Over the last few years, the Government has taken a number of important steps to support the social care sector and ensure high standards and financial sustainability for the long term.

As part of my role as a local Member of Parliament, I often visit our local businesses and educational establishments.

In recent weeks, a number of unfair claims have been made about the Government’s roll-out of Universal Credit. I wanted to take this opportunity to address these claims.

The Prime Minister has received some unfair criticism in recent days. She is, like the rest of us, human, and we all get ill at times.

This week, the Conservative Party held its annual Party Conference – hosted this year in Manchester. The key message from Conference was to put forward our plan to build a country that works for everyone.

One of my roles in Parliament is acting as the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Learning Disability - a role to which I was recently re-elected.

Last week, our local NHS (NHS Gloucestershire CCG (CCG) and the Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust (CST)), launched their 12 week public consultation on a preferred option to build a new community hospital in the Forest of Dean by 2021/2022.

This week, the House of Commons voted on Second Reading of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill – the Bill that delivers the first step of our promise to respect the result of last year’s EU referendum, and end the authority of EU laws in the UK.

This week, during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) I praised the Government’s outstanding record of job creation, with 3 million more people in work than seven years ago.

This year has seen some of the worst terror attacks our country has faced in decades – in Westminster, the Manchester Arena, London Bridge and Finsbury Park. These acts of terrorism seek to spread fear, intolerance and hate – we cannot allow them to succeed.