Our school exam results in 2025 were our best ever.
Our young people are now competing with the best in Britain.
We should be proud.
My thanks go to every school, teacher, parent, carer and child that made this happen.
It bodes well for Barnsley, as the song goes “Children are our future”.
But what kind of future do we want for them? We are going to have to decide.
Barnsley is at a crossroads.
The local elections in May are the most important in our history.
They won’t change the government or its policies. They won’t change migration or its impact.
They won’t change who is Prime Minister.
They will decide the long term future of our borough and our children and grandchildren.
We have come a long way in the last 20 years, but those gains are not guaranteed. There are those who want a very different future for Barnsley.
The choice is whether to continue to build a better Barnsley where our economy grows, where we are safe and where everyone can thrive or to be led into a world of suspicion, mistrust, division and fear.
There are national politicians who will come and promise easy solutions to complex problems to gain your support.
They will then disappear and leave us to pick up the pieces.
I will not.
Barnsley is my place. I was born here. I have lived and worked here all my life.
It’s been a privilege to lead our Borough and I want to continue to build on our success for all our people.
Our great town centre, new jobs and homes, better health and education. We need to continue that journey.
Other politicians pull Barnsley and its institutions to pieces because they think it will gain favour.
Not me. I will defend this place as long as I live.
But I can’t continue that journey without the support of everyone in Barnsley who wants us to be even better.
I said we are at a crossroads. There is no future for a place led by prejudice, discrimination and hate of any kind.
Businesses will leave, as will our young talent, Barnsley will go into decline and we will all be damaged by it.
There is a future in ambition, optimism and inclusivity where all our children and grandchildren are helped to be the best they can be.
A place where hard work is respected and rewarded.
A place where the vulnerable are cared for.
A place where we respect each other, whatever our background.
That is what I want for you. So, whatever your political allegiance I ask at that crucial moment in our history for you to help me and my colleagues and to continue to build that better Barnsley.
When the time comes, I’m backing Barnsley to be the best it can be and I hope you will too.
