Early Autumn is traditionally marked by the Party Conference season, and this year was no exception. And what a contrast between red and blue.
The Conservatives met in Manchester, out of ideas, out of principles, and hopefully soon out of office.
We even saw Liz Truss make an appearance. Not content with being the shortest serving Prime Minister in history as a result of her completely crashing the economy and causing further pain in a cost-of-living crisis, Ms Truss continued to make the same economic arguments that caused her to be ousted from Number 10.
And to top it off we heard how HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester is being scrapped. Talk about levelling up! Once again we have seen how the Tories have side-lined the North.
A week later the Labour Party met in Liverpool and it’s no exaggeration to say I witnessed the most energised and exciting Labour Conference I’ve attended for a very long time.
Liverpool was a magnificent stage for Keir Starmer to set out a great vision of a Labour Britain under his premiership. There was even the added sparkle of some glitter during his speech to Conference.
Other highlights included pledges that the next Labour Government will build 1.5 million homes over the next parliament, to bring in a ban on bonuses to water chiefs whose firms pump excess sewage into rivers and oceans, and funding for NHS dentists to offer 700,000 more urgent appointments.
I was also so proud to support my boss in the Shadow Health Team, Wes Streeting MP, as he outlined so powerfully how we must rebuild an NHS fit for the 21st century, with a big shift to prevention, as well as setting out the ambition for a National Care Service, something I’ve been tasked to help make a reality in my role as Shadow Minister for Social Care.
My time elsewhere was spent largely speaking on health and social care issues across the fringe as well as catching up with old friends.
As I return home and get back on the train to Westminster, I feel excited about the future.
There are huge stakes at the next General Election, but the opportunity to serve is there with the trust and support of the British people.
Let’s get Britain’s Future Back.