Danny Chambers MP

06/12/2025

Today we're championing the amazing small and local businesses in Wi******er, Alresford and Bishops Waltham that help our high streets and communities thrive.

Liberal Democrats are calling for a 5% cut to VAT on hospitality to revitalise the high street, cut the cost of living for customers and help small businesses thrive.

05/12/2025

Our posties literally deliver Christmas - so I popped into the Wi******er depot to thank them for all their hard work at the busiest (and coldest!) time of the year!

05/12/2025

🚜 Only 5% of farmers in the UK are under the age of 35. We need to treat food security with the seriousness it deserves. The Liberal Democrats' Farm First scheme would give young people the support they need to be able to choose farming as a career option.

Read the full Food Security Plan here - https://www.libdems.org.uk/food-security-paper

04/12/2025

Rising levels of mental illness needs to be better understood. This is an opportunity to ensure we better understand the help people need, including far stronger prevention and support in the community.

Liberal Democrats are calling for regular mental health check-ups at key points in life, community mental health hubs, and dedicated mental health specialists in every school. I hope the Health Secretary considers these vital steps.

While Reform would rather take us back to the dark days of people suffering in silence and shame, Lib Dems would listen to the evidence, protect people from mental ill health and save lives.

The health secretary says the aim is to tackle a rising demand for services and pressure on the NHS.

04/12/2025

Having walked this route with parents I can absolutely see why they're so disappointed in the decision. Hampshire County Council should rethink their plans and change course.

The axing of a school bus route is at the centre of a growing safety row for children as parents, councillors and the MP protest for a safer walking…

04/12/2025

03/12/2025

I've just introduced a motion in Parliament to recognise the dwindling numbers of the endangered Atlantic Salmon in our precious chalk streams - the River Test and the River Itchen.

Analysis by Project White Hart found that just 187 adult salmon returned to the River Itchen in 2024, less than 20% of the conservation limit.

A thriving salmon population needs cold, clean water that is free from disease, pollution and sewage. Continued river pollution could push the Atlantic Salmon population beyond recovery.

That's why we need to replace Ofwat with a new and stronger regulator with the ability to end the sewage scandal.

I'm pleased to be joined by Wi******er resident Jim Murray MBE, Project White Hart, the Test and Itchen Association, Wessex Rivers Trust, Atlantic Salmon Trust, Angling Trust, and other conservation groups for the campaign to save this species from extinction.

Read the motion here ⬇️
https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/64850/chalk-streams-and-salmon-in-hampshire

03/12/2025

The big tech companies extract enormous value from local journalism such as the Meon Valley Times, using their reporting to populate social media feeds, but they return almost none of that value to the publishers who produce it.

The forthcoming local media strategy should support independent, community-rooted outlets, not just the big chains and international corporations.

02/12/2025

Today, the King signed my Animal Welfare Bill into law.

Animals will be protected from cruel smugglers under new laws cracking down on the vile low-welfare pet trade.

Deceitful pet traders will no longer be able to cram vehicles with dozens of pets for sale.

Humans will also be protected from zoonotic diseases such a rabies.

I spoke about this issue in my maiden speech last year, so I am very proud to have changed the law today ⬇️

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pet-smuggling-crackdown-with-new-law

28/11/2025

I joined parents and carers from Kings Worthy on an early morning walk to The Henry Beaufort School along the route children will be expected to take once the bus service is removed by Hampshire County Council.

The parents are right to be concerned about the safety for children on this route, particularly on darker mornings at this time of year.

The County Council should review their decision to remove the bus service and look again at the safety of the route, taking necessary measures to ensure no child is put at risk.

26/11/2025

I’m relieved the Government has finally listened to Liberal Democrats and scrapped the immoral two-child limit — a policy that has pushed countless families into hardship. Its removal will help lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty.

As mental health spokesperson, I’m also pleased the Government has responded to Lib Dem calls to apply tougher taxes on the gambling industry. I’ve heard too many devastating stories from people whose lives have been torn apart by addiction.

However, this Budget is still a botched, low-growth package. Nothing for small businesses that form the backbone of the community - keeping the national insurance hikes while refusing to cut VAT for hospitality, a simple, targeted step that could have breathed life back into our local economy.

And worst of all, there is still no plan for fixing social care. Right now, around 160 people are stuck in beds at Wi******er Hospital because there simply isn’t a care package available to get them safely home. This Budget offers them absolutely nothing.

There was also an opportunity today to fix the £90 billion Brexit black hole and unlock real economic growth with Europe. Instead, they delivered a Budget that goes after struggling families and local employers while letting the big banks and tech giants off the hook.

We could have introduced a windfall tax on the big banks, ended the Brexit barriers hurting our trade by securing a new Customs Union with Europe, and properly funded social care. That’s how we could really boost growth, support business, and give people hope.

25/11/2025

1 in 3 adults are now turning to unregulated, potentially dangerous chatbots for mental health therapy and advice.

When people are at their most vulnerable, they deserve support from a qualified mental health professional — not a risky substitute.

One of the reasons people are turning to these tools is the huge backlog in mental health waiting lists. Today, I challenged the Minister on what the Government is doing to tackle these unacceptable delays.