This week, I had the pleasure of welcoming two very special Eastbourne guests to No 10, Ken Ross of Neighbourhood Watch and Graeme Bunn of Street Pastors. What drew people to the Downing Street event from across the UK, was their role in community safety.
Tom Tugenhat, Minister of State for Security, thanked both men personally for the sterling contribution made by their respective organisations.
Other notable moments included raising the horrendous exploitation of vulnerable people known as ‘cuckooing’ at Prime Minister’s Questions. I have secured a meeting with The Home Secretary and his team.
Another notable moment was chairing a virtual meeting for MPs and Members of The House of Lords with Archbishop Hosam and Father Issa Thaljieh, the parish priest of The Church of The Nativity in Bethlehem in the West Bank.
As you would imagine, Gaza dominated our conversation. We touched on Bethlehem which is of course a place of pilgrimage and would ordinarily be attracting waves of visitors at this time; the economic impact of the conflict was compared to Covid, it could destitution.
Rwanda, and both legal and illegal immigration, dominated much parliamentary time this week.
Immigration is a complex, serious and global issue. All dignity and respect must be accorded those fleeing persecution but it’s not racist to challenge how sustainable migration numbers are nor to bring forward a deterrent to potentially fatal small boat crossings.
Another difficult debate was brought more fully into the light this week by Secretary of State Kemi Badenoch, that being on sex, gender and social transitioning. She is right to highlight some of the very real risks posed, especially to children.
Long awaited schools’ guidance is to be published before Christmas and this will usher in a period of consultation.
More immediately, I am looking forward to Old Town Library’s Fayre and a first Christmas Fair for traders on The Rodmill. Sunday, the Rotary Clubs of Eastbourne will hold their Tree of Light dedication service at The Congress Theatre. It’s a very special way to remember loved ones we’ve lost.
And will we break the World Record for the ‘most people dressed as an Angel’ in the Town Centre on Sunday? We need more than 1,300… see you there!
