(This article was published in the Brighton Argus today – 11th December 2023) On Monday last week there were five votes in Parliament for two Bills under discussion. Four were relating to the clause aspects for the “Victims and Prisoners Bill” and the final item was the voting for “Delegated Legislation – Climate Change”. It was very interesting to see how several of our local MPs responded to some of the two Bills. Only one Sussex MP’s, Sally Ann Hart did not vote at all on any of these clauses which was disappointing. The majority of the Sussex Conservatives along with the Government rejected all of the four clauses that took place and the Labour Party approved the second to four clauses but they ignored the first clause which was called “10 – Sewage Illness Victim Compensation Scheme”. Both of the Sussex Labour MPs did ignore it but Caroline Lucas approved it along with the other three clauses as did all of the DUP and the Liberal Democrat MP’s. Apart from Sally-Ann all of the Sussex Conservative MPs rejected the first two and fourth clauses but the third clause “27 – Compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal (No. 2)” was endorsed by three Sussex Conservative MPs; Tim Loughton, Peter Bottomley and Henry Smith. That clause was very significant because it obtained two hundred and forty-seven endorsements from MPs including 22 Conservatives, a number of DUP, SNP, Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru and Green groups that supported it. With only two hundred Conservative MPs rejecting that particular Clause it was approved. Only one other Sussex MP acted differently which was Caroline Ansell from Eastbourne who did not vote for or against that clause. The fifth vote on Monday was entitled “Delegated Legislation – Climate Change”. Interestingly most of the Conservatives, Labour and the Plaid Cymru and Green Party endorsed it so a total of three hundred and sixty-eight supporters. The opposition was a small group of Conservatives and the DUP a total of thirty-five rejections. Most of the Sussex MPs did endorse it apart from Tim Loughton and Henry Smith who did not vote. Amongst the Conservatives in Government who opposed it, included Suella Braverman, Iain Duncan Smith, Priti Patel, Christopher Chope, John Redwood and Jacob Rees-Mogg.
This week in Parliament on Tuesday morning there is a discussion entitled “Provision of auditory verbal therapy” which is being organising by Sally-Ann Hart who is the MP for Hastings and Rye. It reflects a proposal from the “auditory verbal” charity that explains
Auditory Verbal therapy is a highly specialist, early intervention, family-centred, coaching programme which equips parents and caregivers with the tools needed to support the development of their deaf child’s listening and spoken language. Auditory Verbal therapy supports deaf children to learn how to make sense of the sound they receive through their hearing technology so they can learn to talk like their hearing friends.
It will take place in Westminster Hall. It would be great if some of our other Sussex MPs will take part in it.
I noticed last week that Jeremy Quin, the MP for Horsham stepped down from the Government back in mid-November at a similar time to when Nick Gibb stepped down. It will be interesting if stepping down will influence any new and different approaches they both make towards the Government now that they are not Conservative Minsters. The next few months could potentially offer flexible voting behaviour towards Government. The votes last week show what changes can be created.
Along with the voting information that emerged last week I noticed the activity of three Sussex MPs. The Argus Newspaper last Monday published a piece relating to Peter Kyle the Hove MP under the headline of “Peter tells pupils how he became and MP”. Peter held a discussion at a local School, Blatchington Mill, for some year 8 pupils. A short while later on the same day Huw Merriman, the MP for Bexhill and Battle published on X, formerly Twitter, referring to a visit of two Schools which involved Gillian Keegan who is the MP for Chichester and the government minister for education. All three had visited schools on the 1st of December. The text from Huw Merriman was
Pleased to welcome Education Secretary @GillianKeegan to two of our excellent local secondary schools last Friday. After spending time talking to staff & pupils at #Heathfield, we went on to #Claverham to see the very impressive new school building and meet with students & staff
All Sussex MPs have recently raised issues in Parliament relating to Education. The most recent one came from Lloyd Russell-Moyle who at the end of November set out an Early Day Motion document entitled “Free School Meals” He stated;
That this House notes that free school meals ensure millions of children get a hot and healthy meal each day; is concerned that children whose families meet financial eligibility requirements, but receive their education other than at school, do not benefit from these meals; congratulates both Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council for their work to guarantee equity of access for all eligible families; and calls on the Government to provide clearer guidance and, if necessary, additional funding to ensure that no child in education goes hungry during the school day.
So far fifteen MPs have endorsed it, but sadly not any from Sussex. Let us hope they will add their names to underline the importance of healthy food for children.
ianchisnall 