This year’s local government elections come at a crunch time for Worcestershire County Council.

Full statement

And your vote holds the key to our future here in Evesham.

We have a new government in Westminster which is determined to slash funding to rural counties and the rural economy. At the same time, we face an increased burden on our local communities and infrastructure with a massive increase in housebuilding and new taxes on our farms and businesses.

We’re also facing the prospect of considerable upheaval as the outcome of top-down plans to reorganise local government across the country.

Your Conservative team here in Evesham, all the way through from our town and district councillors as well as county councillors and our MP, work effectively together and are determined to stand up for what matters to our residents.

We’ve kept the county’s share of your council tax to the 3rd lowest in the country. But that’s not through cutting services, it’s through careful financial planning and focussing our spending where it’s really needed. We’ve invested a record £64 million in our highway network, dealing with potholes and improving active travel options.

But all this is at risk if we lose control of the county council in May. You only have to look north to our neighbours in bankrupt Birmingham City Council to see the dangers of letting Labour take the reins.

The choice here is between Labour and the Conservatives, and a vote for any other party will risk letting Labour in.

This election isn't a referendum on national policies. It's about choosing who you want to represent you on the county council.

I'm standing for re-election because I care about this town, and I care about working hard to make sure we get the best outcome for all of us. I'm not going to make impossible promises that I can wave a magic wand and fix everything. But I will promise to be working hard for you, every day, every week, every month and every year of the next council term.

That’s why I hope I can count on your support.