Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote last week whoever you decided to vote for. Our Mayor Norma Redfearn’s third successive win with an increased majority represents a huge mandate for continuing to deliver positive change across all communities in North Tyneside.  But with mixed results across the country it is clear that both main parties face new challenges.

Returning to Westminster, this week saw a new Queen’s Speech where the Government of the day sets out its legislative programme for the year ahead. The test of this Queen’s Speech is whether it’s programme can address the new challenges the pandemic has brought into the spotlight.  COVID revealed the effects of a decade of underfunding of the NHS and showed how poorer communities with poor housing suffered most.  

The pandemic also highlighted the insecurity of many jobs in the economy. Again many of the poorest and most vulnerable were hardest hit financially But people working in the Gig economy, hospitality and the self employed who may have accepted their jobs entailed some risk were fully exposed to just how unsecure they were.  

It is perhaps Social Care which particularly came into the spotlight Successive Government’s knew social care had to be reformed. The Prime Minister said on the steps of Downing Street he had a plan to deal with social care and yet any costed plan is missing from the Queen’s Speech. 

We saw a Queen’s Speech full of the Government’s promises for the year ahead. The real test of leadership now is whether they are serious about delivering.