My thoughts on the Chancellor's Spending Review announcement.
The funding settlement for policing is worse than I expected.
Of course, I welcome any funding for police but only if there is a real increase in the Government's contribution. I don't agree that any increase trumpeted by Labour should mean that I have to increase taxes for the people of Sussex to pay for their unfunded promises.
Also, if above-inflation pay settlements are agreed by Government, without any additional funding to cover them, then this will also erode any increase available for me to halve knife crime and violence against women and girls, which is what this Government expects Sussex Police to do within the next 10 years.
