Member of Parliament for Torbay | Liberal Democrat 🔶 | For casework and policy questions email: [email protected]
Torbay, England
Joined July 2013
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It is one of the greatest honors of my life to have been elected as Torbay's MP.
Thank you.
Whether you voted for me or not, I will work tirelessly over the next 5 years for you and everyone across our Bay.
As your MP, Torbay will be at the heart of all I do.
ALT Picture of Steve Darling with the text 'Lib Dem gain' 'Torbay' 'Steve Darling MP'. With an orange to pink ombre background with the word 'Win' repeated in partially transparent text.
ALT The Torbay 2024 General Election result. Lib Dem 41%, Conservative 29.5%, Reform 18.8%, Labour 7.1%, Green 3.1%, Workers Party 0.5%.
With almost 1 million unemployed young people in the UK, it is vital that young people have the opportunity to gain skills and experience for employment.
Coach Core are looking to establish sports apprenticeships in Torbay and this week I met with them and Active Devon, to discuss the next steps.
#YouthUnemployment #CoachCore
ALT Steve with the team from Coach Core and Active Devon
Here's what I've been up to this week, with a busy week in Parliament and holding the government to account over the safety of Torbay Hospital...
#Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
ALT A graphic which reads: Steve has spoken out in parliament over urgent funding needed for the hospital, spoken as a guest of the Medics AGM at the Hospital, Held the government to account on funding for apprenticeships, visited apple day in Cockington, questioned the government over pensioner poverty, submitted a parliamentary motion calling for defibrillators in police cars, visited lift barton hill primary school, visited the parents' support hub in Parkfield
Today, Saturday, it's 12 year-old Owain's second annual charity walk for Torbay Bikers for Kids. Once again it's in memory of his late step-dad, Chris Wheeler, who supported our charity, and Owain and his friend is following his example.
gofundme.com/f/owain-and-ozz…
#Torbay #Torquay #Paignton
Paignton Heritage Society runs fascinating talks about our history.
This week I attended David Hinchliffe's excellent talk on WW1 hospitals and their influence on Agatha Christie.
You can find out more about the society including their upcoming events here: paigntonheritagesociety.co.u…
ALT Steve with members of the heritage society
ALT David giving a talk at the society
Having spent more than 30 years serving the people of Torbay, my regular MP surgeries continue to be a great way of hearing and talking through with people challenges in their lives.
This morning we heard from people who were facing difficulties as a family and cuts in services to most vulnerable.
ALT Steve Darling MP and caseworker Isabella sitting at desk smiling, ready to help.
Therapeutic Support Services do an amazing job running the Parent's Support Hub at Parkfield.
The Hub is a place for parents whose children have severe mental health challenges to come and get support from other parents who are experiencing the same thing.
They offer an 8 week course to all parents which helps to give the right tools and understanding of mental health not only to support children but also to support parents.
It was incredible to see the passion and dedication of everyone to the group, and all of the parents I met said that it has been a lifeline to them. It was deeply touching to see how community groups like this can help people.
#Mentalhealth
ALT Steve with the team and parents at the support hub
ALT Steve with a support dog sitting on him
It was a pleasure to visit Lift Barton Hill Primary School to present the newly elected student representatives from each class with their certificates.
Student leaders at the school take on the voices of their classes and talk to teachers about the things that matter to them. At their next meeting the student reps will be giving feedback about the new lunch menu to the head chef.
I also heard the students' important and insightful views on improving local parks and looking after the environment. I have been pushing for water company bosses to be subject to criminal penalties if they continue to abuse our environment.
#Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour #BoostTorbay #brixham #CommunityMatters #southdevon
ALT Steve with the student reps with their certificates
ALT The student reps are cuddling Jennie!
Torbay Hospital needs urgent investment. Now that a fire safety notice has been served on the Tower Block, the government cannot wait any longer.
Sign my petition here for the government to bring forward the rebuild of the Hospital.
torbaylibdems.org.uk/campaig…
#TorbayHospital #NHS
Torbay Hospital needs your help. Sign my petition to help bring forward essential investment to secure the future of the Hospital: torbaylibdems.org.uk/campaig…
It is truly shameful that successive governments have failed to adequately invest in our Hospital for years now, and I have been calling for this investment since I became MP for Torbay. However, now the chickens have come home to roost, and the Hospital's main Tower Block has been issued warning notices from the fire service and the Care Quality Commission, putting a quarter of all beds in the Hospital at risk of closure.
I understand that patients, their families and hospital staff have real concerns about service changes at Torbay Hospital. The Hospital has confirmed for now that no one will be moved, until their plans for relocation and safety measures are agreed with the fire service & the CQC. I will work with the Hospital to share any updates. I am also happy to work with anyone affected by this to hold hospital bosses and the government to account.
For more on what's been happening with the Hospital, make sure you are signed up to my newsletter for a special edition out later today: torbaylibdems.org.uk/newslet…
Police cars are often the first emergency response vehicle at the scene, but are not always equipped with life saving equipment, such as defibrillators. I have been working with the OurJay Foundation for Jamie’s Law, which would require every police vehicle to carry a defibrillator.
