IN the past few weeks I’ve been able to spend most of my time knocking on doors in the constituency and talking to people.

What has struck me most is the number of people who want to be engaged and want to have a conversation - whether it is about the state of their local area or big national issues.

I think this is a sign of a healthy democracy. I don’t buy the idea that people are not interested in what happens to them. As someone who has done this door-knocking for over 17 years now I believe that politicians make better decisions if they live in and engage with, the communities they represent. So, from fly-tipping to a new constitutional settlement, I’ve listened to you all.

One thing is common to the many conversations I’ve had and it’s the idea of fairness. People whose areas suffer from fly-tipping and litter believe that it is not fair that they are left to live with it, and they’re right.

Watching what has happened in Scotland people believe that the North of England does not get as good a deal as the Scots, or London.

They’re right about that too but most seem to prefer a form of regional devolution to the Prime Minister’s “English Parliament” which would still mean domination by London and the South East (even though the London Mayor has devolved powers).

So how we take more decisions nearer to home and what structures we should put in place is going to be a hot topic.

Most of all, people resent economic unfairness. They see bankers still getting huge bonuses while they get no pay rise. 1 in 5 people in Warrington earn less than the living wage.

They’re working hard but they’re still in poverty. Ed Miliband has pledged to raise the minimum wage and has also called for more local councils to join the 29 who are living wage employers or are committed to become one.

Warrington is looking at this and I hope circumstances will allow us to commit to joining these councils so that we can develop our local economy without leaving our fellow citizens in poverty.