Welcome to this week's newsletter!
I organised a meeting between Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne and the Policing Minister to discuss Operation STOP, a Sussex pilot scheme using electronic tags to tackle repeat shoplifting. Early results are promising, and I hope its success will encourage the Home Office to consider rolling the scheme out more widely.
The Government’s plans to scrap jury trials in parts of the justice system are deeply concerning. Jury trials have been a cornerstone of English justice for centuries, and weakening this safeguard might deliver only a tiny reduction in the court backlog while undermining a fundamental right. Earlier this week I spoke in Parliament, representing the Official Opposition in my role as Shadow Justice Minister, to raise these concerns.
Several constituents have contacted me about sharp rises in heating oil prices, including reports of cancelled deliveries being re-offered at double the cost. I have joined colleagues in calling on the competition watchdog to urgently investigate these allegations of price gouging to ensure customers are treated fairly. I am running a survey to build evidence to help encourage the government to act:
https://www.drkieranmullan.org.uk/campaigns/heating-oil-costs-survey-bexhill-and-battle-residents
The Government is offering payments of up to £40,000 to families of failed asylum seekers to encourage them to leave the UK - a policy many will struggle to justify. I believe the focus should instead be on a clear and firm approach that swiftly removes those who enter the country illegally to a safe third country.
The Prime Minister’s remarks at an Iftar event have also raised serious questions about the Government’s response to recent threats and attacks against the UK. Our Armed Forces were directly targeted, and it is vital that our enemies know there are consequences when Britain is attacked.
We are now entering into English Tourism Week! This is a great opportunity to take some time and visit local attractions in our constituency! In fact, if you want some ideas, I took part in a Westminster Hall debate last week all about local museums!
Indeed, we are very fortunate to have so many fantastic local museums across Bexhill and Battle. That is why I was so pleased for the opportunity to speak about the vital role they play in preserving our history and inspiring young people. These museums include Bexhill Museum, Battle Museum of Local History, Pevensey Court House and Gaol, and The Bright Foundation Barn Theatre and Museum. Thank you to the dedicated volunteers who work so hard to keep these important community institutions running. And do think about a visit to them, or another local tourism spot over the next week!
To mark World Book Day, I attended an event celebrating the importance of reading and the work of the charity in helping children access books. I have also launched a creative writing competition for Key Stage 2 pupils across Bexhill and Battle - details on how to enter are in the article below.
I attended a vigil marking four years since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, standing in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and reflecting on their courage and resilience. We must continue to support Ukraine in the pursuit of a just and lasting peace.
It was great to help host the 10th annual Bexhill Jobs Fair, organised with the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill College and Rother District Council. This year saw an even bigger turnout than last year, with hundreds of job seekers exploring opportunities with local employers, training providers and organisations.
I enjoyed meeting members of the Black Widows MCC Sussex, a charity fundraising motorcycle club supporting a range of good causes across our area. Their work - including delivering toys to children in hospitals and hospices over Christmas - makes a real difference.
I recently joined Sedlescombe Parish Councillors, local residents and the Environment Agency to discuss the health of the River Brede. Volunteers are helping monitor water quality to better understand pollution concerns and identify ways to protect and improve the river.
Bexhill and Rural Rother Primary Care Network will be hosting a Veterans Drop-in event on Friday 10 April in Bexhill, offering veterans, their families and carers the chance to learn more about the support available locally.
I’m also pleased to support Singinspiration26, a community event bringing together 300 singers of all ages for a mass choir performance with the iGospel band on Tuesday 17 March - a wonderful celebration of local talent and community spirit.
Finally, please see the end of this week’s newsletter for up to date information on local road closures, as provided by third parties.
Have a great weekend.
This week's newsletter:
- Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne Meeting with Minister
- Opposing the Government's Plans to Scrap Jury Trials
- Joint Letter to Competition Watchdog Over Increased Heating Oil Prices
- Government Plans to Pay £40,000 for Failed Asylum Seeker Families to Leave the UK
- The PM Pandering to Sectarian Votes in the Muslim Community
- English Tourism Week!
