It was great to be in Manchester last month for the Conservative Party Conference. Over four days, we heard some genuinely ambitious policy announcements that matter for Eastbourne.
One standout measure is the plan to abolish stamp duty on primary residences. Stamp duty is a bad tax that stops people from moving to homes better suited to their needs, prevents families from living closer to work, and locks first-time buyers out of the market. Scrapping it removes a real barrier for young people in Eastbourne trying to get on the property ladder, and helps keep the housing market moving.
Another significant commitment is scrapping business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure. For our town centre and seafront economy, which depends so heavily on these sectors, this could be transformative. It's always been one of the top asks from local businesses, and has real potential to bring life back to our high streets.
The party also announced a new fiscal golden rule with half of the money in identified savings going towards reducing national debt, which Labour are currently growing at £190 billion a year. Alongside welfare reforms that will save £23 billion by tightening eligibility, this offers a clearer path to sustainable public finances than we've seen for some time.
Other announcements included 10,000 additional police officers to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, and a review of IR35 tax rules to cut red tape for the self-employed and small businesses.
On borders, a commissioned report by Lord Wolfson KC concluded that the UK must leave the ECHR to regain full control over immigration policy, marking an important position for the next Conservative government.
What struck me most was the substance behind these proposals. These are the kind of practical policies that can make a real difference to people's lives in Eastbourne, and I look forward to seeing them delivered when we're back in government.
