Welcome to my December e-newsletter. A key focus of my constituency work over the last few weeks has been to encourage people to #ShopLocal and support our high streets. I was out and about as soon as lockdown lifted, heading out on Small Business Saturday to hear from local businesses about the problems they continue to face because of Covid.
It is deeply to be regretted that a sudden rise in case numbers in London has led to Tier Three status and the closure of pubs and restaurants. I will keep up the pressure for Covid restrictions to be lifted as soon as it is safe to do so. It is good news that the Royal Free was one of the first hospitals to start Covid vaccinations. But it will be important for us all to approach the Christmas relaxation of the rules with caution, so we keep our relatives safe and minimise any potential increase in Covid infections in the New Year.
Turning to non-Covid matters, I helped to secure a major change of policy from the Government earlier this week, when they dropped a controversial new method for calculating targets for building new homes. I have been one of the most outspoken critics of this algorithm.
There was also a significant victory in my campaign against overdevelopment of Victoria Quarter in New Barnet. The Mayor of London has decided to back the decision by Barnet Council to reject the planning application for high rise blocks of flats on the site.
Although Parliament went into recess yesterday, MPs are on stand-by to return if a free trade agreement is reached with the EU over the weekend. The end of the transition period on 31st December will involve one of the biggest constitutional changes in this country for many years. That means some disruption and dislocation is inevitable in the short term, but I and my colleagues in Government will be working hard to make a success of the country’s decision to leave the EU.
For more information on my local campaigns and activities, you can click on the links below to articles on my website. Please pass on this email to anyone you think would be interested to see it or join my mailing list. You can also follow me on Facebook at facebook.com/theresavillierscb.
Finally, I would like to send you my best wishes for Chanukah, Christmas, and the New Year. Let’s hope that 2021 sees the UK emerge from this long pandemic and life starts to return to normal.
With warmest wishes
Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers
Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet
Significant win on planning reform welcomed
Theresa Villiers has welcomed a decision by the Government to drop a controversial algorithm which would have more than doubled the target for building new homes in Barnet, giving rise to the risk of mass high-rise development. Read more...
Let's back Barnet and shop local, says Villiers
Your local MP is urging people to #ShopLocal and #BackBarnet. A long-time campaigner in support of local businesses and town centres in her Chipping Barnet constituency, Theresa Villiers was out and about as soon as lockdown was lifted to encourage people to support local shops, pubs and restaurants. Read more...
Happy Chanukah from Theresa Villiers MP
To the Jewish community in Barnet and around the world may I wish you Chanukah Sameach? Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions, the normal community celebrations cannot take place. But I hope that people can come together via the electronic means that we all have become so accustomed to in 2020. Read more...
Success in campaign against high risk blocks in New Barnet
The latest rejection of plans to build 652 high-rise flats at New Barnet’s Victoria Quarter has been hailed as “a major victory” by Theresa Villiers. But she has warned that this is not the end of the battle. The Mayor of London has approved Barnet Council’s decision to unanimously reject the scheme for the old gasworks site in Albert Road. Read more...
Early Years education crucial for social mobility
Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has spoken up in Parliament on the importance of Early Years education, describing it as "an engine of social mobility". She has been campaigning to save Barnet's Maintained Nursery schools and recently helped secure £60m for that part of the education sector in the Chancellor's spending review. In her speech in the debate, she called on Ministers to introduce reform to ensure a fairer allocation of this supplementary funding for Maintained Nursery schools, so Barnet no longer misses out. Read more...
Villiers calls for a fairer approach to Israel from the UN
UN organisations have been criticised by Theresa Villiers MP for excessive and disproportionate criticism of Israel, when countries with poor human rights records receive little or no censure. Speaking in an international Zoom panel discussion earlier this month on the effectiveness of the UN, Theresa highlighted that since 2015, the UN General Assembly has adopted 96 condemnatory resolutions on Israel. Read more...
How to contact Theresa
Your local MP and her team are working hard to respond to constituents’ concerns; but some changes have had to be made to the way Theresa and her staff are working in order to comply with social distancing rules and public health advice
If you need Theresa’s help you will need to email her on [email protected], ring her constituency office on 020 8449 7345, or write to Theresa Villiers MP, 163 High Street, Barnet, Herts, EN5 5SU.
In order to comply with social distancing and avoid any crowding in her constituency office, all Theresa’s surgeries are now appointment-only and meetings will take place via Zoom where possible. The next surgery takes place on Saturday 2nd January. Anyone wishing to see Theresa or her staff will need to make an appointment in advance. You will NOT be seen if you turn up without a pre-booked appointment. Bookings can be made using the contact details set out above.
The waiting room which is normally available during surgeries will be closed. Constituents will need to arrive at the time of their appointment and will be asked to queue outside if they are early, or if there are delays to the appointment schedule. We apologise for this inconvenience but it is necessary to minimise the number of people in the constituency office at one time.
