MP COLUMN: “I both understand and despair at collapse of trust in political system”

“Gobaith – hope – is something that is in short supply in many parts of the world at the moment.

The outcome of the American election earlier this month was the result of many reasons.  While the challenge of being in government during a difficult economic period is a common one, the inability to connect a credible plan for better living standards with hope for the future was foremost among them.

I am a naturally optimistic person, but there are undeniably many good reasons to be downbeat about the state of the UK. The legacy of 14 years of Conservative misrule is measurably grim. While the Labour government is working quickly to shore up the public finances, unlock growth from the planning system, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, introduce stronger rights at work for employees, improve our public transport network and fix our schools and hospitals, the scale of the task ahead remains huge. It will take time for people to start feeling like the country is back on track.

The Conservatives brought trust in politics to record lows, a consequence of the failure to competently govern the country and deliver the growth needed to bring prosperity to our nations, regions, and communities. Things were not helped by the sense that many were in politics for the wrong reasons. TV crews were on the streets of Welshpool this summer not because of its heritage railway, wonderful canal walks, or historic castle, but because of the gambling scandal.

I am not a career politician, having worked as a teacher for two decades before standing for the election. I both understand and despair at the collapse of trust in our political system. There are no easy solutions to the problems we face, and voters should challenge those who claim there are. But this should not stop us from having hope in the ability of government to improve the lives of ordinary people, and of our communities to remain resilient.

There are good reasons to be upbeat too. We have a Budget that has laid the foundations for bringing investment back into the economy and fixing the NHS and other public services. We have one of the most educated workforces, a leading life sciences sector, and a creative sector that contributes equally massively to our economy and culture.

We are the second biggest exporter of services in the whole world. Investment in clean energy is at record levels which will drive down bills, improving bottom lines for businesses and lightening the burden on households.

Locally, Labour Welshpool Town Councillors Ben Gwalchmai and David France have been particularly hard at work, having installed free Wi-Fi for the town centre to widen digital accessibility, reopened the public toilets, and secured approval to put solar panels on the roof of the Tourist Information Centre.

Seeing people engage with each other to find local solutions to local problems, supported by government, is something that gives me hope.

We cannot let a positive vision of the future become the preserve of those who make promises they cannot deliver.

Politics must offer both hope that things can be better, and the means to realise it. This is what our Labour governments in Westminster and Wales hope to achieve.”