After two weeks of deflating post-Olympic blues, I am really excited about the Paralympics which got under way this week.

I am absolutely convinced the sporting memories and stories of inspiration from London 2012 will last long in our memories, inspiring those of all generations. Indeed, having heard some of the stories of those members of Team GB competing in the Paralympics, I truly hope the whole country will get behind our sportsmen and women and again unite in a common celebration of all things British.

All elite athletes epitomise the values of dedication, commitment and work ethic, but those competing in the Paralympics often do so under the most testing of circumstances.

Quite simply, we are going to watch some extraordinary athletes doing some extraordinary things over the coming days and I cannot wait! Likewise, I also have no doubt that a number of local athletes from our region will take the bar already set by York’s Olympic medal winners and raise it once again.

It’s going to be yet another fantastic sporting occasion.

 

One of the most exciting local developments since the last General Election is the huge advance in superfast broadband which is soon to be rolled out across North Yorkshire and York.

I have been part of the campaign to win Government backing for the upgrade of broadband services within our patch since my election. Like many local residents I am absolutely delighted the Government is funding this initiative in York, which will result in more than 90 per cent coverage of superfast broadband across the North Yorkshire region.

Over the past couple of years I have been in frequent correspondence with concerned villages and parish councils from areas such as Naburn , Murton, Hessay, Rufforth and Skelton , to name but a few.

Local businesses in such areas require the best possible connectivity to compete in the globalised market place and I am soon to be meeting with NYnet, the organisation charged with the responsibility for delivering superfast broadband across North Yorkshire and York, to push the case for our local communities to be at the forefront of the roll-out.

 

I am often asked what it is like to work in politics with the pressure of serving local constituents, pleasing the Party leadership and staying true to my own principles.

In truth, it is up to all politicians to decide how to vote before they walk through the lobbies in Westminster, but pressure certainly does come from different quarters, particularly in the event of a high-profile vote. I have always stuck by a general rule of thumb on such matters – I will always put local constituents before my party and my party before myself.

Local constituents will always be the number one priority for me. Residents are – and should be – the most important voices in any political debate and they are the voices which should ring loudest in every politicians mind. A great number of residents put their faith in their elected representatives and that faith should be repaid, not ignored or disregarded.

Residents always first, with the party ahead of any self-serving motivations – that will always be my pledge, to work in the interests of the people, not in the self-interest of the political bubble.

Likewise, whatever is going on at the City of York Council with talk of resignations and infighting among the leading group, my message would be to put such bickering to one side and keep the focus on the people of York. Quite simply, local people must always come first.