This year marks my first Easter as your Member of Parliament, and it’s a great time to pause and reflect on the values of renewal, hope, and faith that are at the heart of the Christian tradition.

Local elections are coming up on Thursday, May 1. These elections are an important opportunity to shape the future of Gloucestershire. The county council is responsible for a wide range of services that affect our everyday lives — from roads and public transport to social services, education and libraries. I’ve been out on the campaign trail in recent weeks supporting Labour’s local candidates. I was pleased to join Di Martin, who’s standing for Drybrook and Lydbrook. Many of you locally will know Di, she has over 37 years of experience as a district councillor and a strong track record of standing up for the Forest.

I’ve also been out with Emma Philips, our candidate for Cinderford East. Emma is seeking to replace me on the district council after I stepped down earlier this year to focus on my role as your MP. Local to the area, Emma understands the challenges people face and is ready to work hard to ensure that the voices of residents are prioritised. Emma has spent her entire life in Cinderford and her family still lives in the area.

Both Emma and Di — along with our full team of candidates — are standing because they care deeply about the Forest and the people who live here. It’s clear that people want a council that listens, acts, and puts local priorities first — not one that waits for problems to build up. That’s why I would encourage you to support our candidates in May.

Under the Conservative Government, getting a GP appointment became harder and harder, and far too many people were left waiting months for the care they needed. Our NHS staff did their best under huge pressure, but they were let down by a system that wasn’t working and a government that was failing them.

Now, we’re finally starting to see signs of change. Labour has been pushing for proper investment and reform in our NHS, and progress is being made. In recent months, over 3 million extra appointments have been delivered across the NHS, and 1 million more patients are being treated on time. More than 1,500 new GPs have been recruited - including 131 here in the South West - and waiting lists have fallen for six months in a row. I know people locally have also seen an increase in the number of NHS dentistry appointments becoming available, including in Lydney with Imperial Dentistry accepting new patients.

There’s still a long way to go, with the Government continuing to consult on changes to the NHS. But this is a step in the right direction, and it shows what can be achieved with a serious plan and the political will to back it. As always, if you have any concerns or need help with a particular issue, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected].