East Sussex County Council is forecasting a £55.8 million deficit for 2026/27, rising to £88.3million by 2029. These figures reflect the rising cost of adult social care, children’s services, years of poor financial management and a lack of accountability at County Hall, as well as factors such as higher inflation, National Insurance and living wage costs, combined with an increased demand for statutory services.
In 2025, the Conservative-led County Council, in conjunction with Labour’s devolution and reorganisation plans for Sussex, voted to postpone local elections, extending its current term by years. This decision denied residents the right to have their say at the ballot box and has allowed the same leadership team to continue its failing approach unchecked. Reform UK believes that democratic choice should never be suspended for political convenience.
The council’s finances are under growing strain, and the full picture may be worse than currently admitted. Several areas of spending and asset valuation remain unclear, and under devolution proposals, the County is widely expected to have to absorb the financial burdens of district councils, including Rother District Council, which following years of the mismanagement under the Labour, Liberal Democrat, Greens alliance, is struggling with its own long-term liabilities and cash-flow.
Reform UK is clear: the people of East Sussex deserve better. Millions of pounds have been wasted that should have gone into maintaining and improving local services. From social care to road maintenance, frontline services have been cut while costly misjudgments continue.
This is not an easy problem to solve. As the County Council’s own reports highlight, East Sussex is experiencing an ageing population faster than the national average, with one of the highest proportions of residents aged over 85 in the country. The county also contains pockets of significant deprivation, which further increase demand for public services. While the county’s extensive protected landscapes are a major environmental asset, they also limit economic growth, infrastructure development, and the ability to generate business rates to support local services.
Our approach is straightforward – competence before politics. Reform UK candidates for County and District come from business, professional, and public service backgrounds. They understand complex problems, and are not career politicians, but practical, experienced, qualified people who understand the importance of value for money, efficiency, and integrity in public finance.
When residents finally got the opportunity to vote again on May 7th 2026, Reform UK was ready to offer a credible alternative: a council that puts residents first, manages its resources responsibly, and restores pride in local government across East Sussex.
