Matt Rodda MP

I spoke about the benefits of coordinating our rail track and rolling stock, benefitting passengers but also easing congestion on the roads by encouraging more people to take the train.

I asked the Water Minister to outline what action the government is taking to improve compensation for households and businesses if they have their water cut off or have low pressure. In the past residents have had to wait too long before receiving compensation.

I strongly encourage cycling but I’m concerned about the dangerous and irresponsible use of e-bikes and e-scooters, particular when sharing spaces with pedestrians and breaking the speed limit. If you are concerned about this issue please complete my survey at: mattroddamp.com/escooters

My weekly update including: 📱 Tackling online harms 💷 Support with the cost of living 🔋 Dangerous e-bike survey: mattroddamp.com/escooters

I’m backing government action to tackle online harms and have written to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology to raise both my own concerns and those of local residents. Thanks to BBC Radio Berkshire for covering this important issue.

My weekly update including: 💷 Gurkha pensions campaign 📱 Social media consultation 🚗 Parking & electric vehicle charging

The future of Thames Water is very important to residents and I have been raising a number of issues on their behalf. The government will always act in the national interest on these issues, and while the company remains financially stable, the government stands ready for all eventualities.

Investment in early years education is vital for our children, but also a crucial downpayment on our country’s economic future, and I praised the government’s work in this important area.

My weekly update including: - Reading meningitis cases (please see my full update here: www.mattrodda.net/news/2026/05...) - The King's Speech - Local community events

The European Partnership Bill will strengthen our ties with the EU, which is particularly important for small businesses working in vital supply chains for our economy.

I was pleased to see the Clean Water Bill in yesterday’s King’s Speech which will clean up the water industry by bringing enforcement agencies together under one regulator, and creating a new Water Ombudsman. 🧵1/2

Many thanks to Times Radio for taking the time to speak to me about my continued support for the Prime Minister, who is doing an excellent job in difficult circumstances, delivering on our manifesto commitments at home and navigating a challenging situation on the international stage.

I'm supporting Keir Starmer, he is showing real leadership at a difficult time for our country and the world as a whole.

🗳️🌹 Vote Labour Today, polls are open until 10pm. 🪪 Don't forget your photo ID!

My weekly update including: 🚒 Speaking about the importance of funding for fire services 🚨 Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour

I raised concerns about the impact that any potential cuts to neighbouring fire services would have on our own excellent service here in Berkshire.

My weekly update including: - Protecting children online - Campaigning to keep local post offices - Memorial service to PC Andrew Harper

I spoke about the devastating effects of online bullying and my support for the government’s consultation into children’s safety online which you can contribute to here: www.gov.uk/government/c...

It was great to visit Reading Buses to see the new fully electric 26 service. Click below to find out more about this route: www.reading-buses.co.uk/services/RBU...

My weekly update including: - Support for vulnerable young people - Campaigning for Gurkha pensions - Promoting access to sport

My weekly update, this week as Parliament is in recess I have been working on a number of local community projects.

I’m backing Reading Borough Council’s new Public Space Protection Order to tackle anti-social behaviour in our town. The PSPO gives council and police more powers to deal with aggressive begging, street drinking, the anti-social use of e-bikes & scooters, and dangerous dogs.

It was a privilege to listen to teachers, parents, and students at Hartland High School alongside the Schools Minister Georgia Gould and my colleague Yuan Yang MP to discuss SEND support and new investment in the Reading area.

As more residents move to electric vehicles it’s vital that those without off road parking have a reliable charging solution. That’s why I am pleased to see that Reading Borough Council has launched a scheme for discounted cross-pavement EV charging.

Post offices are vital to local communities, which is why I have been calling for the Post Office to recruit a new postmaster to resume the service in Caversham Heights. Please complete my survey if you haven’t had a chance yet at: mattroddamp.com/caversham-he...

My weekly update including: 📚 Visit from the Schools Minister 💷 Pension campaign for Gurkha Veterans 🚨 Reading's new Public Space Protection Order

Our Gurkha veterans have served Britain with distinction and we owe them a debt of honour. I spoke about the need for a fair deal for Gurkha veterans who retired before 1997 who are on lower pensions.

I raised the issue of fly tipping, which I know is a concern for residents across Reading, and praised work by Reading Borough Council to tackle this problem. You can learn more about the Love Clean Reading app and reporting fly tipping at www.reading.gov.uk/waste-and-re...

I welcome Reading Borough Council’s new Public Space Protection Order which comes into force across the town today, giving the council and police new powers to tackle anti-social behaviour like street drinking, aggressive begging, dangerous use of e-bikes and scooters, dangerous dogs and fouling.

