Rishi Sunak is our new Prime Minister, and he has started the job of dealing with the country’s economy, finances, the war in Ukraine and the cost of living.
He will bring integrity, honesty, and intelligence to the role. He has my support and I wish him well. The circumstances in which he came to the top job have overshadowed what a big day it was on Monday for multicultural Britain. To have a PM of south Asian heritage and of Hindu faith is a significant moment.
Last weekend I undertook a survey of voters in Eastbourne, and it showed Rishi clearly came out on top for PM. He was the popular choice amongst Lib Dem, Labour and Green voters too. Comments I received include ‘safest pair of hands’ and ‘he did a fantastic job during Covid’.
He now needs to deliver stability and deliver our winning manifesto from 2019. Talking of which, I salute the new PM for returning to the manifesto pledge for a moratorium on fracking in England. I would not have supported fracking in Eastbourne or Sussex and I know the public and our councils felt the same.
In Westminster I am now on the Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Bill committee.
It will prevent organised criminals, fraudsters, kleptocrats and terrorists from using companies and other corporate entities to abuse the UK’s open economy in order to safeguard businesses, consumers and the UK’s national security. It is important work.
I also dropped by the LTA - Tennis For Britain event in parliament and got the chance to discuss the future plans the LTA have for Eastbourne.
It was brilliant to hear how committed the LTA is to Eastbourne, from investing in our world class grass courts at Devonshire Park to the recently refurbished Old Town Community Courts. There’s new investment to come across the town and of course our international tournament is one of the jewels in the Eastbourne crown, alongside Airbourne.
I am delighted with the announcement that Airbourne will return in 2023 and campaigned for it. Our carbon-neutral commitment is important but we must find ways to achieve this which won’t decimate our visitor economy.
