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It's been a busy start to 2019, with lots going on both in Wealden and in Westminster.
I thought I would take this opportunity to update you on what I've been up to as your MP for Wealden, making sure your voice is heard in Parliament and the issues that matter to you are represented in Government.
We will soon be voting on the Withdrawal Agreement to deliver Brexit, and leave the European Union on March 29th. I am keen to deliver on the vote of the British people in June 2016, and remain committed to supporting the Prime Minister as she delivers on the largest democratic mandate in British history.
If you would like the latest on Brexit and my position, have a look at my website at www.nusghani.org.uk/Brexit which I will regularly update.
Living in rural areas of East Sussex has all too often meant unreliable, slow and expensive broadband and mobile data connections.
I recently took the results of a broadband survey of Wealden I ran last year to the Secretary of State for Digital, Jeremy Wright MP (below) - to push him to improve the roll out of rural broadband across Wealden. I will soon be meeting with BT Openreach to seek their assurances that they continue to improve our internet connectivity.
The results from my survey were very disappointing - while we have come a long way in the last few years there's still plenty of room for improvement, and in 2019 internet connection is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
My constituents are understandably concerned about crime, so I was glad to meet with Cllr Bob Standley, Leader of Wealden District Council, and Sussex Police Chief Inspector Anita Turner (above) to seek assurances on crime.
The additional funding of up to £23 million announced in December will be very welcome, and I am pleased that Sussex Police will continue to provide an effective and strong presence in Crowborough, Uckfield, Hailsham and across our Wealden villages.
Thank you to the fantastic group from Bede's School near Hailsham who joined me in Parliament recently for a tour and Q&A session - thanks to everyone at Bede’s who helped to organise this trip, especially to the great group of students who asked challenging questions ranging from local Wealden issues to chatting about mental health, social media, Brexit and maritime.
I have been working with Forest Row Energy, a community energy co-operative who deliver clean energy solutions to local projects, on supporting the provision of community energy.
After brokering a meeting with the Energy Minister, Claire Perry MP (above), I will continue to work with Forest Row Energy to ensure that we continue to support fantastic projects like this across Wealden.
As a Minister in the Department for Transport, I recently announced a series of measures designed to ensure that everyone can use taxis safely across the country.
These rules would make sure that drivers are fit to carry passengers, keeping people safe while stopping those with bad intentions from getting behind the wheel of a taxi or minicab.
National minimum standards, a national licensing database and national enforcement powers will go a long way to ensuring passenger safety in Wealden and across the country.
Finally, it was my pleasure to welcome members of the Fletching Royal British Legion branch for a tour of Parliament and a catch up on the Royal British Legion’s activities in Fletching and the rest of Wealden.
In October I joined the Royal British Legion on the Great War Walk to raise money for the Poppy Appeal, and I will continue to support our veterans in Westminster and in Wealden. |
