As the crowds on Sunday showed, Remembrance continues to be important for Horsham and unites generations. My grandfather’s generation feared that the loss of so many known to them would be forgotten as memories fade. Nothing could be further from the truth. Anniversaries, education and recent wars (smaller but no less demanding on our servicemen and women) have ensured that those who “give their todays, for our tomorrows” are remembered with thanks and pride. Collectors for the Poppy Appeal including Horsham’s Sea, Army and Air Cadets received a warm welcome in Horsham on Saturday.
The end of the First World War saw a demand for a “Land Fit for Heroes”, the end of the Second, the creation of the NHS: Universal Health Care at last available to all, free at the point of delivery. In my experience almost everyone involved in politics wants to build a better Britain and while the country has changed beyond all recognition since 1945, huge challenges remain. It was a pleasure to talk with people with a wide range of political allegiances also out in Carfax, campaigning to make Horsham a “Living Wage Town”. Their position is simple – that the “National Living Wage” being introduced by the Government is welcome but the wage increases it delivers are not sufficient in themselves, particularly in areas with a high cost of living. It is an issue we can recognise in Horsham where costs reflect the area's welcome popularity with those who choose to live here but work outside (earning on average, before travel costs, 20 per cent more than those who work in the constituency). The Government’s “Living Wage” will be a stretch for many businesses and by no means can all can go further. However many Horsham businesses already do just that and there is evidence that those who are able to invest in higher salaries do gain through in employee retention and productivity. General wage growth is finally beginning to come through, for those businesses that can go further than the national minimums there may be more to be gained.