On 4th July you will have the chance to vote for the person you want to represent you in Parliament for the next five years. Anthony brings this wealth of experience, together with his local knowledge, to champion the needs of the constituency he grew up in. Below, he writes about his own journey to Parliament.
My family and I have a long history in Cambridgeshire.
My first memories are of growing up in Fowlmere, to the south of the constituency. In between playing in our chalk streams and watching the spitfires from nearby Duxford, I went to the local village primary school. I was lucky enough to gain a bursary to go to the Perse School, before studying at Hills Road Sixth Form, while working on our small-hold farm and later at my parent’s much-loved Browne’s bookshop in the city.
I read Mathematics at Cambridge University, but despite this scientific training I was lured away after graduation by the world of journalism. Joining the BBC during its transformative period in the 90’s, I trained as a business reporter and economics correspondent on national television and radio, including the Today programme. Moving to the newspapers, I was economics correspondent, health editor and environment editor of the Observer, before moving to the Times as environment editor, then Europe correspondent, and finally chief political correspondent in Westminster. This included a memorable tour covering the Iraq war for the Times, where I was shot at by American troops!
I have always been one to put my money where my mouth is, and before long reporting on Westminster was not enough – I knew I could get involved and change things. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to run Policy Exchange, a think tank where I developed policies for David Cameron ahead of the 2010 general election. When Boris Johnson was elected Mayor of London in 2008, he asked me to take charge of economic and business policy in London – one of the greatest challenges and most rewarding roles I had.
Since my election on 12 December 2019, I have worked on behalf of the constituents of South Cambridgeshire in Parliament. Since January 2020, I have led the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Environment, where I bring together MPs from all political parties to challenge and scrutinise environmental policy. I am also deeply involved with financial policy making, first as a member of the Treasury Select Committee that scrutinises the Chancellor and more recently also as Chair of the Conservative Backbench Treasury Policy Committee.
I have represented Cambourne since 2019, as MP for South Cambridgeshire, and I’m now standing to serve you again as Cambourne joins the the new constituency of St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire.
As your MP, I have pushed the government to deliver major improvements. The other candidates will no doubt tell you that the government has failed our area, but the truth is that the Conservatives have been investing billions locally to improve our lives. Since 2019, we have delivered the new state-of-the-art Royal Papworth Hospital and a brand-new surgical hub that will perform hundreds of extra hip and knee operations every year for local people. And we are funding two further world-class hospitals in Cambridge. Construction on the new Cancer Research Hospital and Children’s Hospital is already underway. We delivered the new A14 ahead of schedule and the new A428 will transform Cambourne’s road links. The new Cambridge South Station will open next year and Cambourne will get its own train station when East-West Rail is built. The new Fens Reservoir will vastly improve our local water resources and protect our chalk streams.
It is also the chance to ensure that St Neots remains a great place to live. I am aware it has problems that need to be fixed. I share people’s concerns about the town centre, and the shop closures. We all want to see it bustling with life again. I have a plan to get businesses back into the empty shops on the High Street, and to ensure the market thrives, including more access to free parking and better local bus services. I know there are major concerns about our local secondary schools. I have already met parents, staff and the leadership of the Astrea Trust, which manages Ernulf and Longsands. I will keep working with them to ensure that our children not only get great teaching, but feel happy and secure at school.
There is much to be proud of, but I know there is more to do. This is just a snapshot. I know there are many other local and national issues that matter to you. You will hear a lot more from me on these in the coming weeks, and I hope to meet you on the campaign trail!
