Political Opinion: The small wins add up – how Labour is fixing everyday frustrations

There are lots of big issues that need fixing in our country. The Prime Minister was honest in his speech to Labour party conference last month about the big things we need change to move forward: reversing 40 years of industrial decline, fixing social care and restoring trust in our political system among them.

But everyday frustrations matter too. They add up to make people feel like life is just getting that bit more difficult, more annoying, and more burdensome.

That could be someone playing their TikToks out loud on the train or bus; getting an unfair parking ticket and having a private company harass you out of money you don’t owe, or picking up a flat tyre on a potholed road.

It serves no one to resign ourselves to living with these annoyances, rather than doing something about it. That is why this Labour government led by Andy Burnham is acting.

To start, you may notice more signs on trains and buses encouraging people to wear their headphones when making calls or scrolling on their phones. New rules coming in will mean blatant anti-social behaviour on public transport could lead to a £100 fine. This will help everyone get their peace and quiet on the way into work or days out.

A new private parking code of practice will put the brakes on rip-off parking charges and second-hand car scams. It will give new rights to drivers to challenge unfair parking charges brought by private companies, allowing drivers five minutes to decide whether to park, and ten minutes to leave without facing a penalty. It’ll also ensure no charges for issues that drivers can’t control, like vehicle breakdowns.

On the topic of driving, we’re putting more money into roads, resurfacing 7,000 miles of road by the end of the year. The government is stopping more potholes than ever from forming in the first place, with 10% more resurfacing and preventative work than last year, and an extra £220million going to councils for road maintenance.

I will keep pushing Luton Borough Council to go further on fixing Luton’s roads now they are getting proper financial support from the government.

Put together, these measures mean making everyday life that little bit better, and removing the frustrations and stresses that are in the government’s power to fix.

If you have ideas for small fixes you’d like to see in Luton North, please do email me: [email protected].