I recently participated in a parliamentary debate about protecting the legal right to support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It was standing room only in the chamber, highlighting the national significance of this issue.

However, things are especially bad in Surrey. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has received 348 complaints about Conservative-led Surrey County Council over the past six years – the highest number in England.

Since being elected, I have spoken to 68 parents and carers brought to the brink of despair fighting to secure the education their child needs and deserves. They’ve faced years long battles just to secure an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Even when they succeed, many children are still left without a suitable school place. Some children have been offered just an hour of remote learning instead of a proper education. Others have been told to wait until October next year before their appeal will even be heard.

This crisis was created by years of Conservative mismanagement, and now the Labour Government must act to strengthen parents' rights to question a failing system. They must properly invest in SEND provision and ensure councils, schools and health services work together to support vulnerable children.

We cannot allow another generation of children to be failed. I will continue fighting to ensure that every child gets the school place, proper support, and hope for their future that they deserve.

Party conference

The Lib Dem Party Conference this year ran from 20 to 23 September, a busy and productive few days of speeches, debates and events where we set out our vision for the UK.

I spoke at lots of fringe events and panels, including with the NSPCC on protecting vulnerable children, about local government reorganisation and about how we build the homes we need and driving economic growth in the process.

I’ve spoken on ITV about local government reorganisation – forced on us locally as the Conservatives effectively bankrupted Woking Borough Council. I’m pushing for our new local authority not to be overwhelmed by the legacy of debt, and hopefully this reorganisation provides the opportunity for us to do that.

However, the Government also needs to tackle the fundamental problems facing local government – the unfair and out-of-date council tax system and resolve the crisis in social care once and for all.

I met with Shelly Tal Meron of Yesh Atid, from our liberal sister party in Israel, to discuss the forthcoming elections in Israel. I hope that moderate parties including Yesh Atid are able to win that election and bring about the political change that both Israel and the whole region needs.

Finally, on a lighter note, I went for an early morning swim with several other brave MP colleagues with Surfers Against Sewage, highlighting the long-standing Lib Dem campaign against sewage dumping.

HG Wells Day

In honour of HG Wells birthday on 21 September, I tabled a parliamentary motion paying tribute to his time living in Woking, where he wrote The War of the Worlds, and calling for an official HG Wells Day. As the founding father of the science fiction genre, it is right that his achievements are remembered for generations to come.