General Election 2024 – East Grinstead and Uckfield candidates

With a little over three weeks before voters head to the ballot box, the LDRS invited each of the candidates to tell you about themselves by providing a short personal statement. Where the candidate did not provide a statement, the LDRS has sought to reproduce election material published by the parliamentary hopefuls elsewhere.

Christina Coleman, Green Party.I’m standing to be your MP because this new constituency of East Grinstead and Uckfield needs an effective, principled and caring MP. I have lived in the heart of the constituency for more than 20 years. I am a mother, a teacher and a district councillor. I have a Masters degree in Environment, Development and Policy and I was chair of Wealden District Council. My top priorities are defending our countryside from inappropriate development, protecting our rivers, improving access to GPs and other public services, supporting local farmers and those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. So many key decisions — such as the targets for new housing that are imposed on this area — are made in Westminster with little regard for the views and needs of the communities affected. That’s why I am standing for election — to be a strong, independent voice for this area.

Ben Cox, Labour Party.

The following is an excerpt of a personal statement published on Mr Cox’s campaign page: bencox.org.uk.I grew up in Uckfield, with family in East Grinstead and Forest Row, and went to school in Chailey. Now I work in Uckfield as head chef of a busy pub, a full-time job that I balance with my volunteer work. As an experienced local councillor, I’ve had a lot of practice at fighting for our community, gaining skills as a politician along the way. I’ve served on Uckfield Town Council for the last five years, which has allowed me to do important work to combat food poverty, including helping to launch the hugely successful Uckfield Community Fridge. I also chaired the council’s Finance Committee through the early days of the pandemic, managing the budget responsibly in a tough time. Last year I was elected to Wealden District Council.

Mims Davies, The Conservative Party Candidate.Hello! I’m Mims Davies, the Conservative Party Parliamentary Candidate. I’m a mum of two teenage girls, a previous local councillor and I have proudly served in a variety of Government roles, most recently as Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work. I’m in politics because I care about people, our community and doing what is right. I have experience, an existing team, with an established office in East Grinstead, to help with local casework and being your voice in Westminster. I’m keen to help deliver more local jobs, supporting our two great towns and wonderful villages to thrive, with improved roads and rail services, alongside protecting the area we all love living in. We need homes in the right places, especially those suitable for first-time buyers, resilient power and water supplies plus much better internet/mobile coverage alongside the local NHS services you need. Contact me via: [email protected]Benedict Dempsey, Liberal Democrats.I grew up in Haywards Heath and have lived in Sussex for most of my life. I have a PhD in nature conservation and currently work for a major environmental charity. I previously worked in humanitarian aid for around 15 years, for organisations including Save the Children. I worked in places including Haiti, Myanmar and the occupied Palestinian territories. I want to represent the new East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency because I want to help improve the quality of our politics — restoring our ability to work together even if we disagree, and looking for solutions rather than division. My top priorities are to invest in the NHS, especially more GPs; reform planning to deliver social housing while taking power back from large developers; and restore our environment, especially rivers like the beautiful Ouse. It would be an honour to be elected the MP for East Grinstead and Uckfield.

Ian Gibson, Independent.All General Elections are important, but this one feels more important than most. Access to services such as healthcare have become a lottery, the high cost of living is compounded by high taxation, key climate change targets based on solid scientific evidence are being quietly dropped. Beyond our shores, the world is a less stable, less secure place. Previously friendly nations look less reliable while disagreements with others multiply. I believe that divisive party politics is not the best way to address these problems. I’m a county and district councillor for East Grinstead and Crawley Down, elected as an Independent. Through my work as a councillor, I’m already demonstrating how an Independent can work effectively with other parties on these challenges. As an Independent MP I won’t be bound to any political party line, I will be free to work in the best interests of my residents on every issue.

William Highton, English Democrats.

"I am standing in the East Grinstead and Uckfield area so that you can vote for somebody that will actively do their best to bring some sanity into the Parliament. I am heartbroken from what successive governments have done to our country, destroying our industry, destroying and giving away our military. Destroying the NHS bit by bit."

Mr Highton also raised concerns about the negative impact of immigration on housing, jobs and crime, and the destruction caused by drugs on the young.

He added: "Our education system turned into a mind control machine. Our countryside vandalized with unnecessary housing. The destruction is systematically deliberate and I will do my best to stop it."