Alison Bennett's Monday Mail: Labs, votes and something funny

Visit of the week

Last week was Dementia Action Week, an opportunity to talk about the impact that dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases have on people in all walks of life right across the country. It is estimated that 1 in 3 people born today will develop dementia, and with an ageing population, it really is so important that we invest in finding better therapies to treat neurodegenerative conditions whilst also making sure that people for whom dementia is a part of their lives get the best possible support right now.. 

Last Wednesday I was fortunate to be able to spend an afternoon at the UK Dementia Research Institute (UKDRI) centre at King’s College London alongside my colleague Vikki Slade MP. We met with Centre Director Professor Jernej Ule and his team to see first-hand the groundbreaking work they are undertaking to transform our understanding of neurodegenerative conditions.

UKDRI has campuses at universities across England, Scotland and Wales. Their research spans everything from studying disease processes at a cellular level to developing future therapies aimed at earlier diagnosis, prevention-focused care and more personalised support for families. What makes this work particularly remarkable is the way the Institute brings together expertise from psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience, something that often does not happen elsewhere in academia.

Touring the labs at KCL was a humbling experience - given that my scientific education peaked with my GCSEs. I do appreciate that through the research taking place across the UK there are dedicated scientists determined to find answers so that we can tackle the causes and the symptoms of neurodegenerative conditions.

Vote of the week

Last week, business in Parliament was dominated by the debate on the King’s Speech. Whilst I was pleased that I got the chance to ask David Lammy about legal aiding funding for people with severe mental health conditions, the main action was a series of votes on Wednesday evening. I, along with my Lib Dem colleagues called for closer ties with the European Union. So many local business owners tell me that Brexit still causes them increased red tape, staffing challenges and lost growth opportunities. A more practical and constructive relationship with Europe would help reduce these barriers, support economic growth and strengthen public finances. You can read more in the Sussex Express.  

Long listen of the week

Podcasts debating how Labour got here, whether Britain is ungovernable, and what will happen in the Makerfield by election are not in short supply right now. The best of the crop in my opinion is the two-parter from Past, Present, Future hosted by David Runciman.

For by-election nerds those who want to improve their understanding of Makerfield as a place, this substack by Rob Ford, one of the guests on Past, Present, Future should scratch that itch. 

Laugh of the week

My colleague Max Wilkinson MP with the perfect heckle of Robert Jenrick who used to be a Conservative… until he defected to Reform.

Getting in touch

My parliamentary email address is: alison.bennett.mp@parliament.uk. If you need my help, please get in touch.

Best wishes,
Alison

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