After months of paralysis at the end of Boris Johnson’s premiership, we now have a new Prime Minister. Even though we have very different politics, I wish Liz Truss well in dealing with the enormous challenges that face our country.
The recent “mini-budget” unveiled by the Prime Minister Liz Truss and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has done huge damage to Britain’s financial credibility and spooked the markets. It aimed to reward the very richest in society at a time when everyone else will see their mortgages and general cost of living increase.
Over the summer holidays, Watford has seen some great events and I hope that you have been able to enjoy them.
It was such a joy to be able to celebrate the incredible service of Her Majesty the Queen in the recent Platinum Jubilee events. After all the difficulties of the last few years, people across Watford organised so many fantastic celebrations.
Earlier this month I was re-elected to serve as Watford’s Mayor for another four years. It is a huge honour to fulfil this role and I am so grateful to everyone who put their trust in me.
In a few days, residents across Watford will vote for their local councillors and elected mayor. At the hustings I have attended, the experience and character needed to make a good leader has been a common theme.
Like many people, I have found that the number of virtual meetings I attend has started to fall and the amount of face-to-face events gradually increasing.
In recent months there has been much coverage of the Prime Minister’s behaviour during the pandemic. In the coming weeks the police will decide if he broke rules that the Government made and Boris Johnson urged all of us to follow.
Recent figures show that prices are rising at their fastest rate in nearly 30 years. Soaring food costs and the energy bill crisis drove inflation to 5.4% in the 12 months to December. I know that this is putting even more pressure on local residents managing their budgets.
