I appreciate that 2020 was not what anyone envisaged the start of a new decade to be. Covid has not only affected our physical health and presented unprecedented challenges as we changed the way we live to protect ourselves and our loved ones, but it has also taken a toll on our economic health.
Our high streets, the hospitality sector and small businesses that are at the heart of Wealden’s economy have been hit the hardest by the measures put in place to combat this disease.
I have been working tirelessly with the Wealden District Council and lobbied the Government to success- fully secure funding for our hospitals, charities, events sector, culture, and struggling businesses. I hope that this new year will allow our businesses to bounce back stronger and present new opportunities for them.
However, despite the many negatives that we have experienced this year, the pandemic has also brought out the very best in our community spirit.
The community response to look after our vulnerable friends and neighbours has become a defining feature of the past year and I have been truly heartened to see so many acts of kindness in our towns and villages cementing community relationships across Wealden.
In the summer, I had the privilege of meeting our Wealden Heroes, visiting our village shops to thank them for going above and beyond to keep our communities supplied, visiting our fantastic local football clubs and outdoor education centres and securing funding for them, and I held a parliamentary debate on the future of Michelham Priory moat and ensured urgent action from the Environment Agency.
In parliament, I advocated for greater security of our data and stood up for victims of human rights abuses, especially those in China.
2021 is the year of the vaccine. I am proud that Britain was the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, and with various other jabs now available, I am hopeful that this year will allow some sense of normality to return and enable us to better arm ourselves against the virus.
I am also proud that the UK will be hosting the COP26 summit this year, introducing new technologies to tackle climate change and leading the way in delivering net-zero emissions.
In 2021, I will continue to work hard to ensure that your concerns are heard in Westminster. If you need my assistance, please email me at [email protected].
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