Dear Friend,
After a turbulent few weeks in British politics, the House has risen for the summer break. However, there is much to be done over the recess and I look forward to spending some time away from Westminster, with lots of meetings and visits across Wealden.
It has been a busy couple of months in Westminster and in Wealden, so please allow me to share with you some of the highlights:
First of all, a huge thank you for the kindness and hospitality to all of you who will be spending the summer hosting Ukrainian families. I am proud that Wealden is leading the way in providing support in East Sussex, accommodating the most arrivals in the county and being in the top ten regions nationwide.
According to the latest figures, 1,130 Ukrainian arrivals have now settled in East Sussex since the launch of the Homes for Ukraine scheme in March, with nearly 500 in Wealden. The East Sussex County Council has a dedicated website for guests and hosts, which is available here. For any questions, hosts and guests can contact the Council by email at ukraine@eastsussex.gov.uk.
🇺🇦 Visiting the Support Hub in Mayfield 🇺🇦
I was pleased to meet some of the families that have arrived in Wealden at the fantastic MAYFACS Support Hub in Mayfield with the new Wealden District Council Leader, Councillor Ann Newton. The Support Hub is a safe place for Ukrainian families to come to for all kinds of assistance and I am grateful to all the volunteers who are ensuring that the families are welcomed and looked after. Read more here.
🌈 Special Jubilee Wealden Hero Awards 🌈
The Wealden Hero Awards made a comeback during the special Platinum Jubilee weekend to recognise the huge contribution that Freya and Lucy at MAYFACS make to the Mayfield and Five Ashes Community. Especially with the set up of the Support Hub. Thank you! 👏🏽 Read more here.
🇺🇦 Further updates on the Ukrainian crisis 🇺🇦
👉🏽 I continue to put pressure on the Home Office to ensure that those who have not yet reached Wealden can do so as soon as possible, and I continue to make representations to my Ministerial colleagues to ensure that Wealden District Council and East Sussex County Council have the appropriate additional resources they need.
👉🏽 For over a year, I have been dealing with the impact of sanctions from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Following my calls for tougher sanctions for Putin’s oligarchs and the establishment of a special tribunal, I was also sanctioned by Russia in April. It is rare to be double sanctioned, and I am the only female MP to be sanctioned by two countries. However, I will not be intimidated and continue to speak up against the horrors that Russia and the CCP are committing.
News from Westminster
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been busy overseeing the vote of confidence and the election of the next Conservative Party leader as Vice-Chair of the influential 1922 Committee. After multiple ballots, the final two candidates have been selected and the winner will be announced on 5 September.
🎧 I have taken part in various interviews explaining the process. You can listen to my Bloomberg interview here, Channel 5 interview here, and Times Radio interview here. 🎧
🎉👏🏽 Fantastic news from Wealden: 👏🏽🎉
🎓 Securing funding for Wealden schools in Crowborough, Hailsham and Maynard’s Green 🎓
I am proud to have secured government funding for building upgrades for three Wealden schools: Beacon Academy in Crowborough, Hailsham Community College and St Mary's School in Maynard's Green. This is in addition to the £1.3 million already secured for Beacon Academy last year. This is a fantastic win for Wealden and the boost in funding will ensure that Wealden students can thrive in an improved environment and better facilities. Read more here.
🏥 Successful campaign to reopen the MIU and birthing unit in Crowborough 🏥
I am pleased that following my continuous representations to the Trust, the Minor Injuries Unit and the Birthing Unit in Crowborough reopened in the spring. Thanks to the superb work and dedication of the midwifes and medical staff, the Birthing Unit continues to provide first class care and support for mums and families in a homely setting. I will continue to work with The Friends of Crowborough Hospital to ensure that the Birthing Unit remains open and receives the support it needs. Read more here.
🚌 Launch of the Transport for the South East strategy 🚌
I’m pleased to be supporting the Transport for the South East (TfSE) strategy, setting out future investment in strategic transport infrastructure and steps to decarbonise the transport system. Transport is the key to productivity and as the region continues to grow, East Sussex and Wealden in particular should be given the appropriate infrastructure funding for its roads and railways. I will continue to work Cllr Keith Glazier, with East Sussex County Council and TfSE so we can get the support we need for the area. Read more here.
🏏 Opening of a new sports facility at Uplands Community College in Wadhurst 🏏
Following a fantastic investment of £12.5 million, the Uplands Community College has constructed a new building and new polymeric pitch called Jubilee Court. I was delighted to attend the Open Day to cut the ribbon and officially open the court alongside the Vice Principal and the Head of Sixth Form. Read more here.
