The last week or so has been extremely challenging for residents and businesses in Rye, Camber, East Guldeford, Rye Harbour and Winchelsea Beach. Access to a ready supply of clean water is something that we all rightly expect. Southern Water has much to learn from the leak, which it failed to properly manage for a number of days, and this caused widespread issues for individuals, families and businesses alike. Those with health concerns have faced severe difficulties, others have suffered major inconvenience and businesses have had to close, turn away customers and bear significant losses or additional costs just to stay open. Whilst I recognise the scale and complexity of repairing the leak, the time taken by Southern Water to address the water supply issues is unjustifiable. What makes it worse is that they failed to put in place acceptable alternatives at the outset – most importantly, bottled water or an alternative temporary supply hubs for those in need, and it took pressure from me and many constituents to make this happen. One of my team took matters into her own hands one night, and delivered twelve bottles of water to a vulnerable household with a terminally ill person to ensure that they had water.
Since the leak was first reported to me, I was in contact with Southern Water several times a day, exerting pressure at the highest levels within the company, urging them to fulfil their obligations to restore the supply as a priority, and to make alternative arrangements where needed. I can assure all of those affected that I did everything I was able to do, including alerting Rother District Council and the relevant government ministers, asking for their help. I have visited the leak site a couple of times to find out why the leak is taking so long to fix, and I have pressed Southern Water to properly compensate those affected without delay.
It has unfortunately come to my attention that some Southern Water employees have been frequently shouted at and faced verbal abuse when carrying out various works in the wider local area. When speaking to staff, it is clear that the many Southern Water issues also affect them in a different way. Many have faced abuse just for working at Southern Water, doing their job.
I too, along with my wonderful team, have experienced the abuse caused by the impact of the recent failures of Southern Water, and by other issues that the residents of Hastings and Rye look to me to resolve on their behalf.
I am an elected Member of Parliament representing the constituents of Hastings and Rye. The sole distinction between me and that of those who elected me is that they entrusted me to use my best efforts to enhance their lives and the lives of every citizen in the United Kingdom. This commitment guides my actions every day, seven days a week, as I strive to do my very best.
I am frequently dismayed and alarmed at the reports of hate and aggression that is directed towards professionals and people carrying out their daily work. While I understand that people who reach out to me feel passionately or have a deep conviction about a subject or even are at their wits end and believe that they have nowhere else to turn, the rudeness, discourtesy and abuse does not change the way in which I can try to address their concerns. Nevertheless, it does weigh heavily and causes me, and my wonderful team, considerable disquiet.
Bearing the brunt of animosity, enduring verbal and physical threats, and not experiencing the basic civility one would expect from strangers is a sad fact of life today for many, including doctors, nurses, teachers, police, retail staff and politicians. Every individual, regardless of their profession or political beliefs should be treated with basic respect and dignity as a human being. Dehumanising someone diminishes their worth and can lead to harmful consequences – which we have all witnessed in the media. Dehumanisation fuels hostility, polarisation and violence, undermining our ability to have productive discussions and make informed decisions. It causes great harm to our wider society.
Like many people who work in public service, I went into politics with a fervent desire to make things better and effect positive change. I believe that my record in this regard stands up to scrutiny. Receiving abuse, however, makes this so much more challenging.
I am resolved to continue to do my best, but I do ask for civility and respect in communications with me and my office. Treating one another with politeness and civility would make the task of making our society better for us all so much easier.