Andy Burnham Makes First Official Visit as Labour Party Leader to Gravesham

17 July 2026

Andy Burnham & Lauren Sullivan at Gravesend Pier

Gravesham was delighted to welcome Andy Burnham today on his first official visit as Labour Party Leader, marking an important moment for our community and highlighting the borough’s place at the heart of national political discussions.

During his visit, Andy met with local representatives and residents on Gravesend Pier, providing an opportunity to discuss the issues that matter most to people across Gravesham. Key topics included the future of the Gravesend–Tilbury Ferry, a vital local service and an issue that remains a top priority for the community.


Dr Lauren Sullivan MP said, “It was a pleasure to welcome Andy Burnham to Gravesham on his first official visit as Labour Party Leader. His visit was a fantastic opportunity to put Gravesham firmly on the political map and to highlight the issues that matter most to local people.


“We had valuable discussions about the future of the Gravesend–Tilbury Ferry, a service that is hugely important to our community and one that I will continue to champion. Andy’s willingness to listen directly to residents and engage with local priorities was greatly appreciated.

“I would like to congratulate Andy once again on his leadership and thank him for taking the time to visit our constituency. It was a proud day for Gravesham and a wonderful opportunity to showcase the strength, ambition and community spirit that make our borough such a special place.”

Dr Lauren Sullivan MP Attends Sikh Lobby Day in Parliament

by Lauren Sullivan • 15 July 2026
Dr Lauren Sullivan MP attended Sikh Lobby Day in Parliament today, joining Sikh community representatives from across the country to discuss the impact of anti-Sikh hate crime and discrimination. The event provided an opportunity for MPs to hear directly from members of the Sikh community about the challenges they face and the importance of ensuring anti-Sikh hate is recognised and addressed. Dr Lauren Sullivan MP said, " It was a privilege to attend Sikh Lobby Day and hear directly from members of the Sikh community about their experiences of anti-Sikh hate and discrimination. “Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and free to practise their faith without fear. The experiences shared today underline why tackling Sikh hate is so important. “I am proud that Gravesham is home to a vibrant and valued Sikh community that contributes so much to our borough. There is no place for hatred or discrimination in our society, and I will continue to support efforts to ensure anti-Sikh hate is recognised, challenged and addressed."

Supporting local producers

by Lauren Sullivan • 18 January 2025
It was a pleasure to visit the Silverhand Estate Farmers' Market in Luddesdown and meet with local farmers, small businesses and residents.  Markets such as this provide an important opportunity to support local producers, strengthen community ties and showcase the excellent food and drink businesses we are fortunate to have in Gravesham. Although only in its third month, the Farmers' Market has already become a valuable addition to the local community. Taking place on the third Saturday of every month beside the Silverhand Distillery and The Lion Pub, it offers residents and visitors the chance to buy local produce and support independent businesses. I wish everyone involved continued success and look forward to seeing the market grow in the months ahead.

Leading local employer; PrepWorld

by Lauren Sullivan • 17 January 2025
It was a pleasure to visit PrepWorld today, a leading local employer which provides jobs for more than 500 people, many of whom live in Gravesham and the surrounding area. Businesses such as PrepWorld make a significant contribution to our local economy, creating employment opportunities, investing in skills, and supporting the prosperity of our community. The visit provided a valuable insight into the highly specialised processes involved in preparing fresh produce for consumers, as well as the rigorous standards required to ensure food quality and safety. It was also encouraging to hear about the company's future ambitions and plans for growth. My thanks to the team at PrepWorld for their warm welcome and for the important contribution they make to our local economy. 

Extra help for Gravesham to fix potholes

by Lauren Sullivan • 15 January 2025
Great to meet today with the Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander MP and Lillian Greenwood MP the Minister for Roads to talk about the huge investment that this Labour Government has made in fixing the blight of potholes. This means an extra £14 million on top of the £39 million base allocation for Kent County Council to fix their self declared 'managed decline' of the road network of which I expect Gravesham to get it's fair share. I also spoke to the Transport Secretary about the Lower Thames Crossing and have asked for another meeting to discuss this in detail and will also be discussing the Gravesend to Tilbury Ferry and Kent County Council and Thurrock Council's need to fund this for local residents and tourism to suport our local businesses and economy.

Tackling litter in our community

by Lauren Sullivan • 11 January 2025
Great to join one of Northfleet’s regular community litter picks today. Alongside the fantastic efforts of local volunteers, we identified several incidents of fly-tipping on railway land which I will be reporting to Network Rail for investigation and enforcement. Fly-tipping blights our neighbourhoods, harms the environment and leaves communities bearing the cost of clearing up other people's waste. Keeping Gravesham clean is everyone's responsibility, and I encourage residents to get involved in local litter picks, report fly-tipping when they see it, and help us take pride in our local area.  Together, we can make a real difference.