English

www.neilobrien.org.uk

Thursday, Apr 9

14

Neil O’Brien: Labour’s North Sea ban driving up costs for everyone

Families and businesses are being hammered by rising diesel prices as the Iran conflict pushes up costs globally. I’ve seen locally how prices are going up and up, and even supply is under pressure because we are not making full use of our…

Wednesday, Apr 1

15

MP and Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride visit the King Group in Market Harborough

Great to visit the King Group in Market Harborough recently with the Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride to see their impressive manufacturing work and discuss the challenges facing local manufacturing SMEs.It’s a tough environment for businesses…

Monday, Mar 30

MP visits new Market Harborough specialist school site

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Nice visit to the site of the new SEND school in Market Harborough. Many will remember it as the former Roman Way Community Centre. It will be a great facility once complete, so pleased the building is being used for this purpose.https:/…

Friday, Mar 27

14

“TREE-MENDOUS!” says MP as Harborough Hole finally gets filled

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Victory in the long-running battle over the infamous “Harborough Hole” – a barren patch of earth that has been left empty and unfilled for years.After a tree was felled and never replaced, the empty space near The Square became a long…

Friday, Mar 20

New trains are coming - but why are our existing trains being removed now?

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New trains are coming - but in the meantime, why are our existing trains being sent to other parts of the country before the replacements are ready?I’ve written to the Minister to request an urgent meeting.Listen to what I had to say here…

Monday, Mar 10

Local MPs support plan to relink Northampton, Kettering and Market Harborough by rail

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Fast, direct and regular trains should once again link Northampton with Leicestershire and the East Midlands, according to a growing group of supporters and campaigners.https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/community/local-mps-support-plan-to…

Wednesday, Feb 19

Harborough's new housing target is 'twice the rate of Leicester', says MP

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Harborough's MP says the district's new housing target is 'twice the rate of Leicester'.https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/people/harboroughs-new-housing-ta…

Friday, Feb 14

Neil O’Brien: The Government is increasing local authorities’ power to stop good schools expanding

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Neil O’Brien is the Conservative MP for Harborough, Oadby & Wigston and the Shadow Minister for Educationhttps://conservativehome.com/2025/02/14/neil-obrien-the-government-is-l…

Monday, Jan 20

Harborough MP’s petition to block Leicester city expansion hits over 3,000 signatures

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A petition, launched by Harborough MP Neil O’Brien, to block a move to ditch local councils in Leicestershire has gained over 3,000 signatures.https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/politics/harborough-mps-petition-…

Tuesday, Nov 19

Harborough MP welcomes £1.75 billion rail improvement scheme to boost connectivity across Leicestershire

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The Midlands Rail Hub project will introduce up to 100 extra trains to Birmingham each day and many more daily services between the biggest cities in the West and East Midlands. https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/people/harborough-mp…

Monday, Nov 4

Harborough MP Appointed Shadow Education Minister

Mr O’Brien, who spent time as a Health Minister when the Conservatives were in power, will take up his new role immediately and attend at the first meeting of the new shadow cabinet tomorrow.https://harboroughfm.co.uk/harborough-mp…

Tuesday, Oct 29

“Fantastic news” – Spion Kop bridge in Wigston to stay open

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Harborough Oadby and Wigston MP Neil O’Brien has hailed the news that a busy bridge between Wigston and South Wigston is to remain open, despite rail electrification works.Following months of lobbying and questions to ministers Network…

Tuesday, Sep 17

15

Neil O'Brien presses the Government for tougher sentencing

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The MP for Harborough, Oadby, and Wigston has published new data, available here, on super-prolific criminals - people with very large numbers of previous convictions.Data from the Ministry of Justice shows that roughly half of all crimes…

Neil O'Brien pushes the Government to end the Early Release Scheme

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The MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston has published an article, available here, looking at alternatives to the new Government's plan to release prisoners after serving only 40%-43% of their sentence.The new Prime Minister, Kier Starmer,…

14

Harborough MP calls on council to end ‘fleecehold nightmare’ for thousands of residents

