did on the disastrous invasion of Iraq twenty years ago.

The PM must not let Trump drag Britain into another unwise war in the Middle East. Trump has no plan for what comes next - and neither does Starmer.

I am concerned to see the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, and that the UK has allowed the US to use its bases for strikes on Iran. No matter how the Prime Minister tries to redefine offensive as defensive, this is a mistake.

There is still much to do, but l will keep listening and standing up for the rights that I believe are essential for a free and fair society.

Many constituents have shared with me the anxiety they, and their loved ones, have felt about the practical implications of the ruling, and I continue to press the Equalities Minister to provide clarity - and ultimately safety - for these people.

I know the last year has been a worrying time for trans and non-binary people in particular, as the Government has dragged its feet on publishing guidance after the Supreme Court ruling.

February has been LGBTQ+ month, where we reflect on the achievements of campaigners throughout history, and celebrate the huge contribution that so many LGBTQ+ people make to our society and communities.

I’m pleased the motion passed with Government support. For too long, a culture of deference to the rich and powerful allowed these questions to go unasked. Now they will have to be answered.

The victims and survivors of Epstein’s crimes deserve transparency. The serious questions around Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct, and what was known by those who appointed him, must now be open to proper public scrutiny.

Today, the Liberal Democrats successfully forced the Government to publish all files relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as trade envoy back in 2001.

My office remains available to provide support with individual SEND and EHCP issues. Please contact me at ian.sollom.mp@parliament.uk and one of my team will be in touch soon.

Lib Dem MPs call for profit cap on private SEND providers Lib Dem MPs in Cambridgeshie are calling for a profit cap on private SEND providers.

I was pleased that ministers finally listened to our calls for tighter rules on private SEND providers, something we have long called for, and I hope they will listen again to our calls today.

www.huntspost.co.uk/news/2536246...

This would mean that every penny of public money would be spent on frontline teachers and specialists, not diverted to offshore dividends; and ensure long-term security for specialist schools, so they are not simply assets to be flipped by investment funds.

We Liberal Democrats are demanding that SEND provision be designated as Critical National Infrastructure and given the same legal status as our water, energy and transport networks.

Changes to how tribunals work are seriously concerning to parents who will be fearful that their rights are being taken away.

Families must be at the centre of these reforms; not cut out from the few rights they have.

However, if ministers really want to rebuild trust, they must guarantee that legal rights will not be stripped, that settled placements won’t be disrupted, and that accountability – including meaningful routes of appeal – will remain strong and effective.

Every child deserves high-quality education.

Reform of the system is long overdue: it's preventing children from accessing education, putting huge stress on families, and costing local authorities far too much. So, it’s welcome that the Government is taking solid steps towards solving these issues.

I know many parents have been anxiously awaiting today’s announcement of the Government’s proposals to reform the SEND system, and nearly every week I hear from families across St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire who are having to fight exhausting battles to get the right support for their children.

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.

✔️ Supported Dave Young at his 60s, 70s & 80s soul night at Eynesbury Rovers FC to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK, and raise awareness about his upcoming PSA testing event on the 7th March.

✔️ Visited Frederic Smart & Son Ltd, a family-owned food ingredients trading company established in 1906 and based in Papworth. We spoke about the difficulties of recruitment in logistics, and their concerns about the increased costs across the business.

✔️ Supported The Dad Shift’s campaign highlighting the limits of Statutory Paternity Pay by signing their ‘Two Weeks Isn’t Enough’ Valentine’s Day card to the Department for Business and Trade.

✔️ Pressed the Secretary of State for Transport to recognise the crisis we are facing with our roads in Cambridgeshire, and urgently provide funding that specifically recognises the unique geology of fen roads that makes them so susceptible to potholes.

✔️ Visited Longsands and Ernulf for my half-termly catch up with school leadership. At Ernulf, I was delighted to meet staff completing their Teach First training, who told me about their experience of getting stuck in with first-hand teaching right from the start.

✔️ Marked Apprenticeship Week, meeting apprentices from across St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire, such as Jamie who is completing an electrical course at Marshall in Cambridge, and others from Domino Printing Sciences in Bar Hill.

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

The group was keen to find ways to campaign on the issues they raised and we had a discussion around how they can bring together deaf pupils, friends, family and organisations to put pressure on government for more funding and colleges and universities for better information, access and support.

However, the support available at universities is also very mixed and often not really known about by teachers or not promoted at open days by universities themselves.