National issues - A view from Chesterfield

At a national level, we still await a proposed solution from the Labour Party reagrding to the country's £158bn debt which they left to the succeeding government as they left office in 2010; especially when, from 2005 onwards Chesterfield Borough Council had to suffer savings of 3% per year, (which occasionally did hit £300,000), and the closure of at least 14 post offices. And yet Labour continued to spend until they left office and had the temerity to joke about it when a note was left by the outgoing Chief Secretary to Treasury, "Good Luck, there's no money left!"

We still look forward to a more compassionate and social approach to the less affluent in our society by the Conservative Party. Our policy of raising basic tax free allowance (which has risen from £6,400 to £9,200 since we have been in government) to £10,000 p.a. should benefit all lower paid workers. And our Pupil Premium already in place and delivered, directed judiciously, should support many children from less affluent homes.