I AM pleased to contribute this article to the Argus, and would like to thank them for their comprehensive coverage of the elections (both parliamentary and council).

It was a great honour to be re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven. It is a truly special place and I am always conscious of what a privilege it is to be the Member of Parliament.

Over the past five years I have always tried to be a hard-working local MP who is accessible to constituents and this will continue in the new parliament. Elections often become very partisan but as the MP I work hard for all residents, regardless of how they vote.

Obviously the election was a great result for the Conservatives and a firm endorsement of the Prime Minister’s long term economic plan.

This week it was fantastic to meet the large number of newly-elected MPs (from all parties), including the excellent Maria Caulfield in Lewes and Caroline Ansell in Eastbourne. I know they will be strong voices for their areas. Congratulations also to Caroline Lucas on her re-election and to Peter Kyle on his election for Hove and Portslade.

I was proud to be asked by the Prime Minister to serve the Government in my new role as a Government Whip.

The job will involve significant responsibility for getting government business through the House of Commons as we seek to implement the Conservative manifesto in full.

Winning a majority at the General Election was a significant achievement. But it is a narrow majority and the new Conservative government is committed to working hard to make the changes we need to keep our economy growing, create more jobs, improve our schools, protect our NHS, upgrade our transport network and make sure that our area has a loud voice in government.

I’m excited to be tasked with playing a key part in delivering these initiatives on behalf of the people of Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, who will always come first.

Looking forward, we are eagerly anticipating the formal opening of parliament and the Queen’s Speech. We will see new legislation that will be introduced within weeks to reform welfare, offer more apprenticeships, create two million jobs and help with childcare costs.

This Government will act in the interests of the whole country, and will always be on the side of hardworking people as Britain heads to a better, more secure future.

My priority will always be the people of Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven and I look forward to continuing to work on the issues of importance to people locally, and to fulfilling the pledges I made during the campaign.

Specifically, I will ensure the delivery of the new £480 million hospital which I campaigned so hard for. This will make a real difference for patients and staff alike.

I will carry on working to protect sensitive green spaces across the constituency, for instance at Meadow Vale, St Aubyns and elsewhere. I remain convinced the council should be looking at brownfield sites and city centre locations to meet the housing need in the city.

I hope that the change in leadership at the council will see a policy shift in the way unauthorised traveller encampments are dealt with. For too long many residents have felt that the needs and wishes of the existing, settled community are ignored and this simply must change.

Traffic remains an important issue at many locations across the constituency and this is something I will press the council on relentlessly. Fresh thinking is needed for sites like the Woodingdean crossroads, South Coast Road, Rottingdean High Street and many other locations.

Improving the situation for elderly residents was a real focus for me during the last parliament and this remains high on my list of priorities, tackling issues like elderly isolation and loneliness.

On top of these campaigns I will continue to hold my constituency advice surgeries, and to take up thousands of casework issues on behalf of residents from all corners of the constituency.

There is plenty of reason for optimism, with the opening of the Saltdean Lido in the near future, the new hospital, a record number of business start-ups in the city and falling unemployment and youth unemployment. However I will never be complacent and am always conscious that there is much more to be done to continue to improve our area.

Simon Kirby is MP for Brighton Kemptown