00:00We thought there would be quite a few people, but I didn't expect 250 people outside who couldn't even get in the room.
00:06Extraordinary. So it's obviously a major issue around here.
00:09But one of the things that did come up were the people who lived in the houses there and they had to move out for their safety.
00:16Do you think it's just going to be a fact of nature that houses like that won't be habitable in the future?
00:22I think it's quite possible that houses on the seafront in lots of exposed locations are under threat.
00:30I mean, you can see it on the Welsh coast. You can see it in places like Norfolk where houses are falling into the sea.
00:40It's really tragic. You know, this village has been here for a very long time.
00:44We've already seen what happened to Hallsands in the past.
00:48I don't want to say that those houses are not liveable in anymore.
00:51You know, it certainly wouldn't be up to me to say that.
00:54But, you know, all you need to do is look at the cracks in the walls and the blown out windows and the roofs that have been damaged to see that actually there is some serious threat.
01:04And I suppose the other big issue connected with that is insurance as well, because our insurance companies are going to keep providing money if it looks like the houses are unviable.
01:14Well, somebody did ask a question in there, didn't they, about insurance.
01:19And I'm no expert. It's not for me to respond to that.
01:22But I think it's a really serious worry.
01:25You know, we were talking about it in Parliament this week and whether there's a case for some kind of insurance fund that is not run by a private company.
01:37So, for property that is so-called uninsurable, that there is a kind of government-backed fund and that we all agree that people should be able to get insurance, you know, because climate change was not their fault.
01:51And they may have a house that then becomes unlivable.
01:54And you hinted in the meeting that there was a political dimension to this.
02:01So, obviously, a Labour government.
02:03Do you think it's likely that in an area that they traditionally haven't won, that they're likely to put their hands in their pockets?
02:12Well, I think it's very difficult in the South West.
02:15I think we are the forgotten part of the country.
02:19You know, the government has set aside £45 billion for Northern Rail.
02:24That's a lot of money.
02:26We are definitely not seeing the same kind of investment going into the rural South West that we are the urban north of England.
02:34It's no surprise, really, if you look at the political reality of what they're facing.
02:39And I think that may only get more intense after the Gorton and Denton by-election.
02:47I can't remember a visit from Sir Keir to the South West since he's been elected.
02:51No, I don't know if there's been a visit.
02:54I mean, I'm an opposition MP, right?
02:58So, I can't go and knock on the door of one of my mates in government and say, we need the money.
03:02But I'm also opposition MP to a government that doesn't have the South West at the top of its priority list.
03:09And I think that is a political reality.
03:10It's a shame in this situation that that's the reality we're in.
03:17If it was the last government and they were trying to hold on to their Devon seats, then, you know, it might have been a different story.
03:24Now, you've got another meeting coming up on Saturday.
03:26So, what would you say to, like, the people who missed out or who couldn't get into the building today?
03:31Well, we organised this meeting because I wanted people to hear from me as soon as possible.
03:37And then we were told, you know, rightly so, that a Thursday morning is obviously difficult for anyone who works.
03:42So, we said, OK, we'll do another one on Saturday afternoon.
03:44But it seems that we need to because so many people couldn't get in today.
03:50So, it'll be a similar thing, similar conversation.
03:54Hopefully, other people will come who weren't able to come today.
03:58And, you know, I just want to be visible.
04:00I think there's a real thing about, you know, these crisis situations and people going to ground and not being visible.
04:07And we've seen it with a couple of the water situations.
04:09You know, the Crypto Sporidium in Brixham and then in Tunbridge Wells when, you know, they've had massive problems with the water.
04:16And the chief executives of those companies literally just go to ground and don't…
04:19But still take their bonuses, of course.
04:21Take their bonuses, but are not willing to answer questions.
04:24And I think, you know, part of the role of being an MP is you're kind of there in the good times and the bad.
04:29And I think you have to be able to stand up in front of a room of 200 people and say, you know, I am your representative and I need to hear from you.
04:37And obviously, I expected this morning that people would be really upset and shocked and angry and frustrated.
04:47And that came out.
04:48And that's fine because, you know, I feel it too.
04:51And I was completely expecting that.
04:56You know, it's not easy to stand up in front of a room of 200 people and not know what they're going to say to you.
05:01But actually, I thought it went really well and I thought people were really respectful and, you know, they're obviously a really good, strong community.
05:10And so I need to just support them to help them be cohesive and joined up and help them, you know, find ways to communicate with me and with government that work.
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