𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗜’𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗕𝗖 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 – 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟬𝗮𝗺.

On the programme we discussed several key issues affecting our area:

𝗙𝗹𝘆-𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 – 𝘂𝗽 𝟵% 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆

There were 1.26 million incidents across England last year, yet in West Sussex there has been just ONE prosecution. One.

That tells you everything. If people know they won’t be punished, there is no deterrent. I made it clear that we need proper enforcement, and visible consequences. Law-abiding residents should not be footing the bill while offenders get away with it.

𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 – 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗼𝗻.

We discussed development in Brighton, where the average rent is around £1,800 per month. So-called “affordable rent” at 80% of market value is still around £1,440 a month.

That is not affordable for nurses, teachers, police officers or care workers.

I argued that:

• Infrastructure must come first with any major development

• “Affordable” housing must be linked to median local earnings, not an arbitrary percentage of inflated market rents

𝗚𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻 & 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆-𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

I highlighted what an extraordinary result it was for Reform UK. Two years ago this would have been unthinkable.

Labour pushed into third place in what was considered a safe seat. The Conservatives now look increasingly irrelevant nationally. The dominance of the two old parties is coming to an end – and voters are clearly looking for something different.

𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁

I was unfortunately cut off for time before I could respond fully on this.

Let’s be clear: in West Sussex it was the Conservative Cabinet who unanimously voted to ask for the elections to be cancelled. They know what is coming.

And it is no surprise that this week two West Sussex County Councillors have left the Conservative Party and tried to join Reform; but as Group Leader on WSCC, my message was simple: thanks, but no thanks.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗕𝗕𝗖 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟬𝗮𝗺.