Sarah has used the appointment of a new Minister for the South-East region to champion the case for Portsmouth Naval Base.

In a letter to the new Minister, Jonathan Shaw, Sarah said “It is critical that the full economic and social consequences of minimisation or closure of the Portsmouth Naval Base are taken into account.  An adverse decision for Portsmouth would have damaging consequences for the whole economy of South Hampshire.”

She added “Mr Shaw will know all too well how such a closure could have an adverse effect on the local area.  He represents Chatham where the last Conservative Government closed the local Naval Base and it has taken 20 years and many hundreds of million pounds to regenerate the local economy.”

“I know the Minister will take this issue very seriously.  I have asked him to visit Portsmouth, and in particular our naval base, at the earliest opportunity to see for himself how important it is for our local economy and to local people.”