Lee Dillon: It’s a constant balancing act between constituency work, parliamentary duties, and pushing for real change at a national level. On one hand it is saddening to see the number of constituents who are going through really tough situations, but it is incredibly rewarding to see the difference you can make in people’s lives.

Olivia Bailey: It’s the honour of my life and a huge privilege to be elected to represent my community in parliament. This is the area I am from, where I live and where I am raising my young family – so having the opportunity to celebrate Berkshire on the national stage and make a real change to my community and to people’s lives will never get old.

The thing that has shocked me most – and made me angry – is the absolute mess we were left by the last government. I remember soon after the election when I sat listening to the Chancellor’s statement on the public spending inheritance, hearing about the huge black hole in the public finances and the promises made without money to pay for them. Like the new hospitals programme, promised compensation and promised funding for Ukraine. I was truly shocked by the sheer scale of Conservative economic mismanagement but I am glad that in the months that have followed the government has been willing to take the hard choices necessary to protect our economic security and fix the broken foundations of our country.

Olly Glover: I have been honoured and surprised by the number of people and organisations wishing to meet with me, both locally and in parliament. This varies from requests to sign letters of support, encouraging me to join a cross-party parliamentary group, or meeting with local farmers. 

What, so far, has been the most satisfying thing you’ve managed to accomplish?

Lee Dillon: The most satisfying achievement has been supporting constituents through casework. Since July, my team and I have handled over 2,100 pieces of casework. Whether it’s helping someone navigate problems with benefit claims, school support, or speaking up about local flooding issues, it’s fulfilling to know that we can make a real difference. I’ve also been able to contribute to various debates around housing, chalk streams, horseracing, farming, education and vaping which are important to me and many in our community.

Olivia Bailey: I love helping people with problems, working hard with my brilliant team to advocate for people in the community and achieve the outcomes they deserve. Some examples that come to mind are when I successfully stood with local schools against West Berkshire council to cancel their clawback of schools funding and bringing my campaign to protect our chalk streams into the House of Commons chamber. However, it’s often the ‘smaller’ wins that are even more satisfying and can make an incredible impact in a person’s life. Advocating for social housing tenants, helping people access the government support they are entitled to or simply making them feel heard – it’s so important.

Olly Glover: Representing local residents affected by bad and sustained smells from a landfill site near Sutton Courtenay and Didcot. I had regular engagement with the operators of the site, and ensured they understood the importance of resolving the issue, improving communication with residents, and undertaking work to reduce the risk of a future repeat. I did this through face-to-face meetings with the operators, and communicating my work through the local media.

 What has caused you the most frustration?

Lee Dillon:The biggest frustration so far has been the slow pace of change on key issues. For example, the housing crisis in Newbury requires urgent action, but we’re waiting for meaningful solutions from the government. On top of that, the cost-of-living crisis continues to impact families, businesses, and charities across our area. I’ve spoken to doctors’ surgeries struggling with rising operational costs, local charities seeing increased demand for their services, and families facing real hardship, especially those impacted by the changes to the winter fuel allowance, who need this vital support more than ever.

Additionally, farmers across West Berkshire are dealing with uncertainty, and as a member of the NFU Fellowship scheme, I’m committed to standing with them and ensuring their voices are heard in Parliament.

Olivia Bailey: The fact that despite the hard work of my team, we can’t solve everything. We do the best we can but have to work within the situation we currently have in this country – and that’s why I also focus on the government’s plans for national renewal to get our public finances, NHS and other public services back on track.

 If there were one thing about parliament that you’d reform, what would it be?

Lee Dillon: If I could reform anything, it would be the system that governs how MPs raise issues and hold the government to account. The current system can be slow and complex, making it hard to address urgent concerns in real time. I would push for more streamlined processes, especially in constituency matters, to ensure that issues affecting communities like Newbury are addressed swiftly and efficiently.

Olivia Bailey: Maybe it’s just me, but I personally love the quirks and ancient rules of parliament. It makes you feel connected to the immense history of the place, and the incredible and consequential things that have happened on the same benches you’re sitting on. When I talk to local schools, they always ask me why I went into politics and I always say that it’s because politics is where you can change things for the better. I often think back to when I was a teenager who had just realised I was gay – section 28 was in our schools and I had no right to get married. Because of politics, I am now married with a family of my own.

