Andrew Griffith MP spoke from the House of Commons backbench on Thursday to oppose the government’s proposal to divide West Sussex.
Mr Griffith’s plea came the day after the Secretary of State announced that he was looking into alternative plans for how to divide Sussex councils as part of the government’s local government reorganisation. None of the suggestions put forward by councils are being taken forward. Only West Sussex County Council proposed keeping the county together.
Mr Griffith told the local government minister that no constituent in his six years as a Member of Parliament has written to him supporting the idea of reorganisation. He warned that to ‘cleave’ West Sussex into two educational catchments areas, two different highways authorities, two social care services and two expensive town halls was the wrong direction.
He asked ministers to listen to his constituents and reject the proposals put forward by the other councils run by Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party who propose the division of the county’s administration.
The MP closed by asking ministers to “join me in saving in West Sussex.”
The Hansard of the Urgent Question can be read in full here: https://bit.ly/4bLt7B4
