Over 70 leaders were invited to Westminster on Wednesday 4 February 2026 to celebrate the official launch of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Southeast and Gatwick Diamond Growth Gateway.
The high-profile reception, held at the House of Commons and themed “Celebrating the Region”, marked the formal beginning of the APPG’s programme. Attendees included cross-party Parliamentarians, council leaders, business representatives and community figures from across the Gatwick Diamond – an area covering parts of Kent, Surrey and Sussex, including Crawley, Reigate, Horsham and Gatwick Airport.
The APPG was formally registered last year and provides a new cross-party forum in Parliament focused on the region’s economic, infrastructure and social priorities. The group was established through a partnership between the Gatwick Diamond Initiative (now Invest in the Gatwick Diamond) and Gatwick Diamond Business (GDB), with Silverstone Communications acting as secretariat.
Sally Brown, managing director, Gatwick Diamond Business, said: “Seeing so many MPs, council leaders and business voices in one room really showed the appetite for action. The Gatwick Diamond finally has a space in Parliament that’s focused on our challenges and our potential.”
The event marked the first in a year-long programme that will include regional roundtables on transport and skills, discussions on tourism and investment, and appearances at national platforms including UKREiF and the party conferences. The APPG aims to strengthen connections between regional stakeholders and decision-makers in Westminster, while raising awareness of the area’s contribution to the UK economy.
Among the speakers at the launch were Co-Chairs Mims Davies MP and Natasha Irons MP, who addressed attendees on the importance of cross-party collaboration and the need for focused parliamentary attention on the Gatwick Diamond’s long-term needs.
Natasha Irons MP and Co-Chair of the APPG says long-term transport funding is a” pro-growth move” and an “investment in the UK’s economic prosperity.” With over 100,000 quality jobs and more, including £11 billion in supply chain activity linked to transport networks, putting the South East in that national conversation is vital.
Mims Davies MP and Co-Chair of the APPG commented: “With the right skills, infrastructure and investment we can unlock our full potential in the region.”
Brett North, Executive Director of Invest in the Gatwick Diamond, said: “This launch was the start of something we’ve needed for a long time – a collective voice in Parliament that brings together all the right people, at the right level, to move things forward.”
