Easter can feel like a bit of a reset. For me, as a Christian, it is an important moment in the year. It is about hope, not in a vague sense, but in the belief that things can change, even when they feel difficult. A lot of the conversations I have been having across South West Devon recently have been about just that. Things feeling difficult.
Increasing fuel prices over recent weeks have been coming up pretty frequently. Whether you are in Plymouth, the South Hams or West Devon, people rely on their cars every day. Getting to work, doing the school run, seeing family. It is not optional. When costs keep rising, it puts real pressure on household budgets. That is why I have been and will continue to push the government to do more, so residents across South West Devon are properly supported.
I have been hearing the same difficulties from local businesses. Just this week I visited both the Plymstock Inn and the Boringdon Arms. They are great local pubs and it was good to spend time with the teams there. They were very open about the challenges they are facing. Costs are rising across the board. Energy, supplies, wages and taxes. Like many small businesses, they are having to work harder than ever just to keep things going. That story is not unique to them. It is something I am hearing from businesses of all sectors right across South West Devon.
Alongside that, I also see a huge amount of resilience. People getting on with things, businesses adapting, and communities continuing to support one another. That matters, because Easter, at its heart, is a message of renewal. It is about not losing sight of the fact that things can improve, and that we all have a part to play in that. In my role as your MP, that means focusing on the practical issues people raise with me every week: the cost of living; the pressure on local businesses; making sure that areas like ours are not overlooked. It also means being honest about the challenges, while staying focused on solutions.
People here are not asking for the world. They want to be able to get to work without worrying about the cost of fuel, to run a business that is viable, and to feel a bit of stability again. Those are reasonable asks. Easter is a chance to pause, but it is also a moment to look ahead. Across South West Devon, I see strong communities, hard work, and a real determination to get through challenging times. My job is to keep holding the Government to account and making sure that you are supported and these pressures that many of you are facing is eased.
I hope you all have a restful Easter and a chance to reset, recharge those batteries and look forward to the warmer months ahead. A huge thank you to everyone who will be working over Easter and the bank holiday. Our emergency services, NHS and care workers, Armed Forces, those in shops and hospitality, farmers and carers, keeping things going for the rest of us.
