Today is the second day of the Conservative conference in Birmingham which finishes on Wednesday. Last week the Labour conference met in Liverpool and included contributions from Beccy Cooper, the Worthing West MP, she stated

“It’s been an amazing day at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool today despite the torrential downpour. I’ve been speaking with campaigns and organisations about what they want to see from the new government to make real change for communities”.

Then Peter Kyle, for Hove and Portslade stated

“Our task is to lay the foundations for the security, prosperity and opportunity of the digital generation. To make Britain the best place to live and work. Where our reputation is no longer shaped by the shame of food banks but by the potential of state-of-the-art databanks.”

Later Chris Ward, Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven stated

“Immensely proud to see Keir Starmer setting out Labour’s plan for national renewal. Labour has done more in 12 weeks than the Tories did in 14 years. Change has begun!”.

Then Tom Rutland, East Worthing and Shoreham stated

“And it was great to see East Worthing and Shoreham appear on the big screen before the speech, Star Wars style!”

Over the last five weeks in Parliament a number of Sussex MPs responded to a range of subjects. However, there were few discussions when more than one Sussex MP corresponded. On the 12^th September three events involved three or four Sussex MPs. Nusrat Ghani was involved with the “Sir David Amess Adjournment Debate” opened by Mr Mark Francois, Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford. He paid tribute to David Amess as

“a fallen comrade whose plaque I am looking at right now ….just above where he used to sit; appropriately enough it is directly opposite that of Jo Cox, another fallen comrade who graced this House while she was here”

Four of the Sussex MPs engaged with the debate on “Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Topical Questions” Two Sussex Labour MPs, Beccy Cooper and Helena Dollimore and two Sussex Conservative MPs, Alison Griffiths and Kieran Mullan. There were comments from several Labour Ministers involved in the groups.

Beccy spoke first;

“Raw sewage was discharged into our rivers and seas for a shocking 4 million hours last year. Will the Minister reassure our coastal communities, including my own in Worthing West, that water companies will be held accountable for the necessary investment to address the systemic and chronic pollution of our waters?”

Emma Hardy, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

“Congratulations to my hon. Friend on her election. She is absolutely right to be outraged at the level of sewage pumped into our rivers, lakes and seas under the previous Government. I hope that where she saw inaction in the past, she will see this Government taking action right now through our Water (Special Measures) Bill. We will not stand by and allow these levels of pollution to continue.”

Helena spoke next

“My constituents in Hastings and Rye got their water bills this month. Many of them were shocked to see their bills going up despite the failures of Southern Water, which include sewage dumped along our coastline, flooding in our town centre and leaving us without water. It has even charged us for the five days when the taps ran dry. What are the Government doing to clean up the mess left by Southern Water and by the Conservative party?”

Steve Reed, Secretary of State, responded

“What has been going on in my hon. Friend’s constituency is completely unacceptable. I know that she has been a huge champion for cleaning up the water in that part of the country. One of the things we are looking at doing is doubling the rates of compensation from water companies when they let down their customers as she described” 

A few minutes later Alison stated

“The Secretary of State is certainly talking tough, but will he publish the justice impact test for his Water (Special Measures) Bill and list the additional court cases and prison places needed?”

Steve Reed responded with

“We will publish all information relating to the Bill at the appropriate time during its passage through Parliament.”

The final comment was from Kieran Mullen from spoke about his constituency

“In Bexhill and Battle we get to enjoy the amazing High Weald area of outstanding natural beauty, but it is expansive, covering more than 1,400 sq km. What advice did the Minister’s Department give the Housing Department on taking such issues into account when centrally imposed housing targets are putting pressure on the area as a whole?”

The response came from Mary Creagh the Labour of The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

“It is important to remember that our national landscapes are protected landscapes and that the planning authorities work appropriately on such issues. I am in discussions with officials and I am happy to write to the hon. Gentleman with a proper answer on the issue.”

Along with that discussion there was also a “NHS: Independent Investigation” with Two Sussex Conservatives, Mims Davies and Kieran Mullen and the Liberal Democrat, Alison Bennett. There was also the “Business of the House” which is the method of organising procedure and practice in the Houses of Parliament and refers to terms such as “Amendments, Debates, Prayers, Private Bills and Questions” Three Sussex Labour MPs Helena, Beccy and Tom Rutland participated. Hopefully in due course we will see their contributions.