On opposite sides of the leaders and letters pages on the 14th August issue of the Whitehaven News, two very different pictures of government support for the NHS in West Cumbria were presented.

Yes, of course, for the good of the nation, we must secure the best deal possible, but local and mayoral elections must be fought on local issues, on the worries and concerns that matter to you and your family.

A few days ago a report to Cumbria health scrutiny committee described how health outcomes vary enormously between different parts of Cumbria.

In recent years we’ve made great progress in Copeland. Conservatives on the council, working with the Mayor, have produced a balanced budget, invested £1 million into our high streets and created more street cleaning teams. But there’s more to be done to make Copeland fit for the future.