When the House of Commons returns on Tuesday, I will go back with a full casebook from Bognor Regis and Littlehampton.
Recess does not pause the problems residents face. It gives me time to gather the evidence, challenge the answers we have received, and decide where to apply pressure in Parliament.
Healthcare comes first. Zachary Merton Hospital’s permanent closure removed 26 rehabilitation beds. Residents still have no convincing explanation of how a temporary closure became permanent, why no full public consultation followed, or what will replace those beds. I will press the Health Secretary for a decision on my call-in request and proper scrutiny of the closure.
I will pursue answers over the sale of former Littlehampton Hospital land. Residents should know who declared it surplus, what healthcare uses were considered, whether legal protections apply, and why the site was marketed without local engagement. The NHS must answer before making an irreversible decision.
Then comes the Budget on 28 October. Tourism and hospitality businesses have told me how Labour’s employment taxes, business rates, and new rules affect decisions to hire, open, and invest. I brought Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston here so he could hear that directly. The Budget must change course and recognise the realities of seasonal coastal businesses, rather than treating every economy as though it operates like central London.
The Government has also promised legislation on NHS reform, special educational needs, and the water industry. I have secured a ministerial meeting on selective mutism and will press for clearer routes to support for West Sussex families. On water, I want reform that deals with infrastructure, flooding, and illegal misconnections, as well as holding companies to account for sewage discharges.
There will be other debates, votes, and unexpected events before Christmas. My test will remain simple: does this improve life for people here?
Westminster is where the questions are asked. Bognor Regis and Littlehampton are where the answers must make a difference.
You can read my original article for SussexWorld here.
