In 2017 we celebrated the 70th anniversary of Crawley’s designation as a new town; our local motto is ‘I grow and I rejoice’, so as we embark on 2018 we must continue to meet the challenges facing our community.
I spoke in a parliamentary debate on this last year and was a founding member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on New Towns. I’m looking forward to attending the Group’s latest meeting next week. Whether it’s investment in our area schools or NHS services coming back to Crawley, new housing for local people or upgrading road and rail links, addressing these issues and ensuring they are reflected in policy is my ongoing commitment.
I continue to stand up for what matters to Crawley in the House of Commons and with Government. In contrast, it’s clear that Labour want to get into office and enact an economic programme that would harm the economy – with working families paying the price. Just this week, one of Jeremy Corbyn’s closest MP allies outlined a plan to significantly increase council tax – forcing families to pay over £300 more a year.
Labour are dreaming up ways to hike taxes on working families and they’re not even in office.
In contrast, the number of Crawley businesses has increased by more than 600 to over 3,600 in recent years. It’s these businesses – and their suppliers and employees – who contribute to the economy and pay their taxes, which go towards funding our vital public services. Local unemployment has fallen by 59 per cent since 2010 and now stands at 1.5 per cent with most jobs full time.
History shows Labour have always left office with higher unemployment and the British economy in crisis. That’s not what we want for Crawley or our country.
Henry Smith MP
Crawley Constituency
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
01293 934554/020 7219 70433
henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk
www.henrysmith.info