At the begining of July, around 50 members and supporters gathered at Battle Memorial Hall for a Bexhill and Battle Branch General Meeting, and enjoyed an informative evening with Reform UK’s Leader of East Sussex County Council, Andy Woolley.
On what proved to be one of the hottest evenings of the summer, Branch Chair and East Sussex County Councillor Victoria Carson (Bexhill South) opened proceedings by thanking the many volunteers whose dedication during the recent county council elections helped deliver Reform UK’s historic success across East Sussex. Reflecting on the campaign, the election count, and her first few weeks as a county councillor, Victoria spoke about the tremendous team effort that made the result possible and the responsibility that now comes with representing local residents. Reform UK’s strong performance across Rother marked a significant moment in local politics, with volunteers playing a central role throughout the campaign.
The main speaker of the evening was Andy Woolley, Leader of East Sussex County Council, who spent around 90 minutes speaking openly about his experiences since taking office before answering a wide range of questions from members.
Andy gave a frank assessment of the opportunities and challenges facing the new administration. He spoke about the scale of the task inherited at County Hall, the importance of restoring confidence in local government, and the determination of Reform UK’s councillors to focus on practical issues that matter most to residents.
Road maintenance featured prominently during the evening, with Andy joking that “everyone has become an expert in the art of fixing a pothole.” Behind the humour, however, lay a serious discussion about the condition of East Sussex’s roads, the financial pressures facing the council, and the need to ensure taxpayers receive better value for money.
Members appreciated Andy’s willingness to answer questions directly and honestly, covering topics ranging from highways and council finances to the culture within County Hall and the priorities for the months ahead. His openness made for an engaging and highly informative discussion, giving members valuable insight into the realities of leading one of the county’s largest public organisations.
The evening was also attended by several Reform UK county councillors, including Deputy Leader of East Sussex County Council, Pete Morley (Bexhill West), Victoria Carson (Bexhill South), Mark Ashdown (Rother North West) and Daniel Lach (Brede Valley & Marsham), who were available throughout the evening to speak with members and answer questions about their own divisions and work on the council.
Pete Morley also provided an update in his role as the branch’s Campaign Manager, outlining forthcoming campaigning activity across the constituency and discussing the branch’s priorities over the coming months. Members heard about plans to continue building Reform UK’s presence locally and to maintain the momentum generated by the recent elections.
The evening demonstrated the strong enthusiasm within the branch following Reform UK’s electoral success and highlighted the close relationship developing between local members and their elected representatives. Opportunities to hear directly from councillors, ask questions and discuss local issues remain an important part of the branch’s programme of events.
The Branch would like to thank Andy Woolley for giving so generously of his time and for providing such an honest and informative update. Thanks also go to all those who attended, helping to make the evening both enjoyable and thought-provoking.
With Reform UK’s councillors now hard at work representing communities across East Sussex, members left Battle with a greater understanding of both the challenges ahead and the determination of the new administration to deliver meaningful change for residents.
