IN this week's column, Labour Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols reflects on a challenging year for the town.

As your MP for Warrington North I have been working hard for our community this month, fighting the corner of constituents with casework issues and having a range of meetings, including with The North West Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, the North West Nuclear Arc and the Warrington Town Deal Board.

As we reflect on the extraordinarily difficult past twelve months, hope is just around the corner for our community.

With the days getting longer and the vaccination roll-out continuing at pace, we can look ahead to a better future for Warrington and the whole country. But we cannot back to the society of old, and we must rebuild a stronger and fairer Warrington.

The Government is undeniably good at making effective slogans and while they have talked about ‘building back better’, this will ultimately be defined by deeds and not words.

This time last year we stood on our doorsteps and clapped for the amazing key workers who kept our country going while we stayed at home. We stood united, as one community, to give our thanks to those who have given so much. That applause should have been followed by a proper thank you, in the form of a pay rise, but sadly the Government have instead given our NHS staff a real terms pay cut.

Their rationale for this decision is about sound finances, with the health minister saying that a real terms cut is 'the most we think we can afford'.

When the Government can find the money to give Dominic Cummings a pay rise, and will hand out millions on dodgy contracts to their mates, they have clearly got their priorities wrong.

But the failure to pay our NHS heroes properly also showcases an economic illiteracy at the heart of this Government. Putting more money into the pockets of nurses in Warrington will stimulate our local economy, as they spend it in our amazing local businesses. The Government is failing to see the full picture and are instead hiding behind slogans to get through their TV rounds.

The last year has really emphasised the values that matter to us: family, community and good health. We need representatives who share those values and channel them into our rebuild from Covid.

Our tremendous vaccination roll-out has definitely channelled this spirit, through the contribution of our amazing volunteers and key workers. But we cannot allow this to fade away and instead must use it is a framework for rebuilding our community and our country.

Ultimately this recovery will be defined by actions and not words. We must start seeing action soon.