Connect with us

Opinion

Henry Smith: Delivering on Crawley’s priorities

In his final article before polling day, Henry Smith speaks directly to the voters of Crawley.

Published

1 month ago

on

Tomorrow, the people of Crawley will decide the future of our town and the whole country.

The choice could not be clearer. A Jeremy Corbyn government, propped up by the Scottish Nationalists, or a majority Conservative Government which will secure further support for our NHS and our schools, recruit 20,000 more police officers, and get Brexit done.

On polling day I will be campaigning across town. Throughout this election I have been speaking to local residents seeking support for my plan for Crawley:

  • Investing further in Crawley’s NHS is a priority: Bring further services back to Crawley Hospital and increase provision of GP practices – an issue I raised with the new government on Boris Johnson’s first full day as Prime Minister.
  • Expanding opportunity: Securing record high funding for Crawley schools of £82.8 million and ensuring continued local economic growth with high quality jobs are vital for our town’s future.
  • Further infrastructure investment: From transport to telecommunications, I have successfully lobbied for millions of pounds in extra funding to upgrade local roads and railways. Expanding superfast broadband and 5G are vital too, both for individuals and businesses to connect.
  • A clean, green and safe town: Demanding Crawley Borough Council address their poor record on recycling and litter. Although Crawley police officer numbers have remained stable in recent years, now further increasing officer numbers is a pledge I fully back to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime. Recently I was delighted to speak with some of the 129 new Sussex Police recruits who will further boost those patrolling our town and keeping us safe. In total Sussex Police will have 379 extra officers joining the force.
  • Security in work and retirement: Supporting those who work hard and want to get on by reducing taxes as well as looking after local people in retirement.
  • Delivering Crawley’s vote to leave the EU: Ensuring we take back control of our laws, borders and trade, whilst building on new opportunities across the world. This is not just about the UK’s independent sovereign future but respect for our democracy.

Your polling station will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday 12th December. We have 15 hours to elect a majority Conservative Government, which will deliver record investment in the NHS, keep our economy strong and debt low, and take back control of immigration with an Australian-style points system.

People are fed up of politicians saying one thing and doing another. Let me take one issue of importance for every Crawley parent; Boris Johnson promised to uplift school funding. This work started when he became Prime Minister, and the Conservative Manifesto reiterates the extra £14 billion in funding for schools – £150 million a week, including at least £5,000 a year per secondary school pupil and at least £4,000 for each primary school pupil.

This also includes £780 million in new funding to support children with Special Educational Needs – a point I have continued to pursue with the Government.

For the last nine and a half years I have sought to be a strong voice for our town and to stand up for Crawley in the House of Commons. I ask for the honour of continuing to serve.

Henry SmithConservative
Parliamentary Candidate for Crawley

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Henry Smith

Henry Smith MP: Debating the Queen’s Speech

Published

2 days ago

on

21st January 2020

By

One week after the General Election in December, the Queen’s Speech took place in the House of Lords chamber. While read out by Her Majesty, the document is of course written by the government of the day, and outlines the legislation it wants to put to Parliament in the coming year or two.

This last week has seen the Queen’s Speech debated by MPs. With priorities including delivery of Brexit, enshrining in law the largest ever NHS funding settlement and making sure serious offenders serve proper custodial sentences, I support the agenda and look forward to voting in favour of it in the days ahead.

The Speech includes proposals to make it law that an extra £33.9 billion every year by 2023-24 goes to the National Health Service. The NHS Funding Bill was introduced in the House of Commons earlier this week, and is due to be debated in Parliament later this month.

On Monday I spoke in the Queen’s Speech debate, about Britain’s role in the post-Brexit world. Decisions taken at home can support Global Britain abroad and so in turn help our nation be more prosperous and secure.

The last three and a half years saw our country go to the polls for one referendum and two general elections, needing to make clear on three separate occasions that Crawley and our United Kingdom support leaving the European Union.

In my speech I reiterated Crawley’s consistent position on this issue, and the wider sense of British fair play and democracy.

One such example is though support for the right of the Chagossian people – many of whom have made Crawley their home – to return to their homeland. We can still do right for those wronged by the Harold Wilson government half a century ago.

Britain is at its best as an outward-looking, ambitious, free-trading country, promoting liberty, the environment and justice around the world. The best years of Britain as a global nation lie ahead of us.

Henry Smith MP
Crawley Constituency

Continue Reading

Trending