Merry Christmas!
I’m now back as your Member of Parliament and back in Westminster. This week we have had the re-election of our new Speaker, the Queen’s Speech and the Second Reading of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. The manifesto was clear that we would pass the EU Withdrawal Agreement by the end of January 2020. This will be delivered as we have a deal in place with the EU and the majority in Parliament to pass it. The challenge will be to secure a new relationship and trade deal by the end of 2020, but the EU will hopefully work to a more rapid timetable because of this majority in Parliament who will pass it.
There is much to do. With so many MPs elected for my party in the North, the challenge for the MPs in Sussex will be to use our combined voices to get the funding and reform which we need down here to protect our services and invest in better infrastructure. I will be using mine on your behalf.
As I said in my acceptance speech, I will work with anyone, from any political party, who wants to make a positive difference to our community.
Huw Merriman, MP for Bexhill and Battle, 19 December 2019