Defibrillators have already been rolled out in Northumbria and Durham, saving 9 lives in 13 months. This week, I tabled a Parliamentary motion, calling on the Government to require all emergency vehicles to be fitted with defibrillators.
edm.parliament.uk/early-day-…
#Defibs
ALT Steve's parliamentary motion expressing alignment with the recommendation that all emergency vehicles should be fitted with defibs
Torbay Hospital has been issued a notice that it is unsafe by the Fire Service and the Care Quality Commission.
I asked the government for funding for the Hospital's Tower Block way back in February, and have raised this specific issue in Parliament many times, in the Chamber and privately with the Minister.
Today I reiterated my plea for £8 million urgently and to avoid services moving out of Torbay and South Devon, and asked the Minister to meet with me again to discuss this.
I am now awaiting the Minister's response.
#NHS #TorbayHospital
We have been campaigning for months for proper funding to renew the Tower Block at Torbay Hospital. Earlier this summer the government confirmed that £1.8 million pounds of funding was allocated, but this resulted in effectively only cosmetic improvements to the fire risks in the Tower Block.
The Trust has now received a fire enforcement notice in relation to floors 4 to 8 of the main Tower Block, and a warning notice from the CQC. The government’s failure to adequately invest in the Hospital has created this disaster. That’s why I and our neighbouring MPs Martin Wrigley and Caroline Voaden have written again to the Health Secretary imploring her to help our residents and hospital staff with this urgently needed funding. We need a commitment of at least £8 million to make our Tower Block safer.
The Government needs to act urgently to tackle this safety crisis.
#TorbayHospital #NHS
ALT Steve's letter to the Health Secretary with Caroline and Martin
The triple lock is our strongest tool in tackling pensioner poverty. It has nearly eradicated the state pension gender gap and will lay a solid foundation for those saving for their retirement today. The Government have announced plans to change the triple lock, and it's still unclear what the impact will be.
Today I asked the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions if he could publish a clear impact assessment on how many more pensions will fall into poverty under these plans.
I also asked about the fact that the Institute for Fiscal Studies said the triple lock reforms will not translate into cash for social care.
The Secretary of State replied to me that pensioner poverty is set to fall under the plans and that more details on social care will be released next summer.
#TripleLock
After a six year investigation the Parliamentary Ombudsman concluded that 1950s-born women suffered unjust failures to inform them of State Pension age changes. But two and a half years later, those affected are still campaigning for justice.
I have signed a letter urging the government to meet with the WASPI Campaign as soon as possible, and to set out a plan to deliver justice to 1950s-born women this autumn.
#WASPI
ALT The letter Steve signed urging the government to meet with the WASPI campaigners
Cockington Court is one of our gems that makes Torbay so special. We have real concerns about proposals from the Conservative Run Council to effectively privatise Cockington Court.
You can have a look at what's going on below and share your feedback with me at [email protected].
torbay.gov.uk/news/pr9576/
torbay.gov.uk/DemocraticServ… (pages 15-22)
The government have announced funding for apprenticeships in areas with elected mayors, but in Torbay and across Devon and Cornwall we do not have a directly elected mayor, so our young people will be unable to benefit from this scheme.
With Parliament returning I spoke in the Chamber to ask the government why it has turned its back on our young people in the South West. Sadly, the Secretary of State refused to acknowledge the issue of how half the country will not be helped by this scheme.
I also asked the Department for Work and Pensions about their culture of 'dither and delay,' including when processing Access to Work claims, and with sickness benefit reassessments. The Minister for Disabilities replied to me that they have extra staff to eliminate the Access to Work backlog by September, but failed to comment on other delays or the broader culture in the Department.
#Apprenticeships
Last week, Active Devon organised a Torbay on the Move Network Day to tackle Youth Unemployment.
I was delighted to meet with Hannah Worth from Active Devon. Along with Local Motion and the Coastal Navigators' Network, we discussed how we can drive change by using our anchor institutions such as the NHS to help young people into employment. Torbay Hospital employs around 6000 people.
As the Lib Dem spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions, I have been working with the DWP Select Committee to come up with routes to combat youth unemployment. I have also been pressing the government to help children build confidence and skills at a younger age, to help tackle this ongoing crisis of youth unemployment.
#YouthUnemployment #NHS
ALT Steve and Hannah Worth
I was honoured to speak at the Medics' Annual General Meeting at Torbay Hospital on Friday. I focused on the wonderful culture the staff have at the Hospital, one of compassion and support for colleagues and patients, as I hear from residents across Torbay.
However, this excellent work from staff is performed within a severely underfunded Hospital. I shared the work I have done to lobby for funding for the Hospital in Parliament, which has contributed to the Hospital receiving over £20 million, but much more is needed.
Patients and staff all deserve better. I will keep championing the need for investment in our Hospital.
#TorbayHospital #NHS
ALT Steve speaking at the AGM
When out and about across Torbay, residents raise concerns with me about improving our NHS, the ongoing cost of living crisis, and cleaning up our seas. These issues, which @EdwardJDavey identified as our core priorities for the last general election, continue to resonate.
Ed is our most successful leader in Liberal Democrat history, making us the largest third party. I look forward to Ed's continuing firm hand on the tiller.
It’s very sad for me that 12 months ago the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust was here who looked after the crown jewels of Torbay. How disappointing they are no longer with us however, apple day continues to be an incredible community event.
#Torbay #Torquay #Paignton #torbayweekly #TorbayHour
