Chair hopes to meet with all MPs following General Election

9 July 2024

Hertfordshire Police Federation chair Luke Mitchell is planning to meet with all the county’s MPs as part of an effort to improve links between police officers and politicians.

Labour replicated its national landslide success in the General Election by taking several seats from the Conservatives, including that of former defence secretary Grant Shapps and one-time police minister Sir Mike Penning, and only a few county MPs retained their seats, including the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, who remains MP for St Albans.

“The shake-up here in Hertfordshire gives us an opportunity to strive for a complete re-set in terms of the relationship between the Police Federation and our elected MPs – and therefore the Government,” says Luke.

Deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, kept her seat in St Albans.

“We want to make the most of that opportunity, meet with MPs and have an open dialogue with them about how officers are feeling. Morale is low, officers feel deflated they don’t feel they have been treated fairly by the previous Government. Now, to coin a phrase used by the Prime Minister, is time for change.

“I am hoping our newly elected MPs will be willing to engage with us and find out more about policing, but I also hope that those MPs who were re-elected will take this opportunity to listen to what we have to say.

“I am more than willing to listen to their views and to hear what they have to say, particularly if they have ideas for how we might improve the service we provide to our communities.”

The Federation is going to write to all Hertfordshire MPs to ask if they will be willing to meet its officials.