Josh Dean, MP for Hertford and Stortford, on Ukraine war, threat from Russia, National Careers Week, National Youth Strategy – and litter-picking

Putin’s illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine continues to be a major focus internationally and in Parliament.

As we marked the third anniversary of the invasion, I was pleased to contribute to a debate in the House of Commons to highlight the deep-rooted support for Ukraine in our community in Hertford and Stortford and pay tribute to the bravery and courage of the Ukrainian people.

Their struggle is undoubtedly the defining moral issue of our time. I know our residents share the huge pride I felt watching President Zelenskyy arrive at 10 Downing Street, greeted by huge cheers from the crowd outside, and I welcome the leadership the Prime Minister is showing on the world stage as he leads the call for Ukrainian sovereignty and a long-term, secure future for its people.

But it has also been a deeply distressing time for Ukrainian families who have found safety in our community, particularly given developments in recent weeks.

Following the PM’s landmark summit with President Zelenskyy and European leaders at Lancaster House, I asked him directly in the House of Commons whether he would reassure them of his commitment to work with international allies to end Russia’s illegal invasion and to bring a just and lasting peace to Ukraine. I was pleased that he recognised the anxiety of the Ukrainian people in Britain, particularly those who have sought refuge from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, and the continued need to oppose Russian aggression.

In a more insecure world, with the threat posed by Russia greater than at any time since the Cold War, we must do more to protect British people at home. It is right that this Government will increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027, with an ambition to reach 3% in the next Parliament. This will not only strengthen Britain’s security, but it will also unlock new jobs, skills, innovation and growth across the country.

I recognise that this decision has come with difficult but necessary sacrifices on international aid spending. I hope the Government will chart a course towards restoring this aid budget, alongside increased defence spending, as fiscal circumstances allow in the coming years, but in the face of a once-in-a-generation moment for international security, our first priority must be to safeguard the British people and ensure peace through strength.

Last week we marked National Careers Week, which promotes careers guidance across the country and helps to support young people to find the path that’s right for them as they prepare to enter work.

It was great to visit Herts and Essex High School alongside my colleague Sarah Hall MP, an alumna of the school, to speak to their students about my journey into politics.

In Parliament it was great to meet Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), to discuss this Government’s plans to develop a National Youth Strategy that will tackle the challenges faced by young people in our community and ensure they’re able to access support that’s right for them.

The Government is running a consultation on the strategy, giving young people in Hertford and Stortford the opportunity to share their views as it progresses, and you can access it here: https://www.iwill.org.uk/NYS-Deliver-You/.

Over the coming weeks, I am looking forward to engaging with young people, schools and service providers in our community to understand their views on the National Youth Strategy and share best practice with the DCMS. I’ll be sharing details in the very near future about how you can get involved.

On Saturday we marked International Women’s Day, an important opportunity to reflect on the hard-won achievements that have been made towards advancing women’s equality. I’m deeply proud to be a Member of Parliament working alongside more women in the Commons than at any time in our country’s history, and to be a member of the party that introduced landmark legislation including the Equal Pay Act and the Sex Discrimination Act, family allowances and maternity leave, as well as the right to flexible working.

Labour has a proud record of delivering for women in government, but we know there is much more to do to deliver lasting change. I’m pleased that this Labour Government has put women at the heart of its agenda for a decade of national renewal, with action to strengthen women’s economic security and to close the gender pay gap, improve women’s health by cutting NHS waiting lists and tackle violence against women and girls by reforming police responses, strengthening the criminal justice system and empowering survivors by providing access to specialist support.

Finally, it was great to join the 84th session of Tidy Up Bishop’s Stortford (TUBS) in Thorley Park on Saturday. I was there with Ian Hudson, one of the founders of TUBS, Labour councillors Dave Willcocks – a trustee of the group – and David Jacobs along with residents. It’s inspiring that this great local initiative has grown from 16 volunteers to over 200 registered supporters over the last 14 years and I look forward to the next time I can join a session!

My upcoming surgeries: Friday 14 March, Bishop’s Stortford; Saturday 29 March, Hertford. Please email josh.dean.mp@parliament.uk with your full name, postal address including postcode, phone number and as much detail about your case(s) as possible to book your appointment.