Rugby MP's column: What is it that populists fear most? Progress. In 2026 we must deliver it

This year, let's judge by results, not the comment section.

A recent poll conducted in 27 countries found overwhelming pessimism about the state of politics and the ability of leaders to improve things. With many believing that the UK’s best days are now behind it, I want to start this year by challenging the narrative of social media comments sections.

I understand that frustration. After years of chaos, broken promises, and a cost of living crisis that squeezed family budgets to breaking point, it's no wonder many have switched off from Westminster altogether.

But I'd ask you to consider something. Spend five minutes scrolling through the comments on any local news story about housing, the NHS, or the economy. Or try any politician's social media page, like mine. You'll find a particular kind of voice dominating the conversation. It's the voice that says everything is broken, nothing can be fixed, and anyone who tries is either a fool or a liar. It's relentlessly negative, often vile, and it offers nothing but despair.

These aggressive comments are designed, consciously or not, to shut down politicians and anyone with a positive vision trying to make a difference. But these comments aren't just aimed at me. They're designed to manipulate you too, to stoke the embers of your frustration and turn them into flames of anger. Anger which can then be weaponised through populist messaging, simplistic answers, and all too often, the scapegoating of minorities.

This language of decline has become a kind of background noise in our politics. It's amplified by those with an interest in division, whether that's Reform UK, the Conservatives, or anonymous accounts stirring the pot online. And I worry it's drowning out something important: the quiet, practical work of actually making things better.

I'm not going to pretend the challenges we face aren't real. Geopolitical uncertainty, economic headwinds, and the legacy of fourteen years of Conservative mismanagement mean there are no quick fixes. People are right to feel anxious. But anxiety shouldn't mean paralysis, and frustration shouldn't mean giving up.

So let me tell you what's actually happening this year, starting close to home.

From this month, rail fares are frozen for the first time in thirty years. For Rugby commuters travelling to London, that means keeping £618 in your pocket over the year. Those heading to Birmingham will save £223 annually. That's real money for real families.

In April, average energy bills will fall by £150. The National Living Wage is rising by £900 a year, benefiting 2,900 low-paid workers right here in Rugby. Free breakfast clubs are expanding to more schools, saving parents up to £450 annually. And the Government is ending the Two Child Limit, a change that will affect over 2,000 local children and lift nearly half a million children out of poverty nationally.

Pensioners will see up to £575 extra this year through the Triple Lock. The £3 bus fare cap continues. Prescription charges remain frozen under £10.

None of this will make headlines in the same way as the doom-mongers in the comments section. It won't go viral. But it will make a difference to people's lives.

I won't pretend we've solved everything. There's much more to do, and I'll keep pushing for more investment in Rugby, Bulkington and the villages. But I firmly believe we're turning a corner. Not through slogans, but through choices that put money back in people's pockets and services back on their feet.

This year, I'd encourage you to judge by results, not by the loudest voices online. As for my part, I'll keep working hard to prove that politics can deliver, because the last thing that the forces of populism want is for there to be an outbreak of progress in our country. If you’d like to meet me to discuss ideas or issues, just get in touch with my office.