So once again we are to have a General Election The campaign is off and running in Telford. Leaflets are printed, posters going up and people getting into the spirit.
It was only two years ago that Telford people went to the polls and did me the great honour of electing me as Telford’s Member of Parliament. I have been getting stuck into the job with relish, standing up for Telford in Parliament and giving my all for my constituents.
In ordinary circumstances the last thing on anyone’s mind would be another election. But since May 2015 the political world has shifted on its axis.
We voted to leave the European Union, a new Prime Minster took office and Article 50 was triggered, making Brexit irrevocable.
Elections are sometimes about personalities, sometimes about key local issues and sometimes about Party policies. This election is different in every way. This election is like no other. It bigger than personalities, it’s bigger than party politics and while Telford faces key local issues, this election will not decide them.
This election is an election we have to have for the good of the country. In my lifetime it is unique.
It’s about Britain’s future in the world. This election is to ensure our Prime Minister has the best possible negotiating hand in Brexit negotiations and a clear majority in Parliament. It’s about putting country first and ensuring we have a strong, stable leadership to take Britain forward.
From the day she took office and stood on steps of Downing Street, Theresa May made clear she understood what matters to people in Telford. She said: “If you’re from an ordinary working class family, life is much harder than many people in Westminster realise. You can just about manage but you worry about the cost of living and getting your kids into a good school. I know you’re working around the clock, I know you’re doing your best, and I know that sometimes life can be a struggle. The government I lead will be driven not by the interests of the privileged few, but by yours."
Theresa May is on our side and has strong support amongst communities like ours. This support deserves to be converted, by means of a General Election, into a strong mandate to deliver for Telford and deliver for Britain.