I went into politics to do the right thing, to help those who need it and be in the corner of those who are most vulnerable.

But as this week has shown, there are far too many people corroding public life by seemingly being determined in doing the wrong thing.

I was as shocked as anyone when I read about the former Health Secretary’s behaviour towards the people of Bury during the pandemic last week after The Telegraph released a whole host of his messages from that period.

Matt Hancock discussed a plan to block funding for a new centre for disabled people if the Member for Bury North didn’t vote with the government in a key vote on whether to implement tier systems.

Bury Times: Former Health Secretary Matt HancockFormer Health Secretary Matt Hancock (Image: PA)

I know how this is how the government conducts business as I had the similar misfortune when I was threatened by the then Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, who said in no uncertain terms that if I didn’t vote against free school meals (as pushed for by Marcus Rashford) then Radcliffe wouldn’t get the much-needed high school it had been promised.

Using disabled people as political hostages over a vote should never enter anyone’s mind when entering politics and it seems clear to me over the last three years that the Conservatives don’t care about Bury at all.

Following that we have had the saga of Gary Lineker being punished for calling out dehumanising legislation which punishes those who are most vulnerable from children fleeing war to people being victims of modern slavery.

There is lots of this narrative that keeps being banded around, that these people are somehow not fleeing persecution and from displaced countries.

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme was launched in January 2022.

Boris Johnson said “we will never forget the brave sacrifice made by Afghans who chose to work with us at great risk to themselves". 

Only 22 Afghans resettled last year but 8,633 Afghans arrived in small boats.

A pledge had been made to take up to 20,000 Afghan refugees, with as many as 5,000 in the first year.

The Home Office claimed at the time it would be “one of the most generous” resettlement schemes in the UK’s history.

The number of Afghan nationals arriving in small boats has increased, with 71 per cent of the 8,633 who arrived in 2022 coming between August and December.

The total was up from 1,437 in 2021, 494 in 2020, 69 in 2019 and three in 2018.

When the government parrot the line that there is "safe routes" for those fleeing war and terror, that is patently untrue.

I don’t understand the logic of these people, I don’t understand what drives them or makes them get up in the morning or for that matter how they sleep at night.

What I do know is we need change and decency and there is only one party who can provide that.