Welcome to my Newsletter!
As Shadow Justice Minister, I am holding the Government to account over its plans to curtail jury trials, and protect public confidence in the justice system. We had an evidence session this week on the plans which I took part in.
Separately, Labour is proposing to release thousands of serious offenders early as a permanent change to the justice system, not just a temporary response to prison overcrowding. I know this will deeply concern victims and the public, and I will continue to hold the Government to account, as I did in the Chamber last week.
It was a privilege to take part in a page-turning ceremony in Parliament to commemorate the service of Lieutenant R. N. M. Bailey. It was a moving tribute and an important reminder of the sacrifice made by those who served our country - you can read his full entry from the Book of Remembrance in the article.
With the growing frustration among residents, particularly in rural communities like ours, I spoke in Parliament about the poor state of our local roads. Cuts to funding and changes to the funding formula risk making the situation worse, leaving councils with fewer resources for essential repairs.
I also challenged the Government over plans that could force our area into a Brighton-led council. Residents are clear they do not want decisions, funding and focus pulled away from our towns and villages.
During English Tourism Week, I visited fantastic local destinations including Bodiam Castle and Battle Abbey, celebrating the rich heritage we have in our area. Thank you to everyone who helps to bring these places to life, and those supporting the local businesses that make our communities so special.
I was pleased to meet with local farmers and the NFU in Ashburnham to discuss animal welfare, environmental schemes and the impact of the Government’s farm tax. It is clear farmers need fairer policies and a level playing field, and I will continue to stand up for our rural communities.
It was fantastic to see so many people turning out with the Hooe Community Group litter pick to help keep their village looking its best. Their dedication is inspiring, and it was a pleasure to join them.
I met the team from Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex to hear about their life-saving work and the support they provide to patients and families. We also discussed the need to secure a landing site at Conquest Hospital, which I will be raising following our meeting.
It was great to welcome pupils and staff from Netherfield Primary to Parliament and to see their enthusiasm for learning about how it works. Visits like this are a great way to help young people engage with politics and understand how decisions are made.
I have submitted my response to the Rother Local Plan consultation following concerns from many residents about increased housing without the infrastructure to support it. I have also written to the Housing Minister to ensure local views are properly heard.
There is good news for Bexhill, with a temporary Banking Hub now open in Devonshire Square, restoring access to face-to-face banking services for residents and businesses. I will continue to keep you updated as work progresses to secure a permanent location.
The Government has announced over £50 million in support for households relying on heating oil, while the Competition and Markets Authority investigates concerns about pricing practices. If you use heating oil, please complete my survey linked here so I can continue pushing for fair support and ensure local experiences are heard.
Finally, please see the end of this newsletter for up-to-date information on local road closures, as provided by third parties.
Have a great weekend
This week's newsletter:
- Holding the Government to Account on Curtailing Jury Trials
- Labour's Plan to Release Sex Offenders Early
- Page Turning Ceremony
- Raising Concerns of the Conditions of Rural Roads
- Concerns Over New Unitary Authority
- English Tourism Week - Battle Abbey & Bodiam Castle
- Meeting with Local Farmers & the NFU
- Hooe Community Group Litter Pick
- KSS Air Ambulance Charity
- Netherfield Primary School Visit to Parliament
- My Response to the Rother Local Plan Consultation
- Bexhill's Temporary Banking Hub is Now Open!
- Support for Houses Facing Rising Heating Oil Costs
- Local Road Closures
Holding the Government to Account on Curtailing Jury Trials
As Shadow Justice Minister, it is my job in Parliament to hold the Government to account over its plans to curtail jury trials and to stand up for public confidence in the justice system.
That is why I thought it was extraordinary for the current and former Victims’ Commissioners to dismiss the views of some victims simply because they disagree with them on jury trials. Their role should be to give a voice to all victims, not minimise those whose views do not fit their own. That is exactly the kind of attitude victims should never have to face.
Labour's Plan to Release Sex Offenders Early
Labour are going to let thousands of rapists, paeodphiles, perverts and serious violent offenders out of prison early. Not as a short term fix to prison overcrowding. But as a permanent change to our justice system.
I know victims and the public will be appalled at this and I will hold Labour to account
Page Turning Ceremony
In Parliament, I took part in the page-turning ceremony to commemorate the service of Lieutenant R. N. M. Bailey of the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry.
A moving way to commemorate the service and sacrifice of members and officers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Moments like this are an important reminder that behind the names recorded in Parliament’s history are real people, families, and stories of service that deserve to be remembered.
It was a privilege to be there and to pay tribute to Lieutenant Bailey’s memory.
You can read his full entry from the Book of Remembrance below:
Lieut. R. N. M. Bailey,
East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry.
