Alison Bennett Presents ‘Stop the Stitch-Up’ Petition to House of Commons

Lib Dem MP for Mid Sussex, Alison Bennett MP, presented her ‘Stop the Stitch-Up’ petition to the House of Commons on 7 January, following government announcements to cancel both the inaugural Sussex mayoral election and upcoming county council elections.

At the beginning of December, months after campaigning started, the government announced it would postpone the inaugural Sussex mayoral election by two years. Then, on the final sitting day before the Christmas recess, ministers revealed that councils due to hold elections in May 2026 would be invited to request delays. This announcement came just weeks after ministers had reassured Lib Dem MP for Lewes, James MacCleary, in the House of Commons that local elections would proceed as planned.

This decision will impact people across Sussex. For Alison’s constituents in Mid Sussex, this decision has meant that Labour subsequently asked Conservative-run West Sussex County Council whether it wished to delay its county council elections for a second consecutive year. West Sussex County Council has now indicated its intention to request such a delay by the 15 January deadline.

Responding to the news before Christmas, Alison Bennett MP said: “I, like many people in Sussex, am opposed to these elections being postponed. This is undemocratic, undermines public trust, and denies residents their right to have a say in how their areas are run.

“So much time, energy and money have already gone into preparations for these elections. At a time when ordinary people are being told by the Treasury to tighten their belts, this blatant disregard for value for money is irresponsible.

“Residents are being let down from both sides. The Labour government has gone back on its word, and, like a turkey being asked to vote for Christmas, the Conservatives have asked for elections to be delayed, which will come as no surprise to many people.”

Following these announcements, Alison launched her ‘Stop the Stitch-Up’ petition, which has attracted signatures from frustrated residents across Sussex who are deeply concerned about the cancellation of elections. On Wednesday, she formally presented the petition in the House of Commons to asking the government to reject any requests from West Sussex County Council for a delay to its elections.

After the petition was presented, Alison Bennett, MP for Mid Sussex, said: “Residents in Mid Sussex and across the county are, like me, rightly angry about this decision.

People deserve the right to vote, and we will continue to demand that they get to exercise that right.”

Alison's presentation of the petition to Parliament can be viewed here.