For decades before 2019 politics in Burnley and Padiham wasn’t what it should have been. We had MPs more interested in their careers in London, ignoring referendum results, using their expenses to benefit them personally, talking our area down, and generally ignoring Burnley and Padiham.
I was determined to change this. Since becoming your MP in 2019 I’ve spoken to thousands of you not only about our proud history, as one of the big northern mill towns where the industrial revolution started, but about our future too. About what we can achieve together if we have a plan and stick to it.
An expanding College rated number 1 in the country; a full university campus taking shape with a focus on engineering and cyber security; the town centre being redesigned and regenerated in Burnley and Padiham; flood defences to keep us safe; crime coming down with more officers on our streets; the hospital getting the money it needs to tackle the backlog and invest in our future healthcare; and businesses backed to the hilt as they create jobs and support our borough.
That’s our plan, and despite the headwinds caused by the pandemic, war, and inflation, we are now on track and making progress.
And it’s that long term plan that was the focus this week when, for the third time in 12 months, the Prime Minister visited Burnley.
Burnley is synonymous with engineering excellence and manufacturing. It’s what we have always done because we’re good at it. So when the Prime Minister contacted me and said he wanted to come back to Burnley, to see more of our area, it was this that jumped into my mind. He’s seen our rural areas when he was out knocking on doors with me, visited our community groups in Burnley Boys & Girls Club, and so showing him what we make was next on the list.
Visiting Veka he saw what it meant, in real life, to say that we are now the 8th largest manufacturer in the world. The skills and passion we have for what we do. And Veka is just one example of so many more across our borough.
I can’t remember any other Prime Minister showing as much interest in our home as Rishi has, and as policy is being made on everything from the economy to education, that makes a difference. It means we are at the forefront of Government’s mind, as I always said we should be. That’s my mission as your voice in Westminster.