I sometimes get asked what first drew me into politics, and my answer is always the same. It’s the ability to help people and to do something good for our country. But to do that properly what any politician needs – be they at local or national level – is to speak to those they represent.
When I go out knocking on doors what a good number of people say is that they aren’t particularly interested in politics. And I can understand why. So much of what gets reported on in the news is ‘bubble’ issues – about the comings and goings of politicians themselves, not the issues that people care about. Those issues are around being safe on the streets, the education of children and grandchildren, petrol prices, pensions, and so much more. Everybody has views on these and a huge part of what I try to do is getting out to listen to those and engage in the debate.
Whilst Parliament has been on its summer recess this year that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. Holding informal surgeries on weekdays and weekends; knocking on doors and hitting the streets in the evenings; and making sure every resident knows how they can get in touch.
And just like last summer, I made sure I was right across the borough – ensuring that I was within one mile of almost every resident’s home for my surgeries. Getting to places that are convenient and accessible for residents – not waiting for people to come to me.
As a result I’ve been able to speak with hundreds of people on local and national issues. Many of those conversations covered the big concerns people have, or the media reports they’ve seen. Issues like illegal immigration, energy bills, NHS treatment and the health of our rivers – all topics where having a conversation in-person is, as is so often the case, far better than on social media. It means there is no restriction on characters and word count that are in place on social media posts and this column, which are the enemy of informed debate.
But getting out and about isn’t just about talking policy. It’s about helping people too. Since the election in December 2019 I’ve dealt with over 15,000 cases and queries through emails, letters, phone calls and the surgeries I run; and that has grown by a further 400 this summer.
Politics is about listening and taking action, and that’s what I’m determined to keep doing.
