Polly has announced she will be leading a group of Labour MPs – called the Coastal Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) – who will be pushing the government to take strong action to turn around the fortunes of coastal communities like East Thanet. Labour now has 66 MPs representing coastal parts of the country, including many in Kent, meaning the group will have a strong voice in parliament when it comes to championing areas like East Thanet.

The Coastal PLP say economic underperformance and the terrible state of public services was the biggest reasons coastal voters turned away from the Conservatives at the 2024 general election, and that the government now needed to show people it could turn that situation around. Polly says the key to this is ensuring the government deliver on the commitments they have made to rescue NHS services, fix public transport, and deliver higher living standards.

She has also expressed concern about the impact on coastal areas of plans that have been suggested by the Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, such as making people pay for health insurance to access the NHS.

The new group is holding regular meetings with government ministers to raise issues of high concern to voters in their communities. In particular, the Coastal Labour group are united in pushing hard for investment that will deliver well-managed public services and a stronger economy in the coastal towns they represent.

Speaking after the launch of the group, Polly said:

“Voters in seats like East Thanet rejected the Conservatives last year because Labour promised renewal, after fourteen years of Tory indifference to the unique challenges facing coastal towns. Now that we’re in government we’ve got to prove to people that we can deliver on key issues like the NHS, tackling crime, and building a stronger economy. That is why I am pleased to be chairing this new coastal grouping of Labour MPs, who will make sure that the voices of communities like ours in East Thanet are being heard loud and clear in government”.