Politics: Looking back at 2023
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As 2023 draws to a close, we inevitably look back and reflect on the events of the year.
While the threat from Covid hasn’t gone away, the difference from even two years ago in terms of how we now go about our daily lives is considerable, thanks largely to the population adhering to the restrictions we had to face at that time, coupled with a programme of vaccination against the virus.
Even so, there are still people succumbing to Covid and we all need to be vigilant and continue to exercise care as we go about our lives.
Looking back at Westminster over the past twelve months and it seems things just continue to go from bad to worse for the Conservative Government. While it would be tempting as a political opponent of that government to take some pleasure from that, the reality is that any satisfaction which may be taken from seeing one’s opponents in a state of disarray is soon dissipated by the policy consequences of that poor decision-making when you see the effect they have on people’s lives.
The economy was effectively crashed by the budget of the short-lived premiership of Liz Truss last year and we are still seeing the effects of that running throughout 2023. That Ms Truss felt able to pitch-up at the Conservative Party Conference a few short months ago and declare that she had been right all along and had simply moved “too fast” with her policy agenda betrayed her complete obliviousness to the wrecking ball she set in motion which was only stopped by the central bank throwing billions of the country’s money at the problems she and her colleagues had created.
The Covid Public Inquiry is currently ongoing and has heard some, shall we say, rather frank messages and opinions from those at the heart of the Westminster Government about what they thought about each other and what they were doing. Unsettling and as concerning as these revelations are, they are being given a serious run for their money by the ongoing Public Inquiry into the Post Office’s Horizon IT System scandal, which saw hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters accused of false accounting, theft and fraud.
There’s been enough evidence already uncovered to confirm that the Post Office knew about problems with Fujitsu’s Horizon system for years and knowledge of these faults was not disclosed to the courts when they were being invited to convict postmasters of wrongdoing.
Post Office officials essentially perverted the course of justice and, once the inquiry concludes and all the evidence is gathered in, those responsible need to be held to account for this shocking cover-up.
Locally, it’s been another busy year with meetings with interest groups and voluntary organisations, visits to local businesses, as well as arranging a Cost-of-Living advice event, a Postcode Lottery funding roadshow, a Family Fund engagement event and surgeries and one-to-ones. Not forgetting casework for constituents of course, which my casework management system tells me is very close to reaching the 10,000 case mark since I was elected in December 2019.
As we look forward to 2024, I wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and my best wishes for the New Year. I look forward to continuing to work hard as your voice in Westminster over 2024.
