Kit Malthouse

Our local health service is going from strength to strength, and I’m pleased to report the latest step.

It’s very nearly Christmas after an eventful year, tinged with some sadness.

BY the time you read this column the Chancellor will have given his Autumn Statement, and he will have made some difficult choices about how we spend public money.

“Levelling Up” is all about investing in towns like Andover, creating and spreading prosperity throughout society, so everyone can have a bright future.

I WANT to talk to you about the future leadership of our country.

Now that the Prime Minister has won the confidence vote, I hope we can come together, and get on with solving the important issues facing us such as keeping our streets safe, standing up to Putin, growing our economy and tackling the cost of living.

One of my primary missions as policing minister is to put drug gangs out of business, and I wanted to update you on progress. Sadly, these gangs are often using children to transport Class A drugs on train routes into places like Andover and Basingstoke, in what’s known as County Lines.

Vladimir Putin’s acts of aggression continue, and since the start of his war, I have been frequently asked about our efforts to house Ukrainian refugees. As a Home Office minister, I wanted to update you.

Applications have now opened for our Homes for Ukraine scheme, and I’m proud to see some 150,000 households have so far opened up their doors to the country’s refugees.

You’ll have no doubt heard me talk about my mission to cut crime and make our streets safer, be it anti-social behaviour or ending the scourge of county lines.