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Community News

‘I’ve become part of the furniture’ - MP Robert Buckland

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland Since 2010, we have had 16,000 that diversity. There’s never a dull community and I’m a parent. I visit
has become an established part of items of casework. We try to cover moment.” schools all the time and most of the
the Swindon political landscape in as many of these as we can - I’m Turning to the recent broadside time the atmosphere is appropriate.
the six years since he was elected. lucky to have such a good team levelled at Swindon’s primary and We should use these criticisms as a
Working from his ‘cosy’ office that helps me do that. secondary schools by South West platform to build on.
in Wood Street, the walls lined “Swindon’s a microcosm of the regional director of Ofsted, Bradley “We stand ready to help these
with the work of local artists, rest of the country, within my Simmons, Mr Buckland agreed schools. It’s about getting it right.
Mr Buckland relishes his role as constituency you have rural areas that the blanket criticism was ‘not This is not about party politics.”
a constituency MP. For all its and other parts of Swindon which helpful’ whilst recognising that Turning to the decision by
challenges and the huge workload share many of the there were some key issues that Swindon Borough Council to
involved, it is this key part of his features of inner needed to be addressed. close 10 libraries in the town, Mr
role that he says brings him the city areas. The Responding to concerns by Buckland was keen to highlight
most satisfaction - the aspect range of case teachers over funding allocated the efforts made by campaigners
where he feels he can make the work that I get to pupils in Swindon, which is to ensure that Parks library was
most impact on the lives of those presented with significantly lower that other included in the core provision
living in his constituency. reflects similar areas, Mr Buckland said: raising the number from four
“I do have a good “We have seen an increase of £150 libraries to five.
relationship with most for pupil premium payments and “The Parks Library is vital for that
people in Swindon. I’ve I am aware that this is something area of Swindon. It is essential for
been in this position so that the Secretary of State is job seekers and provides a wider
long that I get people looking at closely. community role in this area where
recognising me in the “It is important to pull together there is a lot of social deprivation.
street all the time. as an educational community. The We have been working hard
I suppose I have letter from Mr Simmons failed to to see if we can maintain the
become part of acknowledge a lot of good work network, by looking at partnership
the furniture now. that is going on in our schools. approaches. There is a lot of work
That is the part of For example, Dorcan have just had going on to bring people together,
the job that I enjoy their best results in three years, so we shall see what the new year
the most. We have we are going in the right direction. brings.”
a small team and A lot of this work has been going Robert can be contacted on 01793
we have a large on already before Mr Simmons 533 393, or via email:
workload. sent that letter out. I live in the [email protected]

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