Welcome to this week's newsletter!
I’d like to start this newsletter by wishing everybody a Happy Sussex Day for this Monday – 16th June. Sussex Day is a moment to reflect on the county’s rich history, culture and identity; and also, a chance to thank everyone who helps keep our towns and villages strong.
The Government has now U-turned on their cruel decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payments to millions of pensioners across the UK. When Labour decided to cut these payments last year, they justified it as due to economic circumstances. Yet, the economy is now in a worse state. I took the opportunity to ask the Minister whether he felt that the time to listen was before the cuts, as opposed to afterwards.
On the topic of the UK's worsening economy, the Spend Today, Tax Tomorrow Chancellor announced her Spending Review this week. This Spending Review shows that Labour have done what they always do – defaulted to higher spending, which will mean more borrowing and higher taxes, leaving our public finances all the more vulnerable. Whilst families tighten their belt, Labour have lost complete control.
This week, I was pleased to meet with the Keep Britain Tidy APPG. Many constituents get in contact to express their frustration at seeing litter. I’m clear that the root of this issue is personal responsibility and I'm proud to support Keep Britain Tidy in its effort to permanently change behaviour through creative solutions.
Sussex Police Federation hosted a drop-in, a chance to celebrate the incredible hard work and courage of those who keep our streets safe, and support our communities. At the drop-in I spoke with Special Constable Michael Jacobs and agreed that I would look into how we could better positively recognise the exceptional work and sacrifice of Special Constables in Sussex.
I attended the Carers Week drop-in session in Parliament, where I met Constantine Louis who is 85 years old, and continues to care for his two sons. Caring for loved ones is the natural reflection of a meaningful relationship. But it can be extremely challenging and if people decided not to care then the taxpayer would be left with an enormous bill. I will always work to ensure that carers receive appropriate support.
As part of my commitment to the Armed Forces community, I attended the ‘Committed to the Covenant’ event in Parliament. I’m proud that it was the Conservative Government who established the Covenant in 2011 – a promise to support those who serve, have served and their families. I also spoke with the RBL, who are doing incredible work in our constituency. I’m committed in my support to RBL and the Armed Forces community.
Parliament hosted a Repair Café event, a great initiative promoting the idea that we should be repairing broken items instead of replacing them. We’re fortunate to have Repair Cafés in our constituency, where people can bring in household items and get help from skilled volunteers to get them working again. But we need to see more of these, which is why I support a stronger Right to Repair, with greater access to tools, spare parts and information on repairs.
Our GP surgeries work very hard to provide care to us but missed GP appointments make this ever harder. In January alone, 27,000 appointments were missed across Sussex. That time now cannot be used to see other patients. If you can’t make your appointment, please tell your GP practice as soon as you can. Even a few hours’ notice makes a big difference and means the surgery can offer the appointment to someone else.
The Pevensey Bay and Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme has a new Pevensey Beach Manager, Paul Levitt. As part of community outreach, the scheme will be hosting a community drop-in for residents to meet Paul. For all the details, see the article towards the end of the newsletter.
Regular readers will be aware that I write a fortnightly column for the Bexhill Observer. This week I focused on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and highlighted the success of the Newt Conservation Partnership based in Etchingham. See the article for all the details and a link to the column.
It was great to see Battle Town FC and Robertsbridge United Juniors FC awarded grassroots funding which will be going towards new goalposts. If you’re a local football team looking for grassroots funding, see the link in the article below.
And lastly, I have updated the list of local road closures at the bottom of this newsletter, as provided by third parties.
Have a great weekend.
This week's newsletter:
- Happy Sussex Day!
- U-turn on Winter Fuel Payments
- Spending Review
- Keep Britain Tidy - APPG Meeting
- Sussex Police Federation Drop-In
- Carers Week Parliamentary Drop-In
- Meeting with the Armed Forces Covenant & Royal British Legion
- Repair Cafe
- Missed GP Appointments
- Meet New Pevensey Beach Manager Paul Levitt - Community Drop-In
- Bexhill Observer Article
- Grassroots Football Funding to Local Teams
- Local Road Closures
Happy Sussex Day!
This week I joined fellow Sussex MPs in Parliament ahead of 16th June, to celebrate Sussex Day - a moment to reflect on the county’s rich history, culture and identity.
Whether it is the historic towns, the coastline or the countryside, Sussex has a unique character shaped by its people and heritage. From local traditions to public service, there is a lot to value and protect about the places we call home.
Sussex Day is also an opportunity to thank everyone who helps keep our towns and villages strong, whether through volunteering, supporting local businesses or simply taking pride in where they live.
Happy Sussex Day for 16th June!
U-turn on Winter Fuel Payment's
The Government has now announced a U-turn on their cruel decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payments to millions of pensioners across the UK.
