Politically Speaking column by Simon Lightwood MP: My reflections on the local elections
The local election sent the government a clear message, and it’s one we have to listen to carefully. We lost some brilliant councillors, people I’m proud to call friends and that hurts. But democracy doesn’t only count when you like the outcome and I will always respect the will of voters. It’s for us to reflect and learn from what you told us.
On the doorstep, I heard real frustration. Not abstract anger, but the kind rooted in everyday life – bills, services, the feeling that change isn’t coming quickly enough. I totally get that you don’t just want to hear about progress; you want to see it, and more importantly, to feel it in your day-to-day lives.
So let me say this plainly: I hear you. If it feels like things haven’t moved fast enough in some areas, that’s a fair criticism. We chose long-term solutions over quick fixes, and while that matters for the future, I understand why it can feel slow when pressures are immediate. When you’re dealing with rising costs or stretched services, long-term can feel a long way off. That’s something we need to reflect on honestly.
I congratulate Reform on their local election success, but I have to be honest and say I have real concerns about some of the rhetoric we’ve heard, locally and nationally, and the lack of detail about what Reform would actually do for places like Wakefield. For many, that uncertainty is deeply worrying.
But what matters now is what happens next. Families across Wakefield are under real pressure, so there needs to be clarity about the £2 million school uniform support package put in place by the previous Labour council. People deserve to know that they will continue to be supported. The same is true for The Ridings, there must be a clear, credible plan for our city centre, one shaped by local people, delivering value for money and real ambition for our city. Done well, it could be transformative. Done badly, it risks becoming another missed opportunity, and Wakefield deserves better than that.
Despite our political differences, I genuinely want the council to do well. Because when it works, it’s our communities that benefit. It’s the families relying on support, residents who depend on local services, and neighbourhoods that need investment and care.
This isn’t about party politics, it’s about people’s day-to-day lives and I will always act in the interests of my constituents. That means working constructively where I can, and holding anyone in power, including Reform, to account. They’ve been elected. Now they must deliver.
It remains the greatest privilege of my life to represent Wakefield and Rothwell in Parliament. My focus is simple: to stand up for our communities, push harder for the change people want to see, and make sure that change is felt in everyday life. I’ll keep listening, speaking up, and working tirelessly on your behalf.