Earlier this month, I attended the launch of STARK’s new manufacturing site in Swindon, a major milestone for our town. Whilst there, I met Mark, a local resident who recently joined the company. After the closure of the Honda site, Mark, like many others, had to look beyond Swindon for work. He told me how delighted he was to once again have a job in his hometown.
Stories like Mark’s keep me focused on my mission: bringing investment and good-quality jobs back to Swindon. STARK’s arrival alone will create 100 new roles, and I will continue working to secure more opportunities for local people.
The launch was attended by the Minister for the Armed Forces, Al Carns, following a visit to TEKEVER earlier this year from the Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey. Swindon is now firmly on the national map, not only as a growing hub for advanced drone manufacturing, but as a proud and vital part of the UK’s defence capability and strategy.
Budget 2025: Supporting Families and Tackling the Cost of Living
I welcome the decision to lift the two-child benefit cap, a policy I campaigned to end, which will help lift around 450,000 children out of poverty nationwide. This is a significant step for families in Swindon, reducing barriers that hold children back from achieving their full potential. It is not only in my view the morally right thing to do, reducing poverty in children also increases life chances which means savings in future for our NHS and Welfare System, and a better life for those children who will be lifted out of poverty.
I know the cost of living remains a top concern to many residents and I am pleased the Chancellor has honoured Labour’s manifesto commitments: no increases to VAT, income tax, or national insurance, alongside rises in the minimum and living wage alongside measures to prevent price rises like freezing rail fares and cutting energy bills by £150 next year. I know this will provide some relief, but I will continue to push for bolder measures to ease the pressure on households.
Road Safety
Finally, I am working closely with the Department for Transport to introduce new road safety rules following the tragic death of Harry Parker in a road traffic accident in 2022. We must do everything possible to prevent such tragedies in the future. I was pleased to see recent cross-party support in Swindon Borough Council for better road safety measures and am working to improve road safety at a national level. I want to thank all the residents who have contacted me about this issue for their feedback and suggestions.
That’s it for my first Swindon 24 column! I wish you all a Merry Christmas and If you need support from me or my office, please email me at [email protected] and we will always do what we can to assist.
Will Stone MP
