A year ago today, the country went to the polls to elect a new Parliament to break the Brexit deadlock. And you elected me to be your new Member of Parliament.
At the election, I promised to get Brexit done, protect our green spaces and get more police on the streets. One year on, I am pleased to report that I have delivered on these promises.
My first vote as your MP was to approve the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill to ensure the UK left the EU on the 31st January 2020.
I fought and defeated the Planning Inspectorate's call for the green belt to be reviewed to make way for Sadiq Khan's damaging housing plan.
And I've worked with Bromley Police to get more officers on the beat to keep our streets safe. So far, the Government has recruited an extra 1,369 officers to help restore local policing across Greater London, and next year we'll recruit more.
As your MP, I've worked hard to deliver for you and to stand up for Orpington in Parliament.
I voted to enshrine in law the longest and largest ever cash boost for the NHS in its history. By 2024, the cash injection for Bromley's Clinical Commission Group, which covers Orpington, will mean funding per patient will have increased by 13%, a larger boost than the 5% enjoyed by the rest of London.
After I raised the historical unfairness in school funding across Greater London, schools across the Orpington constituency received a £1.3 million funding boost. This is a 3.5% increase compared to last year and a 3.1% increase per pupil.
And in Parliament, I've raised your concerns with the Prime Minister and Ministers from BBC funding and illegal immigration to unsafe cladding and access to justice.
However, for all the good news, 2020 has been a tough, challenging and heartbreaking year for our country.
I've supported constituents who have lost loved ones, their jobs and their businesses. I've done everything in my power to help, but it's been difficult, and there are no quick, easy, pain-free fixes.
Throughout this pandemic, I've supported measures and lobbied for changes to save lives and protect livelihoods.
For all the hardship, we've saved many lives, protected thousands of jobs, and safeguarded businesses across Orpington.
So far across the Orpington constituency, the furlough scheme has protected 11,100 jobs, self-employed constituents have received £12.5 million in income support, and our local businesses have received more than £60 million in loans and grants.
And I want to thank you for all of the sacrifices you have made this year. By following the rules and supporting local businesses, you have helped save lives and livelihoods.
We are deploying a vaccine. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. And together, we can bring this crisis to an end in 2021 and start to rebuild.
One year on from the General Election, I want to thank you again for entrusting me with your vote. It's the greatest honour of my life to represent you. I will continue to represent you to the best of my ability in Parliament and deliver for Orpington.