- Westminster Hall Debate - Contributions by Local Museums
- World Book Day Competition!
- Vigil in Bexhill to Mark the 4th Anniversay of the Invasion of Ukraine
- Speaking with Employers at the Bexhill Jobs Fair
- Meeting with Black Widows MCC Sussex
- Discussing the Health of the River Brede
- Primary Care Network - Veterans Drop-in
- Singinspiration26
- Local Road Closures
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne Meeting with Minister
I organised for Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne for Sussex Mayor to meet with the Minister for Policing and to talk about Operation STOP, a pilot scheme in Sussex aimed at tackling repeat shoplifting. Katy came up with the idea for the scheme.
The scheme uses electronic tags for prolific offenders so police can better monitor them and prevent further theft. The goal is straightforward: reduce repeat crime and help protect our local high streets.
Early results from the first six months are encouraging, with fewer offences linked to those taking part and strong cooperation between police and local retailers. With funding and plans now in place to expand the scheme, there is real potential to see benefits across Sussex.
Supporting practical solutions like this helps businesses feel safer and shows that persistent shop theft will be taken seriously. I hope the Home Office takes note of the success of this pilot and looks at rolling it out more widely across the country so other communities can benefit too.
Opposing the Government's Plans to Scrap Jury Trials
The Government’s plans to scrap jury trials in parts of the justice system are fundamentally wrong.
Jury trials have been a cornerstone of English justice for around 800 years. It is one of the most important safeguards we have against the power of the state.
And what would scrapping it achieve? Even on the Government’s own estimates, it would reduce the court backlog by just 2%.
We need to tackle the backlog in our courts. But gutting a fundamental right for such a tiny impact is the wrong answer.
Joint Letter to Competition Watchdog Over Increased Heating Oil Prices
A number of constituents have reached out to me about the sharp rise in heating oil prices. While developments in Iran will inevitably influence global energy markets, many of these price rises go beyond normal market pressures.
Some families have reported how previously booked deliveries have been cancelled by their supplier, only to be called back and offered to deliver the same oil, to the same address, on the same day, at twice the price. This is unacceptable, and clearly amounts to price gouging.
In response, I have joined Kemi Badenoch, Claire Coutinho and a number of fellow Conservative MPs in writing to the competition watchdog to request an urgent investigation. It is vital that customers are protected and that the market operates fairly with proper competition.
I am also running a survey for residents using heating oil to help gather evidence about the problems we are having to pressure the government to act:
https://www.drkieranmullan.org.uk/campaigns/heating-oil-costs-survey-bexhill-and-battle-residents
Government Plans to Pay £40,000 for Failed Asylum Seeker Families to Leave the UK
The government is now offering up to £40,000 to families of failed asylum seekers to encourage them to leave the UK.
That’s up to £10,000 per person, capped at four people per family – even though these are families whose asylum claims have already been rejected.
Many people will understandably struggle to see how this makes sense. Policies like this risk sending the message that even if someone’s asylum claim fails, they could still receive a significant payment.
What we need instead is a clear and firm policy: those who enter the UK illegally should be swiftly removed to a safe third country.
You can read the BBC article in full here.
The PM Pandering to Sectarian Votes in the Muslim Community
Let's call a spade a spade. This is our Prime Minister pandering to sectarian votes in the Muslim community at an Iftar event.
Barely a word of criticism of Iran. No mention of 1000's of murdered Iranians. No mention of their ongoing terrorist plots against us. Celebrating failure to defend our national security after being DIRECTLY attacked.
This man is not fit to be PM.
There are of course very legitimate reasons to be wary of involving ourselves in an armed conflict. But the men and women in our Armed Forces were subject to an unprovoked attack. And we have not lifted a finger in response.
We are all safer if our enemies know there are consequences to attacking us.
We have been attacked and there hasn't been any consequence.
English Tourism Week!
English Tourism Week starts today! Celebrating our local tourism and hospitality organisations and businesses which are vital to the local economy and so important to our local communities in the Bexhill and Battle constituency!
Take a look at the article below to watch my speech in a Westminster Hall debate on contributions by local museums where I speak about the incredible work to preserve our history!
