Many Islanders tell me too much of what they hear in the news is negative.

So, for my last column before August, I thought I’d focus on some of the good things that may have been underreported, or gone unnoticed, since 2010.

Here are a few:

  • The economy has grown by 23 per cent and we’ve more than halved unemployment. We’ve raised the National Minimum Wage to record levels, with many fewer people living in poverty.
  • The Treasury this week confirmed that the UK economy has grown faster than other comparable EU nations since 2010.
  • Globally, we are one of three countries leading the world with $1 trillion technology sector economies.
  • The percentage of women in high-skilled jobs is also up nearly 40 per cent since 2010.
  • Rishi Sunak’s Government protected families during the cost-of-living crisis, to an average of £3,300 per household. The Conservative Government has also kept the triple lock for pensioners. We’ve also introduced tax-free childcare, supporting two million families.
  • We have the biggest catch-up programme in the NHS’s history. We’re significantly upgrading the role of pharmacists to support our nation’s health, especially for women.
  • There are 38,000 more doctors and 51,000 more nurses and health workers in the NHS.
  • We led the world in a Covid vaccine roll-out – and made our vaccine available to the rest of the world.
  • We’ve added 20,000 police nationwide.
  • We’ve outlawed coercive control. We’ve changed how our law courts handle sexual offences to give greater support to women.
  • On education, UK children are now amongst the best readers in the world. Free schools and Academies have delivered significant improvements. We’re increasing teachers’ starting salaries to £30,000.
  • On energy, we’ve increased renewable electricity fourfold. We are a global leader in offshore wind power. We are planning a new generation of clean nuclear power.
  • Air pollution is falling fast and the national plan for water will mean a sea change in the quality of river water, beaches and seas.
  • We’re reforming housing and planning law.
  • On connectivity, full fibre broadband has increased from one per cent of households to nearly half, and higher still on the Island.
  • To help people get around more easily, we’ve capped bus fares.

So, there is lots of good news, but there is always more to do.

I hope you all have a good summer and if you see me out and about, please do come and say hello.