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MP Neil O’Brien has called on both Harborough District and Oadby and Wigston Borough Councils to end the misery endured by thousands of local homeowners forced to pay expensive maintenance charges for their new-build estates.New homeowners…

MP calls Local Plan consultation ‘woefully inadequate', as few residents respond

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MP Neil O’Brien has described both Harborough and Oadby & Wigston Council’s recent Local Plan public consultations as ‘woefully inadequate’ and has called on both authoritys to rerun the process.In Oadby and Wigston, the Council is…

MPs call for secret housing maps to be published

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The three MPs representing the Harborough District in Parliament have written a joint letter to council leader Phil Knowles asking the council to publish secret maps of potential housing sites which have so far only been shown to…

Wednesday, Sep 11

15

Neil O'Brien slams decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment

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Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Neil O'Brien slammed the new Labour Government's decision to slash the Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners.The Harborough, Oadby, and Wigston MP said: "I am leading the charge against Labour’s decision to…

Tuesday, Sep 10

Neil O'Brien leads parliamentary debate on illegal immigration

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Neil O'Brien this week secured a Parliamentary debate on illegal immigration, and and used it to ask some questions about where the government is going on this issue. Neil took the opportunity to put some important questions to Dame Angela…

Friday, Sep 6

21

Harborough MP launches public appeal to secure the future of well-used charity

Harborough MP Neil O’Brien is appealing for help to secure the future of a charity based in Market Harborough. Shopmobility, based at Roman Way Community Centre, provides mobility aids to those with limited mobility to access shops and…

Tuesday, Aug 6

19

Neil O’Brien slams Labour decision to axe winter payments for pensioners

MP Neil O’Brien has slammed the Labour Government's decision to axe winter fuel payments for thousands of pensioners in Harborough, Oadby, and Wigston. The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, made the announcement last week, meaning that around ten…

Wednesday, Jul 24

22

Road safety measures to be introduced outside Market Harborough School following concerns raised by MP

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Road safety measures are set to be introduced outside a Market Harborough school, following intervention by the town’s MP. Neil O’Brien was invited to visit Little Bowden Primary School earlier this year by the headteacher who was…

Wednesday, Jul 10

21

Residents of Market Harborough retirement complex served by regular bus service, following intervention by MP

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Harborough MP Neil O’Brien has welcomed a change to a local bus route which will make Market Harborough town centre more accessible for residents living in a retirement complex on the outskirts of the town.

Monday, Jul 8

15

MP writes to Ministers asking for rethink on prison

Neil O’Brien, MP for Harborough Oadby and Wigston, has written to Planning Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and also to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, calling for controversial plans for a new prison at Gartree to be…

Wednesday, Feb 14

19

Harborough MP calls on council to help local primary school

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Harborough MP, Neil O’Brien, is calling on a local council to help ease the problem of congested roads during the busy school run. During a recent visit to St Joseph’s Catholic Academy, Neil was asked by the headteacher if he would…

Monday, Jan 29

12

MP welcomes launch of new NHS service – “Pharmacy First”

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Pharmacists will be given extra funding and powers to see and treat NHS patients from this Wednesday, which will free up as many as 30 million GP appointments per year.

Friday, Jan 26

14

Neil O’Brien MP hails success of his bus campaign as local bus companies join forces to improve ticketing and timetabling

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Neil O’Brien MP has welcomed improvements to local bus services in Harborough, Kibworth, Great Glen and Oadby following his successful campaign to improve public transport locally.

Wednesday, Jan 24

MP welcomes £500 million extra cash for councils

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Neil O’Brien, MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston has welcomed the announcement of £500 million extra funding for local government announced today.

Thursday, Jan 18

MP calls on councils to sign up to government warm homes green scheme

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Neil O’Brien, MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston is calling on local district councils to sign up to the ECO Flex scheme, so that more local residents can get access to government-funded energy improvements.

MP condemns plans for biomass power plant in Great Bowden

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MP for Harborough Neil O’Brien has condemned proposals to build an Anaerobic Digestion power plant in Great Bowden, and is calling on residents to sign his petition against it, and also send in objections to the local council.