Westminster Hall Debate - Contributions by Local Museums
We have so many great local museums in our constituency!
But have you heard of them all – such as Bexhill Museum; Battle Museum of Local History; Pevensey Court House Museum or The Bright Foundation Barn Theatre & Museum?
Which ones have you visited? What were your favourite things to see?
With this in mind, I was pleased to speak in Parliament about the vital role these museums play across Bexhill and Battle, and to thank the volunteers who work so hard to keep them running.
Bexhill Museum, which welcomes around 1,500 schoolchildren each year, teaches us about the rich history of our town and its evolution.
Battle Museum of Local History gives visitors insight into the broader story of the town beyond 1066, with displays covering topics from public health and medicine to local experiences during the Second World War.
Pevensey Court House Museum & Gaol offers a fascinating glimpse into the past through coroner’s records, accounts of those who fell foul of the law, and stories of smuggling along the Sussex coast.
Meanwhile, the Bright Foundation’s Barn Theatre and Museum in Westfield, founded with the support of Oscar-winning costume designer John Bright, provides local children and families with opportunities to engage with the arts. Its toy museum includes more than 400 puppets and 400 dolls’ houses, helping inspire creativity in young people.
Local museums may often be small and volunteer-run, but their contribution to education, community identity, and local pride is invaluable.
I am grateful to the dedicated volunteers and trustees across the constituency who give their time to keep these institutions thriving for everyone.
You can watch my speech in full here.
Or alternatively read it in Hansard here.
World Book Day Competition!
The 5th March marked World Book Day!
I was pleased to attend an event ahead of the day to see what exciting books are available to school children this year and to learn more about the work the charity does.
Reading is a skill that stays with you for life, which is why it is so important to encourage children to pick up a book early and help them discover the enjoyment reading can bring.
However, reading for pleasure is in decline. Just 1 in 3 children and young people aged 8 to 18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time in 2024.
That is why I am once again proud to support and promote the World Book Day charity. World Book Day tokens will be available in schools and, with 23.5 million tokens handed out every year, I hope we can help every child access a book they can call their own.
And I'm excited to say that to celebrate, I’ve launched a creative writing competition for primary school pupils across Bexhill and Battle!
The competition is open to Key Stage 2 pupils (ages 7–11). Schools can submit entries, but children are also very welcome to take part independently. Parents, grandparents and carers – do encourage the young writers in your family to give it a go!
I’m asking for a 350–500 word story inspired by nature. It could be set in a favourite outdoor place like a forest, beach, park or the countryside, or it might be about wildlife or a favourite animal.
I’ll read all the submissions and the winner will receive a collection of books from this year’s World Book Day range.
Entries should include the pupil’s name, age and school, and can be emailed to [email protected].
I’m really looking forward to reading the stories and seeing the creativity of young people across our area.
Seperately, you can find out more about the charity and World Book Day more generally here.
Or by contacting [email protected]
Vigil in Bexhill to Mark the 4th Anniversay of the Invasion of Ukraine
Late last month, I attended a vigil marking four years since the outbreak of war in Ukraine.
It was a moving moment to come together with members of our community to reflect and to stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, whose courage and resilience continue to inspire us all.
We must continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in defence of our shared values, supporting efforts to achieve a just, sustainable and lasting peace.
Speaking with Employers at the Bexhill Jobs Fair
I enjoyed being part of running the 10th annual Bexhill Jobs Fair last Friday, organised in partnership with the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill College and Rother District Council. We saw a really strong turnout, in fact even higher than last year, which is fantastic to see and a real sign of the interest in the opportunities available locally.
It was particularly encouraging to see hundreds of job seekers of all ages come along to speak with employers, training providers and local organisations about the many opportunities available across our area.
A huge thank you to all the organisations who came along to speak with residents, offer advice, and showcase the wide range of jobs, apprenticeships, training and work experience opportunities available locally. I’d also like to thank Bexhill College, the event’s main sponsor, for supporting the day and running the shuttle bus service which helped people travel to and from the fair.
If you're currently looking for work, considering a career change, or exploring apprenticeships or training, I’d really encourage you to take a look at the organisations linked in the comments and see what opportunities they have available.
