Peter Kyle, the Hove and Portslade constituency’s MP, visited Worthing Pier on the final Monday of March, meeting local councillors, parliamentary colleagues and party supporters at a campaign event ahead of the May local elections.
The business and trade secretary encouraged residents to maintain their party’s hold on Worthing’s council, noting his childhood connection to the area through his upbringing in Bognor.
Kyle observed that the town currently presents its best appearance in decades and emphasised the importance of continuing along the current trajectory. He recalled accompanying his mother to Worthing for shopping trips during his youth, describing it as a destination she cherished.
According to Kyle, residents of an improving town with increased vitality and ambitious development plans would naturally feel enthusiastic about their community. He suggested that the current challenge involves building on previous accomplishments by appealing to voters with a message of continued progress.
During the gathering, he addressed several subjects including housing development, protecting Labour’s position in the forthcoming May 7 council elections, the difficulties facing Worthing’s town centre and the impact of living costs.
When questioned by The Argus about whether the administration was heeding residents’ worries regarding the preservation of green spaces against Labour’s housing requirements, Kyle maintained that they were actively listening to both concerns and aspirations. He noted that individuals frequently express simultaneous desires for new housing while harbouring anxieties about location and community effects.
Kyle explained that residents are drawn to communities they appreciate in their existing state, and when communities experience swift changes without their involvement, this creates understandable unease. He stressed that this period demands strong leadership at all levels, from a prime minister committed to resolving the housing crisis to grassroots party representatives who can represent local voices and guide communities through challenging transitions.
He pointed to Brighton as evidence that public green space can expand concurrently with housing construction, citing the Moda and Sackville gardens projects alongside the city’s first new park in two generations, which features diverse recreational facilities.
At a press briefing, Kyle expressed strong confidence in safeguarding Labour’s electoral position, arguing that the administration was making significant progress and urging voters not to halt momentum before campaign pledges were fulfilled.
Addressing the emergence of Reform and the Green Party, Kyle cautioned against supporting one extreme faction merely to oppose another, positioning Labour as the mainstream option.
Sophie Cox, who leads Worthing Borough Council, expressed pride in the council’s accomplishments and gratitude for Kyle’s ongoing support during the campaign to preserve Labour control in May. She highlighted initiatives including cost of living assistance, preventive investments and securing the pier’s future.
Worthing West MP Beccy Cooper stated that regeneration was a central Labour objective, noting increased town centre footfall and welcoming the business secretary’s endorsement, with Montague Gardens development due for completion during summer.
Tom Rutland, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, welcomed the support for maintaining Labour control, pointing to achievements such as the Shoreham Flood Wall and Worthing Lido restoration. He emphasised that Labour councils, MPs and the government were collaborating effectively, with local NHS waiting lists reduced by over 20,000 and investments being made in educational, healthcare and community facilities.