At the time of the decision being made, this Labour Government justified it as due to economic circumstances. It was always clear it was a choice they made to put pensioners last in their priority list.
Their decision comes after months of strong opposition from millions of pensioners and MPs from all major political parties. The decision was deeply unfair and universally unpopular, but the economic circumstances of the UK are now worse than before! It begs the question of whether these cuts were truly necessary for our economy.
Therefore, I asked the Minister whether he felt that the time to listen was before the cuts, as opposed to afterwards.
Sadly, he would not answer my question.
Labour is now floundering, unable to secure the economy and finding themselves untrusted by the wider population. Who knows what they will U-turn on next – hopefully on the farmers tax and schools tax!
Spending Review
Yesterday, Rachel Reeves delivered her Spending Review.
The Spend Today, Tax Tomorrow Chancellor has lost complete control of public finances, with borrowing now far above the plans she inherited from the previous Conservative Government.
🆙 Unemployment is now up.
📈 Inflation almost double compared with a year ago.
🛑 Debt interests soaring.
Meanwhile, figures show that the UK economy has shrunk by 0.3%.
And yet, this Labour Government has committed £30bn in costs by surrendering the Chagos Islands, a move welcomed by China.
This Spending Review was an opportunity for the Chancellor to take action to fix the problems which she has caused. Instead, Labour have done what they always do, and defaulted to higher spending, which will mean more borrowing and higher taxes, leaving our public finances all the more vulnerable.
Whilst families tighten their belt, Labour have lost complete control.
Keep Britain Tidy - APPG Meeting
This week, I joined MPs from across Parliament at the annual meeting of the Keep Britain Tidy APPG,
I constantly hear from residents who are increasingly frustrated by the continuous blight of litter on our streets, parks and beaches. While the vast majority of us wouldn't dream of littering, its a small minority of people that let the side down and refuse to take responsibility for their own rubbish.
I'm clear that the root of this issue is personal responsibility and I'm proud to support Keep Britain Tidy in it's effort to permanently change behaviour by spotlighting the problem daily and offering creative solutions.
That’s why I’ll continue working with local councils, community groups and national campaigns to tackle this issue head-on. Whether it’s supporting tougher enforcement, more bins in public spaces, or better education in schools, we all have a part to play in protecting the places we love.
Sussex Police Federation Drop-In
I attended the Sussex Police Federation drop-in session, an opportunity to celebrate the continued vital work of local police officers who serve and protect constituents across Bexhill & Battle. Being a police officer is one of the most important roles in our society.
There, I spoke with Michael Jacobs who is a Special Constable, which is a voluntary role in the police service. Before becoming an MP, I volunteered as a Special so I know what a challenging, but rewarding, role it can be.
I agreed with Michael that I would look into how we could better positively recognise the exceptional work and sacrifice of Special Constables in Sussex.
A huge thank you do all the wonderful Officers and members of our Sussex Police Force who work tirelessly at their jobs.
If you're interested in volunteering as a Special Constable in Sussex, you can find more information here.
Carers Week Parliamentary Drop-In
Being willing to care for your loved ones, like family members, is the natural reflection of a meaningful relationship. This can sometimes be extremely challenging, but we also know if people decided not to care then the taxpayer would be left with an enormous bill for the very many people depending on their loved ones caring for them.
This is why I was pleased to attend the Carers Week parliamentary drop-in session this week, whose theme this year is ‘Caring About Equality’.
Carers Week is all about raising awareness of carers, shining a spotlight on the millions of people who do so much to look after friends and family in communities across the country. I know in our constituency there are thousands of carers who are doing a fantastic job.
At the event, I had a chance to speak with Constantine Louis, who is still an active carer for his two children at the age of 85. He told me about his commitment to caring whilst still maintaining employment – an admirable individual like every other carer who takes on this incredible responsibility.
I will always work to ensure that carers receive the support that they are entitled to.
Meeting with the Armed Forces Covenant & Royal British Legion
As part of my commitment to the Armed Forces community, I attended the ‘Committed to the Covenant’ event in Parliament.
I’ve learned a great deal more about what it does and its potential for the future, and I’m proud that it was the Conservative Government who established the Armed Forces Covenant in 2011.
If you’re part of the Armed Forces community, or somebody that supports them, I want to hear from you about your experiences of the Armed Forces Covenant so I can feed it back to the Defence Minister in a dedicated debate.
This will help shape the Covenant’s future implementation so it can benefit all those who serve, have served, and the families that support them.
I was also delighted to speak to the Royal British Legion, who were in attendance at the event, having led the way in campaigning for the covenant. I know we have many dedicated RBL branches locally that do an incredible job supporting our local Armed Forces community.
I’m committed in my support to RBL and the Armed Forces community.
Repair Café
This week I attended the Parliamentary Repair Café event, a great initiative promoting the idea that, wherever possible, we should be repairing broken items instead of replacing them.
