This month it was discovered by officials at Gloucester City Council that the authority was facing a £17.5m deficit, which had accrued since a 2021 Russian cyber attack had compromised its accounting systems. 

The finding came only weeks after Reform UK’s former leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, was jailed for taking Russian bribes to make pro-Kremlin statements, whilst serving as a UKIP MEP.

Having served with the Royal Air Force in the field of security for over 2 decades, Tewkesbury MP Cameron Thomas is well acquainted with Russian hybrid-warfare, which incorporates cyber attacks, disinformation and political interference to undermine western democracies. 

Cameron said: “Though the circumstances at Gloucester City Council are unlikely to become national news, it serves as a local reminder that the Russian war in Ukraine is far closer to home than we might like to think. Russia observes and tests our national resilience on a daily basis; all such activity is connected, and is conducted methodically against the United Kingdom and our European allies.

“This week it was revealed that a Conservative Party Peer is supporting Vladimir Putin’s ally Roman Abramovich, in his legal defence of £2.5bn which were frozen in the UK following his sale of Chelsea Football Club. I have been calling for the UK government to seize frozen Russian assets, and use them to support Ukraine against Russia.

"Meanwhile the Conservative Party would prefer that you forgot that for over a decade the Kremlin had access to Conservative MPs and UKIP MEPs, through the Conservative Friends of Russia group, later renamed the Westminster Russia Forum.

“Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine the group was disbanded, and we have never seen a full inquiry into the activity of this group. Furthermore, the unredacted Russia Report, which was withheld by Boris Johnson for reasons he has never adequately explained, has still never been made available.

“War between Russia and western democracies is closer now than it ever was during the Cold War. We must fully understand the level of foreign interference, influence and infiltration within our political parties and institutions. Nothing less than a full statutory inquiry will suffice. Nothing less will bring the scale of malign activity into the light, and it is crucial that we see the results before the next General Election.”

Responding to Rachel Reeves’ second Autumn Budget this week, Mr Thomas condemned the Government for failing to deliver the investment needed to end the cost-of-living crisis in Gloucestershire.

Branding the budget as a “missed opportunity”, Cameron criticised the Government for its “tax bombshell”, after it extended the freeze in tax thresholds.

In a budget which excluded any reference to the climate or green energy, Cameron observed that the Chancellor’s plan to reduce energy bills would not come into force until April 2026, leaving many facing an uncertain winter. The government will also introduce by-the-mile taxation for electric vehicles, which may dissuade those considering the switch.

Cameron said: “My constituents need immediate relief from the high cost of energy bills, and the Liberal Democrats recently announced a plan to make large banks pay for the green energy levy, reducing bills for residents by £90. Unfortunately, this Government has declined to listen. We have a broader plan to halve energy bills by 2035.

“The Chancellor can see the problems, but she won’t fix them. She has taken yet another opportunity to paper over the cracks rather than change course and tackle the cost-of-living crisis head-on. “Only recently I told the Government in the House of Commons, that their last budget risked killing our historic high streets. A rise in the Digital Services Tax on tech giants, from 2% to 10% would have generated £4bn from companies such as those owned by Elon Musk, and a windfall tax on large banks could raise as much as £30bn. Instead, my small business owners are telling me they are now facing a 170% rise in their business rates. This Budget is yet another shambles from a Chancellor who does not understand rural constituencies such as ours.

“As Parliament and the country digests this latest Budget, I will continue to speak up for our area”.

Cameron Thomas has welcomed an announcement in the latest government budget, that it will fully transfer pension funds to members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS).

In September Cameron had urged the government to deliver members their pension funds, following a meeting with dozens of affected residents at Stoke Orchard Community Centre, in Tewkesbury constituency. He had resolved to act on behalf of residents, having listened to their accounts of the injustice they have faced for several years.

Mr Thomas said: “Residents’ enduring feeling of injustice had been compounded last year, following a government decision to release the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme Investment Reserve to its trustees, whilst neglecting this accompanying scheme.

This decision created disparity between mineworkers who worked for the same organisation, and sometimes together.

Following Wednesday’s announcement, Cameron said: “I am delighted for so many of my residents, that the government has now opted to return them their pension scheme. Having met trustees this summer, I was moved by their experiences and enthusiastically championed their cause. This injustice had continued for too long and I am proud to have worked to bring
it to a close. Today, 117 Tewkesbury constituents can finally celebrate the end of this saga.

“For decades, coal miners powered our nations; many now suffer ill health as a direct result of their hard, and often dangerous work. I am grateful that the government has now agreed to deliver them some justice.”

Cameron Thomas MP has backed a Liberal Democrat proposal this morning, to reduce VAT on the hospitality sector to 15%, and reduce household energy bills for working people for 17 months. These schemes could be funded through a one-time windfall tax on large banks, raising up to £30bn. 

The Tewkesbury MP, who represents 52 pubs across the constituency, including the King Teddy and Greyhound in Longlevens, has repeatedly challenged the government over the impact of its previous budget on small businesses in Gloucestershire.

In Parliament this week, Cameron told the government: “... high streets in Bishops Cleeve, Tewkesbury and Winchcombe have soul, they have character, and they are worth preserving... but if the government will not change course, then we will lose them forever”.

On 9th September, Mr Thomas challenged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to protect pubs and small businesses by reducing Employer National Insurance Contributions, fulfilling its promises on business rate reforms and by bringing down energy costs. The Chancellor raised eyebrows when she responded that Mr Thomas and the Liberal Democrats “might get a little bit more respect and credibility” if they announced alternative tax policies, despite Cameron having suggested an increase to the Digital Services Tax in July.

Cameron added: “I am pleased to offer the Chancellor yet further opportunities to reduce pressure on our high streets, because her last budget was disastrous for our businesses. In exciting news for residents, we are also proposing the removal of the “renewables obligation” levy for 17 months. This would save the average bill payer £90 over a year, and both these policies could comfortably be paid for by a one-off windfall tax on large banks.”