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The current problem: Today, there are currently 72 active water leaks and interruptions in the Canterbury area and a further 21 active leaks in Whitstable. That is a total of 93 active water leaks and interruptions within my constituency alone. As alarming as these statistics are, they are sadly becoming the new ‘normal’. Not enough is being done by Southeast Water to take this seriously, to prevent these leaks and interruptions to service users who are paying bills that are now, higher than ever. https://aqualerter.southeastwater.co.uk  What Rosie is doing about it: Rosie Duffield MP and her office are continuing to hold South East Water to account through regular update meetings. In the most recent meeting, key issues covered included: The recent water shortage incidents Livestock needs Impact on businesses that have been badly hit Plans for proper compensation. Rosie Duffield MP and Helen Whately MP are planning a public meeting in the coming months, giving South East Water the opportunity to explain what happened in July and what is being done to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Updates on this are to follow. Rosie Duffield MP continues to raise the concerns of constituents with the Department for Food and Rural Affairs and fight for fairly-priced and efficient water providers. I am not willing to accept the state of the current water and sewage crisis is the new ‘normal’ and as your MP, I will keep ensuring your concerns are being heard. Please contact enquiries@rosieduffieldmp.co.uk if you or your business are directly affected by South East Water problems.

Rosie Duffield MP recently welcomed Her Majesty The Queen to Canterbury to unveil a statue of the 17th century playwright and poet Aphra Behn in the City Centre.   Aphra Behn, known as the Daughter of Canterbury, was one of the first English women to earn a living through her writing, becoming a literary role model for generations of female authors.

Rosie Duffield MP has signed a joint-letter to the new leader of Kent County Council, Linden Kemkaran, calling for temporary parking concessions to be granted for patients living with cancer and other life-altering conditions, who do not currently meet the three-year eligibility criteria for a Blue Badge.  This campaign, backed by every Kent MP, calls on Kent County Council to take this small step which would make a significant difference for residents with cancer or other serious, but time-limiting conditions who face debilitating physical effects that can severely limit their mobility.  You can read more about this in KentOnline - https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/every-mp-in-kent-backs-campaign-to-change-blue-badge-system-325349/ Letter to Kent County Council - Page 1 Letter to Kent County Council - Page 2 Letter to Kent County Council - Page 3 Letter to Kent County Council - Page 4

This month, Rosie Duffield MP joined Victim Support for a special Reception in Parliament to mark their 50th Anniversary and pay tribute to the tireless work of staff and volunteers delivering vital support to victims of crime. Victim Support are dedicated to helping all people affected by crime and traumatic incidents, helping around 140,000 people every single year deal with a range of crime including domestic abuse and sexual violence. The charity's free and confidential Support Line is available 24/7 and accessible to all and can be reached at 0808 168 9111. The Kent local victim care team can be contacted 8am-8pm, Monday to Friday on 0808 168 9276. Rosie Duffield MP pictured with Sarah Champion MP at the Victim Support Reception

On Monday 21st July, Rosie Duffield MP hosted Narmina Mamedova and guests for the launch of 'War Through Children's Eyes'. This exhibition, curated by Canterbury constituent Narmina, is a showcase of artwork and writing entered into a competition by children whose lives and families have been affected by conflict. You can find out more about the War Through Children's Eyes Project Competition here . Narmina and others have designed an incredibly powerful exhibition and this gave Members of Parliament a chance to see how children view and experience the destruction of war and its impact on their young lives. Rosie met Narmina in Canterbury and was struck by her passion and dedication to raising awareness of the impact of war and conflict on children. She sponsored the Exhibition, which ran from the 21st - 22nd July in the House of Commons.