I have often tried to buy refurbished mobile phones and electronics whenever I can. It’s often easier and more cost-effective than expected, and it helps avoid unnecessary waste.
Locally, we’re fortunate to have Repair Cafés in places like Robertsbridge and Brightling, where people can bring in household items and get help from skilled volunteers to get them working again.
But we need to make repair more accessible for everyone. That’s why I support a stronger Right to Repair, so people can access spare parts, tools, and the information they need to fix the products they own. Too many things are designed to be thrown away and that needs to change.
Missed GP Appointments
GP practices across Sussex are doing their best to provide care that’s easy to access and fits around your life and I know that many people are still struggling to make appointments when they need them.
But missed appointments are becoming a bigger problem. In January alone, over 27,000 appointments were missed across Sussex.
When someone misses an appointment without letting the surgery know, that time can’t be used to help another patient who needs care.
If you can’t make your appointment, please tell your GP practice as soon as you can. Even a few hours’ notice makes a big difference and means the surgery can offer the appointment to someone else.
It’s easy to change or cancel appointments now. You can do it online, through the NHS App, by phone, or by replying to your appointment reminder text.
Keeping your practice informed helps make sure everyone can get the care they need.
Meet New Pevensey Beach Manager Paul Levitt - Community Drop-In
For those residents of Pevensey, you will likely be aware of the Pevensey Bay and Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme. The scheme was implemented to increase the resilience of homes, businesses, and infrastructure in the area between Cooden Beach and Holywell in Eastbourne, against coastal flooding and erosion over the next 100 years.
This is one of the largest coastal flood risk projects in the country and is being delivered by the Environment Agency and Eastbourne Borough Council, who work closely with a wide number of other key partner organisations.
The Coastal Management Team are pleased to now introduce their new Pevensey Beach Manager, Paul Levitt. As part of their community outreach, the EA will be hosting a community drop-in event, where people will be able to meet Paul, and also ask some questions of the Coastal Management Team.
If you are interested in attending, the drop-in will be taking place on Friday 27th June 2025 from 13:00 – 15:00 at the beach display gabion at Sea Road car park.
Details are also shown in the image above, or you can visit the website linked here.
Bexhill Observer Article
Regular readers will be aware that I write a fortnightly column for the Bexhill Observer.
This week, I chose to focus my column on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which is making its way through Parliament at the moment. I've been following this Bill with some concern, particularly in relation to the risk of weakening protections for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and plans to centralise planning decisions.
I also highlighted the success of the Newt Conservation Partnership based in Etchingham, which is underpinned by the District Level Licensing scheme. It’s a smart approach that speeds up development while delivering real benefits for biodiversity.
You can read my full article here:
Grassroots Football Funding to Local Teams
It is great to see that both Battle Town FC & Robertsbridge United Junior FC have successfully secured grassroots sports funding.
They have received £943 & £837 respectively, which will be invested in new goalposts.
For any local football teams out there who are looking for grants to help fund repairs and improvements to their equipment, check out the Football Foundations grassroots funding opportunities here - https://footballfoundation.org.uk/looking-for-funding
Local Road Closures (please note this information is provided by third parties):
Bexhill
- Cooden Drive: 3 February 2025 – 1 February 2026
- Canada Way: 14 June, 08:00 – 18:00
- Watermill Lane: 9 June, 09:00 – 16 June, 16:00
Battle
- Telham Lane: 9 June, 09:30 – 20 June, 16:00
- Powdermill Lane: 23 June, 08:00 – 25 June, 18:00
- Whatlington Road: 23 June, 09:30 – 26 June, 15:00
Westfield
- Junction Road: 2 September 2024 – 31 July 2025
- Whitworth Road: 2 September 2024 – 31 July 2025
- Maplehurst Road: 2 September 2024 – 31 July 2025
- Stonestile Lane: 26 June, 08:00 – 18:00
Ninfield
- Spratts Lane: 23 June – 24 June
- B2095 Lower Street: 21 June, 11:00 – 14:00
Stonegate
- Cottenden Road: 17 June, 09:30 – 19 June, 16:00
Brede
- Stubb Lane: 2 June, 09:00 – 20 June, 16:00
- Pottery Lane: 25 June – 27 June
Hawkhurst / Flimwell
- Demolden Lane: 9 May – 28 June
- Post Office Road: 31 March – 30 June
Crowborough
- Rockington Way: 16 June, 09:00 – 17 June, 14:00
- Hadlow Down Road: 9 June – 25 June
- Crowborough Hill: 25 June, 20:00 – 26 June, 05:00
Etchingham
- Burgh Hill: 23 June – 27 June
Wadhurst
- Buckland Hill Lane: 2 June – 23 June
- Lake Street: 16 June – 30 June
