A new direction for the country and a better deal for Calderdale

So when I received a letter from the prime minister Andy Burnham setting out his plan to 'rewire' the way Britain works, I felt encouraged. It's early days. There is a huge amount still to do. But a start has been made – and a good one. Cost of living has to sit at the heart of this. Families here in Calderdale are feeling squeezed – they feel it at the till, at the meter, on the bus. So it matters that VAT is being temporarily removed from domestic electricity bills from October, giving millions of households some breathing room. Transport matters too, and here Calderdale stands to gain. From January 2027, single bus fares across England outside London will be capped at £2. From April, disabled people will be able to use concessionary passes free, day or night. This builds on what Mayor Tracy Brabin has already achieved – lower fares, buses coming back under public control. Burnham's interventions will push that further still, towards the affordable, reliable service our communities deserve. Because buses aren't a luxury. For too many people, they're the only thing connecting them to a job, a hospital appointment, a college course. For many people, they're a lifeline. Burnham's bigger project is about pulling power out of Whitehall and putting it back where it belongs – closer to the people it affects. The creation of No. 10 North in Manchester says that loudly. For Calderdale, greater devolution should mean investment, jobs, better infrastructure, and services that actually work. Let's be honest: none of this solves the cost-of-living crisis on its own. Families are still struggling. Services are still stretched. Calderdale Council still faces real financial pressure. Nobody should pretend otherwise. But we should recognise a good start when we see one - and this is one. Welcome government moves on social care, improving our high streets, and tackling illegal waste sites all matter here too. Andy Burnham gets the needs of ordinary families and northern communities because he's spent years fighting for them, not just talking about them. He knows people don't want to be run from London – they want the power and the resources to build their own future. We must keep fighting to make sure Calderdale gets its fair share. But we should welcome moves to put money back in people's pockets and power into local hands – while pushing hard for more. The real test of any government isn't what it promises in Westminster. It's whether people in places like Calderdale can feel the difference in their daily lives. I believe Andy Burnham has made a very good start.