ROBERT NEALE MENTETH BAILEY,
only son of Henry Bailey, Esquire, J.P., D.L.,
Coates, Cirencester, by his second wife
Christina Thomson, was born on August 21st,
1882. He was educated at Eton, where he was
King’s Scholar, and at Magdalen College, Oxford.
He was elected to a Demyship at Magdalen in
December, 1900, and took a 1st Class in Classical
Moderations in 1903 and a Second Class in
Literae Humaniores in 1905 becoming subsequently
an Assistant Clerk in the Department of the Clerk
of the House of Commons.
LIEUT. BAILEY was a good sportsman, fond of
hunting, fishing, and shooting. It was
characteristic of him that, for fear of growing
soft in sheltered life, he went to Canada in 1913
to work as a labourer during the harvest season,
and this proved a good training for the war
which so soon followed.
One of those rare personalities loved by rich
and poor alike, he was a scholar who turned
to practical account his belief in education as
a means of pleasure to the individual and as
a factor in progress towards social betterment.
In proof of this, the years devoted in his
leisure time to the work of the Working
Men’s College at St Pancras stand out in high
relief. “Gentleness in all things,” they wrote of
him, “was his striking characteristic, but self-
sacrifice was a part of his nature. At the call
of duty he gave up at once all he had worked
for, since, for him, his country’s need was
paramount.”
He joined the East Yorkshire Yeomanry from the
Inns of Court O.T.C. in August, 1914, and
went to Egypt in September, 1915. While serving
in the Egyptian Campaign he was wounded at
Naan in Palestine on November 14th, 1917 and
died a fortnight later at Cairo, on December 1st,
1917. He was buried in the Cairo War Memorial
Cemetery.
On his military duties he carried with him
always Thackeray’s Greek Anthology, stripping
off first the cover and then the less precious
pages lest it should interfere with military
necessities.
In his regiment, as elsewhere Lieut. Bailey was
loved by all. His squadron leader wrote:—
“No one could wish for a better man to be with in
a scrap, he was as brave as the best, and stuck
out the long and boring hardships we have had
with the best of hearts. I think he was literally the
most popular officer in the regiment.”
Raising Concerns of the Conditions of Rural Roads
I cannot possibly do justice to the frustration of residents about their local roads in one minute, but I tried my best with the allowed speaking time.
Residents contact me all the time to say how appalled they are at the quality of their local roads. The Labour Government fail to understand the challenges in rural communities, making the situation all the worse with their funding decisions since they came into office.
Under Labour’s revised Fair Funding 2.0 formula, rural areas are set to receive less funding for services than urban areas. East Sussex County Council estimates that these changes will amount to a £12.6 million cash loss over three years. That matters because delivering services in rural communities, such as adult social care, is often significantly more expensive.
In a constituency like ours, with an older population, East Sussex County Council already spends 70% of its net budget on services for vulnerable children and adults, leaving very little for other priorities such as road repairs.
But Labour has abandoned our planned social care reforms, meaning the issue has once again been kicked into the long grass.
On top of that, the £50 million promised under the previous Conservative Government’s Network North package has been cut to just £21 million.
As a result, East Sussex County Council is now largely restricted to carrying out repairs through its specific Department for Transport allocation, whereas previously it could go further and fund additional works. In practice, that means roads are often left to deteriorate much further before action can be taken.
Yet again, this Labour Government is failing to recognise the realities facing rural communities and seems content to ignore the growing frustration of those affected.
Concerns Over Proposed New Unitary Authority
Labour are trying to force us into a Brighton-led council.
I challenged the Government in Parliament over plans which could see us pushed into a new unitary authority dominated by mismanaged, Labour-run Brighton and Hove.
Residents here are absolutely clear. They do not want to be lumped in with Brighton, with decisions, money and attention pulled away from our towns and villages.
English Tourism Week - Battle Abbey & Bodiam Castle
English Tourism Week took place last week and it was a great time to celebrate the fantastic places we have right here in our area.
Last Friday I had a day visiting some great destinations in the constituency, starting at the picturesque Bodiam Castle NT -100 years of being managed by the National Trust this year!
A big thank you to all the volunteers who give their time supporting the National Trust at Bodiam and Bateman's NT - it was a pleasure to meet so many of the volunteers; special thank you for the brunch and the opportunity to judge the cake competition!
Another local tourist spot to visit, if you haven't before is Battle Abbey! As the site of the 1066 battle and the start of Norman rule in England, it’s one of the most important historic sites in the country.
A visit is also a great way to support the many local cafés, pubs, shops and hospitality businesses in Battle that help make the town such a special place.
Meeting with Local Farmers & the NFU
I had a great meeting with local farmers and the NFU in Ashburnham.
We discussed animal welfare standards, environmental schemes and the challenges family farms face from the Government’s new farm tax.
