One year on from election

4 July 2025

One year ago, Victoria Collins was elected as MP for Harpenden & Berkhamsted, through an election in which the Liberal Democrats made history by winning 72 seats.

Since then, Victoria has been championing Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Tring and the surrounding villages, delivering on key campaign pledges like fighting for improved health and social care, championing local businesses and protecting local waterways from sewage dumping.

Victoria has made her continued commitment to these priorities clear, whether by defending local health and care providers and businesses from the government’s jobs tax (NICs increase) set to add immense pressure, or voting against this tax hike at every possible opportunity. 

She has also continued pressing for greater accountability for sewage spills, including by demanding action from Thames Water and the Environment Agency to address this locally, and introducing a parliamentary Bill to introduce a Blue Flag status to protect precious waterways like the River Ver, by setting standards of water quality and safety.

Alongside this she’s fought against the government’s welfare changes and Winter Fuel Payment cuts impacting some of the most vulnerable members of the local community, on which the government has subsequently u-turned or made concessions. And she is continuing to fight for improved local services, like SEND support through fairer funding for Hertfordshire, and better transport links by campaigning against the loss of the X5 bus route.

Finally, in her role as Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology she has been able to bring residents’ concerns to the heart of Westminster - particularly in calling for changes to improve children’s online safety, informed by local discussions throughout her ‘Safer Screens Tour’ of local schools.

Through this work, Victoria has raised issues in Parliament over 500 times, helped and answered queries on over 10,000 personal and political issues from local constituents, and held over 300 local visits, meetings and surgeries with local residents, remaining committed to continuing to champion local residents’ interests.

She said:

“It was an absolute honour when, one year ago, you - the residents of Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Tring and the surrounding villages - put your faith in me and elected me as your MP.

“I vowed to do everything I could to bring improvements in areas that most matter to you: fixing local health and care services, tackling the cost-of-living crisis, sewage spills, supporting local businesses and more.

“I’m proud that these priorities have guided everything I’ve done so far as your representative, both in Parliament and within our local area, and they’ll continue to do so.

“My objective will always be getting the best for our community and I’ll keep pushing for this and to amplify your voices and interests, particularly after the years of Conservative failings and neglect of our local services.”