COLUMN: Thank you. Now the real work begins

James MacCleary (Lewes), Ed Davey (Leader, Lib Dems), Jess Brown-Fuller (Chichester), John Milne (Horsham), Josh Babarinde (Eastbourne) and Alison Bennett (Mid Sussex)

By Alison Bennett MP as printed in the Thursday, 11 July 2024, print edition of the Mid Sussex Times.

Last Thursday, people in Mid Sussex put their faith in our positive campaign for change by electing me as your first Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex.

Throughout my campaign, it has been a privilege to knock on a door and have a stranger share the details of their life with me. You have told me about your struggles, trying to make ends meet, to see a doctor, find an NHS dentist, get the care needed by a loved one or the extra help needed for your child. But I also heard about the deep disillusionment with politicians and the state of our politics.

Whether or not you voted for me, I have learnt so much from you and become a better person and a better politician as a result. Our doorstep conversations will not be forgotten and it is clear that these are issues for me and my new colleagues to focus on.

This week I joined hundreds of new MPs from all parties for our induction and to be formally sworn into office on Thursday. We have come together to be the much needed strong voices for our communities and to be part of change across this country.

With five newly elected Liberal Democrat members of parliament from Sussex, we can amplify your voice. I have a new sense of great hope for the future, and for a fresh start in the House of Commons. I don’t underestimate the challenges we will face as we also restore trust in politics. But I do believe we are faced with a great opportunity to begin this work.

If you are a resident of Mid Sussex and want to get in contact in relation to casework, please bear with me while my official email address and office is set up over the next few weeks. I will need to receive all casework to my office, so I appreciate your patience and hope to share those contact details shortly. In the meantime you can follow me on social media, and read my weekly column here.

Again, I offer my thanks to the people of Mid Sussex. To be elected to represent you in Parliament is truly the honour of my life. I won’t let you down.