🏡 Securing Ministerial meetings on housing numbers in Wealden 🏡
Having lobbied the Department of Housing since 2015, I have had meetings with many Housing Ministers over the years and a huge amount of work is going on behind the scenes to address the current situation. In March, I led a parliamentary debate to raise the matter with the Minister. You can watch it here.
As part of a concentrated campaign together with the Wealden District Council to the Government, I secured a further meeting with the housing Minister to follow up on the points I raised during the parliamentary debate. The Minister confirmed that the Government was reviewing the position and I continue to support the Council leaders in making representations to the Government and in producing a Local Plan. Read more here.
🎉🇬🇧 Celebrating the Platinum Jubilee in Wealden 🎉🇬🇧
In June, the nation came together in celebration of 70 years of Her Majesty The Queen’s devoted service to the nation and to the Commonwealth. I had the privilege of attending the Hailsham beacon lighting alongside the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, the Town Crier, Hailsham Mayor and local councillors. I also joined the Crowborough celebrations at All Saints church. After two long years of the pandemic, it was lovely to catch up with so many Wealden residents to mark this unique occasion.
📚 Visiting Wealden schools 📚
In addition to everyday parliamentary scrutiny, I have also been quizzed by Wealden students of all ages! I visited Uckfield College Sixth Form students, Year 5 students at Ashdown Primary School in Crowborough, Grove Park Sixth Form students in Crowborough, and Bede’s students in Upper Dicker, and I was pleased to host to welcome Blackboys, Fletching, Park Mead, Framfield and Hartfield’s St Mary The Virgin Primary Schools to Parliament to discuss my role and work as an MP.
🎓 Hailsham Community College Careers Fair competition winners visit Parliament 🎓
In March, I was pleased to host the annual Hailsham Community College Careers Fair, welcoming a wide range of local businesses to present the various career paths in a multitude of different disciplines to students. As part of the fair, students took part in my competition to win a visit to Westminster by sharing their policy suggestions. Morgan Barnard and Alanna Cox, both from Year 10, were the successful entries and I was pleased to welcome them in Parliament to witness live proceedings in the House of Commons chamber and a first-hand experience of our democratic processes. Read more here.
🛠️ Visit to Uckfield Men’s Shed 🛠️
I was pleased to visit the Uckfield Men’s Shed to meet the fantastic team and learn more about their work tackling social isolation of men by providing an opportunity to meet others while sharing DYI skills. I am pleased that we have a number of Men’s Sheds in Wealden. I opened the Mayfield Shed last year and I’m also supporting the Men’s Shed team in Groombridge in fundraising for a permanent facility. Please click here to find out more information.
🍇 🥂 Sussex Wine will be designated as a UK Geographical Indication 🥂🍇
I am enormously proud that Wealden is the home of some of the very best vineyards in the UK. I am the co-chair of the Wine and Spirit All-Party Parliamentary Group and I will always champion our local winemakers, who work incredibly hard all year round to produce their excellent, award-winning products. I am pleased that this recognition of Sussex products has been secured and I continue to work with the Treasury to extend small producers’ relief to vineyards. Read more here.
🇬🇧 Pushing for faster administration of Afghan visas 🇬🇧
I am sure that our Wealden generosity would extend to Afghan arrivals, had we been given the opportunity to help them also. I continue to do what I can to help Afghans who have made sacrifices to help protect the UK, and especially women and girls, to leave the country. I am working with Azadi charity and I continue to hold talks with the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence to expedite visas for Afghans fleeing from the Taliban. Given the fast administration of the Ukrainian visas, it is astonishing that there are still over 15,000 applications under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) awaiting an initial decision. I will continue to press the Ministers for faster administration of these cases. Read more here.
🗣️ Raising the plight of the Uyghur 🗣️
I was pleased to join the PM's Deputy Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief David Burrows at All Saints church in Crowborough and host him in Wealden for this special event. I am grateful to the church for providing us with the opportunity to discuss this important matter and share the work we are doing to address it. It was great to see so many Crowborough residents as well as visitors from all over Wealden join us and attend to learn more about the plight of the Uyghur people and my ongoing campaign for the world to recognise what is going on in Xinjiang as genocide and hold the CCP to account. Read more here.
I am grateful to the Speaker for granting an Urgent Question on the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) shoot to kill Uyghur policy and the ongoing genocide of the Uyghur people, following more horrific reports by the BBC. The CCP are imprisoned for just being Muslim and the youngest is a 15-year-old girl. Read more here.
☎️ Contact ☎️
If you need my assistance regarding a particular issue, please email me at nusrat.ghani.mp@parliament.uk and provide as much information as possible about your query. Casework is undertaken daily and surgery appointments are currently taking place in person, over the phone, or virtually.
I hope that you have a fantastic summer and I look forward to seeing you out and about in Wealden.☀️🏡
Yours sincerely,
Nus