Democracy, freedom and self-determination

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Zelensky addressed the House of Commons via videolink, echoing Churchill’s famous Dunkirk broadcast by saying: “I would like to remind you of the words that the United Kingdom have already heard, which are important again: We will not give up and we will not lose. We will fight until the end, at sea, in the air. We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost. We will fight in the forests, in the fields, on the shores, in the streets.”

The events in Ukraine have changed our world in ways that it is not yet possible to fully comprehend.

The situation continues to develop but the Ukraine people are putting up a strong resistance.

The UK was the first country in Europe to commit lethal aid and we continue to do all that we can.

The Prime Minister was the first major western leader into Kyiv.

The UK was also the first in the G7 to push for Russian financial sanctions, the first to ban Aeroflot from our airspace and, most importantly of all, the first to say unequivocally and publicly, that Putin must fail.

Democracy, freedom and selfdetermination must be defended.

There is a cost to all of us – higher energy prices for one – in standing up for our values but it is a fraction of the price being paid by our friends in Ukraine.

As ever in a crisis, the British public have responded magnificently.

I have set up a page on my website to make it easy for those wishing to get help as well as anyone wishing to support the Ukrainian people.

Last Friday, I visited Downlands Community School in Hassocks.

I was grateful to head teacher, Mark Wignall, for taking the time to show me first-hand all that Downlands has to offer, and for my welcome on arrival by the year-ten prefects, Emma and George, who were a credit to their school.

Downlands Community School is a wonderful centre of education, rated as Outstanding by Ofsted.

On Tuesday, Downlands also hosted an open morning for people interested in a teaching career.

The Get Into Teaching event provided an opportunity to speak to the teachers, observe lessons and take a tour of the school.

I would encourage anyone with an interest in teaching to visit.

The government’s Get Into Teaching website is also a helpful place to start – schoolexperience. education.gov.uk