Kristy Adams, the Conservative candidate for Mid Sussex, came second in July’s general election. In a social media post following the election results, Kristy thanked all who voted, noting it was a good voter turnout in Mid Sussex at 70%. Kristy, who has served as a Mid Sussex District Councillor for Bolney, thanked her campaign team for their expertise and enthusiasm.
The Liberal Democrat candidate, Alison Bennett, took the Mid Sussex seat with 21, 136 votes. Kristy got 14,474 votes, Labour’s Dave Rowntree came third with 9,397 votes, Reform candidate Gary Johnson got 5,921 votes, Green candidate Deanna Nicholson got 2,048 votes and Monster Raving Loony candidate Baron von Thunderclap got 352 votes.
Kristy’s campaign focused on protecting green spaces, investment in sports and arts facilities, improved healthcare, crime and supporting local businesses. She stressed the need to fight inappropriate housing development, advocated for the use of Claire Hall, Haywards Heath, to serve the arts community and family hubs in Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath to ease the strain on GPs.
Kristy also proposed working together with Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne to clamp down on crime against small businesses, rural crimes, modern slavery and domestic abuse. A supporter of Mid Sussex’s high streets and small businesses, she opposed the parking fee increases and reduction of free parking periods that has affected Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath and East Grinstead.
While on the campaign trail, Kristy stressed her support for local British farmers. She also met with a teaching union at the Burgess Hill Academy to discuss the University of Brighton Academies Trust’s budget cuts that have had a considerable impact on the school. Kristy declared her support for the teachers and students at the school, and called on the trust to cut its overheads.
After the election, Kristy commented on social media on how “precious” democracy is and commended residents for going out and voting. She quoted former US President Theodore Rooselvelt, stating that it is the struggle that counts “so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
