New Labour MP Josh Dean meets ‘the best of our community’ in Bishop’s Stortford
Bishop’s Stortford’s new MP Josh Dean has been making the most of Parliament’s summer recess by using the time to engage with community groups and constituents.
Last week, he visited Thirst Youth Café and Holy Trinity Night Shelter and Community Outreach, both in South Street, before spending Saturday supporting Stort Pride at South Mill Arts.
On Saturday, August 3, he held his first surgery for town residents at the library in the Causeway and Hertford residents will get a chance to talk to him on August 24. Other locations are set to follow as he sets up his constituency team and an office in Bishop’s Stortford.
He told the Indie: “It’s been a pleasure to spend time visiting some of our fantastic local charities and voluntary organisations throughout August. I’ve been inspired by groups like the Holy Trinity Night Shelter and the Thirst Youth Café in Bishop’s Stortford, and I hugely enjoyed attending Stort Pride last weekend.
“Their work shows the best of our community and I’m very grateful to them for taking the time to talk to me as we begin to build relationships for the future.
“I’m getting to work delivering the change that residents in our community voted for, holding my first constituency surgeries this month and looking to open a shop-front constituency office in the near future.
“We’re still in the process of setting up my office and recruiting my team and I’m grateful to our residents for their support and patience as I get set up as our new Member of Parliament.”
During the break in parliamentary business, he has also attended events and meetings in Hertford.
The 24-year-old, who beat Conservative Julie Marson on July 4 to become Hertford and Stortford’s first-ever Labour MP, just had time to make his maiden speech at Westminster in the 13 days after the State Opening of Parliament on July 17 and the start of the summer recess on Tuesday, July 30.
MPs will return to the House of Commons on Monday, September 2.
All pictures reproduced with permission from Josh Dean, Hertford and Stortford MP.