Update Parliamentary boundary changes
As our sitting Member of Parliament, Mims Davies MP had to move forward into a selection council to accommodate the next stages of the Independent Boundary Commission impact which has created seven new seats in the South East.
The upshot is the existing Mid Sussex seat has been roughly halved but will take in some areas of neighbouring constituencies.
Going forward, we will have two new parliamentary candidates for the next election covering the new Mid Sussex District. Currently, we have three MPs for the area - Mims, Jeremy Quin MP and Andrew Griffith MP.
Statement from Mims Davies MP:
I am delighted and honoured to be adopted as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for the new East Grinstead and Uckfield seat at the next General Election. I thank the selection council for putting their trust in me.
As many know, the independent Boundary Commission has made changes to many constituencies to ensure better numerical balance across the country so each vote is worth the same.
The outcome here is that we will have two constituencies, instead of three, covering our Mid Sussex District and we must now plan for this change.
My existing constituency was pretty much cut in half by this process and I had to make a difficult choice. East Grinstead and Uckfield is that choice. It is the area I will be living in, due to changes in my own personal life, and means this was the right decision for myself and my family.
It is important to stress that nothing changes until the next election and I will continue to diligently serve my current constituents with my great association team and work hard to prove myself once again.
However, I really understand boundary changes of this nature and magnitude are potentially unsettling but I am determined they will not be too distracting. I recognise for that this is a difficult time for associations and I feel it too. This process had to come and was beyond all our control. I thank our President, Chairman and my great friends and members for their kind support as we manage our way through these changes.
I am certain we can, and will continue to, grow our local Conservative family, working on staying together despite these changes - not just strongly campaigning to win both seats but to continue socialising and working, as we do, as a close local team - I will always be a part of Mid Sussex.
I am keen we all come together at a suitable event.
May I close by assuring you , I am very much looking forward to working hard together to ensure a Conservative victory in both the new Mid Sussex constituency and the East Grinstead and Uckfield seat.’
ENDS
Meanwhile the new Mid Sussex Seat, will be advertised shortly and we will expect an influx of excellent and strong candidates including some very local ones. There will be opportunities to change and grow as an Association with the additional local members joining us via the new seat configuration. As Chairman, I will keep you fully updated on the next stages.
I am very firmly of a view that we have the best chance of winning both these local seats with the continued teamwork, commitment, fundraising and canvassing this change brings.
Change is never easy to manage and I am sure Mims will be by our side as we get on with the next steps.
Best Wishes
Jim Knight
MSCA Chairman
