‘A historic moment for the Liberal Democrats’ as Alison Bennett elected Mid Sussex’s newest Liberal Democrat MP

Liberal Democrat, Alison Bennett, has been elected as Mid Sussex’s newest MP, with a majority of over six and half thousand votes.

Alison Bennett was elected with 21,136 votes, with a turnout of 70.4% with 55,724 total ballots cast.

Alison Bennett is the first Liberal Democrat MP to represent Mid Sussex, following new boundaries for the recent General Election and since the constituency’s formation in 1974.

Alison Bennett, newly elected MP for Mid Sussex, said in her acceptance speech:

“Thank you first of all to the Returning Officer and everyone here who has worked through the night. And to my fellow candidates for making this a campaign we can all be proud of.

“A special thank you to my family, to my election agent Paul Lucraft, to my incredible campaign team, and to all the Liberal Democrat volunteers who have helped us win here in Mid Sussex! This is your victory. And this is a historic moment for the Liberal Democrats.

“And thank you most of all to the wonderful people of Mid Sussex. This is a place that I am proud to call home. It’s a place where people are made to feel welcome, and it’s a place where we care - both about the place where we live and about each other.

“It is a privilege to knock on a door and have a stranger share the details of their life with me. I have learnt so much from you and become a better person and a better politician as a result.

“You have told me about your struggles to make ends meet wondering how you will ever be able to afford to start a family or worried sick about how you can pay for the care of a loved one.  

“You have told me how you have struggled to see a doctor, failed to find an NHS dentist or fought for years to get your child the extra help they may need. 

“And those of you who work in our vital public services - I hear you - I know that you are being asked to do more and more with less and less and the strain can be unbearable. 

“People from all walks of life have been let down and taken for granted again and again by this out-of-touch Conservative Government.

“And to everyone here in Mid Sussex – no matter how you voted in this election – I hear you. I will fight for you all year round. And I promise to be your local champion in Parliament.

“I am truly humbled by the faith the people of Mid Sussex have put in me tonight. To be elected to represent you in Parliament is truly the honour of my life. I won’t let you down.

“You have told me the change you want to see: tackling the cost of living, ending the appalling sewage scandal, and most of all, fixing the health and care crisis.

“So I will work hard every day to make it happen. I will be a strong voice for our local economy, our local environment and our local health services.

“And I will fight for the fair deal you deserve. Thank you!