Happy New Year! I am looking forward to another busy year. Here are just a few of the highlights from 2025 that I’m particularly proud of:
Renters’ Rights Act: from 1st May 2026 it will become illegal for landlords and letting agents to increase rent prices more than once a year, with tenants able to challenge rent rises that are too high. The Act will also establish an ombudsman for the private rented sector and end no fault evictions.
Employment Rights Act 2025: we have introduced the biggest improvements for workers’ rights for a generation, including an end to exploitative zero hour contracts, increasing statutory sick pay protection and access to maternity and paternity rights and pay, strengthening trade union bargaining rights and much more.
We have taken action to support residents with the cost of living, like cutting energy bills by an average of £150 per household, increasing the number of pensioners who receive the Winter Fuel Payment and increasing the minimum wage.
We are supporting schools and families with new breakfast clubs, family hubs, and early years child care, including school based nurseries. I was proud that two of the first breakfast clubs were in the constituency, and to be able to visit one and see the impact it was having. We are also lifting 450,000 children out of poverty.
I campaigned hard, alongside other coalfield MPs to return the BCSSS investment reserve back to the fund so that the money can be put where it belongs – in the pockets of its members. On average, scheme members are £100 every month better off and received a backdated lump sum just before Christmas.
I successfully secured a change in the law to introduce tougher sentences for hate crimes committed against LGBT people and people with disabilities, bringing them in line with other hate crimes. This will be part of the Policing and Crime Bill, coming back to Parliament in the New Year.
My campaign for new measures to tackle freight crime was featured in a BBC documentary. I am calling for a new crime code for freight crime, so police are better equipped to tackle organised freight theft, introduction of a national strategy to tackle freight crime, and more money for police to protect hauliers and put freight criminals behind bars. A new system is about to be trialled in Warwickshire.
The Finance Bill is being voted on, as soon as we return to Parliament. From talking to farmers it is clear that the levels set by the Treasury for Inheritance Tax for Farming Estates was too low and would cause some family farms real problems when the owner died and the farm passed to the next generation. I am so pleased that rural backbench MPs were able to secure a massive change from £1m per person allowance to £2.5m or £5m per couple. This means that only farming estates and other family businesses worth than more than around £5.65m would be subject to pay inheritance tax. Those worth more than that would have to pay their fair share.
Hillsborough Law: this introduces a legal duty of candour and requires public servants to co-operate with investigations. It also puts in place legal aid for victims’ inquiries and inquests. Those of us who remember how the Liverpool fans‘ families were treated after the Hillsborough disaster know this has been a long time coming and something Keir was personally committed to.
Before Christmas we announced our Animal Welfare Strategy, improving life for British wildlife, pets and farm animals.
Locally I have supported thousands of residents across the constituency and made key improvements challenging HS2, supporting Believe in Bedworth’s plan for £20 million investment in Bedworth, and tackling flooding, road safety, and a number of other issues affecting our residents and our communities. I have held surgeries and visited local businesses and organisations across the constituency, and met some wonderful people doing fantastic things along the way.
If you want to stay up to date with my work this year. you can sign up for my monthly newsletter here Monthly newsletter – Rachel Taylor MP.
If there is anything I can help with, or you want raise with me, get in touch at rachel.taylor.mp@parliament.uk.