The
Conservative Party,
Liberal Democrats,
Green Party,
Labour Party and
Reform UK have all announced candidates. One
independent candidate, Martin Webb, is also standing.
Conservative Party The
Conservative Party selected
Katy Bourne as their candidate in July 2025. She has been the
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner since 2012.
Green Party In October 2025, the
Green Party of England and Wales announced that their
deputy leader Rachel Millward, had been selected as their candidate. Millward has officially been the deputy leader of
Wealden District Council since May 2025, although in practice she co-leads the council alongside the Liberal Democrat leader James Partridge, with the two swapping official titles annually since 2023.
Independent candidates Martin Webb will stand as an independent candidate. Webb is an entrepreneur and former business columnist for
The Sunday Telegraph.
Labour Party The
Labour Party announced that Caroline Baxter had been selected as their candidate in November 2025. Baxter represents Central ward and Worthing East ward on
Worthing Borough Council and
West Sussex County Council respectively.
Liberal Democrats The
Liberal Democrats announced that Ben Dempsey had been selected as their candidate in September 2025. Dempsey was a councillor for Hassocks ward on
Mid Sussex District Council between 2019 and 2023, and finished in second place in the
East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency at the 2024 general election.
Reform UK Reform UK announced Paul Linehan as their candidate in November, noting his background as a former soldier, bus driver, police officer and university lecturer, and his current roles as a business owner and West Sussex county councillor. ==References==