THE NEW MP for Epping Forest used his first speech of this Parliament to address wide-ranging concerns and issues including the Green Belt, crime, and health.

Dr Neil Hudson MP, the Conservative MP for Epping Forest since 2024 and the former MP for Penrith and The Border from 2019 to 2024, spoke in Parliament on July 23, the week after the new Labour government’s King Speech.

Mr Hudson said: "Epping Forest is a beautiful area and has precious green spaces, but I am nervous that the Labour Government will put some of that in jeopardy by re-badging the green belt as grey belt”.

“We must make sure that new housing is put in the right places and that infrastructure is protected”.

Mr Hudson also urged the Government to carry on with the capital build projects committed to by the previous Conservative Government including a new community diagnostic centre at St Margaret’s hospital in Epping and rebuilds for the Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow and the Whipps Cross hospital.

Mr Hudson also said he will continue to work to improve mental health outcomes, including with 3 Dads Walking and will work to bring “safe and age-appropriate” suicide prevention into schools.

Mr Hudson also paid tribute to Epping Forest’s outgoing MP Dame Eleanor Laing who will now sit in the House of Lords.

He said: “Our area is privileged to have been represented not only by Dame Eleanor Laing, but by the former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, who represented the then seat of Epping from 1924 to 1945”.

Mr Hudson also praised Roger Hirst, the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and Ben-Julian Harrington, Essex Police's Chief Constable, writing to both about constituency concerns despite crime reducing over the past five years.

Mr Hudson added: "It is important that we as a constructive Opposition help this Government to serve our communities and get things right, but that we point out things when we feel they are getting them wrong”.

“I wish this Government well, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the House on important issues of public health, animal health and welfare, protecting our green spaces and ensuring that our constituents have access to the good health and education systems that they deserve."