🌹 In shocking news it is a Labour gain in St Ives South and Needingworth 🌹 I am proud to have done a positive and pragmatic campaign, speaking about my experience and issues councillors can actually affect. I focused on how I can be an active, present and proactive councillor, working with others all year round. A local issue focused and positive campaign can get surprising results (with unpredictable vote splits)! Commiserations to all other candidates - it was a good and hard fought campaign especially by Lib Dems and Conservatives. A big thank you to everyone who supported me in this campaign - with a small team of people leafletting and canvassing, our agent Bob and my partner @Luke_Viner. Thank you all who voted and put their trust in me for this election.

You voted against scrapping zero hour contracts. You voted against banning fire and rehire. You voted against day one sick pay for workers. You said the minimum wage was too high for young people. Reform politicians openly say they don't like trade unions. You will always put the interests of your offshore crypto billionaire donors ahead of workers.

It's the last day of the month so here's the usual summary - this time as both District and County Councillor. A lot of May has been the election and the following AGMs and training, but there are some local updates. No local issue is too small, are there are of course as always some positive local updates, from East Street blocked drain works being completed to more pothole reports sorted and local projects progressing - waiting for the details of the much awaited capital schemes approved a few months ago. My next surgeries: County and District - St Ives South - Saturday 6 June, St Ives Library, 11am County - Needingworth and Holywell - Thursday 11 June, Village Hall, midday

The founder of Clearsprings became a billionare on the back of taxpayers like you and me funding asylum hotel Government contracts. These are 10 year contracts for a policy that has been a disaster. Report after report shows failures in how the system operated and how much public money has been wasted. Hotels are bad for the taxpayer, for local communities and for asylum seekers. Outsourcing to private contractors in asylum accommodation was a terrible policy under the last Government, and the sooner we take out profit from the asylum system, the better. The break clause can be used and alternative models which will save a lot of taxpayer money, are possible. But the political will must be there to do it.

🚨 NEW: Andy Burnham would end all Government contracts for asylum accommodation and hotels if he becomes Prime Minister The responsibility for providing accommodation would instead be given to local authorities [@thetimes]

Coffee, Buses, & Politics: Election Special x.com/i/broadcasts/1yxBeMNmr…

Good morning - polls are open until 10 PM today! Don't forget your photo voter ID. And remember, regardless of what bar charts you've seen delivered yesterday, look at the local results in your area 👀 Vote Alex and Will for St Ives South 🌹

Last year's county election proves that Labour can win in St Ives South. Will has been out canvassing with me since last autumn, and we have spoken to hundreds of residents in the area - thank you to all for your time. Will has been one of the most hardworking candidates I have seen - and this tells a lot about how someone will be as a councillor - present, proactive, and getting things done. On 7 May in St Ives South, you have 2 votes to elect 2 district councillors. This is the last election for Huntingdonshire District Council, before we move to unitary authorities in 2027-2028 (and hopefully to a Huntingdonshire-only authority that we vocally supported).

It's the last day of the month - so here's a summary of some numbers and meetings. It's also almost a year since I was elected to represent St Ives South, Holywell and Needingworth - thank you to the hundreds of residents who spoke with me on the doorstep over this year, at my surgeries and by email!

CBP: Live Election Candidates Reveal x.com/i/broadcasts/1qKDzPlmz…

Excited to start working with Coalition for Global Prosperity part of their cross-party team of advisors on international development, diplomacy and defence. I had the privilege to be part of CGP's Future Leaders programme as well last year, so I am really looking forward to support them in this new initiative. Find more information about the programme in the post below ⬇️

It's the last day of the month so here is a summary of some highlights from March. As the Easter weekend approaches, I wish you a restful time with your family and friends - and I will see you soon on the doorstep next week in St Ives!

⏰Last chance to have your say on our future councils - the consultation closes today! I sent my response in favour of Option E, an independent Huntingdonshire council, preserving our local identity rather than splitting it - and supporting our huge economic potential. See your Huntingdonshire cross-party guide and our analysis of each option (both easy read and detailed view) ➡️ tinyurl.com/LGRguide The Government consultation is open until 11:59 tonight: consult.communities.gov.uk/l…

I am pleased that my motion on Co-Operative models (inspired by the Co-operative Councils Innovation Network) has been supported at full council today. As a Labour and Co-operative Party Councillor, I could not resist bringing forward a motion on co-operatives. I welcome the administration’s willingness to consider joining the Co-operative Councils Innovation Network and discussing this in committee, as well as surveying a sample of suppliers in children's services to assess compliance with Fair Tax Mark standards and living wage, and bring a report back to consider any further action on this. See the approved motion here: cambridgeshire.cmis.uk.com/C…

Coffee, Buses & Politics: Martin & Stephen chew the fat x.com/i/broadcasts/1yKAPMXaZ…

Coffee, buses, and potholes x.com/i/broadcasts/1pKkOyRdq…

In many years of campaigning for Labour across different constituencies, rural and urban areas, diverse and less diverse areas… I have heard a lot on migration. Many of the reforms will have support in a plurality of voters. But I’ve never heard anyone saying, for example, bankers should be able to settle in this county five times quicker than care workers. Or that it’s ok for a couple and their children to be on totally different routes to settlement. Two issues that will move more “moderates” towards the “left” critique of migration reforms - changing rules for people who already made their home in the UK, and impact on children (especially on child poverty). Why? Because both these issues are about fairness - not changing rules after the game started, and not punishing people who are where they are with no fault of their own.

Coffee, Buses, Politics: BOJ on Potholes, Pause the Plan, Data Poverty, and more x.com/i/broadcasts/1qKDzPWYL…