Over the past few weeks, I’ve been out and about across our community – from Whitehawk to Peacehaven – speaking to residents on doorsteps, at community events and in local shops.
These conversations are always the most important part of my job, and one thing comes through loud and clear every time: people care deeply about where they live.
And they’re right to. We are incredibly lucky to live in a constituency with such strong communities, a proud history, and huge potential. But pride in where we live isn’t just about words – it has to be backed up with real investment and real opportunity.
That’s exactly why I worked to secure £20 million of “Pride in Place” funding for Whitehawk.
This is a significant, long-term investment over the next decade, designed to support communities to shape their own future. Crucially, it’s not something being imposed from the top down. Instead, local residents will be at the heart of deciding how the funding is spent – whether that’s improving green spaces, investing in community facilities, supporting local businesses, or creating new opportunities for jobs and skills.
I’ve already been out in Whitehawk speaking to residents and local groups about what this could mean in practice, and I’ve been inspired by the ideas, energy and ambition people have for their area. But this is just the start. I want to hear from as many people as possible, because this funding belongs to the community and should reflect local priorities.
Too often in the past, areas like Whitehawk have been overlooked or underestimated. That has to change. Every part of our constituency matters, and every community deserves the chance to thrive. Pride in Place is about recognising that – and backing it up with real, sustained investment.
Alongside that, I know many people are still feeling the pressure of the cost of living. Whether it’s food prices, energy bills or housing costs, too many families are having to make difficult choices.
That’s why tackling the cost of living has been a central priority for the Labour Government. We’ve taken steps to boost wages, support working people and strengthen the public services that so many rely on. There’s more to do, and I know people want to see continued progress, but the focus is firmly on easing the pressures people face in their day-to-day lives.
Those pressures came up time and again when I was out knocking on doors in Peacehaven recently. But alongside the cost of living, one issue dominated the conversations I had: the long-running situation with the Morrisons site.
Many residents will remember the original plans for a new Morrisons supermarket in Peacehaven, and the frustration as progress stalled. For a growing community, having access to proper local shopping facilities isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity. It affects everything from the cost and convenience of doing a weekly shop to the amount of traffic on our roads as people are forced to travel further afield.
I share the frustration that so many residents have expressed to me. That’s why I’ve continued to press Morrisons for answers and push for progress.
Over the past few days, I’ve been back in contact with the company, and I’m pleased that a new planning application is now progressing. I’m told this is expected to go before the council in the coming weeks, which is an important step forward.
However, I know that residents will understandably take a “we’ll believe it when we see it” approach – and they’re right to do so. This has dragged on for far too long, and confidence needs to be rebuilt.
Please be assured that I will continue to hold Morrisons to account at every stage. Our community deserves clarity, delivery and, ultimately, a development that meets the needs of local people.
What links all of these issues – from Pride in Place to the cost of living to local developments like Morrisons – is a simple principle: our area deserves its fair share of investment, attention and opportunity.
I will keep working to make sure that happens, and just as importantly, I will keep listening. The conversations I have on your doorstep, in your street or in your community are what shape the work I do in Parliament and locally.
So if there’s something on your mind, or an issue you’d like to raise, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Share