I CAN’T believe this month marked the one-year anniversary of my election as Eastbourne’s Member of Parliament!
As an Eastbourne boy, born and bred, it’s the honour of my life to represent the town that made me, me!
From day one, I got stuck in. Just five minutes after being elected, I signed, sealed and delivered my first letter calling on hospital bosses to reopen the Midwifery Unit at the DGH.
And after months of meetings, petitions, media pressure and a public meeting that I hosted, we secured its reopening last September.
This was personal for me – not just because our town deserves the very best services, but also because it was the same unit I was born in.
And bumping into new Mum Anja in town recently reminded me why this was so important. She told me that she was able to have her son Max at the DGH because of our successful campaign!
But that was just the start.
With the people of Eastbourne behind me, I’ve secured £20 million to regenerate our town over the next decade. I also worked with amazing folks across our community to save the pools at the Sovereign Centre and reopen Meads Sports Centre. We even forced the County Council to U-Turn on its decision to close Milton Grange!
And these examples are the tip of the iceberg.
Over the past twelve months, my team and I have also supported residents with over 11,000 enquiries – from homelessness and special educational needs provision to potholes, taxes and healthcare.
And I’ve been out and about in the town I love – visiting over 190 local businesses, schools and charities. I’ve also hosted over 30 advice surgeries in cafe’s, supermarkets and shopping centres, speaking to you directly about the issues you face.
And remember – if you want to attend one of these sessions, you can email my team via josh.babarinde.mp@parliament.uk – who are all too happy to help.
When I became Eastbourne’s MP, I was determined to use my role to raise awareness of the issues and concerns that Eastbournians care about the most.
I spoke out strongly against the Government’s cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) – expressing my concerns directly in the House of Commons.
I also secured measures from the Government that will make it easier to identify domestic abusers – protecting survivors in Eastbourne and across the UK.
And I’ve spoken in Parliament 168 times in the last year (compared to our last MP who spoke just 43 times in her first year after being elected).
One of my most recent achievements was securing the return of the direct train service between Eastbourne and London Bridge, which had been axed during the pandemic.
I campaigned hard on this, writing to the Department for Transport, meeting with the train company, speaking in Parliament, and even launching a public petition with a giant train ticket at Eastbourne Station. I was thrilled when the company confirmed the service was being restored after five long years!
This isn’t just about convenience – it’s about opportunity.
It means a better commute for residents, and better links for visitors, boosting our local tourism economy. After all, our ice cream parlours and 94 beautiful beaches are too good to miss.
I’m also pleased to share some good news on Linden Court – the day centre that delivers vital disability care services in our town. In February, the Conservative-run County Council Cabinet disgracefully voted to close it, ignoring the appeals of local families.
But residents, led by people like Sophie Ticehurst, fought back. I stood with them, raising the issue in Parliament, protesting outside Linden Court, and meeting with councillors to find a better way.
Last month, we got the result we wanted: Linden Court will now stay open. It’s a massive win in a fight that never should have been needed in the first place. I’m so proud of the families who led the charge, and I was proud to stand with them every step of the way.
There’s still so much more to do, but I’m more determined than ever. Whether it’s saving our services, making Eastbourne’s voice heard in Westminster, or helping you navigate a difficult challenge, I’ll keep showing up, fighting hard, and delivering for our beautiful town.
