This week, the Westminster news cycle was dominated by discussion of Thursday’s local elections. Pundits and politicians alike have spilled much ink and expended many column inches analysing these results, speculating – often wildly – about what these disparate local stories might tell us about the national picture. In all of this noise, it’s easy to lose sight of the realities of the public mood. I spent much of the week campaigning in North Hertfordshire, speaking to local people in Hitchin and the villages to find out their feelings about where the country is heading. This was a great opportunity to discuss both local and national issues, touching on everything from foreign policy to bin collections. Being a listening ear, on issues big and small, is one of the most important roles that MPs can play in their local communities.
Wherever I went and whoever I spoke to, I was struck by the level of engagement. There’s plenty of enthusiasm for the progress that this Government is making on bringing down inflation and driving economic growth. People that I spoke to were pleased with the protections that we're putting in place for our local environment, and many supported our ongoing campaign to extend the Chiltern Hills National Landscape into North Hertfordshire. People across North Hertfordshire are rightly proud of our patch, and are willing to listen to a wide variety of perspectives on how we can make our area even better.
It would be disingenuous to pretend that this year's locals didn't present a mixed picture for the Government. Long-serving Governments often face difficult conditions in mid-term local elections. In some parts of the country, frustrations with national politics manifested themselves locally. In others, the focus was on narrower local concerns.
Yet regardless of all of this, I firmly believe that our economy has turned a corner, and is on the right track to success. When I spoke to people on the doors, they respected the steps that the Government has taken towards our economic recovery, and appreciated the measures that we've taken at recent fiscal events to allow working-age people to keep more of their money, including our cuts to National Insurance. We can still do more, and I'll continue to work alongside my ministerial colleagues to ensure that we continue to deliver on the priorities of the British people.
That process starts with listening, taking on board the concerns that people have with our direction of travel, and building an agenda that takes people along with us. Both at the national level and here in Hertfordshire, I'm committed to that task.