Dr Benedict Dempsey, or just plain Ben to many, has been chosen by Liberal Democrat members to lead the party’s campaign to become the first directly elected Mayor of Sussex.
Ben grew up in Haywards Heath, lives in Ditchling with his family, studied at the University of Sussex, and currently works for WWF. His professional background spans humanitarian aid, nature conservation, and local politics, including four years as a Mid Sussex District Councillor.
On the Sussex And The City podcast, Ben lays out his vision for a “strategic, collaborative and green” Sussex; one in which biodiversity, bus networks and bonfire spirit matter just as much as GDP.
🎧 Listen to the full conversation now
Dempsey’s pitch for mayor, he says, is rooted in pragmatism, calm debate, and “grown-up politics.”
He knows that housing, transport and economic development will be the main KPIs of the new mayoralty, but he also makes the case that “protecting and recovering nature” isn’t just a moral issue, it’s central to our long-term economic resilience.
But he doesn't oppose more housing, arguing instead for “weaving nature into a landscape that is full of people” and using mayoral powers to ensure new developments are high-quality, low-carbon, and biodiversity-friendly.
His top priority for the first 100 days
A bus network overhaul: “If we want rural areas, young people, older people, jobseekers and tourists to all be part of Sussex’s future, we need to sort the buses out.”
🏞️ Brand Sussex matters
He’s also keen to define a new identity for Sussex; not just Brighton, or East vs West - but a joined-up, proudly distinctive region.
“There’s so much exciting potential here. We have bonfire societies and biodiversity, universities and creative industries. If we can unite behind that, we can make this place not just feel different, but work better.”
🗣️ Listening matters more than slogans
The conversation is refreshingly light on tribal politics, but heavy on tone. Dempsey knows many people are still sceptical about the new mayoral role, or haven’t even heard that it is going to happen.
But he sees that as an opportunity.
“This is a fragmented region. But that just makes listening more important. We don’t need more shouting; we need to find common ground and build something people believe in.”
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