It's a big win for my young constituents travelling from Esher, Hersham and Walton to Chertsey for school each morning. This line has been constantly delayed leading to students missing the connection and being late to school be up to an hour. After a lot of work and meetings with the new MD I've managed to get SWR to introduce a 'golden route' where by students whose train is delayed won't miss the vital connection at Weybridge. The 0802 services from Weybridge to Chertsey will now wait for 5 minutes for students alighting the 0757 from Esher, Hersham and Walton and similar discretions on the 0733 and 0833 departures! SWR are also introducing an additional stop at Weybridge at 1557 for a train heading to Walton and Surbiton - giving extra trains on the way home from school. I've worked hard on this over the last year having heard from parents tearing their hair out at it - SWR have listened and made a positive change. Politics can make a difference - and it should!!

If fragile mental health and special educational needs were identified and supported properly at an early stage we’d have less young people unable to work because of mental health conditions. In Esher and Walton under-18s are facing average waits of 184 days for mental health support and SEND support is in crisis. In Parliament I pressed ministers for better collaboration and resourcing so the next generation is truly ready for work.