Alison Bennett's Monday Mail - Reflecting on Ed Davey's visit to Israel and Palestine

Welcome to my Monday Mail. As Mid Sussex’s Lib Dem general election candidate, every Monday, I send a short email sharing a few of the things that I have been doing and thinking about in the last week.

Ed Davey visits Israel and Palestine

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey visited the Middle East last week. He wrote about his trip here. It’s a sobering reminder of the immense suffering in Israel and Palestine.  Since returning, Ed has called for the UK to impose sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers.

For months, the Liberal Democrats have been calling for an immediate bilateral ceasefire - to put an end to the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, get the hostages home, and finally deliver a path to the two state solution. 

As Ed says, we are determined to “redouble our efforts to persuade the Government to take a better stance that will help us move away from this bleak situation and towards a lasting peace.”

Investing in our communities, protecting services and balancing the books

On Wednesday, the Liberal Democrat-Independent joint administration presented its first budget at Mid Sussex District Council. As Leader of MSDC Robert Eggleston explains here, we are investing in our staff, expanding the food waste collection trial, and increasing our support for homeless and insecurely housed residents. Thanks go to the Green and Labour councillors who supported our proposals. 

I woke early on the morning of the budget meeting and happened to catch BBC Newscast on the radio discussing Birmingham City Council signing off its ‘worst ever’ budget. This comes after it had effectively declared bankruptcy by issuing a ‘Section 114’ notice last year. Birmingham isn’t alone though, and the Local Government Association said in December that almost 1 in 5 councils fear having to issue a Section 114 notice.

At Mid Sussex we aren’t in that position thankfully, but whilst we have been able to set a balanced budget this year by increasing Council Tax, fees and charges and drawing on our reserves, over the next four years we are looking at a £12 million budget gap that will need to be closed.

With core spending power across the sector having fallen by 27% since 2010/11, the fundamental problem is the widening gap between the demands on councils and their resources. Unless central government starts taking that seriously, more authorities will follow Birmingham’s path. Local government always plays second fiddle to other higher profile public services like schools and healthcare. When local government finance becomes the subject of BBC podcasts, and Times columnists write about it, it is clear to me that it is time for the government to take this looming threat seriously.

Talking Business in Mid Sussex

If you work in business, run your own business or are interested in our economic and business policies, we are holding a business networking event on Tuesday 16th April at 7.30pm in Haywards Heath. Our Business Spokesperson in the House of Lords, Chris Fox will be our guest speaker. 

If you would like to join us please send an email to info@midsussexlibdems.org.uk.

Best wishes,

Cllr Alison Bennett
Prospective Parliamentary Candidate
Mid Sussex Liberal Democrats

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