THE other week in Liverpool, the Prime Minister made a clarion call to the country to come together and tackle problems we have put off for too long.
Here in York Outer, I want us to be among the first to answer it.
For years, some of the biggest questions facing our country were treated as too difficult, too divisive or too costly to confront. How we care for our parents and grandparents. How we strengthen our democracy. What kind of relationship we build with our closest neighbours.
That needs to change.
Andy Burnham has spoken about the need to stop circling these challenges and start solving them together. I took that as a challenge not just to politicians, but to communities too.
The good news is that York Outer has never waited for others to decide its future. I would proudly say I have some of the most engaged constituents in the country, and I am grateful to everyone who gives their time and views to informing my work as your MP.
That is why, in September, I launched a series of monthly town halls on some of the biggest questions facing our country. We began with health and social care last month. This month, we will discuss our relationship with Europe. Next month, I'll turn to electoral reform.
These are not consultations for the sake of it. They are a chance for local people to help shape the views and decisions I take into Parliament. Whether you agree with me, disagree with me, or have never voted at all, your experiences matter.
These issues show how serious this government is about taking on long-term challenges rather than putting them off again.
Last month's town hall on social care addressed one of the most pressing challenges facing families in York Outer and across the country. The Prime Minister has shown a willingness to work across party lines on this issue, and that is exactly the right approach. I know just how much this matters to local families and I want to give a heartfelt thanks to everybody who took the time to attend and share their experiences.
This month's event is on Europe, a subject particularly important to me, and one I raised on my first day back in Parliament this week. Our relationship with our nearest neighbours shapes our economy, our security and our future, and it deserves a serious conversation about where we go next. If you want to attend, please RSVP to my team at luke.charters.mp@parliament.uk.
Next month, I will host an event on electoral reform. I have supported changing the way we elect our MPs since before I entered Parliament, when I was Labour's candidate for York Outer, and I am delighted the Prime Minister wants to look at this too.
At present, the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins, which in the vast majority of seats leaves most people without a voice. I do not believe that is the best we can do. There are different ways to change the system, and I welcome exploring the options.
I do, however, believe strongly in keeping a local link between MPs and the communities they represent. I grew up in York Outer, went to school here and am now raising my family here. I know this constituency inside out, and that connection makes me a better MP.
I know not everyone in York Outer voted for me, and some people will disagree with me on particular issues. But some of my most valuable conversations have been with people who see the world very differently from me, whether on the doorstep in Haxby, with residents in Bishopthorpe or on a visit to a local school. People want to talk about the cost of living, GP appointments, local buses and their children's opportunities. We may not agree on politics, but we can usually agree on the challenges facing our community and the need to tackle them together. Everyone's perspective matters to me.
That belief in giving people a greater say is why I want to keep holding these events and why I back electoral reform. It is also why I support extending the vote to 16 and 17 year olds and I’m pleased this Labour government is making that happen.
At 16, you can work, pay taxes and begin making major decisions about your future. You should also have a say in who governs the country. I visit schools across York Outer regularly, and some of the best questions I am asked come from young people, on the environment, artificial intelligence, education and life after school. They are thoughtful, engaged and full of ideas, and the decisions we make today will shape their lives for decades.
I am grateful to everyone who works with me, and I am always looking for new ways to engage with constituents. If any of these events interest you, please get in touch. It would be great to see you there.
I also want to thank everyone I have met over the last month, from St Aelred's Primary School to York Mind, and everyone who came to my Macmillan Coffee Morning.
As we mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, my thoughts are with all families who have experienced such heartbreak.
Thank you for reading this and I look forward to seeing lots of you at my events over the coming months. Take care.