11 Jul 2024
“I think there’s a real sense of hope that things can change, but I also know that newly elected MPs need to work hard to regain public trust in politics.”
In the early hours of Friday morning, Victoria Collins became the first MP for the new constituency of Harpenden and Berkhamsted, having won the seat with a massive majority of 27,282 votes, a much more resounding victory than pundits had predicted.
The last opinion poll of the campaign showed the Lib Dems and Conservatives neck and neck, with a gap of just 0.89% between them. So why does Victoria think they got it so wrong?
“I never took the people of this seat for granted, and never will, as we have seen a groundswell of support over the last few years and we were building on hard-fought success at successive local elections.
“When I first saw the results I was humbled by the incredible support from [local] people. As I stood there, I remember feeling extremely grateful as I saw the big crowd of supporters who had worked incredibly hard to help make change happen.
“This win didn’t come from nowhere – over the last few years, more and more local people have put their trust in the Liberal Democrats locally, resulting in us taking control of both councils covering this new constituency and beating the Conservatives to almost every council seat. We’ve campaigned day-in day-out on the issues that matter and showed that we care about making a difference. We had a fantastic team of hundreds of people who helped throughout the campaign, as well as hundreds of local people who put up posters to show that change was possible in our part of Hertfordshire.”
She said one of the highlights of her campaign was baking with young students and Ed Davey and Daisy Cooper in Harpenden to launch the Lib Dems’ free school meals pledge.
“It was definitely a surreal but fun experience!
“I am extremely grateful to the wonderful team who have supported me and the Liberal Democrats as well as the hundreds of volunteers. Not only did they work solidly, some for many years, but they made it a fun experience so many people enjoyed. Being part of something historic is even better when you’re part of it with a group of fantastic people.”
So what will be her priorities over her first few weeks as MP?
“I’ll be hitting the ground running on our top campaigns, meeting with local organisations and businesses on the issues that matter and most importantly helping local people with the issues they are facing.
“This includes speaking to local patient groups in the area, as well as the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board about getting the best health care provision for local people.
“I’m also writing to Thames Water to ask for a meeting about sewage in our chalk streams, and to the Secretary of State on Transport asking to block the Luton Airport expansion.
“I’ll also be campaigning on the tough issues that I spoke to people about on the doorstep such as the failure in special education needs and disabilities provision across Hertfordshire.”
Her neighbour Daisy Cooper, once again MP for St Albans with 29,222 votes, is obviously overjoyed to have a fellow Liberal Democrat on her doorstep.
“I’m absolutely over the moon that Victoria has been elected. She has already hit the ground running and is showing her constituents the real difference a hard-working Liberal Democrat MP can make.
“The national MRP polls didn’t take account of the reality on the ground that the Liberal Democrats were the key challengers to the Conservatives. For the last few years, Victoria and her team have been working incredibly hard right across Harpenden and Berkhamsted, gaining the support of voters let down by the Conservatives: this huge effort by Victoria and her team helped her not just get over the line, but to win with a strong majority too.”
Daisy said she is both incredibly honoured to be re-elected as the Member of Parliament for St Albans and also humbled by the result.
“I’m very grateful to everyone who has put their faith in me as well as those who may have voted tactically again this time. I will continue to put St Albans first, raise our local issues on the national stage, and remain an open and accessible MP who speaks up for our values.
“Elections involve hundreds of volunteers. So I want to thank absolutely everybody who displayed a garden or window poster, delivered some leaflets, spoke to their neighbours, knocked on doors to speak to residents, donated to my campaign, and worked behind the scenes in our office running a tight ship.
“My agent Ellie, operations manager Claire, campaign director Chris and husband Rob, were all fantastic and I owe them a debt of gratitude. Politics is a team sport and I feel so lucky to have such a fantastic team.”
Back to work then for the few weeks left before the summer recess?
“Yes! In St Albans, I’ll be re-arranging a number of local visits and meetings that were cancelled when the General Election was called, including with the local hospital trust.
“I will press Ministers to release funds to finally re-build our local hospitals, and to invest in more GPs and dentists for our area. “The Inspector’s report into the expansion of Luton Airport is sitting in the ministerial in-tray and I’m calling on them to block it until there’s an emission framework in place, as suggested by the government’s own climate advisors. And I will be asking Thames Water for an urgent meeting to discuss the dangerous E. coli levels in the River Ver.
“In Parliament, I will be repeating my party’s calls for an Emergency Health and Social Care Budget. We will also have to undertake all the ceremonial aspects – such as swearing in and the State Opening of Parliament, as well as responding to the new government’s first King’s Speech.
“My team and I will also be working hard to help any local residents who have been in touch with casework and any other issues they’re facing.”
On a less serious note, Daisy has one experience of the General Election campaign which she won’t forget in a hurry: “Without a doubt, it was photobombing former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on a small boat in Henley! We hadn’t planned it, in fact we didn’t even know he would be there. But as soon as we spotted TV cameras going up, we decided to have a bit of fun and laughed for hours afterwards!”
