Letter to the Editor of the Crawley Observer

Dear Sir

Ahead of the General Election on Thursday 4th July, Parliament will dissolve on Thursday 30th May: when all 650 Members of Parliament cease to hold their role.

It has been the greatest honour to have been elected to serve our town for four consecutive terms over the last 14 years; to have the opportunity to assist local residents and stand up for our community.

When last year I announced that I would not be seeking re-election, I promised that I would continue to campaign for lower taxation, secure borders, environmental protection, our security and a dynamic economy. These are all causes I have pursued, as I have done so on behalf of Crawley throughout my time in Parliament.

My work as a member of the European Scrutiny Committee played a role in my support for an in/out EU referendum and subsequent leadership of the Leave campaign in Crawley, which won in our town as it did nationally.

To be asked to serve as Parliamentary Private Secretary to two cabinet ministers was a privilege, as was being elected by colleagues to the House of Commons International Development Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee, the latter establishing a Sub-Committee on Overseas Territories.

Crawley is home to a large Chagossian community and I managed to convince Government to allow descendants of those forcibly removed from their homeland to apply for British overseas territories citizenship.

As Crawley MP I had the opportunity to see just how many people across our town share my love of animals and serving as a Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Animal Welfare was a particular joy. Securing the introduction of mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses was an important step forward.

MPs are sent to Westminster to use their judgment and experiences to seek improvements to the lives of all. With the memory of my late mother in my mind I established the APPG on Blood Cancer, having the honour of chairing this group for six years.

We now have more Sussex Police officers, extra NHS provision and record school funding.

One of the greatest challenges of our time was the global pandemic. Given the significance of the aviation sector on the Crawley and Gatwick economy, we were affected by Covid-19 more than most. To stand up for local workers I established and chaired the APPG for the Future of Aviation, leading cross-party representations to Government in the interests of the sector and its people.

It is perhaps fitting that my final parliamentary question was on net zero and support for sustainable aviation fuels.

I know our town will continue to live up to its motto reflecting a happy and cohesive community: I Grow and I Rejoice.

Yours faithfully

Henry Smith MP
Crawley Constituency