Politically speaking column with Jade Botterill MP: My belief in our community's future
On Monday, Keir Starmer announced his resignation as Prime Minister. It was a brave decision.
Looking back on what the Labour Government achieved in his two years as Prime Minister, there is a great deal he can be proud of, made possible by his commitment to our country.
NHS waiting lists are the lowest for three years, and are falling faster than any time in the last 17. There are more than 3,000 extra neighbourhood police now on our streets, with new powers to ensure they can tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
Net migration is down by 75 per cent since the election, and we’ve removed 70,000 people with no right to be here while closing over half of asylum hotels.
Record numbers of children and young people can now access mental health support in school or college, and we’ve invested in school rebuilding to ensure they can learn in safe, modern classrooms.
Funding for the special educational needs system has been increased as we reform it so it actually works for families, and children, while working parents have gained flexibility through new free childcare and free breakfast clubs.
We increased the National Living Wage, ensuring that working people’s pay rose more in Labour’s first year than ten years of the Tories, and delivered the Youth Guarantee to help young people get on the career ladder.
We protected the vulnerable, improving housing support for care leavers, veterans, and domestic abuse survivors, and took action to reduce violence against women and girls.
We acted to ensure people have dignity, safety, and choice at work, banning exploitative zero hours contracts and ‘fire and rehire’ practices while strengthening rights to flexible working and parental leave.
We have remained steadfast in our support for Ukraine, while resisting the calls of opposition parties and global leaders to enter the Iran War. We’ve seen the consequences of Trump’s War on people’s energy bills and at petrol stations, and while others were desperate to follow him blindly into conflict, I am glad we had the courage to stay out.
What Starmer has achieved in just two years against a tough global backdrop gives the next Prime Minister a far easier inheritance than the one he received, and many of the long-term changes we have made will soon start to be felt directly.
I respect his decision to step away, as well as the dignity and grace with which he had handled the last week.
I know that the next Prime Minister will share his commitment to public service, and bring fresh energy and perspective to build upon and further these achievements.
While the achievements above are real, and I am proud that people in our area are being treated quicker and being paid better because of this government, there is still more to do to deliver the change that our community voted for in 2024.
I won’t lose my belief in our community’s future, or my focus on making it happen. Whether it's through helping your elderly neighbour with their shopping, or volunteering to coach your kid’s football team on the weekend, neither should you.