Lib Dems warn Sunak’s National Service plan would cost Horsham £1 million

The Liberal Democrats have warned that Conservative plans to bring back National Service would lead to cuts in vital services for Horsham.

The Conservatives have said their plans would be paid for by slashing investment in local areas that comes through the Shared Prosperity Fund. From 2028-29 it has funded projects that boost jobs and living standards, improve public services and build pride in local communities.

This fund has brought £1 million in funding to Horsham District from 2022 to 2025. Just some of the funded projects and initiatives include:

• Horsham’s Health & Wellbeing Centre in Swan Walk, where residents can learn to make small changes to their health and wellbeing routines which in turn make big differences to their lives;
• Green LEAP Small Business Grant Scheme, which provides businesses up to £5,000 towards climate-friendly projects; and
• Plate up Local and Sussex Six local food and drink campaigns, which encourage food shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants to sell and serve local Sussex ingredients and products.

The Liberal Democrats said it showed the Conservative Party had completely the wrong priorities, and called on the government to reverse their plans to slash troop numbers by 10,000 instead.

Liberal Democrat parliamentary Candidate for Horsham, John Milne commented:

“It looks like this National Service scheme is another hasty, back-of-the-envelope idea that has no chance of working in practice. What’s worse is that it would actually cost Horsham money.

“The way they’re looking to pay for this is by slashing the Shared Prosperity Fund, which has brought £1 million to Horsham in the last few years. 

“If the Conservatives were serious about Britain’s security they would reverse their plan to cut the Army by 10,000 troops. Now that would actually make us safer!”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Funding by area provided through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus/ukspf-allocations