Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says Sussex should not be overlooked for government investment
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said Sussex should not be overlooked for government investment, claiming that Labour has failed to create the conditions for businesses in the county to grow.
Ms Badenoch spoke during a visit to Global Technologies Racing (GTR) at Fontwell on Friday (September 4), accompanied by Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffifth.
The pair toured the company’s factory before taking part in a press huddle that afternoon.
Asked about concerns that Sussex can be overlooked for investment because it is seen as an affluent area, Ms Badenoch said the county had lost out under changes to local government funding.
She said: “What I do know is that Angela Rayner changed the local government funding formula to benefit areas that vote Labour, and Sussex has lost out.”
Ms Badenoch said Sussex was being overlooked while political attention was focused elsewhere, but argued that the county’s economic future should be driven by its businesses and residents.
“What we want to see is a country where the people here actually create the wealth,” she said.
“It’s not politicians that create the wealth, affluence and prosperity - it’s not Andy Burnham or mayors who are going to do that. It’s the people of Sussex.
“We need them to start businesses, to create jobs, and what we want the government to do is to create the conditions for that. Right now, Labour is not doing that.”
Mr Griffith said Conservative MPs in Sussex would need to press the government on the county’s interests.
“What you need is good Conservative local Members of Parliament to stand up and fight this government,” he said.
Questions also focused on transport infrastructure, with the future of improvements to the A27 raised as a key concern.
Ms Badenoch told SussexWorld she was “shocked” the planned A27 upgrade had been cancelled, adding: “They got it completely wrong. We do need to invest in our infrastructure.”
Mr Griffifth described the A27 as a “long-standing choke point”, saying discussions about improving the road began in the 1970s.
“There was money in the plan. There were plans ready to go under the Conservative government. They were cancelled by Labour,” he said.
Mr Griffifth said Conservative MPs across Sussex would campaign for the reinstatement of the planned upgrade, arguing that improvements would help people travel to work, care for relatives and carry out everyday activities.