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Hertford and Stortford MP Josh Dean on New Year Honours and Labour’s Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill




Hertford and Stortford MP Josh Dean writes for the Indie

Happy new year everyone. I hope the Christmas holidays brought you plenty of joy and rest. As we step into this fresh chapter, I’m feeling optimistic about the opportunities that this year holds. Whether it’s tackling new challenges or embracing positive change for our community, 2025 feels like a year full to the brim with promise.

The King’s New Year Honours have celebrated the outstanding contributions of individuals from Hertford and Stortford, shining a light on their selfless dedication to the community. I was pleased to read in the Indie about honourees Kerry-Anne Cooper and Special Chief Inspector (SCI) Ron McMurdie, both recognised for their exceptional service with MBEs.

SCI Ron McMurdie, a mechanical engineer by trade, has dedicated nearly five decades to supporting front-line policing with Hertfordshire Constabulary. Despite the demands of his profession, he has consistently volunteered over 30 hours of his time each month, embodying an extraordinary commitment to community safety and support. His long-standing service highlights the vital role volunteers play in bolstering local policing efforts.

Kerry-Anne Cooper, who served as a police chaplain from 2019 until her recent move to Lincolnshire, also received an MBE for her remarkable impact both within and beyond the force. Her empathetic approach provided much-needed pastoral care to officers and staff, and her charitable endeavours are equally inspiring.

Other recipients in the New Year Honours include the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust’s head of security and parking, Kelvin Langford, who was awarded the British Empire Medal, recognising significant contributions to healthcare operations and public service.

Josh Dean with the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer
Josh Dean with the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer

As someone who is deeply proud of our local community, it’s wonderful to see these incredible individuals recognised for their extraordinary contributions to our country. Congratulations to all the honourees - your dedication and compassion have left a lasting mark on our community and beyond. Thank you for inspiring us all.

I was especially pleased to kick off the new year with the opportunity to join the Prime Minister for lunch with some of my colleagues in Parliament last week. It was great to be able to shine a light on the issues and aspirations of residents in our community and to discuss the Government’s progress in driving forward our Plan for Change. Moments like these remind me how vital it is to ensure your voices are heard at the highest level of government and to work collaboratively for the benefit of the communities that we in Parliament represent.

Last week, I was grateful to be invited to visit Isabel Hospice, an organisation dedicated to providing compassionate palliative care and end-of-life support to patients and families living with cancer, organ failure, motor neurone disease and other terminal illnesses.

Walking through the hospice, I was struck by the warmth and dedication of the staff, who go above and beyond to create a comforting environment. Their holistic approach extends beyond medical care, offering emotional and practical support tailored to individual needs.

Josh Dean chatting to Isabel Hospice chief executive Dr Helen Glenister
Josh Dean chatting to Isabel Hospice chief executive Dr Helen Glenister

I learned about their wide range of services, from inpatient care to home support, all aimed at ensuring dignity and quality of life. Witnessing the profound impact of their work was inspiring, underscoring the importance of such vital community resources and my role as your Member of Parliament to support them.

I’m pleased to say that in my first week back in Parliament, Labour brought forward legislation that will improve the household finances of families and the life chances of children across Hertford and Stortford.

Labour’s Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill is a landmark piece of legislation that will put our vision of a child-centred government into action. The Bill will drive high and rising standards in schools through common-sense reform to put more qualified, expert teachers in classrooms, teaching a cutting-edge curriculum.

Quality education sets children up for life, making the single biggest difference to their life chances, and I want our children and young people in Hertford and Stortford to leave school ready to thrive in work and life.

This Bill will cut the cost of sending children to school to make life easier for families, with free breakfast clubs in every primary school and a cap on the number of branded school uniform items. Breakfast clubs boost children’s attendance, attainment, behaviour and readiness to learn.

Josh Dean with the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson
Josh Dean with the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson

But taken together, these measures could also save parents in our community up to £500 per child, per year, easing the strain of the cost of living.

Crucially, this Bill is also the single biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation, introducing a series of landmark reforms to safeguarding and children’s social care. These include a duty for local councils to maintain a register of children not in school and a unique identifier for every child to stop children from slipping through the cracks and becoming vulnerable to abusers.

As we get underway in Parliament again, I’m eager to get back to work for our community. As always, I’m here to listen to you. I’m resuming advice surgeries across our area following the Christmas break and I’d love to see you at one of our next sessions in Hertford on Saturday January 18 and online via Teams on Friday January 24. Please include your full postal address and as much detail about your case(s) as possible to book your appointment.



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