I’m grateful to the Daily Echo for providing space for a regular column, where I give my ‘view from Westminster’ and provide Echo readers with an update on my campaigns and news from across Southampton Itchen.

In case you missed it, here’s my latest column, which was published in the Echo last Friday.

It’s been a busy return to Westminster over the last couple of weeks as MPs get straight back to business after the summer recess. For me, summer was a welcome opportunity to spend lots of time out and about across Southampton speaking to as many of you as possible. Whether you spoke to me on the doorstep, at one of the many community events I attended, or at my first two ‘Pint with your MP’ events, I’m really grateful to everyone who shared their priorities and concerns with me.

 

It’s no surprise that the subject of immigration often came up on the doorstep. I spoke to many people of all political persuasions who hold genuine concerns about the current state of our immigration system, that levels are persistently high, not well controlled, and not always fair.  I continue to proudly celebrate the strength and diversity that successive generations of immigrants have brought to our city, while also supporting the Labour government’s moves to create the fairer and more effective immigration system that many people in this city want to see.

 

In short, I get it. We need to sort this. But it’s completely wrong to pretend that this is a simple or quick challenge to resolve, and that’s the mistake that Nigel Farage and his Reform Party is making. All they’re doing is stirring up anger but offering no answers, promising it will be “fixed in two weeks” then doing a screeching u-turn. Rather than gimmicks, such as the Tory government’s Rwanda scheme that wasted over £700m to return just four volunteers, this government is focusing on proper, long-term, grown-up solutions. One such example is the recent treaty with France which will give the government a greater ability to remove people who have come here illegally and strike at the business model of the cross-channel smuggling gangs.

 

Another one of the questions that comes up regularly on doorsteps is ‘what difference is a Labour government making in Southampton?’ To add to a list that already includes new breakfast clubs, school nurseries, expanding free school meals, and lots of people who I and my casework team have helped, this last week has provided us with another example. I received the great news that the government is awarding £11.5 million to Southampton and the wider Solent region to increase support for disabled people, people with health conditions, and those with complex barriers to employment to get into and stay in work. In the coming months, our new Renters’ Rights Bill will become law, bringing with it a host of positive changes that thousands of renters in Southampton have been asking for.  This includes ending the threat of arbitrary evictions and increasing tenant security and stability.

 

So, as autumn arrives, change is in the air. As the last couple of weeks have shown, politics is rarely plain sailing – but the direction of travel is positive and I hope that more Echo readers will begin to see the difference. As always, if I can help with anything, you can get in touch anytime at darren.paffey.mp@parliament.uk.