I’ve been fortunate enough to have been a Solihull resident for over 25 years.

Full statement

During that time I have seen the changes in the town, some of which are very positive but others have seen us move backwards. We have had a local council which has been driving in one direction far too long. The time really has come for us to have a change. It’s needed quite badly. We have seen the delivery of local services suffer, more empty shops in the town centre, increasing traffic problems and only a half-hearted attempt to take local people’s views into account. All of these need correcting and can be tackled by greater balance on the council, which in turn can be delivered by Labour.

Just as a resurgent Labour party in Westminster has forced multiple essential U-turns from the Conservative central government, where the Conservative policy has been both wrong and out of step with the views of the country, so the same can be done locally with a stronger Labour voice.