Getting Britain Building
If we’re honest, Britain’s economy hasn’t worked for years. Growth is too low, pay has flatlined, productivity’s stagnated, inequality’s widened. The last Parliament, incredibly, saw living standards fall. This has left many people – including in my constituency and across Sussex – feeling worse off, struggling to pay their bills or being able to plan for the future.
This serial economic failure is also the driver of so many problems we see all around us: broken public services, a chronic housing crisis, underfunded SEND and social care provision, shops closed on our high streets and unacceptable levels of poverty and inequality.
Growing the economy isn’t part of the solution to this: it’s THE solution. It’s how we boost jobs and wages, how we cut NHS waiting lists, revitalise our town centres, confront the climate crisis and build a fairer society. Without it, we risk being stuck in a doom-loop of decline, cuts and injustice.
That’s why Labour’s made economic growth it’s number one priority. It’s also why the Chancellor focused so heavily this week on getting Britain building again – because nothing underlines our economic failure more clearly than our inability to build the homes and infrastructure we need to drive growth. Britain hasn’t built a new reservoir since 1992, a new nuclear power plant since 1995 or a new full-length runway since the 1940s. In my own constituency, it took well over a decade for the Louisa Martingdale building at the Royal Sussex Hospital to go from planning to completion.
That’s why I’m pleased the Government is cracking on with speeding up the planning process – including by encouraging local councils to complete ambitious local plans as quickly as possible (As a reminder on which, Lewes District Council is holding a series of consultation events on their local plan in the coming weeks, and I’d encourage local residents to take part). A planning Bill to boost growth and kickstart stalled projects will also be brought before Parliament shortly.
It’s also why I support airport expansion – including at Gatwick and Heathrow – as long as this in line with our climate targets and legal requirements. If those obligations are met, airport expansion would mean thousands of jobs across Sussex and provide a welcome boost to UK growth and exports. That’s also why this is supported by so many trade unions and businesses.
Of course, turning around our economy was never going to happen overnight. But focusing on growth, planning reform and getting Britain building again is absolutely the right place to start.
Local housing and anti-social behaviour
I always say housing is the biggest challenge in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, but anti-social behaviour (ASB) is not far behind. Week after week, I hear from residents at my constituency surgeries, in emails, and on the doorstep about the impact this is having on their lives.
Perhaps the worst situation I’ve seen is at Wiltshire House, a block in the heart of Kemptown, where residents told me they feel utterly abandoned in the face of constant drug use, theft, and ASB on their doorstep. Wiltshire House has had scaffolding around it for months to deal with long-standing cladding issues – which isn’t just an eyesore and irritant for residents – it’s also providing criminals with easy access in and out of the block. People deserve to feel safe in their own homes, and right now, Wiltshire House residents have told me they do not.
The good news is that money is finally being spent to turn this around. More than £15m is being invested by Brighton & Hove City Council to tackle serious failings in hundreds of council homes, including Wiltshire House. My team are now working with Wiltshire House residents to ensure they get the security, repairs, and enforcement they need—and fast. That means pushing the council, police, and housing providers to get a grip on the issues and put residents first.
Supporting local SEND services

Some of the most distressing – and increasingly frequent – casework I receive is from parents supporting children with Special Educational Needs. Often this is because of the constant battle parents have gone through to secure an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), to get the right school placement, or simply to access specialist services or family support. I know many neighbouring MPs across Sussex see this in their caseload too, and I’m increasingly worried about systematic failings in local and national SEND services.
So I was delighted to meet recently with Kirsti Hadley, a brilliant local campaigner fighting for changes to SEND services. Kirsti and I are now working together to find practical solutions to help tackle the SEND crisis, including setting up a local SEND Summit to bring together people who are affected by this issue. I’ll be writing more on this in coming weeks as I know too many families in our area have been let down by local SEND services for too long, and I’m determined to see real progress.
As always, I want to hear from you—whether it’s about ASB, housing, SEND, or any other concern. Please get in touch via chris.ward@parliament.uk