Olly Glover: Moving forward from some of the archaic traditions. We need to keep our work for our constituents at the heart of what we do, and to be able to do this freely, fairly, safely and inclusively. So, I understand that there will some processes that must remain in place. However, there is scope for the House of Commons to modernise, and I submitted my thoughts to a committee which is looking at this.

I would like to see the reform of the voting system although, despite so many wanting this, it is unlikely to change in the near future.

 Much as people probably wish otherwise, you clearly cannot help solve every problem that’s laid before you by constituents. What advice would you give people who’re thinking of contacting you?

Lee Dillon:I always encourage constituents to gather as much information as possible, whether it’s evidence of the issue they’re facing or any steps they’ve already taken with other agencies. It can really help to approach the relevant local authority, charity, or organisation first, as they might have resources that can resolve the issue quicker. However, if it’s not being addressed, or if it’s a matter that requires parliamentary intervention, then I’m always here to help and encourage people to get in touch.

Olivia Bailey: I do urge people to get in touch with me. We’ve dealt with nearly 3,000 cases since the election and me and my team will always do our best to help. It is best if people email in with their details (including their home address), a clear description of their problem with all the evidence they think may be helpful, such as previous correspondence on the issue, and a note that gives my team to consent on their behalf. It’s also always worth checking that you are writing to the right MP, as we are only allowed to act on the behalf of our own constituents. You can find who your MP is on the parliament.uk website.

Olly Glover: It is always helpful to know what a constituent has done before they contact me. Sometimes they have reached the end of their tether after contacting so many different agencies or it has taken a long time (years in some cases) and they are stuck about what to do next. On other occasions I am the first person they’ve contacted about an issue.

 Finally, what is the one thing that you’d like to accomplish in parliament during 2025?

Lee Dillon:In 2025, my priorities will continue to be housing, the NHS, cost-of-living, sewage, flooding and SEND. With the growing pressure on local families and the housing market, we need real commitments from the government to support new housing projects that are both affordable and sustainable.

Olivia Bailey: I’m really passionate about protecting the River Pang that flows through my constituency and is used by anglers, dog walkers, kayakers and everyone in between. It’s a beautiful and rare chalk stream that is said to have inspired the Wind in the Willows, but mismanagement of sewage outflows has left it in a dire state. I have been talking to experts and local campaigners, and want to maximise the impact of the campaign in the new year so we can clean up the Pang once and for all.

Olly Glover: I’d like to see the bills I am supporting in parliament go ahead. The Public Services (Targets) Bill is one I am taking to its second reading in June, and if made in to law it would make a difference to all of us as not only would there be targets for the number of new homes, but monitoring delivery of all the necessary health, education and transport improvements which our growing population already needs. I am also supporting bills developed by Liberal Democrat colleagues, who were lucky enough to come out high in the Private Members’ Bill ballot: the Climate and Nature Bill, and the Sunshine Bill (ensuring solar panels are on new buildings).

And finally…

Not questions we asked this time but ones we posed when we sent questions to all the candidates in thee constituencies before the election (a few of whom didn’t both to respond). You can see the sections for Newbury, Didcot & Wantage and Reading West & Mid Berkshire by clicking on the respective links.

These questions included asking the candidates, Desert Island Discs-style, for their choice of music, book, film and luxury object. The three MPs, as they now are, replied respective as follows:

Lee Dillon: Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis; Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson; Saving Private Ryan; and a lifetime’s supply of salt and vinegar crisps.

Olivia Bailey: Make You Feel my Love by Adele; The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien; Notting Hill; and a lifetime’s supply of cheese and red wine.

Olly Glover:  Baby Grand by Ray Charles and Billy Joel; Archangel by Robert Harris; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; and a lifetime’s supply of tamarind chutney.

Those luxury items, if taken together, would make for quite a good party spread. I’ll have a word with Lauren Laverne and see if she can arrange for them to have their islands adjacent to each other so they can vary their diet a bit by doing a bit of trading. After all, politics is (or should be) all about compromise and working with others…