2023 has been quite a year in Westminster and in Hastings and Rye! We have seen more national stability both politically and economically, but as we draw to the year end, less stability locally for Labour and Hastings Borough Council.
I thought I would highlight some of my successes working for you this year.
One of my first speeches in Parliament in 2023 was about spiking and 2023 finished with spiking. Our campaigning for the law to be made crystal clear resulted in the Government’s recent announcement that it will bring forward amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill to remove any ambiguity that the offence covers spiking in every form, whether by needle, food, drink or vape. This is good news and will help to improve public safety and awareness and encourage more victims to come forward and report their experiences.
Joining forces with other colleagues for common sense action to be taken to uphold and safeguard the rights of women and children and push back against extreme trans-ideology, I was relieved to see the Government block the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill in January amid concerns that it would impact on UK-wide equality law. Interestingly, Labour subsequently abandoned proposals to allow people to change their sex without a medical diagnosis. I also welcome the new draft guidance issued for schools on this matter – not perfect, but it does set a standard for uprooting trans ideology from our schools. I will be pushing the Government for it to be put on a legal footing.
I am proud to have delivered my own private members bill this year, now enacted - the Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act. This ensures victims of domestic abuse can receive child maintenance without contact from their abuser. I am delighted to be bringing another private member’s bill for Second Reading next year, the Support for Infants Bill, which will ensure that every family expecting a baby will receive a local ‘Start for Life’ offer as early as possible in the pregnancy giving clear information about local services and support available for them and their baby, and for the Government to set out in an annual report how the local support available to families during pregnancy and the first two years of life is impacting on outcomes for children. This will embed and build upon our Family Hubs locally, which opened this year – another policy I successfully campaigned for.
In the absence of Hastings Borough Council applying for any levelling-up funding, I took matters into my own hands and secured Levelling-Up funding of £60 million - £20 million each for Hastings and Rother through the Levelling-up Partnerships and £20 million over 10 years for Hastings through the Long-term Plan for Towns. I also successfully secured funding for public sector swimming pools to help them with energy costs and extra funding for potholes following my local pothole campaign.
In my focus on homelessness prevention and ending rough sleeping, I have secured millions in Government funding. However, it is clear there is not enough social or affordable housing locally and I have urged Hastings BC to focus on a housing strategy to meet our local housing need. In addition, I successfully campaigned for the Treasury to raise the Local Housing Allowance rate, which will help considerably with the current cost of temporary accommodation locally.
As regards our precious environment, as well as keeping the pressure on Southern Water, I am especially pleased to have led the campaign which resulted in the Government’s announcement at COP28 of massive investment into ocean nature-based solutions to climate change, including protecting and restoring blue carbon marine habitat.
I have voted for all Government legislation to stop the boats and control our borders, including the most recent Safety of Rwanda Bill. Labour MPs voted 86 times against tougher measures to tackle illegal migration and 73 times against stopping the boats. It is right that the Government closed expensive hotels used to accommodate illegal migrants, and I was pleased to secure confirmation from the Home Office that Pontins in Camber would not be used to accommodate illegal migrants.
I look forward to continuing working for you and for a bolder, brighter Britain in 2024.