Over the last few years, we’ve been very aware of this issue, partly due to the extremely well-organised, glossy, well-funded campaigns run by Dignity in Dying and their sister organisation, Compassion in dying. We’ve gone along to these events where they show us convincing pie-charts and statistics on maps of our constituencies, pointing out that 75% plus of our Constituents support what they term the right to die. And perhaps we’ve been persuaded by those numbers? Several years ago, those findings probably were pretty accurate, back when they were based on replies given to a vague moral question about being able to choose, back when there was no change that we’d be holding another debate on this issue so soon after the last. The conversation has moved on hugely since then, and those vague conceptual questions have now led us to this Private Members Bill. Every single member will now be asked to make an irreversible choice, putting our names, one way or another, to one of the biggest social changes to be decided here in our lifetimes. There is no room for mistakes, this is it, this is a matter of life and death. Every single person who votes for this legislation has to be not just 100% sure, but 101% sure that they have no doubts whatsoever. No unanswered questions, no ‘what ifs’; no uncertainty at all. If we change our minds, have even a single second of doubt or regret during the walk through the ‘Aye’ lobby, or while watching the results played back on tonight’s News bulletins then it will simply be too late. There is no second change, and it will come down to every single individual and every individual’s conscience. Have you sat quietly today and searched your mind and heart for even a trace, or a quiet whisper of doubt? Are there unresolved questions about those with anorexia, non-verbal people, those with learning difficulties, downs syndrome, extreme depression, crippling anxiety, concerned ethnic minorities, or every single disabled activist who has told us we must vote against this Bill today? If this place were representative of society, we would have at least 70 visibly disabled colleagues, dozens of wheelchair users would be voicing their own many and varied views. But instead, in the shameful reality of our unequal and unbalanced Parliament, it is our duty to represent those who cannot speak here today. By definition, this room contains 650 privileged people. We earn a lot of money and have privilege and advantages not available to most of those we represent.   We have been told, time and again, that there are sufficient safeguards, yet disabled activists still say ‘No’! We have been told time and time again that there is no ‘slippery slope’, yet every other nation which introduced this – including our neighbouring EU countries such as the Netherlands has seen that notorious slippery slope grow(ing) more and more treacherous. Recently, concern has been building that physically healthy young women are using the Euthanasia services to end their lives due to treatable mental health conditions that can in no way be described as ‘terminal’ women aged just 17, 21 and 28 years old are among recent cases. Does any Member here imagine that that was the intention of the Bill when first introduced in the Netherlands? Does any Member here imagine it was initially intended to include children, as it does now? Professor Theo Boer, who is now against the Assisted Suicide in the Netherlands and who gave his expert evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committees in-depth inquiry, says: “I once believed it was possible to regulate and restrict killing to terminally ill, mentally competent, adults with less than 6 months… moreover, by taking this bold step I believed we could regulate suicide and death in this way that would curtail those all too familiar cases where someone ends their own life. I was wrong!" He adds, “if even the most well-regulated and monitored system cannot guarantee that assisted dying remains a last resort, why would Great Britain be more successful?” Many people have also looked across to Canada, whose MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) organisation now frankly resembles a warning from a dystopian horror movie. Some of us have heard the testimony of Alicia Duncan whose mother, Donna, was suffering from complex and undiagnosed symptoms following a car crash. Alicia and her sister were horrified to learn that mothers’ mental ill health was NOT deemed a reason to stop her proceeding with MAID – and she certainly had no terminal physical conditions. Despite doing all in their power, her daughters were unable to stop her death, and her depression meant that her decision to stop eating moved her to the fast track lane as she was re-categorised as being physically, not just mentally ill and she died within just 48 hours which her devastated daughters only discovered when it was too late.   Alicia’s story was one that struck me particularly hard as it contained elements of potential coercion, and coercive control is something I have experienced and spoken about in relation to domestic abuse. Other harrowing accounts of those in Canada whose solve-able social issues, such as homelessness and debt, were considered sufficient reason to make them eligible for assisted suicide, should have sent shivers down the spines of all who watched the actor and activist reveal those examples in the recent BBC documentary, ‘ Better Off Dead ’. Of course, I must declare a personal interest as my talented filmmaker partner was the Documentary Director. At the start of the project, neither of us held especially fixed views and we were open to leaving the potential pros and cons of any future like potential legislation. Naturally, I have a very great deal of sympathy for my constituents like Diana who have so honestly and emotionally shared their family’s heartbreaking stories and would like the law to change to alleviate others’ suffering. But our most urgent and vital duty and responsibility must be, and is, to protect any and every person who needs us to do so and guard them from the unintended consequences of undoubtedly well-meaning legislation such as this bill. I cannot support or vote for this Bill as I have so many serious doubts, unanswered questions, and so many ‘what ifs’. And those statistics of constituents’ views? They’ve shifted dramatically so that by for the majority of emails and messages now express serious concerns and are asking me to vote against. I urge every member who has any doubt and whose constituents are against this Bill, to vote it down today as they may seriously regret doing otherwise. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons on Friday 20th June 2025: 314 Ayes : 291 Noes.

Rosie Duffield MP recently visited the Far Academy in Whitstable, a full-time independent specialist college for young people with EHCP’s. Rosie met with students and staff and heard about the breadth of programmes Far Academy offers to support students who have mental health difficulties and may find it challenging to manage in a busy mainstream college environment. The safe, holistic and nurturing environment that the Far Academy provides is impressive, supporting students to manage their social, emotional and mental health and reach their full potential. These students are only able to access this specialist support with their EHCPs (Educational Health and Care Plans). The current government is currently flirting with the idea of abolishing these documents that offer precious legal protections. This would leave students like those at Far Academy and other alternative providers unable to access the specialist education they need to thrive. Supporting young people and families with Special Educational Needs is a priority for Rosie. Over my eight years as your MP, I have campaigned tirelessly for children and young people with SEND and their families, to ensure they have confidence in the support available to them. I will continue to call on this Government to ensure that all children receive the education they deserve. Rosie Duffield pictured with staff and students at the Far Academy

Rosie Duffield MP has written to Canterbury City Council to raise concerns about the suitability of the Brooklands Farm site for the proposed large development which is extremely unpopular locally. I am staggered that development on this scale is being considered at this site, with its vulnerabilities being laid bare by the recent water crisis. We urgently need affordable and social housing, but new, large-scale developments cannot be at the expense of our local services and utilities for existing residents. Read the full letter here: Letter to Canterbury City Council

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Earlier this week, Rosie Duffield MP joined Jennifer, colleagues, parents and campaigners for the launch of the Unplugged Coalition in the House of Commons. The Unplugged Coalition campaigns to give children a break from the constant bombardment of technology and balance its use in education and at home. You can find out more about the work of the Unplugged Coalition here .

This morning, Rosie Duffield MP attended the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast in Westminster Hall alongside Richard Hagan, the Leader of Emmanuel Church in Canterbury. Organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Christians in Parliament, and hosted by Rachael Maskell MP, the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast is an annual recognition of the contribution that Christianity makes to our national life, bringing together MPs and Church leaders from across the UK. This year, the event was attended by over 170 Parliamentarians who heard a talk by Professor John Lennox, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University as well as music from acclaimed hymn writers and GRAMMY nominated artists, Keith and Kristyn Getty and poetry by Dai Woolridge. With Canterbury at the heart of Christianity in the UK and being home to many Muslim, Jewish and other faiths, it is important to discuss our shared values.

24th June 2025