Over Christmas, many of us in Crawley take a moment to reflect on a busy year which is almost at an end.
In March, I announced that I have taken the decision not to stand for re-election as Member of Parliament for Crawley at the next General Election.
It has been an immense honour to have been chosen by the people of our great town to represent Crawley in Parliament in 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019.
There is plenty of work to get on with in the months ahead though and I continue to campaign for lower taxation, secure borders, environmental protection, our security as well as a dynamic economy.
It is time for a new generation and, later in the year, Crawley Conservative Association chose Cllr Zack Ali as the party’s candidate for the next General Election.
This year marked the first crowning of a British monarch in seven decades. I was privileged to mark the Coronation of King Charles III in Westminster and in Crawley.
Ahead of the ceremony I met His Majesty in Westminster Hall for the first time as King. I was also honoured to join the West Sussex High Sheriff with Crawley Hospital League of Friends to officially plant three cherry trees for the King, our late Queen Elizabeth II and local charity campaigner Maria Hains who sadly passed away this year.
In 2019, I stood on a manifesto commitment to ban imports from trophy hunting of endangered animals. My Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill passed the House of Commons unanimously in March, but while the Bill had Government support it ultimately fell in the House of Lords: many of us in Crawley still want this pledge fulfilled.
As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee I helped establish its Sub-Committee on Overseas Territories. Enhanced engagement is essential; many descendants of those born in the British Indian Ocean Territory have chosen to make Crawley their home.
Data from NHS England in recent weeks confirmed Government has met its manifesto commitment to recruit an additional 50,000 nurses six months early. This year I also welcomed confirmation of £6 million for 64 new beds at East Surrey Hospital, with two new modular wards to increase capacity by 32 beds and reprovide a further 32.
To address cost of living pressures, support for households has reached £104 billion – worth £3,700 per household – and I continue to press for such assistance to get to where it is most needed.
I would like to offer the sincerest of thanks to all who will be working on Christmas Day and throughout the festive period, including those whose service keeps us safe.
My very best wishes to all in Crawley this Christmas.
Henry Smith MP
