Parliament hasn’t been sitting for the last two weeks, the Queen consented to prorogation on the 29th April and on Tuesday this week a new Queen’s speech, setting out the legislative agenda for the Government was delivered by Her Majesty. It wasn’t with quite the normal level of pomp and ceremony because of social distancing but whenever the Queen comes to Parliament there is something very impressive in the way we mark a new legislative session.
The Government unveiled plans for more than 30 key laws, the Prime Minister pledged a national recovery to let people “achieve their full potential at last”. He predicted the country could “bounce forward” in prosperity and health after the pandemic with plans to release “pent-up energy” in the economy and to “level up” growth in every region of the UK. Measures include an Immigration Bill to strengthen borders, education reform to spread skills training and opportunities plus a crackdown on obesity to improve health. Steps are also included to protect free speech in colleges, to tackle a “cancel culture” being pushed by “woke” activists and measures to reform Building Safety and an Environment Bill. Alongside this, the Government faces an enormous task in rebuilding the economy after the coronavirus crisis.
Not being required to be in London has allowed me to get back out on the doorstep, hearing directly from voters, with many of the brilliant local Council candidates in the run up to the Borough Council elections last week. I’ll talk about the results shortly, but I first want to congratulate and thank everyone who put themselves forward as a candidate, whichever party (or none) they stood for. Local democracy is vitally important and the job of being a local councillor isn’t always an easy one but it’s essential to ensuring decisions reflect the will of local people.
Good (local) Government needs good (local) opposition, so the results from the elections are very welcome from a democratic perspective. The Conservative group gained 10 seats to form the official opposition with Councillors representing north, south, east and west wards across the Borough.
The Conservative opposition group is now very much focussed on holding the ruling Warrington Labour group to account over key issues like the development of the local plan and the mounting debt that has been accumulated over the past few years. At the same time we also want to work with the Council on issues that we care about collectively, like securing a new hospital and the £22m Town Deal that has been secured from the Government, which will regenerate our town and create more jobs locally. I’m looking forward to meeting regularly with both the Council Leader as well as the Leader of the opposition group, to make sure we co-ordinate our efforts when it’s in the interest of our town to do so. That’s what people expect from responsible politicians and what’s needed from the town’s leaders to get the local businesses back up and running.
Looking forward, the vaccine rollout is still moving at pace, I had my first dose earlier this week and over 1 in 3 adults have now had two doses and the majority of areas across Warrington recorded next to no new coronavirus cases over the past week. The Prime Minister has also confirmed that we will be progressing with the next stage of the roadmap on the 17th May. This will be the most significant loosening of restrictions yet, with indoor hospitality reopening and overnight stays permitted in groups of up to six people. I’d like to thank businesses, and particularly those in the hospitality industry for being patient and for adapting their operations over the past couple of months. We are on track for a great British Summer but it’s important we all stay alert and when you’re invited please get the jab!
Finally, this week is also Mental Health Awareness Week. After what has been a testing year for all of us, I want to invite you to check in with family, friends and neighbours. Mental health is just as important as our physical health, we all have it, and getting outdoors is one of the great ways to improve your state of mind. This year’s theme is nature, making the most of the green spaces we have around us – a stroll along the trans penning trail or through Sankey Valley park does wonders for both our physical and mental health.
If my team or I can assist you in anyway please do not hesitate to contact me via [email protected]. For the latest guidance and updates, you can also visit my website at www.andycarter.org.uk.
