This week in Parliament we have seen the final round of the Conservative leadership contest. A contest which will ultimately decide who takes over the reins at Number 10. And, who continues with our mission to improve the lives and livelihoods of you and your family.
We need a government that focuses on the needs of people in Burnley and Padiham, and a representative who is willing to roll up their sleeves and bring tangible change to our borough. This thought process has been front and centre of my mind since I became your MP in 2019 and will continue for however long I have the privilege of serving.
Many a time I have said that our part of the country has been left behind and it stands true. But with the monumental shift delivered here under three years ago, change is already happening. Every time I travel down to Westminster the aim is to get Parliament focusing on our needs. And it’s working. Whether that’s bumping up the level of investment – seen most recently with the £20 million Levelling Up Fund; a new state of the art leisure and retail complex at Pioneer Place; or immediate help with the cost of living through targeted support grants. Government is on the side of working people and my job is to keep the focus on our borough.
But it’s also about feeling safe on the streets, accessing a GP when you need one, or having confidence that your children or grandchildren are receiving an education that will set them up for a prosperous future. And in the here and now, help to deal with the cost of living. I understand and share all these points. And have been using the voice given to me by the people of our borough to call for and deliver exactly that. It’s been the case with Boris Johnson as the Prime Minister and will also be the case with whoever becomes the new PM; they too will hear the voice of Burnley and Padiham loud and clear.
Because although the curtain has now fallen on Boris, watching and speaking to those who seek to replace him, I am confident that whoever does take over will share my focus on dealing with the cost of living, spreading opportunities and getting our local economy moving again. Making life better for every resident. Not business as usual, but a determination to see places like Burnley and Padiham thrive.
