The party conference in Birmingham gave me an important opportunity to meet up in person with charity leaders, industry experts and policy makers.
Throughout the year we work together on campaigns and concerns that matter for people in Eastbourne and Willingdon and the country.
I was invited by the chief executive of the Trussell Trust – a charity that runs food banks - to join its panel event. The uprating of benefits in line with inflation was raised and I was pleased to reaffirm my commitment to this. I have already made my representations at the heart of government. One of my key messages during the panel event was the urgency of connecting people to the support available for them. This was endorsed by all panellists. For example, we need to reach around 1000 pensioners in Eastbourne and Willingdon not yet receiving the pension credit they are entitled to.
I was also a speaker on debating the case for a Minister for Men. There has been great work done by the Minister for Women and the government’s Women Health Strategy is a testament to that. But is there a case?
I argued there is using some pretty chilling stats. Suicide rates among men are three times higher than for women, rough sleepers are 83% men, men make up 96% of prisoners, a million UK children are growing up with little or no contact with their father. Men’s health inequalities in Sussex reflect poorer outcomes. I will now be taking this up in Parliament too.
In the course of the conference, I had positive conversations with Carers UK about the forthcoming legislation to protect carers’ leave. I also met with Aecom over funding plans to help decarbonise homes in Eastbourne. I will be taking this up with ministers in the Department for Businesses, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Finally, I got a chance to see England’s Lionesses’ Euro trophy up close. It’s very beautiful and reflects what can be done with self-belief, dedication and teamwork. The same dynamics very much apply to raising up our own town and building the future of our country.
