It has been quite a year in Plymouth, writes Plymouth MP Luke Pollard. Amongst the Quality Street and mince pies, Christmas offers us a chance to reflect on the last twelve months and what the New Year will bring.
Our city pulled together with trademark spirit in 2024. When a Second World War bomb was discovered in Keyham early in the year, local groups, volunteers and councillors pulled out all the stops to help, not least Building Plymouth who voluntarily repaired residents’ gardens.
This year I had the huge privilege of being re-elected as your Member of Parliament, representing the city where I was born and where I am proud to live, as well as being appointed as Minister for the Armed Forces by the Prime Minister.
I know that, in 2025, we must keep on delivering the change people voted for – slashing NHS waiting lists, addressing the cost of living, and fixing public services.
Folks know that I prefer to be upfront, and I want to be clear that it will take time to fix the mess inherited from the last government – and require difficult decisions. But this is the only approach that will get our economy and public services back on track.
As with any year, the most rewarding part of my job has been helping Plymothians in need, like securing medals for Nuclear Test Veterans after decades of waiting, and financial support for carers. With my fantastic team, I have supported over 7,800 residents this year, securing them more than £356,000 in support. That is £2.3 million since I was first elected.
In 2024, we progressed our campaign to strengthen Britain’s gun laws after the Keyham tragedy, with police reforms introduced in November to make firearms licensing more robust.
Labour MP Luke Pollard for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport at Babcock
We made progress on water quality, too. After I brokered a deal with South West Water, I am delighted that work was completed this year to close two private sewers that have been discharging human waste into Firestone Bay for decades.
I also launched the latest edition of my annual Buildings at Risk List, calling on the owners of Plymouth’s iconic disused buildings – like the Palace Theatre – to invest or sell. There has been progress on a number of Plymouth buildings since I first launched this campaign in 2022.
I also ran my annual summer school for Plymouth’s young people, held ‘Big Conversation’ public meetings, and campaigned with Plymouth’s incredible care leavers on housing access.
And as Devonport’s MP, I have been proud to back defence jobs in our region and across the country, as well as introducing legislation in Parliament for an Armed Forces Commissioner who will be a strong, independent champion for our forces and their families.
Labour MP Luke Pollard for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport at the Tower Breakfast Club in Mount Wise
As someone who has campaigned on the dire state of military accommodation for years, I am also glad that the new government has signed a landmark deal to bring the Armed Forces estate back into public ownership, to deliver homes fit for our heroes.
In 2025, one of my top priorities will be our NHS. In particular, I will be pushing for a new ‘health village’ of NHS services in Colin Campbell Court, as well as working with Fred Thomas MP on Derriford.
To get Plymouth building again, I will also be pushing for 5500 extra homes in the city centre. And I will continue to campaign for gun law reforms so that we can stop another tragedy like Keyham’s from ever happening again. Together, let’s make 2025 a year of positive change.
If you would like to stay up to date with my work in 2025, please do sign up for my newsletter at www.lukepollard.org/sign-up/
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