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Rosie Duffield MP met with students from Canterbury Academy on their visit to the Houses of Parliament this morning. Rosie spoke about her work as their Member of Parliament and hosted a Q&A, hearing about the issues that mattered most to the students including transport and local housing developments. Votes for 16 year olds was not a popular policy!

Last week, Rosie Duffield MP visited Hoath Farm's Pick Your Own pumpkin patch in Canterbury with local NFU representatives and Canterbury Young Farmers. The current direction of Government policy is very concerning given its impact on rural jobs and the future of British agriculture, an industry so important to so many in Canterbury and beyond. They discussed the constant challenges facing farmers including the extremely unpopular Family Farm Tax, unreliable local water resources and the impact of rural crime. I continue to do what I can to support and champion our local farmers and ensure their voices are heard in Parliament.

Rosie Duffield MP hosted the Hazara Council of Great Britain and members of the Hazara community in Parliament last week for a day of engagement with Parliamentarians. At a well-attended roundtable, participants explored the challenges facing the Hazara community in the UK and globally. I look forward to working with the Hazara Council of Great Britain as Chair of the APPG for Hazaras this year.

Thanington Rec is an important green space enjoyed by so many in our community. Canterbury City Council need to think again. Tomorrow is the deadline to have your say and feedback on Canterbury City Council’s Local Plan. You can raise your concerns via the following channels: Canterbury City Council's Website Email: consultations@canterbury.gov.uk Write to: Consultations Team, Canterbury City Council, 14 Rose Lane, Canterbury, CT1 2UR (you will likely need to hand deliver before this Tuesday)

Rosie Duffield MP recently met with Janet and Emma from INFACT, the Independent Fetal Anti-Convulsant Trust, in Parliament. Rosie has been working closely with INFACT for a number of years to raise awareness of the harms caused to pregnant women and their children by sodium valproate, petition the Government for better regulation of its prescription and seek justice for those affected by its risks. Victims are still waiting for the current Government to make progress on the compensation they were awarded 20 months ago. You can find out more about Emma and Janet’s Campaign here and donate if you are able to - https://infactuk.com/home/ .

Rosie Duffield MP has welcomed the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally to the role of Archbishop of Canterbury in the House of Commons. This is a moment which should herald a new start for the Church of England.

Thank you to all those who have written to me to share their concerns about Canterbury City Council's Local Plan. This has been the subject of heated discussion for the last few years. I have heard from constituents concerned about proposed developments in Chestfield, Wincheap - especially the latest plans for development of Thannington Rec, as well as the ongoing controversial proposal for Brooklands Farm, and the recently reversed and extremely unpopular Blean development. While I am proud of what we have achieved during this time raising the voices and concerns of residents to leadership of Canterbury City Council, it remains to be said that each and every iteration of the Local Plan raises serious concerns for residents across Canterbury, Whitstable and our villages. More social housing in Canterbury is desperately needed, however, this should not and cannot come at the cost of losing our vital green spaces which are relied upon by so many. In particular, park land or public space in built up or traffic-heavy areas must be protected. We also know that air pollution in and around Canterbury has often failed testing of safe levels done by concerned citizens and community groups. As your Member of Parliament, I am able to raise my constituents’ voices in Parliament however I do not have decision-making power on local housing plans. That remains the responsibility and decision of those elected Canterbury City Councillors of all political parties who vote on Housing plans. I urge each member of our constituency to raise your concerns to Canterbury City Council directly through the following link, before the consultation ends on Tuesday 21st October: https://haveyoursay.canterbury.gov.uk/draft-canterbury-district-local-plan-focused-consultation-2025 Please share this information with both those who would, and would not, be typically engaged in local democracy and encourage people to share their thoughts and concerns via the link above. This is your chance to have your voices heard on the future of our city. We usually hear from the same names, the most active groups and certain areas of the City. I particularly urge under-represented groups including residents in social housing, built up areas, or larger housing estates in our villages to speak up and have their say. Please post the link on your neighbourhood groups, local Facebook pages and forums or have chats with other parents in the school playground, or wherever you might be able to engage others to get involved. I am not a 'Nimby', and nor are those worried about the over-development of our busy city. We simply have the right to expect imaginative and thoughtful Housing initiatives that enhance our communities rather than making life more difficult, stretch local services even further, or increase traffic to unbearable levels while removing our few precious and important green spaces.

This week in Parliament, I met SEND Reform England, a voluntary campaign group set up in May 2023 by a group of Mums who connected online. They started off as a support group but quickly discovered a shared passion to fix the broken system of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) education.  It was great to meet my friend Kirsti and discuss the challenges this sector faces and how parliamentarians can help to address these issues.     The number of children with SEND who are either excluded or waiting for a school place has jumped by 29 per cent since 2020. Children locked out of education in this way are being consigned to a bleak future. By joining up services and improving data use, we could identify children’s needs earlier so that intervention supports child development from a young age, which is better for individuals, their families, and wider society.

At a recent surgery, Rosie Duffield MP met with Whitstable Day Nursery to discuss their concerns around the new funding structure within the new Free Childcare for Working Parents framework. While the Government may be seen to be doing more to help working families by lowering the age that children can receive ‘free childcare hours’, they are not funding nurseries enough, per child, to enable them to breakeven. This has left many parents frustrated when they receive a large invoice to cover the additional costs, despite their ‘free’ hours. Early Years providers such as nurseries, preschools and childminders are a vital resource for the youngest in society and provide parents with the ability to return to work when they are ready. Devaluing the cost of childcare is having a devastating effect on Early Years Providers and Parents alike. Rosie has written to the Secretary of State, Bridget Phillipson, to raise these concerns. Should you wish to support Early Years Providers with their campaign to challenge the government's latest directives, you can do so here .

Canterbury City Council are undertaking a focused consultation which will help shape the final Draft Local Plan to be published early next year, ahead of its submission to the Government for examination. Feedback is invited in four key areas: New draft site allocation policies Changes to existing strategic site allocations Gypsy and Traveller draft policies and allocations Impact of the December 2024 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) changes on Canterbury District Deadline for responses is Tuesday 21st October 2025. Have your say here .

Read Rosie's latest Roundup below: