Welcome to this week's newsletter!
The past couple of weeks in politics have been particularly eventful, with the 2nd reading of the Assisted Dying Bill taking place last Friday.
I know this is an issue which people from across the constituency felt very strongly about. I was also privileged to be asked to give a short summary speech to all MPs after the debate as I had been so sympathetic to both sides and so it was thought I would be able to give a fair summary. As the topic is so complex I have provided a detailed explanation of the logic on my decision making in the article below.
In other news, this year’s Christmas Card winner has been decided. Now that voting is complete, I'm pleased to give a huge congratulations to Barnaby from Bodiam School! Barnaby's card will be sent to the King and the Speaker of The House as my Christmas Card!
Also a congratulations to Thea from Burwash Primary School and Hope from St Mary's Special School and College, whose card designs came runner up!
In PMQs this week I got to ask a question of the Prime Minister and chose to raise concerns over the potential widespread closure of vital direct-run Post Offices. I'm glad the PM has agreed to ensure the relevant Minister meets with affected MPs.
I was also able to secure a meeting with the Minister for Care to discuss the issues GP surgeries in Bexhill and Battle are having moving premises, with the Minister agreeing to meet local stakeholders to find a solution and get these projects moving again.
Of course it is not just GP surgeries struggling, but also community pharmacies, who have taken on greater responsibilities on behalf of the NHS. Late last month I visited Sidley Pharmacy to better understand the difficulties faced. I plan to assist lobby where I can to ensure these crucial services will continue to operate for the community.
Last weekend was a very busy one for me in the constituency. On Saturday, joined by Conservative Association members, we headed down to the Post Office to collect some more signatures, and speak with constituents.
Later in the day I met with the Bexhill-on-Sea Working Age Parkinson’s Group and heard about the need for better information at diagnosis, before heading to the Association of Carer's Winter Gift Market.
In the afternoon I headed down to Bexhill for the Christmas Lights Switch-On event, with lots of lively performances and festive market stalls offering a whole range of different foods and drinks. I particularly enjoyed seeing families enjoying the activities, from meeting Santa in his sleigh to watching the adorable donkeys.
And on Sunday morning I took part in the Santa dash. Seems a big group of Santa's gains a lot of attention as there were lots of hoots of support from passing cars and crowds cheering everyone on!
Thank you so much to all the different organisations who made these events possible over the weekend!
Back down in Parliament, earlier this week, I was pleased to meet Kate Tym & Kate Dyer, founders of Coffin Club UK, specialised in funeral celebrant training, and part of the Small Biz 100. It was good to hear how successful they have been sharing their experience and knowledge to other celebrants across the UK.
The week prior, I was honoured to attend Victim Support’s reception in Parliament to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Victim Support is a vital service, helping around 140,000 people every year. Thank you to the incredible staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to support victims of crime.
Sainsbury’s held their annual Christmas drop-in, where I signed a giant card to thank and wish a merry Christmas to all Sainsbury’s colleagues, suppliers and charity partners.
Also a small reminder - please make sure to show kindness to retail employees over the festive season, even when things don't go quite as planned. hose working in retail over the Christmas period are helping to make sure we have the best time possible.
As part of their drive to share information gathered from across the UK, Cancer Research UK held a drop-in session which saw almost 100 volunteer Campaigns Ambassadors from across the UK attend to speak with MPs about the cancer issues which they have identified as most significant.
And lastly, I wanted to give a bit of focus to scam awareness. Last week was Scam Awareness week, and I know a few constituents got in touch to request information be shared – so if you are interested in some general advice check out the last article.
Thank you for reading through. I'll be back with my final newsletter of the year in a couple of weeks!
Have a great weekend.
This week's newsletter:
- Christmas Card Competition Winners!
- Vote on Assisted Dying Bill
- Update on Bexhill Post Office
- Meeting with Minister for Care
- Support for Community Pharmacies
- Early Onset Parkinson's Group Meeting
- Carer's Winter Gift Market
- Switch-On of Bexhill's Christmas Lights
- Bexhill Santa Dash
- Small Business Saturday - Small Biz 100
- 50th Anniversary of Victim Support
- Sainsbury's Christmas Drop-In
- Cancer Research UK Reception
- Scam Awareness
Christmas Card Competition Winners!
This year's Christmas Card competition has been a very exciting one! With so many entries, from lots of schools, it was a difficult decision picking the finalists for the public vote.
Now that voting is complete I'm pleased to give a huge congratulations to Barnaby from Bodiam School! Barnaby's green Christmas candy design will be sent to the King and the Speaker of the House as my Christmas Card!
A congratulations to Thea from Burwash Primary School and Hope from St Mary's Special School and College, whose card designs came runner up!
If you would like to purchase a set of these Christmas Cards for yourself for charity, you will be able to from Blackbrook's Garden Centre who have been an amazing sponsor for this festive competition.
Thank you so much to everyone who has taken part and made this possible!
Watch the video linked above to see a special guest officially announce the winner.
Vote on Assisted Dying Bill
Last Friday MPs voted on the bill to bring in assisted dying which was passed.
This is an issue hundreds of you contacted me about, which is why leading up to the vote I had two listening sessions with constituents, both for and against, to hear your views. These were very moving sessions as you might expect with discussions of life and death involved. I gave this matter a great deal of thought.
I was also privileged to be asked to give a short summary speech to all MPs after the debate as I had been so sympathetic to both sides and so it was thought I would be able to give a fair summary. As it was a free vote it was not for me to argue the case for or against for the Official Opposition – just lay out the arguments we were considering.
In the end I voted against, but it was very finely balanced. As I said in my speech, my time working as a doctor in A&E has actually made me sympathetic to both arguments. I've seen the pain in the eyes of relatives who want to ease the suffering of their loved ones. And I can foresee a time when I might share their pain and also want that option for myself.
But I’ve also held the hand of frail elderly people, forgotten by their families, forgotten by society and feeling themselves to be nothing but a burden. Many MPs were concerned about where this bill might leave them. This left me with a difficult dilemma.
You can read my whole speech in Hansard, linked below, which explains more fully the issues I was weighing up to come to my decision.
Voting against does not mean I don’t continue to have enormous sympathy for those who experiencing suffering at the end of their lives. But in the end, I felt the risks to other people and to how doctors, the NHS and society manage death and dying were too great.
Asking the government, through the NHS, to take responsibility for ending life instead of protecting it and the guilt and burden people might now feel they have to die was just too great of a concern. I know many people won’t agree with that.
Thank you to all those that contacted me to share your own views. Before judging anyone that disagreed with you in either direction too harshly I would encourage you to read/watch my speech and read/watch the full debate as I think it exemplified what a complex issue this was to have to make a black and white decision about:
Read my speech here:
Read the whole debate here and watch the whole debate here.
Update on the Bexhill Post Office
This week I got to ask a question at PMQs. I raised concerns over the potential widespread closure of vital direct-run Post Offices.
Asking a question like this at PMQs helps to make sure the Government takes this issue seriously. I'm glad the Prime Minister has agreed to ensure the relevant Minister meets with affected MPs.
I’m also pleased to update everyone that the campaign to ‘Save Bexhill Post Office’ has now received over 3,000 signatures!
Last Saturday I was joined by a number of Conservative other local Councillors gathering signatures for the petition.
Thank you so much to all those who have already signed it. If you haven’t done so already, head over to my website linked here and sign – we need everyone’s support.
Also thank you to those Conservative Association members who joined me. Certainly a chilly start to the day, but a great show of the support amongst members to save such a vital local service that so many people rely on.
Meeting with Minister for Care
Following recent meetings with GP surgeries in Bexhill and Battle, I met with the Minister for Care to discuss the issues they are facing with their plans to move to larger more modern premises.
There are clear roadblocks obstructing progress on projects, not just in Bexhill and Battle, but across the country.
I was very pleased that the Minister agreed to meet with local stakeholders to try and find a solution and get these projects moving again.
Access to high quality healthcare is crucial for our local community and I will continue to support GP practices in Bexhill and Battle to ensure they are fit for the future. More updates to follow as progress is made!
Support for Community Pharmacies
Late last month I visited Sidley Pharmacy, an award-winning community pharmacy, to hear from owner Mr Sukhy Uppal about the challenges being faced by the industry as a whole – specifically issues with funding, drug shortages and staff retention.
Although community pharmacies are private businesses, they provide services and prescriptions on behalf of the NHS, a vital role for local residents making them an integral part of the community. However, recently the NHS has been relying more and more on community pharmacies to take on even greater roles in primary care, such as the Pharmacy First initiative.
I know that Sukhy is supportive of these types of initiatives, however, for community pharmacies to continue operating effectively it will be essential for the NHS and government to fully support them and have the right approach to funding the services they are asked to provide.
I will maintain an open dialogue and look to assist and lobby where I can to ensure these crucial services will continue to operate for the community.
Early Onset Parkinson's Group Meeting
This past weekend, I was able to join a meeting of the Bexhill-on-Sea Working Age Parkinson’s Group. A big thank you to Linda, Helen, and everyone else for having me at this very important meeting. I'm grateful to everyone who shared their experiences and insights.
Crucially, I heard about the need for better information at diagnosis. Many local patients aren’t receiving the Parkinson’s UK information pack when first diagnosed and this small change could make a huge difference going forward.
We also talked about different models of care they advocate for and some of the challenges of the benefits assessment process.
Did you know?
- Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurological condition globally.
- It presents differently in each person, with over 40 symptoms—30 of which are non-motor.
- Better awareness and early diagnosis are crucial for effective treatment and support.
- Implementing a collaborative care approach could significantly improve outcomes and quality of life.
If you have Parkinson’s, or you know someone who does, and are in need of local support, do not hesitate to join the Group’s coffee mornings. They meet up monthly on the last Saturday, at the Cooden Beach Golf Club in Bexhill. For more information, click here.
Carer's Winter Gift Market
I had a fantastic time on Saturday at the Association of Carers’ Winter Gift Market.
It was a pleasure speaking with Lucy about the vital work this charity does for unpaid carers across East Sussex. Their volunteer-led services offer crucial support and respite to those dedicating their lives to caring for loved ones.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended, the amazing stallholders, and the incredible volunteers who made the day such a success. Together, they raised just under £2,000 to support unpaid carers—an incredible achievement! Massive thanks to the The Relais Cooden Beach for hosting the event.
It was also a wonderful opportunity to catch up with Jan! I first met her during the election campaign while door-knocking—she was out delivering leaflets to raise awareness about the charity's incredible work.
The Association of Carers' has been making a difference since the 1980s, currently supporting 152 carers with the help of 142 volunteers. However, with 263 families still on their waiting list, they are always needing more volunteers.
If you can help, please consider getting involved. Find out more on their website linked above or follow them on social media @associationofcarers
Switch-On of Bexhill's Christmas Lights
I had a fantastic time last weekend at the Bexhill Christmas Lights Switch-On event in our wonderful town centre! It was an afternoon filled with holiday cheer, music, and community spirit.
From the lively performances by the Royal British Legion Band and the Bexhill Musical Theatre Group, to the festive market stalls offering everything from mulled wine to handmade gifts, there was something for everyone!
A big thank you to Bexhill-on-Sea Town Council , Bexhill Lions, Bexhill Rotary, and all the local performers, volunteers, and the organisers who made this event so special. I particularly enjoyed seeing families enjoying the activities, from meeting Santa in his sleigh to watching the adorable donkeys.
A great way to start off the December festivities!
Bexhill Santa Dash
I had lots of fun at the Bexhill Santa Dash on Sunday! Thank you to Bexhill Lions and The De La Warr Pavilion for organising.
There were lots of hoots of support from passing cars and crowds cheering everyone one - luckily we even escaped the rain. I was not expecting to see a pony on the run too!
I broke my ankle badly a year ago and so this was the first time I've run 5k since then – a bit of personal progress.
Thanks to Lee Floyd for the especially red photo!
Small Business Saturday - Small Biz 100
Earlier this week I met with Kate Tym & Kate Dyer, founders of Coffin Club UK, specialised in funeral celebrant training, and one of the small businesses chosen as part of the ‘Small Biz 100’, highlighting 100 small businesses, one a day for 100 days leading up to Small Business Saturday 2024!
I also noted that Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm is another business in the constituency, chosen as part of the Small Biz 100. Although we didn’t meet at the event, a big congratulations to you!
Kate & Kate, having started their own celebrants company based in Sussex and Kent, were inspired to share their knowledge and experience conducting funerals.
The first ‘Coffin Club’ they set-up was their own, based in East Sussex – since then they have trained celebrants, creating other Coffin Clubs across the whole of the UK, as far afield as Aberdeenshire West.
This is a fantastic service, in an industry which is particularly emotive. Speaking with Kate & Kate, when they visited Parliament, they highlighted that death is something so many people feel uncomfortable speaking about, but we shouldn’t feel this way.
I agree with their thoughts – a life is to be celebrated, and to know that such experienced celebrants are teaching others their skill truly a great thing.
Good luck to Kate & Kate as they continue sharing their experience with celebrants around the UK.
50th Anniversary of Victim Support
I was honoured to attend Victim Support's reception in Parliament to celebrate their 50th anniversary and pay tribute to the incredible staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to support victims of crime.
Founded in 1974, Victim Support helps around 140,000 people every year—offering free, confidential support 24/7 for those affected by domestic abuse, sexual violence, fraud, hate crime, and more. Their work is truly life-changing.
I’m committed to championing support for victims in Bexhill and Battle and beyond. A huge thank you to Victim Support for five decades of invaluable service.
Sainsbury's Christmas Drop-In
Recently I attended Sainsbury's annual Parliamentary Reception to speak with representatives about the different farmers, suppliers, and charity partners locally, who are involved with the organisation.
As you will see, Sainsbury's brought a giant card for MP's to sign and show their thanks and wish a merry Christmas to all Sainsbury's colleagues, suppliers and charity partners.
I was interested to learn that Sainsbury’s source from 17 beef farms based in the Bexhill & Battle constituency and are partnered with two local foodbanks – totalling 29,646 meals donated.
Though Sainsbury’s is a very large national organisation, it is encouraging to see the work which goes in to support local organisations, and better the community as a whole.
Employing over 50 people locally, Sainsbury’s is an important part of our local economy, which I’m sure will continue to represent a positive force for the constituency.
I was certainly pleased to see their engagement with Bexhill Heritage earlier this year allowing for the successful renovation of Bexhill’s concrete mural, and the introduction an information display plaque.
And a small reminder, as we move into the festive season, that those working in retail over the Christmas period are helping to make sure we have the best time possible - so please make sure to show kindness to employees, even when things don't go quite as planned.
Cancer Research UK Reception
Last week Cancer Research UK held their Parliamentary Drop-in session, which saw almost 100 volunteer Campaigns Ambassadors from across the UK attend to speak with MPs about the cancer issues which they have identified as most significant.
As part of this, representatives were there to guide us MPs on how we can best access Cancer Research UK’s resources and expertise to aid constituents who are themselves suffering from cancer or are caring for a loved one who is.
One of the stands served as a good reminder that smoking is still a leading cause of cancers in the UK. As you can see from the photo, a 20 cigarette a day smoker will inhale a mug's worth of tar each year!
It is so important that we as a society help those smokers who want to quit, which is why the last Government substantially increased funding for stop smoking services in England, adding an additional £70 million a year to be provided over the next five years, expanding local delivered services.
I’m hopeful that the current Government will continue to support crucial charities like Cancer Research UK as they continue their incredible work supporting all those impacted by cancer.
Scam Awareness
As a last part to this weeks newsletter I wanted to share some advice on how people can be scam aware.
Last week was Scam Awareness Week, an important annual event dedicated to helping people spot and avoid scams, share their experiences, and feel empowered to report fraudulent activity.
As scammers become more sophisticated, it's essential we stay informed and confident in recognising and avoiding their tactics. Reporting scams not only protects us, but also helps prevent others from falling victim.
Citizens Advice has shared three simple tips to help you stay safe:
- Don’t rush into financial decisions—even if the deal seems too good to miss. Scammers often create a sense of urgency.
- Never share personal or bank details immediately—take time to verify the legitimacy of the offer.
- If in doubt, check the Financial Services Register—this can confirm whether a company or individual is genuine.
Stay alert, stay informed, and let’s work together to protect our community from scams. If you suspect a scam, don’t hesitate to report it.
