It’s been a whirlwind couple of months since July 4th. It was an immense privilege to become Southend East and Rochford’s first Labour MP that night. I know the responsibility this honour carries, and don’t take it lightly.
Nothing prepares you for your first day as an MP. The Palace of Westminster is steeped in a millennium’s worth of history, and with this comes a whole set of customs to be learned. The photos below show me being sworn in. I’ll be delivering my Maiden Speech in September.
Westminster traditions are important, symbolising the strength of our democracy. But they only exist in order to serve the British people, and my entire focus will be on doing just that – looking at everything in parliament in terms of how it affects daily life here in Southend. I’ll be holding surgeries across the towns and villages, running a local office, and assembling a team to manage casework.
The period since the election has already seen big challenges. At a national level the riots were shocking. And more longstanding issues like NHS wait times will not go away overnight. One of my key priorities will be to push for progress on healthcare access. But for me, this remains an incredibly positive moment for Southend. We have an opportunity to sketch out a brighter future for our city, under a government that will back us.
I want Southend to be attracting new and different companies – from arts organisations to creative industries. I believe this would give us a stronger centre of economic gravity, generating opportunities for young people – so they can stay here and build a life, rather than feeling they need to move away. And I am serious about the basic things we need to get in place to make this happen, on issues like transport, antisocial behaviour and the public realm.
This will involve me banging the drum for the area relentlessly, to help us fulfil our economic potential. And it will involve me working through the details with local decision-makers, to help get things done. For me, as Southend East and Rochford’s new MP, the hard work starts here.
1 Comment
If this chap is more reliable in even just acknowledging contact from his constituents ~ let alone replying ~ then he will be an improvement upon our last long-term incumbent.
However, I rather fear that the line from The Who’s 1971 song ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ will ring true;
‘Meet the New Boss ~ same as the Old Boss.’
Time, as always, will tell.