News - Justin Tomlinson MP

Justin Welcomes Government Plans To Ban Online Racists From Football Stadiums

Jan 13, 2022

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has welcomed government plans to ban online racist trolls from stadiums for up to 10 years. The Home Secretary Priti Patel is bringing forward legislation so that football banning orders, which can currently be imposed on people convicted of violence, disorder and racist or homophobic chanting, will be extended to cover online hate offences. The move comes after black players in the England football team were subject to disgraceful racism following the Euro 2020...

Government Sets Out New Plan To Protect Leaseholders And Make Industry Pay For The Cladding Crisis

Jan 12, 2022

The government has today reset its approach to building safety with a bold new plan to protect leaseholders and make wealthy developers and companies pay to fix the cladding crisis. Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove today guaranteed that no leaseholder living in their own flat will have to pay a penny to fix unsafe cladding. Following Mr Gove’s letter to industry, the old proposed loan scheme for leaseholders in medium-rise flats will be scrapped, with industry given two months t...

Justin Welcomes New Town Centre Market

Jan 05, 2022

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has welcomed news that a twice weekly market is to be launched in Swindon Town Centre thanks to inSwindon's Town Centre Business Improvement District initiative. A Retail Market will run on Thursdays and Saturdays in the Wharf Green area of the Town Centre.In addition to the regular market, there will also be a Farmers & Fine Food Market on the third Friday of each month. The market will have up to 45 stalls, with some regulars and others rotating - offerin...

New Legislation To Crack Down On Cruel Illegal Hare Coursing

Jan 05, 2022

Plans to strengthen the powers and penalties available to tackle the barbaric practice of hare coursing were set out by the Government today (Tuesday 4 January 2022). Brown hares are widespread across the UK but numbers are declining. Their population is estimated at less than half a million in England and they are listed as a priority in the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan. An iconic sight in the British countryside, the brown hare is known for its long, black-tipped ears and fast running - it ca...

Highworth Link Article - Highworth Has Had More Than It's Fair Share Of Building Development

Jan 04, 2022

As we enter 2022, I have been struck by the constructive and highly visible ‘Save Highworth’s Old Golf Course’ campaign. I have met with representatives of the campaign group who were always well prepared, well researched and presented their case strongly. I have seen the 4,500+ petition and you can’t fail to notice the posters proudly displayed across Highworth. The scale of opposition to the proposed houses is clear. I have previously written about the process for identifying land for new hou...

All Adults In England Offered COVID-19 Booster Vaccine

Dec 31, 2021

Every eligible adult in England aged 18 and over has now had the chance to get a COVID-19 booster jab Anyone who has not come forward urged to Get Boosted Now to protect against Omicron Every eligible adult in England has now had the chance to get a life-saving COVID-19 booster, as the government and NHS hits their target to offer the top-up jab to those aged 18 and over by the New Year. On 30 November, the government set out its ambition to offer all eligible adults the chance to get their top-...

Swindon Advertiser Column - Government Helping High Streets After Difficult Year

Dec 31, 2021

Whilst the shop tills have been ringing over the festive period, it was another tough year on our High Streets, with a further swathe of major retailers being lost to changing consumer habits embracing online shopping, as well as the impact of Covid. As the former Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Retail and from a family of shop keepers, supporting our local shops has always been key for me. Whilst I understand the convenience of online shopping (that is until your parcel delivery ...

More Than 90% Of People Receive First Dose Of COVID-19 Vaccine

Dec 27, 2021

Over 90% of the UK population aged over 12 have now received a first dose of a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, with the uptake of first doses has soaring recently with around a 50% increase week on week. To protect against the Omicron variant, the Prime Minister and NHS England launched the Get Boosted Now campaign on the 12 December, urging all eligible adults to come forward for their booster before the New Year. The national campaign has also led to an increase in first doses, with an almost ...

Swindon Advertiser Column - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Dec 23, 2021

In my final weekly column of the year, I wanted to share some of my personal highlights of the year. Firstly, we have seen yet again over this week just how fortunate we are to live in such a selfless and hardworking community as more people have stepped forward to volunteer to help the ongoing vaccination programme (which has seen us become one of the most boosted countries in the world). I had my booster this week at the GWH and the local NHS has worked incredibly hard to increase capacity an...

Justin Welcomes Overwhelming Response To Christmas Gift Appeal

Dec 17, 2021

MP Justin Tomlinson has thanked the many generous people who responded to the Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service Christmas gift appeal. To support families who find themselves in the charity’s refuge this festive season, Mr Tomlinson asked for donations to ensure they have gifts to open on Christmas Day. With the help of Coun Kate Tomlinson, he arranged a collection point at his Orbital Shopping Park office, and Coun Oladapo Ibitoye took on the role of Father Christmas to deliver the gifts t...