Thanks again to everyone who helped make this year’s event such a success.
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Meeting with Black Widows MCC Sussex
It was great to meet with the Black Widows MCC Sussex by introduction of Karl Hopper-Young, Club Secretary. Black Widows is a charity fundraising motorcycle club which does work in our constituency.
Their mission is simple: to bring together the spirit and enthusiasm of motorbike enthusiasts to raise funds and awareness for various charitable causes.
Last Christmas, having set-up local toy bins for donations, the Black Widows joined together to deliver all the toys and presents to children who are unwell at Conquest Hospital just next to Bexhill, The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton, and a number of Demelza Hospices across the region.
Their work makes an incredible difference to so many people – I will be keen to support them as they continue their selfless work to improve the lives of so many.
You can read all about their charity on their website linked here.
Discussing the Health of the River Brede
I recently joined an on-site meeting with Sedlescombe Parish Councillors and residents to discuss the health of the River Brede in Sedlescombe.
Local resident volunteers have been sampling the water to better understand any possible pollution issues which may explain the lack of wildlife along some sections of the river. We were joined by senior colleagues from the Environment Agency who helped to explain that some things which are observed in the river, like foam or unusual sediment, may occur naturally rather than being a cause for concern.
Volunteers and the EA are working on plans to monitor the water quality and consider measures to improve the health of the river along this point.
Primary Care Network - Veterans Drop-in
Bexhill and Rural Rother Primary Care Network will be hosting a Veterans Drop-In Event on Friday 10 April, from 11:00 to 14:00, at The Town Square Social Club, 4–6 London Road, Bexhill, TN39 3JU.
The event aims to provide an opportunity for veterans, their families, and carers to meet with representatives from the local care network and learn more about the support available within the community.
Make sure to take the opportunity to drop by to chat with the local primary care network!
Singsinspiration26
I’m pleased to support Singinspiration26, a fantastic community event bringing together 300 voices for a powerful mass choir performance.
Singers aged 8 to 80, including local choirs, schools and community performers, will come together for an evening of music accompanied by the iGospel band.
The choir will be led by Artistic Director Day Levale, with guest directors Gareth Fuller (NSO Choirs) and the Pegasus Opera Company.
It promises to be a great celebration of local talent and community spirit. I hope many people will come along and support the performers.
Taking place on Tuesday 17th March with, you still have time to book a ticket!
Click on this link for all the information.
Local Road Closures (please note this information is provided by third parties):
Bexhill
- Herbrand Walk - 9 Jan 09:00 - 27 Mar 23:59 GMT
Ninfield
- Marlpits Lane - 27 Jan 12:35 GMT - 24 Apr 12:35 BST
Northiam
- Sempstead Lane - 12 Mar 08:30 GMT - 31 Mar 16:30 BST
Herstmonceux
- Squab Lane - 6 Mar - 19 Mar
Brightling
- Willingford Lane - 24 Mar - 25 Mar
Burwash
- School Hill - 12 Mar 10:00 - 20 Mar 23:59 GMT
Dallington
- Middle Lane - 18 Mar 19:00 - 19 Mar 05:00 GMT
Ashburnham
- Hammer Hill - 17 Mar - 18 Mar
- Brownbread Street - 17 Mar - 18 Mar
Hoee
- Broad Street Green - 26 Mar - 27 Mar
- Straight Lane - 26 Mar - 27 Mar
- Hooe Road - 17 Mar - 18 Mar
Salehurst
- Church Lane - 16 Mar - 27 Mar
Flimwell
- Rosemary Lane - 27 Mar 07:00 GMT - 19:00 GMT
Sedlescombe
- Brede Lane - 16 Mar 08:00 - 20 Mar 18:00 GMT
Westfield
- Cottage Lane - 19 Mar - 20 Mar
Bodiam
- Bodiam Road - 25 Mar - 26 Mar
Beckley
- Kings Bank Lane - 24 Mar 09:30 GMT - 15:30 GMT
Ticehurst
- Sheepstreet Lane - 25 Mar - 26 Mar