Victoria Carson lives in Bexhill South and is not a career councillor.

Full statement

She spent three decades building a career in film and television production finance - ending up as a financial controller responsible for supervising production accountants through government audits on multi-million pound projects. She understands exactly how public money should be managed. And she can see that East Sussex County Council has not been managing it well.

As a member of the Rother Forum - which brings residents together directly with the police, local GPs, and charities - Victoria knows what Bexhill residents are dealing with: social care waiting lists that are too long, a seafront and town centre that deserve better investment, parking that is damaging local trade, and a county council that has borrowed £211 million and still cannot fix the roads.

Victoria is standing because the De La Warr Pavilion, the seafront, and Bexhill’s identity as a destination worth visiting deserve a county councillor who will fight for them - and because residents who need care deserve a council that has the financial discipline to fund it properly. A member of the Production Guild of Great Britain, Victoria is a quilt-maker, enthusiastic cook of world cuisine, and a reluctant golfer.

On 7th May, Victoria is ready to put three decades of financial expertise to work for Bexhill South.

Our plan to fix East Sussex

Fix Council Finances

• East Sussex County Council plans to borrow £70 million just to cover day-to-day
  costs - not to improve services - adding around £3 million a year in interest, with total
  debt at £211 million despite maximum council tax rises.
• Residents who budget and live within their means deserve a council that does the
  same - properly managing finances and balancing the books.

Cut Waste - Spend What Remains Wisely

• Millions are spent on consultants, administration, and management layers; Reform
  will review all discretionary spending within 90 days and redirect funds to social care,
  the seafront and services residents can see.
• Residents deserve full transparency over every pound spent, with decisions led by
  accountable councillors working alongside council officers.

Fix Our Roads For Good

• East Sussex pays out hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation each year
  because temporary fixes replace proper repairs - dangerous for elderly residents and
  costing more in the long term.
• We will review the highways contract and its repair specifications, push for more
  durable county-wide repairs, and consider all contract options to deliver better value.

Prioritise What Bexhill South Actually Needs

• New housing must include the roads, drainage and infrastructure to support it -
  without it, developers profit while residents face congestion, and worsening roads,
  pressure on schools and GP surgeries.
• East Sussex County Council is a statutory consultee on major planning applications. As your county councillor, Victoria Carson will oppose developments
  lacking proper infrastructure and ensure local concerns are fully represented.

Why Party Matters

• Independents cannot shape policy, set budgets or influence decisions at scale - they
  lack the structure to deliver change across the council.
• Real change requires a coordinated team with a clear plan - able to influence policy,
  challenge decisions, and deliver results for residents.

Why Reform UK
Last year, your current county councillors voted to cancel this election, denying Bexhill South residents a voice. Reform UK challenged this in the High Court and restored your vote.

Reform UK’s candidates are a fresh team of capable people who have seen council failures first-hand – and are standing to bring practical experience, challenge poor decisions, and push for better outcomes for residents.

Reform UK is committed to:

• Keeping the NHS free and reducing waiting lists.
• Protecting pensions, including protecting the triple lock for pensioners.
• Supporting children with SEND.
• Protecting the environment.
• Cutting energy bills, reducing wasteful government spending, and helping households keep more of what they earn.