I'm pleased the Government is taking action to reduce smoking and vaping - to protect young people and help smokers to give up. I welcomed plans to encourage enforcement, giving councils the power to reinvest fines from shops which break the law to help pay for local enforcement.

My weekly update including: 🚗 Road safety at the Last Crumb Junction 💻 Children's safety online 💧 Flood prevention

I welcomed the re-introduction of maintenance support for students from lower income households, alongside other measures that will benefit young people such as freezing rail fares and improved renters rights.

During a debate on flood prevention I raised the importance of rewilding and other natural measures to increase capacity for drainage upstream of affected areas.

I praised the approach Reading Borough Council has taken by resurfacing large sections of road at a time. This has improved our highways in contrast to other councils with awful road surfaces.

Thank you to ITV for covering the important issue of Gurkha pensions. I am continuing to work on this issue and recently held another meeting with the Veterans' Minister.

It was wonderful to visit Reading Buses as they bring 17 new electric buses into their fleet. These vehicles were made in Britain, have more space and better facilities for disabled residents.

My weekly update including: 🚌 Reading Buses new electric vehicles 🚗 The Chancellor's work to protect the UK from uncertainty in the oil markets 🎓 Meeting with the Sutton Trust about social mobility and access to education

It was wonderful to have the Business Secretary, Peter Kyle, visit Reading and celebrate the real success of our town. I am so proud of what is being achieved here and know that this is just the beginning.

I welcomed the Business Secretary, Peter Kyle, to Reading to visit One Station Hill. The building, located opposite the refurbished Rail Station is attracting global brands and is part of Reading’s wider regeneration, which is creating jobs and opportunities in our town.

I asked the Chancellor how investment in green energy will help protect consumers.

My weekly update including: - The Spring Forecast - The Business Secretary's visit to Reading - Supporting the Nepalese community

I praised the vital work of charities working with the UK Government to help developing countries.

Important news from the Spring Forecast with the Government building a strong and secure economy with working people better off.

I was pleased to join BBC Radio Berkshire to discuss how Labour is encouraging growth, bringing down the cost of living, and reducing the cost of government borrowing, all of which are a huge benefit to people in Reading.

My weekly update:
 - Raising parents' concerns about social media - Championing Reading’s history & heritage - Attending community events

I highlighted the importance of the copy of the Bayeux Tapestry at Reading Museum during a debate on the exhibition of the tapestry.

Many parents are worried about the impact that social media is having on their children’s mental health and childhood, and I welcome the Government’s consultation on this matter. 🧵1/2

I highlighted the need for access to banking services in areas like Caversham and Emmer Green that have seen all the local branches close in recent years, and how this particularly affects older and vulnerable residents. I am calling for a Banking Hub in our community.

I am pleased Reading Borough Council is building more council houses and I raised this during a debate on council funding.

It is a fundamental point of fairness that funding should be based on need, which is why I fully support the Government’s approach to the Local Government Finance Settlement.

I welcomed the range of measures the Labour Government is taking to support families with the cost of living, including lifting the 2 child cap on UC, the warm homes plan, the first rail fare freeze in 30 years, and many other measures.

My weekly update: 🏡 Opening new council houses in Coley 🏠 Warm Homes Plan 🪖 Armed Forces Bill ✉️ Protecting our Post Offices

This week I attended the opening of 46 new affordable, zero‑carbon homes at Wensley Road in Coley Park. I spoke to Matt Yeo, Lead Councillor for Housing, about the fantastic work that the council is doing to deliver high quality social housing projects like this one across the town.

I was pleased to welcome the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, to Reading today to visit the homes built by the council on the former Arthur Hill Pool site. 🧵1/3

The Royal British Legion, Reading Borough Council, and local organisations like The Forgotten British Gurkha Charity are playing a vital role supporting forces veterans. I paid tribute to them and asked for best practice from Reading to be shared across the country.

I welcomed the Government rejoining the Erasmus Scheme to offer new opportunities to young people and to support economic growth.

I welcomed the publication of the Warm Homes Plan, which will be a huge benefit to residents across Reading, and demonstrates the level of ambition this Labour Government has for improving the housing stock in the UK.

Last week I visited the Royal Berkshire Hospital with Ashley Dalton, the Minister for Public Health. Across England, the NHS saw the waiting list fall by more than 86,000 in November to 7.31 million, that’s the second biggest drop in 15 years.

My weekly update: 🏥 Welcoming the Minister for Public Health to the RBH 🎭 Campaigning for Reading Gaol to become an arts & heritage hub 📢 Raising local issues in Parliament

The Ukrainian Community Centre in Reading is doing incredibly important work to preserve Ukrainian language, culture and heritage, and I was pleased to recognise this work in Parliament.

I paid tribute to the great work by Labour locally to make bus routes available to more rural communities who often lack access to regular public transport.