(This item first appeared in the Brighton Argus on 12th June 2023 and its headline was “MP’s Commons debate on World Ocean Day”) 

Parliament reopened last Monday following the Half Term break with a significant number of events that took place during the week. Inevitably it is not possible to cover every element but here are a few of the wide-ranging discussions that took place during this week. Most of these involved one or more of our Sussex MPs but one really important item sadly did not include any of our local representatives.

This was the debate that took place last Monday entitled “Higher Education Students: Statutory Duty of Care” a public petition that received many signatures under the headline of “Create statutory legal duty of care for students in Higher Education”. Regrettably no Sussex MPs took part although there were MPs from Kent, Surrey and Hampshire. Let us hope that our Sussex MPs will now reflect how significant this is for our region. Nicholas Fletcher who organised this began with

I thank the 128,292 petitioners and pay tribute to the lead petitioner, Lee Fryatt, who lost his son Daniel to suicide … and all those who have lost loved ones and been on a long journey not just to get to today’s debate but to take on the universities and the Government with one focus: preventing any more young people from taking their lives.

Last week I was hopeful that some MPs would raise questions about Boris Johnson following the covid enquiry challenges that emerged while Parliament was closed. A few MPs and members of the House of Lords did refer to him during the “Covid 19 Inquiry: Judicial Review” which took place on Monday in the House of Commons and on Tuesday in the House of Lords. The first session was managed by the Minister, Jeremy Quin, who is the Horsham MP and he was the first person to raise his name with his comment

The notice received is bound to include a range of material of that nature. It covered a two-year period and a range of documents, including WhatsApp messages relating to my right hon. Friend Boris Johnson and a former special adviser.

Subsequently a Labour and SNP MP did raise the subject although Jeremy did not respond their comments. In the House of Lords an Independent and Labour member also referred to him and a Conservative Minister did mention his name later but not responding to the challenges. On Wednesday there was a “Teesworks: Accountability and Scrutiny” event and a Labour MP did finish with

We have the covid inquiry, the hidden communications, the whole Boris Johnson Administration, and now this

but no one else mentioned his name.

On Tuesday and Wednesday some unusual voting patterns emerged connected to the “Committee on Standards” regarding “suspends (ex SNP) Margaret Ferrier from the service of the House for 30 days” which was introduced by a Conservative MP, Fay Jones. There were 186 MPs in favour including 129 Labour’s with Peter Kyle and Lloyd Russell-Moyle, 29 Conservative’s including Tim Loughton and Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the House of Commons, 14 SNP’s, 9 Liberal Democrat’s, 3 Plaid Cymru’s, 1 Alliance and the Green based Caroline Lucas. The opposition involved 38 MPs including 32 Conservatives with Peter Bottomley, Sally-Ann Hart and Henry Smith. None of the Sussex Ministers voted and neither did Caroline Ansell. On the following day two votes took place following a debate entitled “Mental Health Treatment and Support” which included a considerable number of comments from Maria Caulfield, the Lewes MP and Minister. The first vote involved 187 MPs in favour including many Labour but neither of our Sussex MPs, and a number of other groups including Caroline Lucas. The Conservatives opposed the document with 280 MPs. However, the next vote involved 277 Conservatives in favour and literally no other MPs that opposed to this decision.

Caroline Lucas from Brighton Pavilion was involved in the debate called “Reaching Net Zero Local Government Role” on Monday alongside a comment from Wera Hobhouse who said

We need councils to spread their wings and deliver, but they cannot if they do not have the funding, which must ultimately come from central Government. Local authorities in Manchester, Bath and Brighton—wherever we are—should have the freedom and the money to make their own decisions for their local communities.

Caroline Lucas also contributed comments on the “Asylum-seeking Children Hotel Accommodation” on Wednesday.

Finally on Thursday afternoon last week Sally-Ann Hart who is the Hasting and Rye MP organised a debate that was entitled “World Ocean Day” which I mentioned last week. Along with Sally-Ann Hart there were five other MPs but no other Sussex MPs. The comment from Caroline included these first few words

Our ocean, our largest ecosystem, is a precious natural resource and for too long we have taken it for granted and somewhat abused it. … As an island nation, our national seas also have huge social and economic value for the UK and especially for our coastal communities. The ocean is our bright blue hope

Clearly all of these discussions were of great value and some of them positively involved our local MPs. Inevitably this week there will be many impactful subject matters but currently they do not refer to our Sussex MPs. I hope in the coming days there will be a change to this status and that local MPs will engage with the many vital ongoing debates on matters that concern all of us in the UK.