It has been a whirlwind of a week!

After a very busy, but positive, six week election campaign, I have been elected as one of an incredible four Labour MPs for Cornwall. The parliamentary map of Cornwall looks very different today than it did two weeks ago. Like Wales, Cornwall is now Conservative free and has a Labour majority.

What this means to me is that the voters in Truro and Falmouth, and Cornwall more widely, have voted emphatically for change. And there is so much that needs changing. The economy and our public services are on their knees after 14 years of Conservative government that began with austerity and ended in economic chaos. Nothing works anymore – from our NHS, with huge waiting lists for treatment and the fact that so many people in Cornwall now don’t have access to an NHS dentist, to our housing, our local services which have been stripped right back and even our water supply! The new Prime Minister has delayed the parliamentary recess and increased the time the House of Commons will have to get through some of that important work immediately. This isn’t the time for MPs to go on holiday! This is time to start that vital work of rebuilding what is broken.

We have already made a start…

On the economy, the new chancellor (the first woman chancellor ever) has laid out her plan and is already setting up the National Wealth Fund to invest in industries like the green energy sector. This will help draw private investment into places like Cornwall, with our huge potential in wind, geothermal and critical minerals.

Planning will be simplified so housing can be provided and infrastructure schemes can start to happen. We need affordable and council housing, but we also need the schools, GP surgeries and green spaces to go with them.

We will be moving towards handing out power and resources from the centre to local areas so that we in Cornwall can have more control over dealing with the issues that we have and our plan to grow our economy.

On water, the new DEFRA secretary has already started discussions with water companies so they will be forced to invest in infrastructure and will have to return money to customers if they do not, rather than give it to shareholders or bosses’ bonuses. There will be tough special measures for companies who are failing and compensation for customers when things go wrong will double.

And we will get on with rebuilding the NHS and providing those extra 40,000 appointments per week.

This is a government that will be about delivery and about service of the people that we represent. Trust in politics has been damaged by that and it will take time and consistent, competent government to rebuild that which has been lost. I feel so privileged and honoured to have been elected as part of that government and will work day and night to make the change that Truro and Falmouth needs.

Jayne Kirkham

Labour MP for Truro & Falmouth