Dear Residents,
The surprise general election called by the Conservative Prime Minister means to say that we have two election days coming up – one on 4 May to elect a new county council and one on 8 June to elect a new MP. Next week on Thursday, 4 May we have elections for the East Sussex County Council. There will be 50 councillors on the new council and they will serve for a 4 year term until 2021. I remain as your district councillor until 2019 when the Lewes District Council comes up for re-election. The new county ward which include the villages on the western side of the lower Ouse in situated is now called Ouse Valley West & Downs. It includes the villages of:
Falmer, St Ann Without, Kingston, Swanborough, Iford, Northease, Rodmell, Southease, Piddinghoe,Ditchling, Westmeston, & Street
Our candidate for this area is Sarah Osborne who already has experience as a councillor as she has been on the Lewes District Council for 10 years.
Sarah’s contact details are:
sarahosborne2000@yahoo.co.uk phone: 07986776105 Twitter: @sjo400 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.osborne.9406
Sarah’s recent newsletters: Mid April Campaign Newsletter April/May Campaign Newsletter
The LibDem are fielding candidates for all 8 county wards/divisions in the Lewes Constituency area. Click below for some links to info about them:
- Philip Daniel – Lewes Bridge and Ringmer
- Carolyn Lambert – Seaford South
- Ian Cairns – Seaford North
- Darren Grover – Newhaven and Bishopstone
- Sarah Osborne – Ouse Valley West and Downs
- Oli Henman – Lewes
- Peter Gardiner – Chailey
- Steve Murphy – Polegate and Willingdon Watermill
Currently the make up of the Council is:
21 Conservative
10 Liberal Democrats
7 Labour
6 UKIP
5 Independent
Whether we’re talking about the general election or the county council election the fight is between the Lib Dems and the Conservatives in the Lewes area:
Conservative 19,206
Liberal Democrat 18,123
UKIP 5,427
Labour 5,000
Green 2,784
There is only just over 1,000 in it! In the 2016 referendum the majority of people in the Lewes Constituency voted to Remain in the EU.
General Election
On June 8 the whole country will vote to choose their new member of Parliament. Kelly-Marie Blundell is the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Liberal Democrats in the Lewes constituency. Kelly-Marie lives in the constituency at Seaford. The daughter of a farmer and a teacher, Kelly-Marie Blundell read Law at the University of Kent before going on to work as a Citizen’s Advice Bureau advisor. She now runs her own consultancy firm, advising charities on communications and fundraising. Click here for more information
Kelly-Marie’s contact details are:
Telephone (Office): 01273 615075 Email: kelly-marie@kellymarieblundell.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellymarie.blundell Twitter: @KellyMarieLD Web: http://www.leweslibdems.org.uk/
Lewes constituency Liberal Democrat Perspective Parliamentary Candidate, Kelly-Marie Blundell is interviewed about the upcoming general election.
More information? sign up for the Lib Dem Newswire:
Hi Vic
I know the Lib Dems are suggesting that Labour and Green supporters should vote for them as they have no chance of winning in the general election in Lewes. Can you confirm to me that the Lib Dems will not be campaigning in Labour and Green seats in Brighton where the Lib dems have no chance?
Best
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Dear Chris, As you know in England we have the ‘first past the post’ system of elections. Often that means that many MPs (and councillors) re elected by a minority of voters. If we had proportional representation (not the half baked one that David Cameron came up with) there wouldn’t be a need for tactical voting. I recommend joining and supporting the Electoral Reform Society as this country needs a fairer system of voting. As for what people should do currently for the local elections on Thursday and the general election in June I suggest looking at each ward/constituency on a case-by-case basis. If one wants to vote out the Tories nationally or locally look at what’s possible in your ward or constituency. Here in Lewes I believe it’s a fight between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats but that may not be the case in other areas. On another matter I would advocate supporting votes for the 16 and 17-year-olds who are really the ones who are going to suffer from Tory Brexit plans. Please sign this petition to get Parliament to debate votes for younger people. Regards Vic
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