Political opinion with Mims Davies MP: We are living with Labour's choices

Well, a Budget for the working people is apparently one for cheaper gherkins and the Government still… er in a massive financial pickle.

Families in our constituency of East Grinstead, Uckfield, the villages, and beyond deserve to keep more of their hard-earned money, pensioners deserve security, and businesses need confidence to invest, grow, and create jobs.  Yet in the most dangerous geopolitical times have a plan to tackle the big issues while protecting public services.

Tax is highest on record and whilst they mentioned a £100 energy payment, this is limited, only for households in council tax bands A - D, with no concern for those outside of these bands and those on heating oil. They talked about breathing space, but it’s Labour who have choked our economy.

Our new Chancellor, Rt Hon John Healey MP resigned as Defence Secretary under Starmer-calling to fund 3% of GDP on defence – however he’s failed to fix it. We are living with Labour’s choices, and they’re acting like they’re new to office. 

If you follow my work, you know I’m passionate about getting our younger generations progression.  Our youth unemployment is currently higher than in Bulgaria.

Not only did we not hear mentions of schools, but we didn’t hear anything about helping those with unfair and stratospheric student loans either… Young people yet again left high and dry. Mr Healey raises the minimum wage by 3.9% only putting even more pressures on businesses - especially SMEs, hospitality, retail, and care - and make employers even less likely to hire younger generations.

Where is the growth?? Next year it will be anaemic. Difficult decisions have been kicked down the road, leaving major questions unanswered around welfare, defence, public-spending, and longer-term taxation.

Kemi’s Conservatives would have: saved £71 billion of taxpayer’s money, cut taxes and restored stability by bringing down the deficit, committed to 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, taking the tough decisions on welfare, halved the Jobs Tax for under twenty-fives. And vitally cut the welfare bill by £36 billion protecting the triple lock.

Local Government Reorganisation under Labour also remains a mess. My MP patch spans both ESCC and WSCC about half of Mid Sussex District, parts of Lewes, and Wealden Districts. 

District Council elections are expected to still take place in 2027, followed by unitary authority elections in 2028 for Lewes and Wealden alongside elections for the new Mayor. The new arrangements are then expected to come into effect April 2029.

West Sussex remains somewhat unresolved. No final decision made but more news expected December 2026/early 2027. The indication that West Sussex is likely to follow a similar timetable to East Sussex. I expect unitary elections for a new council in West Sussex, but the Government hasn’t made up its mind yet!

The Conservative position is we don’t want to split West Sussex in half - other parties have roundly disagreed, but in reality, it affects policing and much more and will not help make the savings the Government say this is all about.

There’s still a long way to go with likely further twists before the final shape of local government is settled. All the while our councils continue to deliver services despite this uncertainty. It’s so far away from what was offered. But we must work with what we get.

My local party team and I will continue to work for you, fighting to be heard and for every vote-what remains unchanged is our brilliant Mayoral candidate, Katy Bourne.

As we approach Remembrance and important events across our area. The Holy Trinity Festival of Remembrance with the band of the Surrey Yeomanry was an outstanding evening supporting Royal British Legion in Forest Row – huge thanks to Rev Jamie Gater, and all the musicians, cadets and all who attended another special evening of fantastic music and song.