The role of an MP is split in two. From Monday to Thursday, I work in Parliament and on Friday, and during the weekend, I work in the constituency. Bexhill and Battle constituency covers some 200 square miles but I do my best to get across it in order to meet and support as many constituents, groups and businesses as I can. Here is my constituency day from Friday 26th February.

I leave my house in Five Ashes at 7.30am for my first appointment with the Bexhill Fair Trade committee who I am meeting to promote Fair Trade Fortnight. We visit a number of cafés in Bexhill in order to promote the Fair Trade brand. It is a good chance to catch up with the group and see how I can help them promote their cause. It appears that Highways England are unwilling to allow the recognition of Bexhill as a Fair Trade Town on our ‘Welcome to Bexhill’ signs so I have promised to take this up for them. This visit also gives me the chance to find out how business is going with the café owner.

I then head to my office in Bexhill for a constituency surgery. These sessions are an opportunity for constituents to meet me and to see how I can help them with their difficulties. Our casework can be quite varied, concerns can include benefits, tax, housing, transport, NHS, schools and other government services. It is also an opportunity for constituents to give me feedback on specific policies and laws that are being debated in the House of Commons. With all constituents, I assess if I have any powers to help and, where I have, lobby on their behalf to get a better outcome. Where I do not have the powers to help, or disagree with the view being given, I am direct in saying so.

After my own surgery, I travel to another - Sidley GP Practice to meet some local GPs and Cllr Stuart Earl, Chairman of the League of Friends of Bexhill Hospital. We all agree that Bexhill needs a central medical site which can offer a range of physical and mental health services as well as hosting social services and other organisations which can improve the wellbeing of Bexhill residents. We discuss how we can make this happen and resolve to meet again.

From Sidley, I travel to Northiam to visit the primary school, staff and pupils. The school previously had some difficulties but was rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted in December 2014 which marked a huge turning point. I aim to visit a ‘School a Week’ across the constituency so each is covered by the end of my term. I am joined by Northiam’s County Councillor, Angharad Davies and we are given a tour of the school by two Year 11 pupils. The school is keen to ensure that the community knows that they have turned the corner and, having met the new head and teaching staff, I am more than happy to spread the same message. The school looks in great shape.

I then head to Peasmarsh where I catch up with the owner of Jempson’s, our local supermarket retailer. We discuss business and Sunday trading changes which are proposed by the Government. I then head to the village of Beckley to meet the Parish Council and some residents who are concerned about the prospect of 30 houses being built on a green field near the village hall. Despite being on crutches, I am keen to go out and view the site so I can see the issues for myself. MPs do not tend to get involved in planning matters, these are for the District Council to determine. However, I am keen to ensure that I have seen the sites which my constituents are concerned about as it helps form the conversations I have with local government leaders and with the Housing Minister. Having looked at the site and met the residents, I am better informed of their concerns and hopeful that a way can be found to build the houses which our young people need but in keeping with the fabric of the village.

My next appointment is a Farmers’ Forum in Beckley where 20 local farmers join me to discuss and share their views on issues ranging from the badger cull, the national living wage, the EU referendum, current difficulties for fruit farmers, flooding and drainage and the need to ensure the payment scheme for farmers. We spend over 2 hours talking and it is clear to me that our farmers are dedicated to their land and maximising the use of it but face uncertainty on a number of fronts. I am in the process of feeding these concerns back to the Secretary of State.

By now it is gone 7pm so I head over to Heathfield for a meeting which I am attending to talk about my role as an MP. Having taken some questions, I then head over to Ticehurst for my final meeting with parishioners who wished to discuss issues about housing, Europe and local transport.

I get back home to Five Ashes just after 10pm and reflect on how diverse and varied my day has been. We live in a beautiful part of the world and the common issue from those I have met is how much they love living here but that life is not always easy or straight-forward. The role of an MP is to find out about these problems and then campaign to do something to fix them during the Monday to Thursday when I am in Parliament. As the new week has started, this is exactly what I have been doing.