National issues – Wilson’s Weekly

Who Cares?

Almost all of us will know someone who requires the support of someone in a caring role, or perhaps we need that help personally. Care workers can be a lifeline to the elderly and disabled. Yet, in recent years the sector has been under a lot of pressure and solutions have been needed… In myContinue reading “Who Cares?”

Levelling Down

This week I attended Full Council, the formal meeting where council business is conducted and political priorities are debated. As always, I was pleased to speak up for the people of the area on a number of issues. The most feisty part of the evening was the debate around the issue of ‘Levelling Up’. JustContinue reading “Levelling Down”

New Year, New Deal

I’d like to start by wishing a very Happy New Year to all my readers and residents. I hope you’ve had a great Christmas and that you have things to look forward to in 2023. One of the biggest things I’ll be doing during 2023, I hope, is to be voting through the massive newContinue reading “New Year, New Deal”

Wasting money on ‘fake’ problem

This week I needed to take part in a special council briefing on new rules that the Government is bringing in to make it harder for people to vote in elections. Amongst all the other problems that the Conservative government is inflicting upon us you could be forgiven for missing this one. However, if youContinue reading “Wasting money on ‘fake’ problem”

Stop Press! No really!!

This week was the first time I’ve ever had to literally call “Stop Press” in the middle of a print job… Three times a year, together with my ward colleague Cllr Cath Davis, I produce a local newsletter called the ‘Preston Press’. It’s another part of our commitment to keep local residents in the loopContinue reading “Stop Press! No really!!”

Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

We’ve all been stunned this week by the sudden passing of our beloved Queen, Elizabeth II. Each of us will remember her in our own unique way. I was in a council meeting on Thursday evening. There was, as you might imagine, a strange atmosphere. We had begun the meeting in the knowledge that hundredsContinue reading “Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II”

Is impatience a virtue?

This morning I went into Gateshead to listen to Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer give a speech about his vision for Britain. There was a lot of great content in the speech and the headlines are already being run on the news, so I won’t dwell on them. It was actually a small pointContinue reading “Is impatience a virtue?”

Hey Big Spender…

Fair Tax Week 2022 has just begun. It’s part of an ongoing campaign by the Fair Tax Foundation. The aim is to ensure that when it comes to tax, it isn’t just people like you and me who end up footing the bill. It costs hundreds of billions of pounds to keep the UK tickingContinue reading “Hey Big Spender…”

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Ukraine: Hope amidst despair

By ordering the Russian Army to invade their neighbour Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has unleashed suffering on a scale it is hard to imagine. It is truly heartbreaking to see innocent lives being shattered. Like most of us I’ve been wondering what can be done to help from all the way over here in North Shields.Continue reading “Ukraine: Hope amidst despair”

Ending Violence Against Women

Today is White Ribbon Day, highlighting the epidemic of male violence against women. I’ve taken the pledge to do my part to “to never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women”. I hope that all men with a modicum of awareness will do the same. To help men to better understand what isContinue reading “Ending Violence Against Women”