Farmers are committed to world leading welfare, but they need fair labelling and a level playing field with imports. Many also warned that the Government still misunderstands the true value of farm assets, leaving family farms exposed to large inheritance tax bills.
From animal welfare rules to environmental schemes and the Family Farm Tax, it’s clear farmers need policies that recognise the realities of running a modern family farm.
I’ll continue to stand up for our rural communities and ensure local farmers get the support they need.
Hooe Community Group Litter Pick
How amazing to see so many people turn out and achieve so much - Hooe Community Group are proud of their village and want it looking its best.
It was a pleasure to join them for an hour at the weekend to take part in their litter pick. It is sad that people driving through don't respect it but these volunteers are doing their bit.
KSS Air Ambulance Charity
I met some of the team from the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, who do amazing work saving lives across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
I talked to heroes such as Duncan, who is the Medical Director at KSS, and heard from Chris, who’s life was turned upside down after being crushed by haybales in rural Surrey. The team at KSS was able to airlift Chris to hospital, and the KSS Patient and Family Aftercare Service helped him through recovery.
We discussed the ongoing challenge of securing a landing site at Conquest Hospital and the importance of finding a practical solution. It was a useful conversation highlighting the need to address this issue, and I agreed to raise it with the Hospital following our discussion.
Netherfield Primary School Visit to Parliament
It was a pleasure to welcome pupils and staff from Netherfield Primary to Parliament last week.
It was great to have the chance to meet them, hear their questions, and see their enthusiasm for learning more about how Parliament works. Visits like this are such an important way of helping young people engage with politics and understand how decisions are made.
A big thank you to everyone at Netherfield Primary for making the trip, I hope the pupils enjoyed their visit and took plenty away from the experience.
My Response to the Rother Local Plan Consultation
I submitted my response to the Rother Local Plan consultation - you can read my full letter above, or on my social media post here.
Many constituents have contacted me, and I completely understand their concerns. Residents are being asked to accept more housing without the infrastructure to match. People already struggle to get GP appointments and access other local services - why should they support development that will add further strain?
I’m concerned these plans are being driven by Government housing targets rather than what’s right for the area, and I’ve written to the Housing Minister to raise this directly.
Bexhill's Temporary Banking Hub is Now Open!
Good news for Bexhill! The temporary Banking Hub officially opened last week.
You can now find it at the Post Office in Devonshire Square, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN40 1AA. It will be open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm for counter services.
There will also be a community banker available each day:
- Monday – Lloyds
- Tuesday – Santander
- Wednesday – HSBC
- Thursday – Barclays (from 23rd April)
- Friday – NatWest
This is a really positive step for local residents and businesses, and I am very pleased to see face-to-face banking services restored in the town.
I will continue to keep residents updated as work progresses to identify a permanent home for the Banking Hub.
Support for Houses Facing Rising Heating Oil Costs
The Government has announced over £50 million in support for households who rely on heating oil. We don't know what the criteria will be yet. Complete my heating oil survey and I will send direct updates as we get them and push for comprehensive help. Link in the comments.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is examining the heating oil market following concerns about pricing practices. I will be sending my survey findings to them and using them to ensure the criteria respond to those in need.
The Government has also said it will look at strengthening protections for heating oil customers, including improving price transparency.
I know many households in the constituency rely on heating oil, particularly in rural communities, and many residents have written to me about the sharp rise in prices. Unlike gas and electricity customers, heating oil users are not protected by the energy price cap, leaving households more exposed to sudden price increases and large upfront refill costs.
I recently joined colleagues in writing to the CMA calling for an urgent investigation into potential price gouging and unfair practices in the heating oil market.
If you rely on heating oil, please share your experience through my survey linked here so I can build evidence of the impact locally and continue pushing for action.
If you are struggling with heating costs or need advice about support that may be available, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.
Local Road Closures (please note this information is provided by third parties):
Bexhill
- Glyne Ascent — 7 April, 08:30 to 8 April, 23:59
- Wrestwood Road — 9 April to 10 April
Battle
- Netherfield Road — 23 March to 29 March
Ninfield
- Marlpits Lane — 27 January, 12:35 to 24 April, 12:35
Crowhurst
- Ballards Hill — 30 March, 08:00 to 7 April, 17:00
Northiam
- Sempstead Lane — 12 March, 08:30 to 31 March, 16:30
Brightling
- Hollingrove Lane — 30 March, 08:00 to 2 April, 17:00
- Cackle Street — 30 March, 08:00 to 2 April, 17:00
- Kent Lane — 30 March, 08:00 to 2 April, 17:00
Hooe
- Straight Lane — 27 March, 12:30 to 30 March, 01:00
Sedlescombe
- Chapel Hill — 9 April to 12 April
Westfield
- Moat Lane — 30 March, 08:00 to 10 April, 17:00