General election: What next? Shropshire MPs set out their priorities

Here's what they had to say.

LUCY ALLAN - Telford

I am humbled and honoured to have been elected as Telford’s member of parliament for a second time.

It is the greatest privilege that Telford people have placed their trust in me to represent them once again.

Only Telford’s MP can stand up in parliament and speak up for Telford. It is a responsibility I take seriously.

My priority for the next parliamentary term is to ensure the Government deliverers a Brexit that works for Telford.

It is vital for Telford that business, jobs and growth all continue to flourish. It is only through a strong economy that we can build a secure future and invest in the public services we want for Telford.

I will hold the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust Board and government ministers to their promise that we will have a 24 hour A&E service at the Princess Royal, and that our women and children’s unit will remain in Telford.

I understand and share the council’s frustration with the chaotic Future Fit process.

However, the council needs to work constructively with local health providers and all partners to ensure Telford gets the services it needs.

Telford is a unique and growing town and this must be recognised by decision makers.

MARK PRITCHARD - The Wrekin

I’m thrilled but also humbled I’ve been re-elected for a record fourth term for The Wrekin.

My top priority now is Princess Royal Hospital and the associated accident and emergency unit. I will continue making sure we expand defence jobs and service jobs in the area, getting higher paid jobs into the area and thirdly I want to try to do more getting Shropshire on the map with tourism. We can do more on a local and national level.

These are uncertain times; not only with Brexit and the economic challenges Brexit brings, as well as its opportunities, but also in defence and national security challenges.

I’m looking forward to getting back to the House of Commons to work on behalf of all the people of The Wrekin, whatever their political complexion, whatever their socio-economic background. I’m there to represent the people of The Wrekin to the Government, rather than Government to the people.

I would also like to thank my campaign team. Without them I would not be stood here.

OWEN PATERSON - North Shropshire

It is a great honour to be re-elected to represent the people of North Shropshire for the sixth consecutive time.

At every election since 1997, the voters of North Shropshire have generously returned me to Parliament with an increased vote; 33,642 votes and a 61 per cent share are new records for North Shropshire. I am grateful for this increased mandate, remaining determined to represent everyone in the constituency without fear or favour.

Within hours of being re-elected, I launched the Oswestry Grid Project, enhancing the delivery of power locally.

Later in the day, I had a fascinating meeting with the new MD of Müller Milk and Ingredients, Andrew McInnes. I shall continue to work closely with local businesses, farmers and food producers.

My priorities are to improve roads, rail, broadband and mobile reception. I will continue my long-running campaigns to dual the A5 and build the Pant Llanymynech bypass.

I want to see urgent care centres established in Oswestry and Whitchurch. I want maternity services for low-risk births at the Oswestry Maternity Unit to continue. A new emergency care centre must be built, bringing specialist skills back into Shropshire.

When Labour were defeated in 2010, the UK was borrowing £300,000 a minute. There is still plenty to do to restore the public finances. We can help by merging Telford & Wrekin Council with Shropshire Council, saving taxpayers £20 million each year.

17.4 million people voted to leave the EU, wanting elected representatives to take back control of our laws, money and borders. This must still be delivered, or we risk irreparable damage to the integrity of the whole political establishment.

The Conservatives won the most votes and seats, so have a clear mandate to deliver a true Brexit. Remainer critics, the House of Lords and the European Commission must respect the result of the General Election.

DANIEL KAWCZYNSKI - Shrewsbury & Atcham

I am delighted and thrilled to have been re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury & Atcham. Much work now needs to be done both nationally and locally, whether that be getting the best deal for Britain or securing investment for into our county.

Brexit will no doubt be a challenge to deliver, particularly when you have a European Union being increasingly difficult and displaying the very characteristics that encouraged so many of us in the West Midlands to vote to leave.

Two areas of particular interest for me will be to secure a good trade agreement and to make sure that when we take over our own farming policy in full we assist farming and rural industry to thrive.

I believe that means making an environment in which the tax system supports and encourages capital investment and improvements in efficiency.

With regard to local issues, I will continue to beat the drum for Shropshire’s school children who receive disproportionately less per pupil than their inner city counterparts. This is a problem that built up under the Labour Government and the Conservatives have been steadily improving for the better.

Over the coming years Shropshire could be the beneficiary of hundreds of millions of pounds worth of investment in our hospitals. I will continue to fight for this investment to be delivered at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital as clinicians believe it to be the best location in which to situate the county’s new emergency care centre. We may also receive the funding required to build the North West Relief Road, but first the council must deliver a strong business case for it with the £1 million worth of funding I secured them for this purpose.

PHILIP DUNNE - Ludlow

I’m delighted that the people of Ludlow have put their faith in me for the fourth time to represent them in Parliament.

I have made it very clear that I think we need to encourage economic development in south Shropshire, so that we create jobs.

Only a strong economy will allow us to continue to provide world class public services.

We need to press ahead with plans to increase funding for the NHS and for our schools and one of my personal priorities is to make sure we have better broadband connectivity.

That’s been something that I have been working on for a long time and at last we are making progress.

We are looking to ensure superfast broadband by 2020.

Of course, we’ll have to see over the next few days what emerges for the Government.

He said health remained a key focus of his, as the region’s MP and Minister for Health in the previous term.

We need to ensure we get some decisions taken in Shropshire, which have been delayed for many years, about ensuring we have sustainable, long-term healthcare provision at the acute level.

A review is going on for maternity and we have to have proper care across the county, not just all in one place.

We need facilities around the county so that it’s convenient for mum’s to have care in community settings.

GLYN DAVIES - Montgomeryshire

The General Election result is disappointing for the Conservative Party.

However, we remain the largest party and have a duty to form a government and do all we can to limit constitutional uncertainty.

In my view, it’s crucial that Theresa May forms the new government.

It’s also crucial that we take on board the message the voters have delivered and reach out to other parties. Personally, I think the people we are elected to serve want us to work across party boundaries in a common interest.

The biggest challenge facing the new government will be negotiating the terms on which the UK leaves the European Union. Negotiations begin next week and we must try to engage with other parties as we set out to secure the best deal for the UK and the EU.

The new government will have to produce a Queen’s Speech that other parties can support. I sense that there is agreement that we address the security of our citizens, as a response to the recent shocking terrorist attacks. In particular, we must introduce legislation to prevent the Internet being a place where terrorists can plan and plot undetected.

We must also seek a cross-party consensus on tackling the developing crisis in social care. We must ensure the frail elderly are treated with more respect, discussing the way forward on a cross party basis.

There are two issues high on my agenda as I return to Westminster.

Firstly, there are the Brexit discussions which impact on Wales and on the Welsh countryside in particular. Secondly, there must be early decisions to resolve the impasse in reforming emergency and secondary care in Shropshire which affects people in Montgomeryshire.

Petty squabbling must be consigned to the dustbin. We need to focus on what the people want us to do.