A Year in Politics

Since duly elected last May as a Conservative Councillor, I have had to get used to people calling me “local politician”. It is a great honour, very hard work, but still makes me feel very humble. The title is something I both respect and also wish to continue to fulful to it’s absolute limit – quite a daunting task with three years left of my first term! It’s a massive learning curve: you have to be always ready to listen, sometimes you will get it wrong, but you can always try harder!

Basically everyday is a school day in local politics. The job is quite frankly so varied that now and again you find yourself scratching your head asking “right then, where do I take this problem?”

The Council’s internal communications system is the normal starting point for me. The rest of the solutions are borne out of talking with hard working officers of each and every department of the Council. Sometimes you come unstuck and it’s back to my computer for more research, make a phone call, drop another e-mail, or chat with constituents.

Being a Councillor I have very quickly learnt that you are as good as you promise and results speak louder than words.

People are very astute and know that talk is cheap. If local politicians put more faith in what they can say than what they actually do, it’s never long before the writing appears on the wall.

Some local politicians find it easier to bad mouth or claim every good idea as their own: “claim and blame” I call it. The fact is anybody can come up with a good idea, so instead of getting caught up in basement politics I prefer to get on and actually solve my constituents problems. After all, after a year, that is still what I’m here for! Simples….!

Cllr Mick Jones
Cheadle & Gatley

This article, by Councillor Mick Jones, was first published by the Stockport Express on 15/04/09.