Westminster Report

BY David Burton-Sampson MP for Southend West & Leigh.
My Party Conference Experience.
As I sat down to write this update, I have only just unpacked the last of my suitcase from Liverpool, having been to Labour Party Conference.
In an attempt to summarise it in one word, I would probably have to settle on “invigorating”. Not only did we hear some fantastic announcements from the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, and the Health Secretary that will mean a lot to so many in Southend West and Leigh, I also had really productive meetings with charities and organisations championing causes close to my heart and to those of residents.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Hope Again” and was rooted in the need to change the way we do politics in this country – with far less divisiveness, far more consensus, and tackling the big issues instead of tinkering around the edges.
A particularly important big issue that I was so pleased to hear the Prime Minister talk about in his speech was social care. I’ve spent a lot of time visiting care homes, talking to unpaid carers looking after loved ones, and working with inspirational local charities like Carers First, and so to hear the Prime Minister speak so movingly and passionately about this was a special moment for me.
He was right, it is unacceptable that a generation of politicians have not fixed social care. Older people are being let down, families are paying eyewatering costs, and if not fixed, it will ultimately break our NHS. I’m proud to support the Prime Minister’s new settlement for older people, which will protect a State Pension that rises every year by at least 2.5%, no care charges, and a brand new National Care Service that provides older people with free personal care.
Just as Labour broke the mould with the National Health Service in the fallout of the Second World War, it will transform our social security system once again for the 21st century – it’s the least our pensioners and their loved ones deserve.
Our estuary and our beaches, as well as our drinking water, is a hugely important part of our identity and daily lives here in Southend West and Leigh. Ever since I became an MP, I’ve been holding water companies to account, holding and attending our local water summits, and my office has undertaken its own water quality monitoring to grip the issue head on. However, we all know more is needed.
That’s why I was thrilled when Andy Burnham confirmed we will be removing Thatcher’s ban on public ownership of water companies, giving new powers to hold existing water companies accountable, and tightening the ban on bonuses for company executives.
For too long, shareholders have been raking it in whilst we consumers have lost out – and our water bills and the state of the sewage system is a testament to that failure. This new relationship with water companies paves the way for greater public control of the failing companies and will rewire our water system so that it works in our interests, not that of shareholders. It can’t come soon enough.
A third highlight for me was undoubtedly the announcement of the Healthy Babies programme, which my department, the Department of Health and Social Care, has been working on. Bringing back the principles of Sure Start, we are bringing health, early years and family support together under one roof to give parents access to infant feeding support, perinatal mental health support, help to build strong parent-child relationships, alongside health visiting and midwifery services.
Southend was chosen as one of the areas to get the first injection of funding for Healthy Babies, which not only will help with general parenting support, but also form part of the Government’s plan to address a gap in early intervention for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. I’m especially pleased about this, as my See Every Need reports delivered to the Government have explicitly called for improved early intervention, echoing the views of local families, charities, and health organisations.
There was so much more announced at conference, from GB Grid investing in publicly-owned electricity and Your First Home helping first-time buyers with a 2.5% deposit, but these three announcements meant the most to me. When I was first elected, I made it clear I wanted to see an end to the water crisis, to fix our NHS, and to give young people a future.
Conference made it clear that this is not just possible, but on its way.
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