#11: Why I Want To Be Mayor (Part One)
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– Episode 11: Why I Want To Be Mayor (Part One)
Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Sally-Ann Hart – former MP for Hastings & Rye
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🔍 Episode summary
This week, Richard meets someone who actively wants to lead devolution in Sussex and Brighton. Sally-Ann Hart, the former Conservative party MP for Hastings & Rye, is seeking her party's nomination to become the first directly elected mayor for the region.
They discuss why she wants the job, what she learned representing one of the UK’s most deprived constituencies, and her priorities for a region grappling with inequality, infrastructure gaps, and identity.
Sally-Ann reflects on her time in Parliament during the COVID-19 pandemic, her passion for early intervention, and how she thinks coastal towns like Hastings have been misunderstood and overlooked for too long.
🎯 Why this matters for devolution
This is the first time on the podcast we’ve heard directly from someone who wants the mayoralty – and the power that comes with it. Sally-Ann outlines how she’d approach leadership of a 1.7 million–strong region, and makes the case that:
The mayor must unite coastal, urban, and rural communities
Economic growth and job creation must be priority one
Existing skills strategies can be scaled, not reinvented
Private investment and local pride are key tools for regeneration
Data and accountability must be baked into the new system
🧠 Topics include:
What a regional mayor could do that councils can’t
Lessons from Hastings and the challenge of changing culture
Coastal regeneration, the blue economy, and green jobs
The need for tailored plans, not blanket policies
Dealing with political division and bringing partners together
Building trust, dashboards, and visibility for the mayor’s office
📚 Further reading and references:
- Sally-Ann Hart (Wikipedia)
- Sally-Ann Hart (They Work For You profile)
- All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coastal Communities (APPG)
- Levelling Up the South East – APPG Inquiry Report
🎧 Production credits
Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Sally-Ann Hart Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue Recorded at: Projects: The Lanes, Brighton
📣 Get involved
Want to help reimagine democracy, identity and regional change in Sussex? Join the conversation and find resources at sussexandthecity.info
12 episodes