It’s been a big week already. Eastbourne came to Parliament on one of my popular tours and the general election has been called. The fate of the nation and the good of our town is over to you – the voters.
The Prime Minister started with a trip to the Palace to seek The King’s approval for this to take place and I will start with a trip to my mum’s in Old Town! By tradition, she has always been the first signature on my nomination papers, seconded of course, by my Nick.
And just how important the love of family is was so very apparent to me on Wednesday at Prime Minister’s Questions when my colleague, the MP for South Thanet returned to The House of Commons after nearly losing his life to sepsis. The condition took his hands and feet, and he was sporting his new prosthetic limbs. His courage is just awe-inspiring, but it was to his family, sitting in the gallery, he credited with his astonishing return.
In covid, a British attitudes survey was conducted and no surprise, family came out top. That’s why I have always championed parents in Parliament. I’ll be counting on my own family in the coming weeks too.
My youngest son will be voting for the first time in a general election this July. People ask him if he follows all the politics and debates. ‘No’, he tells them, ‘I’ll just be voting for my mum. She’s a good woman and that’s all I need to know.’ When I heard that, frankly, it felt like a win right there.
So, it’s 42 sleeps to the GE as I write. That 43 days to fight for your support demonstrating all we’ve achieved as a springboard for all that’s still to come.
You’ll hear me talking about the billion pounds of investment secured for our town on my watch and the people I have championed. I’ll be putting forward record employment, an economy back on track and inflation under control, an exponential rise in apprenticeships and record investment in the NHS; moves to stop the dangerous boats crossing the channel and a party, mine, committed to the defence of the realm in this unstable world.
It is an honour to be your MP, every day I feel that but today, I feel that so very strongly.
