Newsletter - April 2025 - Al Pinkerton MP

What I’ve Been Doing in Parliament

Over the past 10 months, I have:

Submitted 64 oral questions (with 5 selected from the ballot!)
Submitted 201 written questions
Voted 119 times
Become an officer for 4 All-Party Parliamentary Groups
Served as a member of the Northern Ireland Select Committee
Was selected as the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Northern Ireland
Spoken 53 times in Parliament on topics that directly affect Surrey Heath

Some of the key issues I’ve spoken about include: the Royal British Legion, impact of VAT on independent schools, higher education funding, building safety, local government reorganisation, and public transport infrastructure.

Standing up for SEND in Surrey Heath

Since being elected, I’ve visited many of Surrey Heath’s schools and spoken with teachers, SENCOs, parents, and pupils.

One issue comes up every time: the broken SEND system in Surrey.

Parents and teachers have shared painful stories of how Surrey County Council is mishandling Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Common issues include:

Delays in EHCP assessments
Incorrect personal information
Misidentified conditions
Inadequate support packages
These failures are damaging children’s lives and putting huge pressure on teachers and families.

Along with my 5 Liberal Democrat MP colleagues in Surrey, I’m calling for an urgent independent inquiry into the Council’s failures.

I’ve raised this repeatedly in Parliament and won’t stop until there’s meaningful intervention and accountability.

I remain deeply concerned about the impact Surrey’s shift to unitary authorities could have on SEND provision, and I will hold decision-makers to account to ensure the best outcomes for children and young people.

If you have a SEND case with Surrey County Council, please contact me: al.pinkerton.mp@parliament.uk

Constituent Case Success: Hudson’s Pack Safe Appeal

During a constituency surgery, I met Cathy Foley, whose son Hudson tragically passed away while backpacking in South America.

Initially ruled acute pulmonary oedema, Cathy’s determination led to the discovery that carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause.

I was proud to lead a Westminster Hall debate on this issue, and thanks to Cathy’s persistence:

Government travel advice now includes carbon monoxide warnings
WHSmith is selling carbon monoxide alarms in all airport stores

Cathy’s story is just one example of how one surgery conversation can change government advice, generate a national campaign with a major retail company, and most importantly save lives.

👉 Find out more about Hudson’s Pack Safe Appeal: www.safertourism.org.uk/pack-co-safe

👉 Buy a portable alarm (15% off with code HUDSON15): safelincs.co.uk/travel-co-detector-with-strap

Backing British Business

Since becoming MP, I’ve made supporting local businesses a top priority. From small independents to multinationals, every business in our area plays a key role in our economy.

With threats like 10% tariffs on UK exports and 25% tariffs on car exports to the US, we must be proactive. Standing up for British businesses is more urgent than ever. We must ensure our local industries are protected from damaging international trade decisions.

That’s why I recently hosted my first Business Breakfast at the Login Lounge in Camberley, kindly sponsored by SC Johnson. It was a fantastic chance to hear from local leaders about issues like parking, staffing, and tax pressures.

If you’d like to share your views, please take a moment to complete my Business Survey.

If you’re a local business owner and want to attend future events, please get in touch: al.pinkerton.mp@parliament.uk

Community Spotlight: Hospice, Sewage Works, and Pop-Up Surgeries

This April, I’ve had the privilege to:

Visit Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice (currently at Kings Lodge, Camberley) – their team delivers exceptional, compassionate care.
Tour Thames Water Sewage Treatment Works, where I secured a cast-iron guarantee that the “Great Stink” open tanks will never be reused. They’ll be converted to handle storm overflow, reducing pollution in the River Blackwater.
Hold my first pop-up surgery (discussing resident concerns) at Waitrose in Bagshot – an informal way to meet you while out and about.

🪧 If you see me with my pop-up banner, come and say hello! These are unadvertised for security reasons, but I hope to see you soon.