Welcome to my website,

I would like to say thank you to everyone who supported me in the 2010 General Election.

We had a significant swing here to Labour, bucking the trend in the rest of the country. It was very heartening in the campaign to have so many messages of goodwill and support from local people, young and old - including those people who voted for me across party lines. I am honoured to have the opportunity of serving you again as your Member of Parliament. I will always stand up for local people, and do my best to make sure your views are represented in the Commons and to government.  

I share the concerns many local people have about some of the policies being pursued by the Tory – Lib Dem government.  I will continue to listen to constituents and to judge policies on their merits or otherwise.  As I said in the campaign, I will be on your side against savage cuts.  I shall be speaking up for our community here in Oxford and for the jobs, services and facilities we need - as well as doing all I can to make sure that Britain fulfils its  responsibilities for a sustainable environment and to combat global poverty.

I am on your side.  What matters most to me is representing you. If there are any issues you want to raise with me, or problems you need help with, please do let me know.                                                                                      

                                                                                   With best wishes,

• Top doctor's fears for the NHS in a Tory / Lib Dem government (04/03/10)
  A top Oxford NHS doctor has written of his fears for the NHS under a Tory / Lib Dem government, and backed Andrew to keep our city's hospitals safe. David Skinner, an NHS consultant with 30 years experience, challenged the Tories and the Lib Dems over A&E targets and warned local people to remember what the Tories did to the NHS before they vote Tory or Lib Dem. David Skinner said: “I have worked in the front line of emergency care both under the Conservatives and now Labour. The support and funding could not be...
  
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• Ed Miliband warns of Lib Dem/Tory government threat (30/04/10)
  Andrew welcomed Climate Change secretary Ed Miliband to Oxford today, to discuss the threat of a Lib Dem/Tory government to tackling climate change. Mr Miliband spoke about the danger of the Lib Dems, who fail to rule out a deal with the climate-change denying Tories, and the consequence of a Tory government for international action on climate change. He highlighted Labour’s record on the world’s first-ever Climate Change Act and its plans to create thousands of green jobs. Mr Miliband fielded questions on nuclear power, land fill, and the problem of those who oppose action...
  
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• Lib Dem threat to NHS revealed (27/04/10)
  Newspaper reports today revealed that Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg favours "breaking up" the NHS, ending the principle of healthcare free at the point of need and forcing everyone to buy health insurance. Andrew Smith said: "It was bad enough that the Lib Dems want to go further even than the Tories in their attacks on public services, with savage cuts to what they call the "sacred cow" of the NHS. “Now we find that their leader doesn't even believe in the principle of healthcare free at the point of need. No wonder Nick Clegg is...
  
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