It’s not often that Sussex finds itself on the front pages of The Sun, The Mail, The Guardian, and The Times on the same day – let alone for days in a row. But this past week, Hove has become the unlikely epicentre of a national political scandal.
And the media can't decide whether Hove is in East Sussex, West Sussex, is a place by itself or is just a suburb of Brighton. Even BBC Radio 4 declared that the place might be synonymous with political conferences, but the country doesn't really know much about it.
The story of Angela Rayner's mistake over tax affairs has fallen on lazy tropes when it comes to the Sussex story. Leafy, grand, 'snobby' Hove is seen as the antithesis of the northern, working class grit that Rayner is thought to represent. Living in Sussex (and it does all get lumped in) = 'selling out'.
Is it time to reclaim the more nuanced story about life in Sussex, and what it has to offer anyone who wants to build a life here?
From headlines to handovers
But beyond the sensational headlines, there might be much bigger implications for Sussex and the wider region.
With Rayner's resignation and the subsequent cabinet reshuffle, it was confirmed that both Angela Rayner and Jim McMahon are stepping away from their roles at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), where they have jointly overseen the devolution and local government brief since Labour’s election.
Rayner, as Deputy Prime Minister, has had an unusually hands-on role in shaping England’s new regional governance map – including plans for the Sussex and Brighton Mayoral Combined Authority, due to hold its first election in May 2026.
McMahon has been the junior minister responsible for the detail: boundary reviews, governance frameworks, and negotiations with local leaders.
With both now exiting the scene, the devolution baton is being passed. Steve Reed MP, Croydon politician and previously Defra secretary and known for his urban reform advocacy, is taking over the department, while Florence Eshalomi MP has been confirmed as the new minister for local government and devolution.
Reed will know Sussex well, and may have his own perspective on the Croydon-Gatwick-Brighton-Shoreham Port economic corridor that many people are hoping devolution and local government reform will now supercharge.
So what does this mean for Sussex?
The transition may not alter the direction of devolution policy – Labour has staked a great deal on its “Take Back Control” agenda, with English regional mayors central to its vision. But it could impact the tone and timeline.
Rayner’s strong, centralising influence – and her commitment to pressing ahead with the English Devolution Bill – provided a clear political signal to Whitehall and local authorities alike. In her absence, negotiations may shift in emphasis, especially around the interplay between devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR).
McMahon, meanwhile, had built rapport with county leaders and metro mayor offices. His exit creates a gap in continuity just as several business cases – including Sussex’s – are due to land on ministerial desks this autumn.
This may be a curveball we don't need right now or it may create new opportunities for influence if the incoming team is more open to flexible models of governance.
Whatever the outcome, it’s a reminder that devolution – like house prices – is never just a local story.
Answers on a postcard please!
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