We are now just days away from the local elections, where voters face a choice at the ballot box over who runs vital local public services.
Of course, the irony of every local election is that national issues often dominate.
Many voters will use it as an opportunity to punish a government that crashed the economy and is forcing hard-working families to pay the price through higher mortgages and record inflation.
And Labour will certainly want voters to be thinking about their positive offer to help families deal with the cost-of-living crisis.
Council tax is a good example of a local issue that is largely driven by national factors, with most councils forced to increase it by five per cent because of an ongoing government squeeze on national funding.
But despite being hit hardest by reductions, Labour-controlled councils have a proud record of charging on average £345 less than Conservative councils.
“The irony of every local election is that national issues often dominate”
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has announced that he would have introduced a one-year freeze for all council tax bills, paid for with a proper windfall tax on oil and gas giants.
Finally, while I obviously hope voters elect many more Labour councillors on 4 May, I nevertheless want to offer my best wishes and good luck to councillors of all parties and none that are standing for re-election.
All councillors deserve recognition for the work they put in for their communities, so, whatever your result, a big thank you for your service.
