George Georgiou

Croft Baker has, for many years, been represented by the Labour Party, the Conservative Party, and the Liberal Democrats, Yet despite this rotation of political control, many residents will be asking a simple question — what has really changed?

We have seen councillors come and go, and even seen one Conservative councillor recently 'jump ship' to Reform UK. But what does that say about loyalty, consistency, and accountability? And more importantly, what’s to stop the same thing happening again? If elected representatives can switch parties so easily, who are they truly representing — the people, or their own political interests?

Meanwhile, the issues that matter most to residents remain unresolved. Roads are still in poor condition. Pavements are uneven, unsafe, and in many places simply neglected. We have also lost our post office and our butcher shop on the avenue. These are local services that gave our community its heart and are not luxury concerns, but basic responsibilities.

Residents pay their council tax year after year, and rightly expect to see that money working for them. But when you look around, what do you actually see being delivered? Yes, bins are collected, and street lights are on — but beyond that, much of what truly affects daily life feels broken, ignored, or left behind.