General Election 2024 - Lewes election candidates

With a little over three weeks before voters head to the ballot box, the LDRS invited each of the candidates to tell you about themselves by providing a short personal statement. Where the candidate did not provide a statement, the LDRS has sought to reproduce election material published by the parliamentary hopefuls elsewhere.

Bernard Brown, Reform UK.The following is an excerpt of a personal statement published on Reform UK’s website.I am determined to make a change with Reform UK. I have worked for local government and NHS in the public sector, in multinational private sector companies at home and overseas and have been self-employed operating my own businesses. I have seen the effects of good and bad Government across the spectrum. All the current ‘established’ political parties have failed both in government and opposition, collectively damaging our great Country. The speed and intensity of decline has increased as their integrity has decreased. None of them can now be trusted. I believe my skill set and beliefs can assist Reform UK to reverse the decline in individual income, restore our defences, revitalise and make fit for purpose the NHS and above all secure our borders and end the divisive and destructive policy of uncontrolled immigration. All these objectives made possible by expanding our low tax economy.

Maria Caulfield, The Conservative Party Candidate.The following is an excerpt of a personal statement published on Ms Caulfield’s campaign page: www.mariacaulfield.co.uk.Maria Caulfield was born in 1973 to Irish immigrant parents living in Wandsworth, London, where she grew up on a council estate with her father and brother, following the death of her mother from breast cancer during her teens. Upon leaving school she became an NHS nurse, later specialising in cancer treatment and becoming a Senior Sister at the Royal Marsden NHS Hospital. Inspired by the energetic approach that David Cameron had taken in reforming the Conservative image, and concerned by the state that the NHS had been left in following many years of Labour Government, Maria joined the Conservative Party. Maria then stood, and won, a former Labour seat on Brighton and Hove City Council. During this time she held the Housing portfolio, working alongside local residents, other local councillors and construction companies in the Falmer area in order to minimise the impact and disruption of the multiple developments in the area.

Rowena Easton, Social Democratic Party.The LDRS reached out to Ms Easton’s election agent inviting her to take part in this article, but did not receive a response by time of publication. The LDRS was unable to find any election material published in Ms Easton’s name online.

Paul Keene, Green Party.The following is an excerpt of a personal statement published on lewes.greenparty.org.uk.I’ve lived in Newhaven since 2016, and I work in Research Computing in a Sussex-based university and I’m a member of the University and College Union (UCU). I’m married with one young daughter. I’m a Lewes District Councillor, and I have three main roles on the Council: Chair of the Southern Water Scrutiny Panel, Deputy Chair of the Planning Committee, and member of the Sussex Police and Crime Panel. I’m a co-founding member of Newhaven Green Centre; I’m also an active member in numerous local groups including Protect the People and Environment Newhaven (PEN), Lewes District Anti-Racism Alliance, Creative Newhaven, and Friends of Meeching Hall. I’ve always been interested in fairness, and environmental protection, and I’m proud to work and volunteer alongside people who really care and who work hard to make things better for our community, and the natural world we share and depend on.

James MacCleary, Liberal Democrat.I have lived and campaigned in Lewes constituency for nearly twenty years. I live in Newhaven with my young family and serve as a local councillor. Before that I lived in Lewes. I have been out on doorsteps across our community in recent months and hear the same thing from so many people. Nothing seems to work any more and it’s time for a change. So many people feel let down by this government. I have spoken out on sewage dumping in our local waterways and called for urgent action to invest in new health centres in local towns. As a local resident I will always speak up for our local priorities. We have all had enough of empty promises for our community that come to nothing. I have a track record of getting things done in our area. I will be a strong voice for our towns and villages in parliament.

Danny Sweeny, Labour Party.The following is an excerpt of a personal statement published in Mr Sweeny’s name on www.lewesconstituencylabourparty.org.uk.I’m a former Local Government Officer and Labour Party Organiser with a science background, who now works for UNISON. I am passionate about the environment, human rights, the NHS and social care, housing, jobs and the cost of living. I am delighted to be given the chance to set out Labour’s positive vision for the country to voters in Newhaven, Seaford, Polegate, Lewes and the villages that make up our constituency.” As Chair of the Lewes Area Labour Party branch, I understand the challenges facing local people, so it is a privilege to represent the Labour Party in the area in which I live, where my partner is from, and the place that I call home.