Former Hastings and Rye MP Sally-Ann Hart says she hopes to be selected as the Conservative candidate in next year’s Sussex mayor elections. The new role, which is part of the government’s devolution plans, will be responsible for the police, transport, and development across both East and West Sussex.
Speaking on her newly launched campaign website Sally-Ann Hart said she was ready to fight for Sussex. “Our county needs an unapologetically Conservative leadership with a proven track record of local delivery, committed to lower taxes, a business friendly environment, and protecting the values we hold dear.”
So far the only other candidate to declare is Sussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne.
The former MP represented Hastings and Rye between 2019 and 2024, losing to Labour’s Helena Dollimore in last year’s general election. Prior to that she was elected to represent Eastern Rother on Rother District Council in 2015.
Seeking the Conservative nomination Sally-Ann Hart said she wanted to see no community left behind. “To do that we need to take the fight to Labour, the Greens, the LibDems and now Reform.”
February polling from MRP suggests the Tories have a lead of 3.4% over second-placed Reform UK across Sussex. The change from July 4 2024 is in brackets.
Conservatives: 25.5 (-2.1)
Reform UK: 22.1 (+9.7)
Labour: 21.9 (-4.1)
Liberal Democrats: 19.3 (-1.7)
Green Party: 11.2 (+0.8)
The government’s devolution plans will also see the creation of a new unitary authority in East Sussex replacing the county and district councils. This year’s East Sussex County Council elections have been cancelled.
Sally-Ann Hart says she supports the new proposals but says they need to ensure local representation. “Under this new Sussex-wide model our rural and coastal communities risk being overlooked in favour of wealthier and more urban areas. That must not happen.”
Image Credits: Sally-Ann Hart .
Some readers may feel sorry for Sally-Ann. She lost her seat after 5 years in the job , a job that pays £91,400 a year plus expenses for office, staff and housing costs. And now a new opportunity comes along – to be selected mayor for the whole of Sussex. She could look forward to earning more in that job than being an MP. But she seems to be jumping the gun. She claims government has decided, and that the elections will be next year. But government is currently consulting the public for their views. The deadline is not until mid April. And then parliament must decide.
And there’s little sign that we are going to rush to vote. Only 30% bothered to vote in North Yorkshire’s recent mayoral election, and the winner got just 35% of the votes, i.e. just one in ten of the total electorate. Hardly a stunning endorsement.
And promises of extra money for business and transport projects in Sussex are unlikely to be realised as government, constrained by election pledges not to raise taxes, grabbles with ways to find a load more money for defence and health and social care.
There’s still time to have your say in the government consultation.