The gap between us and and our elected representatives seems to get ever wider.

Full statement

We need a new kind of politics based around our national interest and, crucially, based on a wide and continuing public debate about what that interest is.

The public are fed up of tick box consultation exercises where governments at the local and national level pretend to listen to ordinary people. And it's not good enough for politicians to simply say "the science says" this or "the markets say" that so there is no alternative. We need a real political dialogue where ideas can be contested and debated. This has to start at the local level.

Councillors often claim they can't control the biggest part of their budget as it's spent on statutory services mandated by central Government. But when councils look to outsource all service provision to private companies, often owned abroad by or venture capital, we can and should challenge our rising council taxes going to line the pockets of shareholders. Providing more services in-house would mean councils can be truly accountable for their budgets. This can't be done overnight but even small steps would increase the knowledge available in-house meaning councils are better able to negotiate with external providers.

Of course in local elections, residents are concerned about potholes, waste collection, green spaces and our streets. In all of these areas councils need to be held accountable but they also need to work with communities to support ground up responses and actions that give residents a real sense of ownership.

I'm standing as a councillor in Sale Central to argue for these ideas so we can own our community.