At the begining of October 2026, members and supporters gathered for the annual Bexhill & Battle Branch Annual General Meeting, bringing members together to reflect on the progress made over the past year and look ahead to what promises to be a busy period for the Branch.
The evening included sessions on the work of our councillors and members were given a fascinating insight into the workings of East Sussex County Council, as well as the progress Reform UK has made since taking on the administration of the Council. Our councillors answered questions candidly from members, while sharing their own perspectives and insights on the challenges ahead and the opportunities to make a difference locally.
Inevitably, considerable discussion focused on the forthcoming elections. There was a particularly encouraging response from members, with member after member putting forward their interest in standing for election. That enthusiasm was met with rounds of applause, reflecting the growing appetite among members to play a more active role in representing Reform locally.
The interest is not limited to next year’s elections either. We also heard from prospective Bexhill Town Councillor, Donald Walmsley, who is a candidate in the upcoming Town Council elections.
As ever, some of the best conversations continued informally over cups of tea, with members sharing ideas, discussing campaigning and considering how they can contribute to the Branch’s work over the coming year.
Branch Officers
The AGM also saw the election of the Branch’s officers for the coming year.
- Victoria Carson was elected as Branch Chair.
- Jake Jay was elected as Deputy Chair.
- Deborah Blake was elected as Secretary.
- Elliot Blake was elected as Treasurer.
- Pete Morley was elected as Campaign Manager.
The new Management Committee will now take forward the Branch’s work as we prepare for the elections ahead, continue building our campaign organisation and give members more opportunities to get involved.
The AGM demonstrated the strength of feeling and commitment within Bexhill & Battle. With increasing numbers of members expressing an interest in standing for election, more volunteers getting involved and Reform councillors now playing a significant role at East Sussex County Council, the Branch goes into the next year with plenty to do.
The message from the AGM was clear: there is a lot of work ahead, and our members are ready to get on with it.
