What an amazing time at the High Weald Steam Working weekend alongside Cllr Michael Lunn, friends and residents! A wonder to catch up with the team from the brilliant Chailey Classic and Vintage Tractor Club.
I was so pleased to support this brilliant show again and also see Bluebell Railway running alongside the 60 steam engines and the array of vehicles of various ages and styles in a fabulous setting.
Community events like this are so important as they bring people together and help us to build relationships, celebrate our history, and create a sense of belonging whilst getting outside for fresh air, improving our well-being, and exploring our wonderful area. The hog roast was delicious and the bar raising money for a Sussex bonfire group was fantastic.
A wonderful weekend of weather too - a big thank you to the High Weald Steam Working Weekend committee, volunteers, and everyone for all their hard work to make this such another successful weekend.
If you follow me on social media, you will have seen I was pleased to have joined 119 of my fellow MPs who are calling on Lloyds Banking Group to restore cheque deposit services at Post Offices and Banking Hubs.
For many of our older and more vulnerable residents, charities, community groups and small businesses, cheques do remain an important way of banking. Residents shouldn't be forced to rely on apps, send cheques through the post, or travel long distances to access these basic services. I hope they will take our letter seriously and reconsider.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to contact me calling for a ban on social media for the U16s – which, as a mother, I wholeheartedly support and agree with. For me, the solution is simple. The evidence has been clear and overwhelming - social media is doing serious harm to our children.
I, alongside my Conservative colleagues have been fighting to get children off social media for over a year. But sadly, Labour dragged their heels at every opportunity and voted against our plans to get under 16s off social media THREE times in the House of Commons.
Meanwhile, more children have been exposed to violent, explicit, and unspeakable content online.
Parents like me, battling the impact and consequences wasn’t answers and have been rightly confused and let down that once again Labour’s inaction. I’m pleased to see the Government is finally listening and we will work to introduce the right legislation to prevent under-16s from harm.
Finally this Prime Minister is listening and going in the right direction for youngsters, their parents, campaigners and teachers who have been fighting for change. Further delay on making our children safer is not acceptable.
I will keep pushing for strong, effective protections which work for our children.
