Aylesbury MP reflects on six months since election victory
Labour's Laura Kyrke-Smith is one of many new MPs across the country
Today marks six months since Labour's landslide victory against Conservatives, regaining power after 14 years.
An Autumn Budget and a mission-setting later, Greatest Hits Radio caught up with a local MP, for Aylesbury, Laura Kyrke-Smith.
The MP shared insights into her experiences, her work both in Westminster and in the local community, and her plans moving forward.
A Busy Start to a New Role
When asked about her initial months as an MP, Ms Kyrke-Smith described the role as “very busy” but “fantastic.” She highlighted her efforts to balance her time between her constituency and Westminster.
“One of my favourite parts of the job really is just being out and about and meeting all of the fantastic different, you know, community organisations, charities, schools, doctors—all the wonderful people that kind of make up the community in Aylesbury,” she said.
ms Kyrke-Smith has focused on engaging with constituents through fortnightly surgeries and open forums, particularly in local village halls. She emphasised the importance of listening to residents’ concerns and prioritizing their needs.
In Westminster, she has contributed to significant legislative debates, including the Railway Passenger Services Bill, which aims to improve standards by bringing train companies back into public ownership. Ms Kyrke-Smith also highlighted her involvement in work on the national planning policy framework and legislation to improve employment rights, including raising the national minimum wage.
Balancing Local and National Issues
Discussing her dual responsibilities, Ms Kyrke-Smith acknowledged the challenges of balancing constituency work with the demands of Parliament. “It feels like there are two really important parts to the job, equally important: one is all the time that I’m in Aylesbury and in the villages, and the other is the time that I’m in Westminster.”
She also noted the importance of ensuring that national policies align with local needs, particularly in areas like housing, infrastructure, and health.
Local Priorities and National Focus
Ms Kyrke-Smith identified healthcare and infrastructure as her top local priorities. She noted that Aylesbury faces unique challenges due to rapid housing development without corresponding growth in essential services.
“There are national challenges for GPs, but I do think there’s a particular challenge in Aylesbury because there has been so much house building and development that it hasn’t been accompanied by building new doctors’ surgeries and recruiting or expanding existing ones to cater for all of the people that have moved into the new housing,” she explained.
The MP has been working to address these issues by advocating for improved local health services and ensuring that future housing developments are accompanied by appropriate infrastructure and community facilities.
On infrastructure, she highlighted the poor condition of local roads and the need for improved public transport. Ms Kyrke-Smith noted the government’s £6 million allocation to Buckinghamshire for bus service improvements and pledged to advocate for Aylesbury’s share of this funding.
Long-Term Commitments
Ms Kyrke-Smith also spoke about her involvement in Labour’s national missions, including improving the NHS, reducing waiting times, and driving the transition to clean energy by 2030.
“There’s so much work that we need to do on the NHS. It’s going to take a long time to turn around the NHS, and I think we’re realistic about that,” she said, while expressing optimism about early progress in reducing waiting times.
Another emerging priority is supporting parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Ms Kyrke-Smith has met with local parents to understand their challenges and is advocating for better specialist provision and transport services in Buckinghamshire.
Looking Ahead
Reflecting on her plans for the new year, Ms Kyrke-Smith emphasised the need for continued focus on health, infrastructure, and mental health.
“Mental health is a personal priority for me. It’s something that does come up a lot in conversations with constituents. I do want to make sure that over the course of this government, we’re getting better support for people who are experiencing mental health challenges,” she said.
On the international stage, Ms Kyrke-Smith plans to continue her work on the International Development Select Committee, focusing on global humanitarian issues.