Dan Price – PCC For Cheshire

A knock-out speech from our Prime Minister at last week’s conference is exactly what our party needed. Being in the hall as Keir took on Reform, called out Farage, celebrated what real patriotism is, and championed ‘gold standard’ apprenticeships – it all felt like political history in the making. As a former engineering apprentice, the last part was extra special for me.

But, just a few days later, good news felt thin on the ground.

The terror attack against the Jewish community on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, is a cold reminder of the challenges our communities face.

The bravery of our blue light services is something that never ceases to impress me. Watching the region’s police pull together and redeploy to maximise our safety is something that filled me with pride. On days like last Thursday, life can feel like an emotional rollercoaster but our public servants’ ability to put everyone else first is remarkable.

This coming week, we have the dreary prospect of a Tory Party Conference. Already the headlines read like a terrible immigration gameshow. We’ve had a decade of this now and we’re all the poorer for it. We need workable solutions to the real (and varied) challenges we face. Only Labour has the credible answers.

I know I’m not alone in feeling that we’re better than this, so here’s some positive news to take you into the week ahead.

For a start, I received more than 50 responses to my last email – I was overwhelmed reading your words of support and offers of help. My ‘Cheshire Contribution’ community cohesion programme is now gathering pace. Two more pilots are planned for later this month, and my team are working with funders to make sure it’s a sustainable force for good in our county. I can’t wait to share more with you.

Just two weeks since my SWAP fund opened again, and we’ve had almost 80 applications so far from community groups who have great ideas about working together to prevent crime. The energy and positivity of the volunteers, charities, youth leaders, and many others who apply is infectious. Meeting them always puts a smile on my face.

Do you remember that earlier this year I launched an initiative to help ex-offenders into work?

Until we get serious about reducing re-offending, we won’t reduce crime. Getting a job with prospects is key to this. So by working with businesses, DWP and the probation service, we’ve created Fresh Start, our county’s pioneering work programme.

We’ve just secured employment for our first four ex-offenders, with around 30 more opportunities in the pipeline. That means, we’re on track to get 100 people into employment in our first year!