A big thanks to Haywards Heath College for another opportunity to pop in again. It’s always so inspiring to hear from the politics students and discuss current geopolitical issues, what’s happening with legislation and wider Parliamentary process, and their views on all of this.
Votes at 16 are a reality in the next General Election and currently already happen in the Senedd and Holyrood in Wales and Scotland.
Meeting with students, school visits and youth groups are vital finding out what young people’s top priorities and concerns are. They will be the leaders of tomorrow and it's important to meet students who are not only already interested in issues, but to inspire more to become interested. We annually have Parliament Week, but I see it as my job to make that 52 weeks a year.
As always, it’s been an absolute pleasure to be out and about meeting and speaking with even more of my residents door knocking in Forest Row, East Grinstead, Uckfield, Haywards Heath, Crawley Down and Scaynes Hill – to name a few.
My job is to represent my constituents, both locally and in Parliament, and having boots on the ground and listening is vital. Topics such as cost of living, skyrocketing fuel and heating oil prices, SEND provision, potholes, and protecting our area are key.
Thank you also to all who have also contacted me about the application of the Hunting Act 2004 and opposing the Labour Government’s proposals to ban trial hunting which is lawful within that Act.
I appreciate this remains a highly emotive issue and I know many of us, especially in rural areas like much our constituency, support high standards of animal welfare and have great concern for our wildlife on both sides of this issue.
Amid a cost-of-living crisis, rising unemployment, and taxes increasing to the highest on record, I find it frankly absurd that the Government is prioritising a ban on trail hunting over tackling the issues that are affecting everyone’s day to day lives and most importantly for many the impact on rural jobs and connected sectors from horse feed producers, farriers and village stores.
This Government should prioritise cutting taxes on rural businesses, axing their Family Farm Tax on our working family farms and supporting all rural communities asl well as our town and village high streets. It is vital we protect independent rural livelihoods, support environmental stewardship, and defend lawful activities that support the direct and indirect employment of thousands of people across the UK.
Rural communities are the backbone of Britain, and they must receive the support and attention they deserve. The attack on the rural way of life must stop.
My full statement on this and more national issues is on my website.
Meanwhile I like very many enjoyed being at the South of England showground for Spring Live at Ardingly, supporting rural local food producers and traders as well as from across the UK which drives local tourism and many visits to our area too.
