Prospective Lib Dem MP James MacCleary has called sewage dumping by water companies “one of the great scandals in modern Britain” as he set out his goals should he make it to Parliament.
Former Lewes council leader Mr MacCleary is looking to oust Tory health minister Maria Caulfield, with polls putting the Lib Dems marginally ahead in the race for the seat.
Now, the Newhaven resident says he wants to push for reform in the way water companies operate – as well as “banging the drum” for the constituency on the national stage.
Mr MacCleary said: “I think the way the water companies operate is one of the great scandals in modern Britain.
“The issue with sewage is really distressing to hear about and has really shocked people. In a wealthy, advanced country we are just dumping sewage into our rivers.
“I take my children to the beach for a paddle and I know I’m not the only parent who is considering whether they should be in that water.”
‘We want to put pressure on in a co-operative way’
Alongside sewage, Mr MacCleary, currently a councillor for Lewes District and East Sussex County Council, cited fighting child poverty and calling for better health facilities in the constituencies as two big passions of his.
Speaking on how he sees the role of the Liberal Democrats in the next Parliament, he added that the party could be one of the big sources of opposition to a Labour government.
He said: “I think we will play a big role in holding the new Labour government to account.
“We have a very positive manifesto that we want Labour to follow suit on.
“We want to put pressure on in a co-operative way. We want to present a distinctive liberal voice in parliament.”
On child poverty, Mr MacCleary said he had seen an increase in the number of people being forced to use food banks in Lewes, Seaford, Newhaven and other communities within the constituency.
For him, part of the solution to fighting child poverty would be to remove the two-child cap on benefits implemented by the Conservatives in 2017.
He said: “People feel the government is treating them like criminals and the two-child benefit cap is emblematic of that.
“People have to claim extra and it simply isn’t enough. More people are being forced to use food banks and the system view is that everything is getting harder and no one is trying to help.”
‘We need to adapt to climate change’
The Argus also pressed Mr MacCleary on environmental issues – in particular the threat of coastal erosion on seaside communities.
It comes around a month after a rock fall in Newhaven metres away from a mobile home park – and the councillor called plans for more coastal homes in the area “incredible”.
He said: “The wider issue is how we need to adapt to climate change. We have seen these more extreme storms first hand and we need to face up to the fact that adaptation is needed.
“Parts of the A259 are a matter of metres away from the cliffs and incredibly in Harbour Heights they want to build 400 new homes near the cliffs.”
In response to the threat of climate change, Mr MacCleary wants to increase the UK’s renewable energy output. Closer to home in Lewes, he would provide more support to farmers as well as invest in the infrastructure for electric vehicles.
‘I want to bang the drum for the area’
Ms Caulfield won the seat from Norman Baker and the Lib Dems in 2015 and, despite more recent success in local and national government, the seat has historically been predominantly blue.
Despite this, Mr MacCleary feels that – through strong Lib Dem politics locally and tactical voters aiming to oust the Tories – now is the time for change.
He said: “We have ended up with this weird space where some people are deciding whether to vote for Reform or me which feels weird.
“I want to bang the drum for the area. That’s what I have done and what I will continue to do.
“I’ll make the argument for the things we need whether that’s health hubs or stopping sewage or getting transport investment, I will be making the case for our residents to the government, not the other way around.”
Lewes residents and constituents across Sussex will go to the polls on July 4 to decide on their next MP.
Maria Caulfield’s office did not respond to requests for an interview.
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