As interest rates hit five per cent and continue to rise the average local mortgage payer is now looking at losing £200 from their budget every month. Even worse is the impact on people who need to rent their home because paying out similar bills is causing landlords to get out of the business or to raise rents sharply.

Meanwhile the overall cost of living continues to rise by over two per cent more than wages and prices of essentials like food by much more. People are being constantly inconvenienced by strikes of public sector workers who stayed loyally at their posts during Covid but can’t afford to do so under the current circumstances.

Could it just possibly be that the current government can’t be trusted to run the economy?

Andy Brown (Green Party)

Aire Valley member for North Yorkshire Council

Cononley