The Government's vaccination programme continues apace, and we have had the recent welcome news that over 50 per cent of adults have now been vaccinated.

Most of the vaccinations in North West Leicestershire have taken place at the extremely efficient vaccination centre which had delivered up to 500 jabs a day, and I am pleased that I am booked in to have my jab imminently.

The data is looking very encouraging and we look well on target to ease restrictions over coming weeks.

Unfortunately, this is a far cry from the situation in the rest of Europe where the EU plays politics and vaccine nationalism with threats of export bans of vaccine components of the UK, to follow the recent blockade of vaccines to Australia by Italy.

I think it sad that the citizens with the EU are suffering for the ineptitude of the unelected bureaucrats running the organisation, thankfully we are out.

We are a year on from when the first lockdown was called, and who could have foreseen the year we would have since, which will in many ways change our lives forever.

Covid has brought forward changes which were already emerging, more home and hybrid working, more video conferencing and the further rise in internet shopping.

Whilst some of the changes are positive, the impact on our High Streets, hospitality, travel and leisure has been devastating and whilst the Government has offered billions in loans and grants, it will take time for these businesses to recover.

Much of the support offered to people during this crisis has been delivered through local Councils and alongside our key workers in the NHS, Emergency Services, supermarkets, logistics and numerous other roles, our Councils at all levels have stepped up and shown their value to our local communities.

As we get back to some semblance of normality, we return to something we have not done since December 2019, offering voters their chance to have their say at the ballot box.

I have enjoyed getting out, in a socially distanced fashion, the last couple of weeks delivering literature for the forthcoming County Council elections and delayed Police and Crime Commissioner election.

Whilst I know there is concern about the safety of holding these elections in a covid secure way, the Government has supported local authorities to put measures in place, and you do also have the option to register to vote by post, which I understand a lot of people are taking advantage of.

Why are these elections important?

Well, the County Council has a budget of hundreds of millions of pounds, 75 per cent of which is spent supporting the vulnerable.

Historically, the authority has received the lowest government grant of any County Council in the country and I, and my colleagues, are strongly lobbying the Prime Minister and Treasury to close this gap with fairer funding.

Despite this, Leicestershire County Council has been independently rated as the most productive council in the country.

The positive response offered during Covid shows the value of a well-run County Council and that's why this election is important.

The same goes for the Police and Crime Commissioner who is responsible for determining the deployment of resources to manage and respond to crimes and local community priorities.

I have in the past raised concerns about the focus on the City to the detriment of towns and villages away from the centre such as in North West Leicestershire, which did result in the deployment of extra officers in our district.

It is important that we have a Police and Crime Commissioner who recognises the importance of policing the whole of Leicestershire, and supports our towns and villages.

So I would urge you all to exercise your right to vote in this election and choose candidates who will deliver for North West Leicestershire.