While we always try to ensure we cope with whatever happens to us in life., I was concerned to read new analysis that has revealed working people in Crawley have taken a hammering in 2022.

This new analysis, based on research by the TUC, reveals that wages of the average worker in Crawley Borough has dropped by a staggering £77.72  a month – that’s £932.64 a year – in real terms over 2022.  This is the biggest wage squeeze in almost half a century.

This year, working people in Crawley have seen inflation hit 11%, taxes hit their highest level in 70 years and NHS waiting lists hit record highs – over 7 million across the country are now waiting for care, yet many of our public services give every sign that they are on the verge of collapse.

After 12 years of Conservative rule, our country is in a mess, and hardworking people are ending the year struggling to heat their homes.  But Labour has a plan to get Britain going again, built around a Green Prosperity Plan to bring down bills, boost growth and create a million jobs to help places like Crawley win the high skilled high paid roles of the future.

The Tory Government this year offered Crawley one million pounds through the “Shared Prosperity Fund”, the smallest allocation possible.  No, it’s not going to every deprived area across the country, it’s clear from what we already know that the lion’s share is going to so-called “red wall” seats further north.

There are significant pockets of deprivation in Crawley and a million pounds doesn’t remotely reflect the scale of that.  It lacks fairness, like Crawley is being put last in the queue.

It is also frustrating because if there was more money, we could be doing a lot more.  In public spending terms, in fighting inequality, one million pounds won’t even touch the sides.

This is a great country, being held back by a failing Tory government.  But there is a cure – a Labour government, and that’s what Crawley Labour will be fighting to deliver through 2023.

Cllr Michael Jones

Leader, Crawley Borough Council