The Sussex And The City Podcast

– Episode 16:

Why I Want To Be Mayor (Parts Two & Three)

Host: Richard Freeman Guests: Tim Loughton – former MP for East Worthing & Shoreham Paul Marshall – Leader of West Sussex County Council

This episode is brought to you in partnership with:

Different Hats – founded by Sam Thomas in 2024, Different Hats brings together 20 years of helping Sussex businesses tell stories that convert. From producing over 100 podcast episodes to hosting live events and building a powerful network of regional leaders, they’re shaping authentic storytelling that sparks change. 👉 different-hats.co.uk

🔍 Episode summary

Richard sits down with two heavyweight West Sussex Conservative figures — Tim Loughton and Cllr Paul Marshall — who until August were both contenders for the party’s Sussex mayoral nomination. Though neither are in the race now as Katy Bourne secures the nomination, their perspectives reveal much about what’s at stake as Sussex prepares for devolution.

Tim draws on 27 years in Parliament to argue that a Sussex mayor could finally secure the infrastructure and investment the county he feels it has long been denied. Paul, meanwhile, reflects on his time as leader of West Sussex County Council, emphasising productivity, connectivity and collaboration as the pillars of a future Sussex economy.

Between Westminster experience and local government pragmatism, both men paint different but overlapping pictures of what Sussex needs from its first mayor - and the risks if we don’t get it right.

🎯 Why this matters

"We’re the seventh largest economy in England, but we’ve seen so much money drain to the Treasury without enough coming back. Sussex needs far greater control over how we invest in our own infrastructure. That’s why I became a convert to devolution — because other metro mayors are getting things done that I could never achieve as an MP." – Tim Loughton

"Connectivity leads to opportunity. Poor connectivity leads to poor outcomes. If you can’t move easily across Sussex — east to west, north to south — you can’t unlock productivity or create the standard of living people deserve. A mayor’s role is to convene, to align ambitions, and to deliver on that long-term." – Cllr Paul Marshall

🧠 Topics covered include:

• Why Sussex should see itself as one county, not fragments

• Lessons from Manchester, Liverpool and other devolved regions

• The A27, housing pressures, and the talent drain

• Why productivity in Sussex lags behind the South East

• The balance between economic growth and inclusion

• How devolution could fix fragmented decision-making

• The mayor as convener: collaboration not command

• Risks of over-politicisation and the need for public trust

 

🎧 Production credits

Host: Richard Freeman Guests: Tim Loughton & Cllr Paul Marshall Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue Recorded at: Projects: The Lanes, Brighton

📣 Get involved

Want better public communication in Sussex? Want to help shape devolution in a way people understand? 👉 sussexandthecity.info – for more episodes, resources and events.